Clinical Research Directory

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Spirometry: Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial

This study will examine the short-term effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (a non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered through the outer ear) on lung function measured by spirometry in healthy adults. The vagus nerve is involved in many automatic body functions, and ear-based stimulation has been used in research to explore its possible effects on different physiological systems. However, it is not clear whether a brief stimulation session can acutely influence breathing test results in people without respiratory disease. Healthy volunteers aged 18-40 will take part in one laboratory visit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) active bilateral stimulation applied to specific ear regions that are known to be innervated by the vagus nerve, or (2) sham stimulation using the same device setup but designed to minimize vagal activation. The stimulation session will last approximately 10 minutes. Before and after the stimulation, participants will perform standard spirometry (breathing) tests. Primary spirometric outcomes will include common measures of lung function such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure may also be recorded to monitor physiological responses and safety during the visit. Participation is voluntary and participants may withdraw at any time. The procedure is considered minimal risk. Possible side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as tingling, warmth, or mild discomfort at the ear. Rarely, participants may feel lightheaded; if this occurs, the procedure will be stopped and the participant will be monitored until symptoms resolve. There is no guaranteed direct benefit to participants. The results may help clarify whether short-term ear-based vagus nerve stimulation can influence spirometric parameters and may inform future studies on autonomic and respiratory interactions.

Community Health Worker Coaching to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk Among Women After a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether an enhanced program works better than remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM) alone for women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy. The enhanced program combines RBPM with a lifestyle program led by a community health worker (CHW). The study will examine whether the enhanced program helps women better control their blood pressure, lowers their average resting blood pressure, improves heart health risk factors (such as weight, diet, physical activity), supports mental well-being, and reduces emergency department visits and hospital readmissions by 6 months after delivery.

Impact of Semaglutide Withdrawal on Cardiometabolic Profile and Physiology of Energy Balance: Recovery Effects After Semaglutide Termination

Semaglutide is a medication from the class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists that promote weight loss. There is little clinical data on the best strategy to achieve weight maintenance following weight reduction induced by semaglutide. For people who need to discontinue treatment, it is unknown whether the weight regain, its accompanied health benefits could be ameliorated with a gradual reduction in semaglutide. The investigators will study if a gradual reduction of semaglutide is associated with different heart risk profile and hormones involved in energy regulation as compared to immediate treatment cessation.

Evaluating the Level of Agreement Between AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard Requirements and the HUAWEI D2 Watch-Type Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Getting an accurate blood pressure (BP) reading is essential for diagnosing high blood pressure and managing it effectively. High blood pressure is a major health problem, causing about 9.4 million deaths worldwide each year. More people need to monitor their BP at home, so there is greater demand for easy-to-use devices. Traditional BP monitors with arm cuffs can be bulky, uncomfortable, and awkward to use. Modern technology has made it possible to measure BP using wearable devices like smartwatches. HUAWEI has developed a wrist watch that can measure BP and has been tested to meet international standards. The watch passed these tests and was approved for people to use at home to check their own BP. However, the HUAWEI watch was only tested on people in China and the investigators need to know if it works for people from other countries and ethnic backgrounds.

Pressure Sensing Sheath Blood Pressure Monitoring Compared to Traditional Methods in Interventional Procedures

This observational study aims to evaluate the accuracy and safety of pressure sensing sheath blood pressure monitoring compared to traditional invasive and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring methods during neuroendovascular interventional procedures. The study will enroll 50 adult patients undergoing elective neuroendovascular procedures requiring general anesthesia and continuous invasive blood pressure monitoring. Blood pressure will be simultaneously measured using three methods: (1) pressure sensing sheath, (2) radial arterial line, and (3) non-invasive cuff monitoring. The primary outcome is the accuracy of blood pressure measurements from the pressure sensing sheath compared to radial arterial line measurements. Secondary outcomes include the incidence of access site complications, procedure duration, patient comfort scores, and cost-effectiveness analysis. This prospective, single-center study will be conducted at Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from August 2025 to May 2027.

Accuracy of a Cuffless Photoplethysmography (PPG) Chest-Patch Monitor for 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

This study aims to validate the accuracy and reliability of blood pressure (BP) estimates obtained over 24 hours using a PPG-based chest-patch device compared to the gold standard ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) method using an upper arm cuff-based oscillometric BP device, in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals referred by their provider to undergo a 24-hours ABPM for clinical indication. The Awake/Asleep test, which is the primary test recommended for automated wearable cuffless BP devices that are cuff-calibrated (based on the 2023 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) recommendations for the validation of cuffless blood pressure measuring devices), will be conducted in this study. The secondary aim of the study is to assess the feasibility and convenience of the PPG-based device.

Effect of Music and Warm Foot Bath Therapy on Pregnancy-Related Anxiety, Blood Pressure and Quality of Life

Study Title: The Effects of Music Therapy and Warm Foot Bath on Pregnancy-Related Stress, Blood Pressure, and Quality of Life in Low-Risk Primigravida Women Brief Summary: This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of music therapy and warm foot bath therapy on pregnancy-related anxiety, blood pressure levels, and quality of life in low-risk primigravida pregnant women. Participants will be randomly assigned into four groups: music therapy, warm foot bath therapy, combined therapy, and control group. The interventions will be carried out for 2 weeks with pre- and post-assessments of anxiety and quality of life.

Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring in ICU Patients Using the DARE Device

This study tests a new non-invasive device called DARE to monitor blood pressure in patients in intensive care. It compares the device's readings to standard invasive methods and also looks at how well it measures other vital signs like temperature, oxygen levels, and heart rhythm. The goal is to improve patient safety and comfort while helping doctors detect problems earlier.