Clinical Research Directory

The RheumSafer Study: Improving Medication Appropriateness in People With Rheumatic Conditions

People with rheumatic conditions often take many medications, but more pills can increase the risk of side effects, especially in older adults. Some drugs (such as those intended to help pain or sleep) may cause more harm than good in the long term, and others may simply be no longer needed. These are known as 'potentially inappropriate medications' (PIMs). This quality improvement study focuses on people with rheumatic conditions aged 60 and over who take 5 or more daily medications. The goal of the study is to learn if a publicly available physician tool, MedSafer, combined with educational brochures (for patients), can help to reduce PIMs in this group. Researchers will follow participants during usual rheumatic disease care. They will compare the rate of PIM deprescribing (stopping medications or reducing the dose) before and after the introduction of the following 'bundle': * MedSafer reports provided to treating physicians * EMPOWER consumer brochures provided to patients Participants will be followed over 4 study visits (for 14-18 months) during which researchers will collect information on medication changes and serious adverse events (emergency visits or hospitalizations) and will complete questionnaires measuring quality of life.

Prophylactic Tranexamic Acid Reduces Postpartum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the most significant leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in high-risk cesarean delivery women. Systemic autoimmune diseases are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including PPH, preeclampsia, thromboembolism, abortion, and intrauterine growth restriction. The incidence of PPH in women with systemic lupus erythematosus has been reported to be as high as 34%. Prevention of PPH is the key to reduce complications in high-risk women. In recent years, a large number of clinical studies have confirmed that the early preventive use of tranexamic acid(TXA) can reduce the amount of blood loss, the need for additional uterine contraction agents, the risk of blood transfusion, and maternal adverse outcomes, and do not increase the risk of thromboembolic events, which can be used to prevent PPH. However, the study population of TXA is mainly low-risk puerpera, and there is still a lack of relevant research on TXA used in pregnant women with systemic autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TXA in preventing postpartum hemorrhage after cesarean delivery in women with systemic autoimmune disease, as well as the maternal and neonatal risks associated with systemic autoimmune disease, to provide evidence for clinical practice and further research.