Clinical Research Directory

Tailored Stapled SADI-S: Initial Report and Preliminary Results

Obesity is a serious health problem worldwide and can lead to many diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep apnea. When lifestyle changes and medications are not enough, metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is currently the most effective and long-lasting treatment option. This study focuses on one of the newer types of bariatric surgery called Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI-S). This procedure combines two parts: Sleeve gastrectomy, which reduces the size of the stomach so the patient feels full after eating a small amount. Duodeno-ileal bypass, which shortens the path food takes through the small intestine to reduce calorie absorption. Our hospital's surgical team is studying a tailored version of this operation, where the length of the bypassed intestine is adjusted to each patient's anatomy. We believe this personalized approach may improve weight loss results while lowering the risk of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. The study will include 40 adult patients with obesity who are undergoing SADI-S surgery, either as their first weight loss operation or as a revision surgery after an earlier sleeve gastrectomy. During the operation, surgeons will measure the total length of each patient's small intestine and use a formula to decide how much of it should be bypassed. The duodeno-ileal connection will be made using a stapled technique, which is expected to be safe and efficient. After surgery, patients will be followed regularly at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and then once per year. At each visit, the study team will monitor weight loss, body mass index (BMI), resolution of diabetes and other obesity-related conditions, nutritional status (including vitamins and minerals), and any side effects such as diarrhea, reflux, or nutritional problems. The goal of this study is to learn whether this tailored SADI-S technique can provide strong, sustained weight loss and health improvement with fewer long-term complications. The results will help improve surgical planning for future patients by showing whether measuring and customizing the bypass length is safer and more effective than using a fixed length. All data collected will be kept confidential. Patients' participation in the study will not change their regular care or follow-up, and they can withdraw at any time without affecting their treatment.

Headache Registration and Followup Initiated by Tongji Hospital, HUST

Headache is one of the most common chief complaints in clinical practice, with a high global prevalence rate. It may originate from a primary headache disorder or manifest as a clinical symptom of various diseases due to the complexity of its triggers, specific types, diagnosis, and treatment which present significant challenges. As people's life pace continues to accelerate and psychological and physiological pressures increase, many patients experience headache symptoms, leading to a growing number of patients seeking treatment in neurology departments. The increasing incidence of headache conditions has resulted in a decline in patients' quality of life. Therefore, this research is part of Hubei Province's major project "Discovery and Functional Research of Major Disease Targets Based on Genetic Big Data." The study aims to establish a clinical cohort and develop a precise diagnosis and treatment system for headaches. This system will collect the history of headache sufferers, record the real-world treatment data, and incorporate sample banks, multi-dimensional databases, pre-clinical drug evaluation platforms, and clinical efficacy precise dynamic monitoring models through immunotherapy and other cutting-edge biotechnologies, multi-omics detection technologies, and big data bioinformatics analysis technologies. The system will provide scientists and clinicians with auxiliary diagnostic and treatment decision support, offer reliable screening targets for early headache diagnosis and drug development companies, accelerate the latest headache diagnosis and targeted treatment, and achieve breakthrough advances in headache prevention and cure.

COMMODITIES Trial: Initial Dual Oral Therapy vs Monotherapy in PAH With Cardiovascular Comorbidities

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressive disease associated with poor prognosis, especially in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. Current guidelines recommend initial combination therapy, but evidence is lacking for patients with significant comorbidities who are often excluded from clinical trials. The COMMODITIES trial is a multicenter, randomized, controlled study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of initial dual oral combination therapy (tadalafil and ambrisentan) versus oral monotherapy in newly diagnosed PAH patients with at least two cardiovascular comorbidities. The study aims to provide robust evidence to guide treatment strategies in this high-risk population.

Association of POCD With Circulating Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing TUR of Bladder Tumor

Bladder tumor is one of the most widespread tumors in the world, with increasing prevalence at the global level. One of the procedures in patients with bladder tumors is transurethral resection of the bladder (TURM) most often performed endoscopically under general anesthesia. This patient population has certain characteristics in common. One of them is exposure to common risk factors for the formation of bladder tumors, such as aniline dyes and solvents. These substances are associated with the onset of neurodegeneration and oxidative stress. Smoking is another factor that affects the formation of bladder tumor. A significant part of patients with bladder tumor are an elderly population, which is repeatedly exposed to surgical procedures, with numerous comorbidities, with a high risk of postoperative complications and the development of perioperative cognitive deficits, which can further complicate the postoperative course and further treatment. In the group of patients with a bladder tumor who will undergo TURM, no evaluation of risk factors related to perioperative cognitive deficit was performed, nor was there an examination of the perioperative cognitive deficit itself. In them, the identification of factors for postoperative cognitive disorder is essential. The concept of clinical frailty is becoming more important and relevant when providing healthcare services to patients. The use of the clinical frailty scale as a tool in clinical practice provides information on the adequate direction of care for patients. Decrease in muscle strength can lead to limitations in the functioning of a certain individuals. In recent years muscle strength has come to be a very important component of health, regardless of a person's age and clinical condition.The hand grip test is a test used to measure the maximum isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. The MMSE test and MoCA are the most frequently used methods in the detection of cognitive impairment in clinical and research fields. In addition to laboratory indicators of organic function, circulating indicators of neuroinflammation, like S100B and neuron-specific enolase, will be correlated with the patient's cognitive status.So far, no research has been conducted on the dynamics of indicators of organic function, circulating indicators of neuroinflammation, perioperative cognitive changes and clinical fraility in patients undergoing bladder tumor operation.

The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Science (UZ-CHS) BIRTH COHORT Study

Background Commencement of lifelong highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) immediately after HIV diagnosis (option B+), for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has greatly improved maternal-infant health in sub Saharan Africa (SSA). However, this development has also dramatically increased the number of maternally HAART/HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) infants in areas of high HIV prevalence. Compared to their HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) counterparts, HEU infants show increased mortality, higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, infectious and non-communicable diseases and impaired growth, immune responses and neurodevelopment. Adverse clinical outcomes and their respective risk factors alongside associated biomarkers of HEU infants in SSA have been insufficiently characterized. Early exposure to HAART and HIV might be risk factors for the adverse outcomes in HEU infants but other potential risk factors and biomarkers remain understudied. Methods The University of Zimbabwe-College of Health Science birth cohort is a prospective cohort study of perinatal HIV and in utero HAART exposure throughout the breastfeeding period in the era of option B+. 600 HIV infected and 600 HIV uninfected pregnant women ≥20 weeks of gestation are being enrolled from four primary health centres in poor high-density residential areas of Harare. Clinical, socio-demographic/economic, nutritional and environmental data and bio-samples including maternal urine, stool, plasma, milk, cord blood, amniotic fluid as well as infant serum, dried blood spots and stool are being collected at enrolment, delivery and longitudinal follow-ups as mother-infant pairs from delivery, week(s) 1, 6, 10, 14, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 after birth. Infants are being assessed for congenital transmission of HIV, hepatitis B/C viruses, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and growth, neurodevelopment, and immune-dysregulation. Sub-studies are addressing maternal-infant immunometabolomics, latent tuberculosis infection, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and the effect of maternal stress thereof. The primary end point of this study is infant mortality until two years of age in HEU versus HUU infants. Secondary outcomes include HEU morbidity. Conclusion Our study will provide a comprehensive assessment of risk factors and associated biomarkers for adverse clinical outcomes for HEU infants and ultimately help developing strategies to mitigate effects of HIV, comorbidities and early life HAART exposure on pregnancy outcome and infant health. Trial registration number, date Key words: HIV, Option B+ highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in utero exposure, breastfeeding, antenatal co-morbidities, immune dysfunction, microbiota, genomics, pregnancy outcomes, neurodevelopment infant health.

Electronic Cardiac Rehabilitation (eCardiacRehab) Feasibility Study

In Norway, more than 11,000 patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) annually. However, a very recent study utilizing registry data show a national average of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation of only 14%, despite its proven beneficial effects on readmissions, physical capacity, psychological distress, self-management, and quality of life. CR is strongly recommended in European guidelines. However, uptake is low and is not systematically identifying those in most need of CR. The primary objective of eCardiacRehab is to meet rehabilitation needs of large patient populations regardless of their access to traditional place-based rehabilitation by developing and evaluating the efficacy and cost effectiveness of an interdisciplinary and comprehensive home-based eCardiacRehab programme. eCardiacRehab address patient- and system level challenges in order to increase access to CR. The investigators give particular attention to older patients, women, and those with comorbidities or mental health challenges. Aspects related to continuity of care between specialist and primary care services, health literacy, adherence to treatment, cost effectiveness and ethics are investigated. The investigators will 1) continue to develop the programme with patients, general practitioners, healthcare experts from both specialist and primary care services, and technology developers, 2) develop treatment modules, 3) establish information and communication infrastructure, 4) evaluate the process and efficacy of treatment modules, 5) ensure knowledge development and transfer of competence to the municipalities, and 6) contribute to fulfil the innovation potential for health service and industry partners. eCardiacRehab has the potential to improve interaction and collaboration between primary and secondary care, modernise and digitalise work processes, and develop more coherent and tailored patient pathways. The vision of the home-based eCardiacRehab is to make CR available to all.