Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Sulfur Thermal Water inhalations in long-COVID syndrome: spa-centred, double-blinded, randomised case-control pilot study.
The long-COVID syndrome is characterised by a plethora of symptoms. Given its social and economic impact, many studies have stressed the urgency of proposing innovative strategies other than hospital settings. In this double-blinded, randomised, case-control trial, we investigate the effects of sulphur thermal water inhalations, rich in H2S, compared to distilled water inhalations on symptoms, inflammatory markers and nasal microbiome in long-COVID patients. ⋯ Inhalations of sulphur thermal water exerted objective and subjective improvements on participants affected by long-COVID. Significant reduction of inflammatory markers, dyspnoea scores and quantitative and qualitative changes in the nasopharyngeal microbiome were also assessed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Mandibular movement monitor provides faster, yet accurate diagnosis, for obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomised controlled study.
Many patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) remain undiagnosed and thus untreated, and in part this relates to delay in diagnosis. Novel diagnostic strategies may improve access to diagnosis. ⋯ Adults with high pre-test probability OSA were recruited from both northern Scotland and London. 40 participants (70 % male, mean±SD age 46.8 ± 12.9 years, BMI 36.9 ± 7.5 kg/m2, ESS 14.9 ± 4.1) wore a MM monitor and respiratory polygraphy simultaneously overnight and were randomised (1:1) to receive their treatment decision based on results from either device. Compared to respiratory polygraphy, MM monitor reduced time to treatment decision by 6 days (median(IQR): 13.5 (7.0-21.5) vs. 19.5 (13.7-35.5) days, P = 0.017) and saved an estimated 29 min of staff time per patient.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Implementation of virtual reality technology to decrease patients' pain and nervousness during colonoscopies: a prospective randomised controlled single-blinded trial.
Improved patient satisfaction in endoscopy is worthy of study as it is an invasive and potentially uncomfortable procedure. There is growing literature on patient satisfaction assessment in endoscopy as part of improving quality assurance. This study aimed to determine whether virtual reality (VR) technology can decrease patients' pain and nervousness during colonoscopies. ⋯ VR technology helped to reduce patients' pain and nervousness and to improve patients' satisfaction during colonoscopies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The unspoken benefit of participation in a clinical trial.
Publicly funded trials do not usually offer financial incentives to volunteers. An intensive level of medical care could act as an additional motivator for participation. Our aim was to establish whether patients may draw any clinical benefit from volunteering in a clinical trial. ⋯ Compared with routine care, patients screened for a clinical trial may come under an increased level of scrutiny that may affect their clinical management. This may act as additional motivator to attract patients to future studies.