Clinical Research Directory

Testing the Efficacy of Safe South Africa

In this study, investigators will examine the efficacy of Safe South Africa, a behavioral intervention that is developmentally- and gender-tailored to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescent boys. South Africa faces some of the highest global rates of HIV and IPV with sustained high incidence of HIV and alarming rates of IPV among adolescents and thus, is an ideal site to advance prevention science to tackle these urgent public health priorities. Testing the efficacy of an integrated intervention to prevent HIV risk behavior and IPV for adolescent boys can support optimal health for young people, their future partners, and society.

Acute Effects of Exercise in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide and is caused by narrowing of the arteries. Intermittent claudication, characterized by pain when walking, is its main symptom. Despite the proven benefits of exercise, there is no optimal protocol for treatment. To analyze the effects of different exercise conditions on proteomic and physiological markers in patients with PAD and to determine their preferences regarding exercise conditions. A clinical cross-over study with four randomized experimental conditions (aerobic training, traditional strength training, circuit training and control) will be conducted. Patients with grade IIa-IIb PAD according to the Leriche-Le Fontaine scale will be recruited from the Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery Department of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid. In each experimental session, measurements of cardiorespiratory capacity, post-exercise oxygen debt, ankle-brachial index, blood flow, peripheral oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, heart rate variability and blood proteome changes will be performed.

Salivary Extracellular Vesicle Associated lncRNAs in Heart Failure (SEAL-HF)

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the levels of Ribonucleic acid (RNA) circulating molecules, including ones in extracellular vesicles from different organs in the blood and in the saliva of patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) and Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) to see if a new, non-invasive diagnostic test can be developed for heart failure exacerbation.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effect of the Youth Mindful Awareness Program on Negative Affect (YMAP2).

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to compare the effects of an online mindfulness program to an active supportive comparison condition and a no-intervention control group on reducing and preventing mood and anxiety symptoms in at-risk youth. Youth who are high on trait negative affect will be randomized to one of the three conditions. The primary outcomes of interest are reductions in momentary negative affect and internalizing problems in adolescents ages 12 to 17 years old. All participants will be evaluated prior to being randomized, after the 9-session intervention period, and at a 6-month follow-up. The first hypothesis is that the mindfulness intervention will predict decreases in stressor-reactive momentary negative affect and internalizing symptoms. The second hypothesis is that changes in momentary negative affect will partially account for the effects of the mindfulness intervention on internalizing symptoms.

Evaluating the Efficacy of a Text Messaging-based Shisha Smoking Cessation Intervention

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a culture specific text-messaging based shisha smoking cessation intervention for young adults in Hong Kong. Participants in the intervention group will receive smartphone text messaging-based intervention and support that contained personalised messages with both text and visual elements over 6 weeks under a manualised programme. Participants in the control group will only receive a leaflet about the health risks of shisha smoking (the exact identical contents received by the participants in the intervention group at a session). All participants will complete a self-administered questionnaire at baseline, 6th- and 12th-week on their self-reported shisha abstinences, knowledge on risk, readiness to quit and attitudes on shisha smoking

Pre- and Post-operative TEG Indices in Patients With or Without Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Surgical Resection

The investigators hypothesize that abnormalities in thromboelastography (TEG) parameters in patients with liver, pancreas, biliary, esophageal, colorectal, and lung adenocarcinoma can serve as biomarkers for oncologic disease burden, cancer recurrence and overall survival as well as thrombotic and hemorrhagic post-operative complications. The investigators further hypothesize that there is histologic pathology correlates to pre-operative TEG abnormalities, and that it identifies patients with virulent tumor biology.

Impact of the Implementation of a Telemedicine Program on Patients Diagnosed with Asthma

Introduction: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases worldwide. Despite the extensive knowledge of the condition and available therapeutic options, severe asthmatic patients have poor disease control in 50% of cases. Objective: To assess the impact of implementing a mobile application (ESTOI) in patients diagnosed with asthma on disease control, treatment adherence, and perceived quality of life. Methodology: A 52-week randomized clinical trial involving asthma patients receiving care at a highly specialized hospital in Spain. A total of 108 patients will be included and divided into two groups. The intervention group will receive more comprehensive monitoring than usual, including access to the ESTOI application. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire will be used as the primary assessment variable. Other variables to be studied include the Inhaler Adherence Test (TAI), the number of exacerbations, peak expiratory flow, exhaled nitric oxide examination, hospital anxiety and depression scale, asthma quality of life questionnaire, forced spirometry parameters (FVC, FEV1, and reversibility), and analytical parameters (eosinophilia and IgE).