Clinical Research Directory

Assessment of the Efficacy of a Highly Standardized Ginger and Perilla Nutraceutical (Dispepril®) in Improving Gastric and Intestinal Symptoms in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

This multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a nutraceutical treatment containing highly standardized extracts of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and perilla (Perilla frutescens) (Dispepril®, Pharmextracta S.p.A. Pontenure, Italy) in improving gastric and intestinal symptoms in adults with functional dyspepsia. The study will assess the non-inferiority of Dispepril® compared with standard proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in reducing postprandial distress symptoms. Participants will be randomized in a 2:1:1 ratio to receive Dispepril® alone, Dispepril® plus half-dose PPI, or full-dose PPI for 14 days. Efficacy will be assessed using the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS), together with evaluations of treatment tolerability, adherence, and adverse events.

Management of Non-Organic Dysphonia in Adults.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a semi-occluded vocal tract training program, "Resonant Tube Therapy," versus the "Traditional Smith-accent Method" on the quality of voice in patients with Non-Organic "Functional" dysphonia.

Safety and Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

The gut microbiota is critical to health and functions with a level of complexity comparable to that of an organ system. Dysbiosis, or alterations of this gut microbiota ecology, have been implicated in a number of disease states. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), defined as infusion of feces from healthy donors to affected subjects, is a method to restore a balanced gut microbiota and has attracted great interest in recent years due to its efficacy and ease of use. FMT is now recommended as the most effective therapy for CDI not responding to standard therapies. Recent studies have suggested that dysbiosis is associated with a variety of disorders, and that FMT could be a useful treatment. Randomized controlled trial has been conducted in a number of disorders and shown positive results, including alcoholic hepatitis, Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), pouchitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hepatic encephalopathy and metabolic syndrome. Case series/reports and pilot studies has shown positive results in other disorders including Celiac disease, functional dyspepsia, constipation, metabolic syndrome such as diabetes mellitus, multidrug-resistant, hepatic encephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, pseudo-obstruction, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) or Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) infection, radiation-induced toxicity, multiple organ dysfunction, dysbiotic bowel syndrome, MRSA enteritis, Pseudomembranous enteritis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and atopy. Despite FMT appears to be relatively safe and efficacious in treating a wide range of disease, its safety and efficacy in a usual clinical setting is unknown. More data is required to confirm safety and efficacy of FMT. Therefore, the investigators aim to conduct a pilot study to investigate the efficacy and safety of FMT in a variety of dysbiosis-associated disorder.