Clinical Research Directory

Registry for the Improvement of Postoperative OutcomeS in Cardiac and Thoracic surgEry

The registry for the improvement of postoperative outcomes in cardiac and thoracic surgery aims to prospectively collect data in order to test the association between various preoperative and per-operative variables ; and several postoperative outcomes such as mortality, shock, redo surgery, sepsis and extracorporeal life-support.

Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial

The Division of Cancer Preventionl (DCP, formerly DCPC), under extramural contracts to 10 U.S. clinical centers, is evaluating the effectiveness of screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer (The PLCO Trial). In 1996 the NCI Executive Committee approved the expansion of the PLCO Trial to collect additional materials and to conduct additional studies. About, 74,000 men and 74,000 women, aged 55-74 years, have been randomized on a 50/50 basis into screening or usual care arms. Additional blood is collected from screened subjects and saliva for buccal cells from control subjects. Pathologic tissues are obtained for selected cases that develop cancer or selected related diseases (e.g. colon polyps, benign prostatic hyperplasia). Additional questionnaire-based risk and disease-related information is also collected, withconfirmation of disease status from medical records. Genetic, biochemical and questionnairebasedrisk information will be related to the development of cancer and other diseases in this population. Volunteers who provide samples for these studies will not routinely receive their individual results from the Additional Investigation. Subjects requesting such information, however, will be provided their test results. In 2009 the NCI Executive Committee approved the Extended Follow-up of subjects beyond the original 13-year follow-up period. Participants will be reconsented for the release of records to a single NCI-Designated Central Data Collection Center (CDCC), which will administer the annual mailings containing the annual study update questionnaire and a brief (1-2 page) risk factor questionnaire. Individuals who do not consent to release their identifiers to the CDCC will be followed up passively through linkage to state cancer registries and the National Death Index. This protocol Review Application is for (1) the collaboration of intramural scientists in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) in the Additional Studies and (2) the coordination, in collaboration with DCP, of the Extended Follow-up.

Nut Consumption and Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases: A Global Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

The relationship between nut consumption and the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been a subject of growing interest. However, the findings from previous studies have been conflicting for some health outcomes, such as type-2 diabetes, and have been underexplored for other outcomes, such as neurodegenerative diseases. One contributing factor to these inconsistencies lies in the different analytical approaches and confounding factors used across studies. Furthermore, the majority of previous studies have primarily focused on populations in Europe or the United States, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to other global regions. The NUTPOOL project aims to address these gaps by conducting an extensive individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. This study will evaluate the association between total and specific types of nut consumption and the future risk of NCDs.

Non-Invasive Detection and Preservation of Neurocognitive Signals in the Peri-Death Period Using Brain-Computer Interface and Artificial Intelligence

Background: Recent electroencephalography (EEG) data indicate that the transition from clinical death to cellular death is marked by highly organized neurophysiological events, including significant surges in gamma-band power, cross-frequency coupling, and distinct spreading depolarization waves. This prospective, observational feasibility study utilizes rapid-deployment, high-density, noninvasive BCI hardware paired with proprietary AI analytics to detect, classify, and securely archive these terminal neurocognitive signals. Objectives: (1) Quantify transient gamma-band activity and cross-frequency connectivity post-clinical death; (2) Validate the efficacy of machine learning models for real-time signal classification in high-noise clinical environments; (3) Establish a highly secure, encrypted bio-informational archive of peri-life EEG data. Design: Prospective, open-label, multicenter, observational cohort (n\>20).

Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles From the Cord Blood of Extremely Preterm New Borns and Their Correlation With Severe Morbidity and Mortality

This study aims to understand the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in extremely premature infants, those born before 28 weeks of gestation. EVs are tiny particles released by cells that carry important information about the body's condition. In extremely premature infants, blood vessels may not function properly, leading to serious health problems such as bleeding in the brain, lung injury, or severe infections. Researchers believe that analyzing EVs in the umbilical cord blood of these infants may help predict which babies are at higher risk of developing these complications. By studying the size, number, and type of EVs, the team hopes to identify early markers that can guide doctors in providing better care. The study will collect cord blood from 30 eligible infants born at the CHU of Montpellier. Blood samples will be processed to isolate platelet-poor plasma, which contains EVs. This plasma will be stored in a biobank, allowing future research on EVs and their role in extreme prematurity. EVs will then be analyzed in the laboratory to assess their characteristics and any links to severe health issues. The findings from this study could improve understanding of circulatory problems in extremely premature infants, help identify early predictors of severe complications, and inform better monitoring and treatment strategies. The creation of a plasma biobank also provides a valuable resource for future research to enhance care and outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Mortality Outcome of Controlled Hypertension

This pooled analysis investigates death outcomes in patients with pharmacologically treated and blood pressure-controlled hypertension. Despite documented BP control, some patients still suffer fatal cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal, or unexplained syndromes. This study aims to synthesize available evidence across study types to identify treatment pitfalls, contributing syndromes, and non-BP factors associated with these fatal outcomes. February 14th, 2026. Total search hits: 9,297 articles from your hypertension-mortality PubMed strategy Working dataset: 2,547 unique records. Screened so far: 50 (2.0%). Mostly excluded because: Not the right treatment strategy. No mortality outcome. Less often: wrong population.

The RENAL LIFECYCLE Trial: A RCT to Assess the Effect of Dapagliflozin on Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Severe CKD

Rationale: Sodium glucose co transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively new class of agents, originally developed as oral antihyperglycemic drugs. SGLT2 inhibitors are clinically available since 2012 for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Later, SGLT2 inhibitors appeared to have also specific reno- and cardioprotective effects. Remarkably, the trials that have been performed thus far excluded patients with an eGFR below 25 mL/min/1.73m2 at inclusion, prevalent dialysis patients, and kidney transplant recipients. This is unfortunate, because especially these patients are at high risk of reaching kidney failure requiring dialysis, cardiovascular complications and mortality, whereas there are only few proven effective therapies. There is emerging evidence from experimental studies and post hoc-analyses of randomized clinical trials that SGLT2 inhibitors may also be effective in preventing cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in these patients with severe CKD, including patients receiving dialysis or living with a kidney transplant. For instance, subgroup analysis of the DAPA-CKD trial comparing 624 patients with an eGFR\<30 to the remainder of the trial population with better kidney function, demonstrated that the efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in reducing cardiovascular, heart failure and renal outcomes persisted in the population with impaired kidney function. Furthermore, in the DAPA-CKD trial patients continued to use dapagliflozin or placebo when dialysis was initiated. In the subgroup of patients who initiated dialysis, dapagliflozin was associated with a relative risk reduction for mortality of 21%. Finally, in kidney transplant recipients, SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to be effective in lowering HbA1c, body weight, blood pressure and stabilize kidney function, and these agents were well tolerated and safe. Taken these findings together there is a sound rationale to study the long-term reno- and cardioprotective efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with severe CKD. There are two cardiac sub-studies: the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-study and the echocardiography sub-study. The echocardiography sub-study is referred to as the "SGLT-2-inhibitors to Target Heart Failure in Peritoneal Dialysis" (STOP-HF-in-PD) study.

The Diaphragmatic Initiated Ventilatory Assist (DIVA) Trial

DIVA is a pragmatic randomized clinical trial (RCT) to determine: among (P) preterm infants born 23 0/7-28 6/7 weeks gestation undergoing extubation from mechanical ventilation, whether (I) Non-invasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV-NAVA) (C) compared with Non-synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NS-NIPPV), will reduce the incidence of (O) extubation failure within (T) 5 days (120 hours) of extubation.

Prospective Cohort of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in China

To further explore the application prospects of integrated Traditional Chinese and Western medicine in chronic disease prevention and control and health management, this study intends to establish a large, prospective, integrated Traditional Chinese and Western medicine cohort in Hubei Province. This study will conduct long-term follow-up and multi-dimensional data collection to systematically reveal the associations between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution types and chronic diseases, the aging process, and multi-morbidity, thereby developing an integrated health management strategy with local characteristics. This study will fill the current gap in systematic evidence linking TCM constitutions to the prevalence of modern diseases, providing a solid demographic and biological foundation for the integrated development of Traditional Chinese and Western medicine. It will also contribute to meeting the needs for early disease warning, early intervention, and personalized care under the "Healthy China" strategic goal.

The Rhabdomyolysis Evaluation in the Emergency Department (REED) Score

One in three adults over 65 fall annually, with one in five remaining on the floor for greater than one hour, which is referred to as a long lie. Pressure on the National Health Service has resulted in extended stays in the Emergency Department (ED) (sometimes longer than 12 hours) and prolonged ambulance response times. This impacts the older adults who have fallen and remain on the floor. This project aims to develop a risk prediction model (RPM) for use within the ED to understand which older adults (60 years or older) who fall over and remain on the floor for longer than one hour ("long lie") and develop rhabdomyolysis (a serious condition where muscle breaks down and releases substances into the blood that can damage the kidneys) will develop poor outcomes and need admission to hospital for treatment and which patients can be safely discharged home. Aim: To develop a RPM to identify which older adults who have a fall and a long lie and attend the ED develop poor outcomes such as Acute kidney Injury (AKI) \[kidneys suddenly stop working properly\], needing kidney replacement therapy (KRT) \[a treatment that helps kidneys that aren't working properly do their job of cleaning the blood\] and mortality \[death\]. Objectives: 1. Abstract patient level data (e.g. biochemical, demographic, situational, medical history, medication history) from medical records combined with outcomes to understand which variables lead to poor outcomes such as AKI, needing KRT and mortality. 2. Analyse the data using a statistical package (Statistical Package for Social Sciences \[SPSS\]) to develop a RPM with good discriminative abilities \[how well the score can tell high-risk from low-risk patients\]. 3. Demonstrate the ability of the RPM to identify which patients need admission to hospital with treatment and which patients can be safely discharged home.

Radiofrequency and Cryoablation of the Posterior Wall of the Left Atrium

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the cause of 20% of strokes, and the risk of stroke in a person suffering from this arrhythmia increases by 5 times. Ischemic stroke in patients with AF is often fatal and, compared with stroke of other etiology, leads to the most pronounced disability and more often recurs. Accordingly, the risk of death in patients with AF-related stroke is 2 times higher, and treatment costs increase 1.5 times. The main interventional method of treating AF, available in most medical institutions, is the use of radio frequency and/or cryoenergy to eliminate destructive damage to the left atrium (LA). The aim of this study is to compare two different interventional methods and identify predictors of recurrence in patients with persistent and long-term AF.

Comparison Between Interleukin 6 and Procalcitonin in Detecting Sepsis and Incidence of Mortality in Burn ICU Patients

The investigators will compare the efficacy of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a better indicator than procalcitonin in burn patients with sepsis or septic shock regarding success of treatment and early ICU discharge.

HEAlth Dialogues for Patients With Mental Illness in Primary Care

In the current project, primary health care patients with mental illness such as anxiety, depression, fatigue or sleep disorders will be followed. The study includes both health conversations with the health curve as a systematic work with lifestyle habits, and the biochemical risk marker copeptin with a focus on improved lifestyle habits and the development of cardiovascular complications. Participants will be followed up at 12 and 24 months with renewed health interview including the health curve and blood sampling. National registries will be used for a, up to 20 year long follow-up regarding cardiovascular complications and mortality.

NOR-SYS: The Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study

NOR-SYS is a clinical research program about young ischemic stroke patients from 15 to 60 years. Patients, partners and the couple´s adult children who are at least 18 years old, are all invited to ultrasound examinations due to a standardized protocol. Parents of patients and partners are invited to return their answers of standardized questionnaires about clinical ischemic events such as stroke, angina or myocardial infarction or peripheral artery disease. Study inclusion time of patients and their families is 5 years. A biobank is build from samples from patients, partners and adult children. Clinical follow-ups for patients and partners are planned after 5, 10 and 15 years. Clinical follow-ups for adult children are planned after 10 and 20 years. Hypotheses: What do patients know about their parents clinical ischemic events? How much established pathology in arteries do we find by a standardized ultrasound protocol at the time of ischemic stroke at a young age? Differences concerning risk factors and ultrasound findings between patients and partners? Differences between children from families with several ischemic events among parents and grandparents vs. children from families without ischemic events? Biochemical markers related to ultrasound findings and artery disease.

Efficacy of a Proactive Approach to Death Thoughts in People With Advanced Cancer

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of a proactive intervention to approach death thoughts among people with advanced cancer compared to usual care (the reactive approach) via a feasible approach with previous indicators of efficacy: Go-TAD (Give the Opportunity to Talk about Death). The benefits of the intervention will be evaluated in terms of: reduction of emotional distress and hopelessness and improvement the doctor-patient relationship, as well as improvement of quality of life for the patient. A Phase II randomized controlled mixed methods clinical trial (RCT) will be carried out within 4 Palliative Care units of tertiary care hospitals in Catalonia. Participants will be persons with advanced cancer defined according to the criteria of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or control group. In the intervention group, the participants will receive a medical visit that will include the 4 open-ended questions comprising the Go-TAD intervention, while the control group will receive usual care. Between 24 and 96 hours later, a researcher from outside the center will assess study outcome measures. To strengthen the study conclusions, a qualitative study will be carried out in which the experiences of the participants in the intervention group and of their professionals who administered the Go-TAD will be explored in depth.

Mini-Crush Or Controlled Balloon-Crush For True Coronary Bifurcation Lesions

The mini-crush technique is one of the leading 2-stent techniques frequently applied by interventional cardiologists to treat complex bifurcation lesions. In the last 20 years, many technical innovations and iterations of mini-crush technique have been developed, and it maintains its popularity among invasive cardiologists. Moreover, mini-crush and double kissing-crush techniques have been compared in terms of clinical results in both left main and non-left main coronary bifurcation patient populations and no significant difference was found. However, the most important challenges of the mini-crush technique are the rewiring and advancement of a 1:1 non-compliant side-branch balloon after the main branch stent has been implanted. These challenges usually necessitate the use of a low profile balloon or additional support maneuvers (such as anchor balloon). Recently, a novel modified mini-crush-crush technique (controlled balloon-crush) has been introduced to the literature and is one of the most up-to-date crush techniques. The main advantage of this technique over the contemporary mini-crush technique is that the side branch can be easily rewired and the 1:1 size non-compliant balloon can easily pass through the crushed stent structure in the ostial part of the side branch. The basic rationale of this is that the crushing of the side branch stent is done in a more controlled manner (by slowly deflation of the side branch stent balloon) and this causes less disruption of the stent cells. This prospective observational study aims to assess the procedural and 1-year clinical outcomes of the contemporary mini-crush and controlled balloon-crush (modified mini-crush) double stenting techniques in patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions.

Understanding Death: Cultural Factors Affecting Nursing Students' Perception

Cultural factors play a key role in shaping individuals' perceptions of death, alongside personal beliefs, professional experience, and education. Nursing students must balance their personal and cultural values with their professional responsibilities, as cultural differences influence attitudes toward death and mourning. Understanding nursing students' perceptions of death is crucial for enhancing their education and professional competence. Integrating cultural perspectives into nursing education can help students develop a more conscious and prepared approach to end-of-life care. This study aims to explore the impact of cultural factors on nursing students' perceptions of death and propose strategies to enhance cultural sensitivity in education.

Biomarkers in Perioperative Management

Rationale: The rate of postoperative complications after high-risk surgery remains high despite recent advances in perioperative management. There is a lack of objective and reliable information that can be used for risk stratification and to guide treatment decisions. Objective: To describe the perioperative biomarker response in surgical patients with and without a postoperative complication and construct a preoperative and postoperative prediction model for postoperative complications. To systematically collect perioperative blood samples and clinical data in high-risk surgical patients for the development en analysis of biomarkers. Study design: Multicenter, prospective, observational study. Study population: 4819 patients undergoing elective cardiac, colorectal, vascular and lung surgery. Intervention (if applicable): Not applicable. Main study parameters/endpoints: Main study parameters are levels of PCT, CRPhs, IL-6, GDF-15, sFLT, NT-proBNP, cTNThs, CysC and NGAL. Main study endpoint is the occurrence of a major postoperative complication which is defined as a surgical site infection, pneumonia, sepsis, acute kidney injury, major adverse cardiovascular events or death within 30 days of surgery. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: In each patient five blood samples will be drawn for analysis. Most of the blood samples are drawn simultaneously with routine perioperative laboratory testing, which is common in this study population. In case a patient is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit blood samples will be collected using an arterial line. There are no direct risks or benefits for patients included in the study.

Health Insurance Instability and Mortality Among Patients Receiving Bup Tx for OUD

The goal of this multi-site observational cohort study is to link electronic health records (EHR) with novel data sources to examine insurance instability and its association with all-cause and overdose mortality in adult patients who received medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The main objectives of the study are: * Objective 1. Perform data linkage of a cohort of patients who received MOUD with the National Death Index using a probabilistic algorithm for matching records to ascertain fact and cause of death relative to treatment and insurance status. * Objective 2: Assess the association of insurance instability and risk of death, including all-cause mortality and drug- and alcohol-related overdose mortality.

Stroke Prophylaxis With Apixaban in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of apixaban as stroke prophylaxis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 and atrial fibrillation (AF) with or without dialysis treatment. The study hypothesis is that compared to no anticoagulation, apixaban reduces the incidence of ischemic stroke without causing an unacceptable increase in fatal or intracranial bleeding events. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and major bleeding in people with CKD stage 5 and AF treated with apixaban compared to standard of care without anticoagulation. Trial design: Pragmatic Prospective Open Label Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, phase 3b over 12-72 months. Trial population: 1000-1400 patients at ≈50 sites in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Poland Eligibility criteria: Adults ≥18 years with CKD stage 5 (ongoing treatment with any chronic dialysis treatment OR an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)\* \<20 ml/min/1.73 m2 at least twice 3 months apart of which at least one occasion is \<15 ml/min/1.73 m2 due to CKD during the last 12 months) and a diagnosis of chronic, paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent AF or atrial flutter (AFL) with CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 for men or ≥3 or more for women as an indication for oral anticoagulation. The exclusion criteria are AF or AFL due to reversible causes, rheumatic mitral stenosis or moderate-to-severe non-rheumatic mitral stenosis at the time of inclusion into the study, a condition other than AF or AFL that requires chronic anticoagulation, contraindications for anticoagulation, active bleeding or serious bleeding within 3 months, planned for surgery within 3 months, and current use of strong inhibitors of both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein. Interventions: Randomization 1:1 to treatment with apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily and standard of care, or standard of care and no anticoagulation. Outcome measures: primary efficacy (time to first ischemic stroke); primary safety (the composite of time to first intracranial bleeding or fatal bleeding); secondary efficacy (time to all-cause mortality, time to cardiovascular event or cardiovascular death); secondary safety (time to first major bleeding according to International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) criteria)

Incidence and Complications of Post-extubation and Post-tracheostomy Dysphagia in Adult Patients in the Critical Care Unit

Acquired Swallowing Disorder in ICU (ICU-ASD), also known as postextubation dysphagia, is a multicausal problem experienced by survivors in intensive care units (ICUs) when the efficiency, safety of swallowing, or both are compromised. These alterations can lead to an increased risk of aspiration, respiratory complications, and malnutrition, potentially resulting in prolonged hospitalization, reduced quality of life, poorer clinical outcomes, and even death. Despite the clinical and social significance of this disorder, there is limited research addressing it. Existing studies primarily focus on incidence and associated factors, with scant attention to the occurrence of complications, and there is a lack of assessment of the quality of life of these patients. In our context, healthcare professionals are increasingly recognizing the importance of this issue, although the real incidence of ICU-ASD, as well as the frequency of respiratory and nutritional complications, remains unknown. Furthermore, the quality of life of patients with this disorder has not been evaluated thus far. Objectives:Primary: To analyze the occurrence of respiratory and nutritional complications associated with ICU-ASD in patients intubated for ≥48 hours or tracheotomized in the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital Complex of Albacete (ICU CHUA) and identify potential factors related to their occurrence. Specific: To determine the incidence of ICU-ASD in the polyvalent ICU CHUA, assess the frequency of respiratory complications, evaluate nutritional status, assess quality of life, and determine the mortality of study participants. Material and Method: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Polyvalent ICU CHUA. Participants: Intubated patients for ≥48 hours or tracheotomized, with signed consent. Sampling: Consecutive. Sample size: 414 participants. Demographic/clinical variables. Outcome variables: Occurrence of respiratory complications, nutritional status, quality of life. Instruments: Modified Volume-Viscosity Swallowing Test (mV-VST), Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QoL). Dysphagia detection will occur 24 hours post-extubation and/or 4 days after tracheotomy. Follow-up during hospitalization and post-ICU discharge until the outpatient consultation. Statistical analysis: Absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion, significance level of p \&amp;amp;lt; 0.05, 95% CI; Bivariate analysis: Checking group homogeneity and hypothesis testing: Chi-square, Student\&amp;amp;#39;s t-test, U-Mann-Whitney, ANOVA, or Kruskal-Wallis.

Predicting Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Accurately predicting kidney recipient risk of death has a crucial interest because of the organ shortage, the need to optimize allograft allocation by identifying high-risk patients who may not benefit from a transplant and improve the clinical decision-making after transplant to ensure that each patient survives as long as possible. However, according to a literature review the investigators performed, studies attempting to develop a kidney recipient death prediction model suffer from many shortcomings, including the lack of key risk factors, use of biased registry data, small sample size, lack of external validation in different countries and subpopulations, and short follow-up. The present study thus aimed to address these limitations and develop a robust, generalizable kidney recipient death prediction model.

China Healthy Aging Cohort Study

This is a community-based prospective cohort study in China. The study has been initialized in 2024 and included older residents. The goal of this observational study is to explore the risk factors related to disability and dementia in the elderly Chinese community population, and develop a risk prediction model for disability and dementia.

Beijing Disability Risk and Ageing Monitoring Study

This is a community-based prospective cohort study in Beijing, China. The study has been initialized in 2023 and enrolled older residents. This study aims to develop disability risk assessment standards and an early warning model for older adults.