Clinical Research Directory

A Multiphase Analysis of Next-generation Trail Footwear

This study will investigate how different advanced-foam trail-running footwear configurations affect running economy, performance, comfort, and fatigue in competitive trail runners. The project aims to determine whether footwear characteristics, particularly foam properties and stack height, influence physiological and biomechanical responses during both controlled laboratory running and real-world trail running. Approximately 30 competitive trail runners with experience in technical trail running and no musculoskeletal injury during the previous six months will participate. The study will use a two-phase experimental design. In Phase 1, participants will complete running economy assessments in three footwear conditions in randomized order. The footwear conditions will include a high-stack advanced-foam prototype, a medium-stack advanced-foam prototype, and a conventional-foam shoe. Laboratory testing will be performed during uphill and downhill treadmill running. Participants will also complete field-based running economy trials on real trail terrain at a controlled speed, followed by a short time trial to establish a representative running pace. In Phase 2, participants will complete prolonged trail-running sessions in the two advanced-foam footwear configurations on a 15-km trail course. Running economy and fatigue-related responses will be assessed repeatedly during the prolonged exercise sessions to evaluate changes in physiological and biomechanical efficiency over time. The primary physiological outcome will be running economy, assessed through oxygen consumption and energy cost. Additional outcomes will include heart rate, step frequency, step length, ground contact time, perceived exertion, comfort, perceived performance, and pacing-related measures. The study will compare laboratory and field responses to determine whether differences in running economy observed under controlled conditions are maintained during real trail running and whether footwear configuration influences the deterioration of running economy and fatigue during prolonged exercise.

Research on Circulation Management Strategy Based on Oxygen Metabolism Balance After CHD Surgery

The objective is to investigate a goal-oriented postoperative circulation management strategy centered on "oxygen metabolism balance". This strategy is independent of the absolute metrics of oxygen supply and consumption, and aims to enhance oxygen consumption and uptake within the critical "golden 8 hours" following pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass, thereby preventing severe hypotension, cardiopulmonary arrest, and other adverse events.

Surface Electrical Myography, Oxygen Consumption, Effort, and Weaning in the Mechanically Ventilated Patient in the Intensive Care Unit

The goal of this observational study is to measure effort using esophageal pressure measurements, oxygen consumption and diaphragm activity in mechanically ventilated Intensive Care Unit patients during a Spontaneous Breathing Trial. The main question aims to answer whether the sEMG signal derived from the SERA device, effort parameters and oxygen consumption have an association with weaning failure. Participants will be measured while performing a spontaneous breathing trial.

A Study on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tolerance Standards for Healthy Chinese Population

This project intends to conduct a large-sample, prospective, multicenter clinical cohort study in healthy populations. By utilizing a digital cardiopulmonary rehabilitation clinical data research platform, The investigators aim to achieve automated, standardized, and uniform collection, analysis, and AI modeling of large-scale cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) data. The ultimate goals are: To establish reference standards for cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in the Chinese healthy population. To develop machine learning-based predictive models for key CPET variables (e.g., peak VO₂) tailored to Chinese demographics. To compare performance differences between domestically produced and imported CPET devices.

Oxygen Consumption (VO2), Effort, and Weaning in the Mechanically Ventilated Patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

In patients who are mechanically ventilated for more than 72 hours weaning failure is a common issue. The Spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is often done to assess if the patient can be extubated with a high chance of success. However, re-intubation rates are between 15 - 20 % after a successful SBT. The rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) is an important parameter used in an SBT. Because the high incidence of extubation failure (re-intubation within 48 hours) a search for a better parameter than the RSBI is warranted. Using the measured end-tidal oxygen (etO2) of mechanically ventilated patients it is possible to calculate the VO2, which is a measure of patient effort. The VO2 is a parameter with the potential to predict weaning success or failure, together with other parameters of patient effort like the work of breathing (WOB), pressure time product (PTP) and esophageal pressure swings, reflecting muscle strength of the diaphragm. Therefore, the investigators want to investigate if these parameters are associated with an SBT success or failure.