Clinical Research Directory

Research on "Metabolic Adaptation" in Obese People

Obesity has become a global public health crisis, with 810 million adults classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) worldwide in 2020. This number is projected to rise to 1.53 billion by 2035. China faces a particularly severe challenge, with one of the highest rates and fastest growth in obesity prevalence globally. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. As such, weight loss is essential for improving health outcomes and preventing related complications. Lifestyle interventions-primarily dietary modifications and physical activity-are the cornerstone of obesity treatment, aiming to reduce weight by addressing energy intake and expenditure. Accumulating evidence indicates that energy imbalance is a key driver of obesity. However, resting metabolic rate (RMR), which accounts for approximately 60-75% of total energy expenditure, often declines during lifestyle interventions due to metabolic adaptation. This adaptive decrease in RMR can undermine weight loss efforts. While both body composition and core body temperature are known to influence RMR, their specific roles in metabolic adaptation during lifestyle interventions remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the individual contributions of changes in body composition and fluctuations in core body temperature to the observed reduction in RMR during such interventions. By combining body composition analysis and continuous core temperature monitoring, the study seeks to uncover mechanisms underlying metabolic adaptation and identify potential targets for enhancing weight loss strategies.

The Association Between Core Temperature and Health

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if cold water drinking could promote body composition and further extend healthy lifespan in Chinese older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does cold water drinking lower the body fat percentage? 2. Will cold water drinking positively extend lifespan in a long-term Researchers will compare cold water intervention group to a control group (drinking 37℃ water instead) to see if cold water drinking works to promote health and slow down ageing process. Participants will: 1. Drink 4℃ or 37℃ water 4 times (9a.m., 12p.m., 15p.m., 18p.m.) every day for 6 months. 2. Visit the institute and health checkup department for tests and checkup at baseline, the end of the 3rd month, and the end of 6th month.

Hyperthermia in Patients With Chronic Primary Pain - Effects on Thermoregulation, Somatosensory System and Movement Evoked Pain

This study, in a quasi-experimental pre-post design, investigates the effect of serial water-filtered whole-body hyperthermia on circadian core body temperature, the somatosensory system (nociception) and pain perception in healthy and patients with chronic primary pain (e.g., fibromyalgia). The intervention lasts 3 weeks with two treatment sessions per week.

Effects of Environmental Heat Exposure on Human Multiple Organ Function

This is a randomized controlled human exposure crossover study. Investigators aims to assess the acute effects of high temperature exposure and the underlying mechanisms.

Effect of Kinesio Taping on Lumbar Muscle Temperature

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to lumbar paravertebral muscles with different tensions (25% and 75%) on local body temperature. The study will compare the changes in local body temperature before and after KT application using infrared thermography. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three groups with randomization stratified by sex: 25% tension KT, 75% tension KT, and a control group. Temperature measurements will be taken at four time points: before the application, 15 minutes, 45 minutes, and 24 hours post-application. The data will be analyzed using statistical methods to evaluate the impact of KT tension on local body temperature. This study will provide insights into the physiological effects of KT under different tension levels.

Tympanic Thermometer Study

The goal of this study is to collect febrile, healthy, and in some instances cold temperature data from human subjects ranging from newborns to geriatrics. This data will be used to develop a new thermometer.

Cooling Via Cryogenx Body Cooling Device

The aim of this project is to test the rate of cooling following exercise in the heat utilising the CRYOGENX Cryosuit device i) against passive cooling, and ii) to quantify the rate of cooling and compare this rate with established cooling intervention thresholds i.e. -0.11 to 0.15°C.min-1. As this project is to determine the efficacy of the intervention in populations equivalent to sporting and military personnel, these aims will be tested in young (18-40 year old) healthy male and female participants whom participate in regular physical activity. As a commercially funded project, the experimental design implemented will closely replicate that of the independent investigation into the efficacy of the CAERvest® device.

Preparing for Heat Waves - Enhancing Human Thermophysiological Resilience

As the ongoing progression of climate change exposes individuals to elevated temperatures and an escalating frequency of extreme heat events, the risk of more intense and prolonged heat waves raises significant concerns for public health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The physiological response to acute heat stress involves involuntary thermolytic reactions that may strain the cardiovascular system, especially in individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities. Heat acclimation has been identified as a potential strategy to enhance thermoregulation and mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress. While existing research primarily focuses on athletes and military, this study aims to investigate the impact of a practical heat acclimation strategy, combining passive and active heat exposure, on thermophysiological, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in healthy overweight adults. The study targets a population at increased risk for heat-related complications, seeking to provide realistic guidelines for broader application when a heat wave appears on the weather forecast.