Death

Researchers are conducting the 100-Year Human Aging Study, an observational trial designed to follow participants over their lifespans to investigate which health measurements can predict mortality, serious diseases, and functional disability. The study aims to validate many longevity measures that currently lack prospective evidence by tracking physiological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that change with aging. This research will generate important data to improve understanding of aging and longevity medicine. Participants undergo comprehensive multi-system clinical screenings including tests like cardiopulmonary exercise testing, body composition assessment by DEXA, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, neurocognitive testing, sensory assessments, metabolic testing, and detailed medical and social histories. The study allows for different levels of participation, from single tests to full two-visit screening batteries, and encourages repeat testing to capture health changes over time. During the study, participants receive individualized reports including investigational estimates of biological age and predicted cause of death. Researchers collect data on mortality, serious health events, chronic diseases, functional ability, and lifestyle changes through periodic follow-up over many years, potentially up to 100 years. This extensive data collection helps evaluate how well these measurements predict aging outcomes. All data are stored in raw form for future analysis and participants are supported with ongoing contact and opportunities for repeat assessments.

Researchers are evaluating how well experienced intensive care unit (ICU) physicians and nurses can predict patient mortality within 28 days compared to three established scoring models: APACHE 2, MPM 2, and MODS. This study aims to determine whether medical staff predictions are as accurate or better than these models, which are used to guide ICU admission and care management decisions. It also explores which factors most influence the predictions made by ICU staff. This research is a prospective observational study involving about 2,000 patients admitted to the ICU between 2025 and 2027. For each patient, mortality risk will be calculated using the three scoring systems, while three senior ICU physicians and one experienced ICU nurse independently estimate the risk based on their clinical judgment. The reasons behind the medical and nursing staff's mortality risk assessments will also be documented. Participants will be monitored during their ICU stay, with mortality predictions recorded and compared over a 28-day period. The study measures how accurately ICU staff and scoring systems predict mortality, helping to assess the reliability of clinical judgment versus model-based scores. The findings may inform future ICU care strategies and patient management. The study is sponsored by Meir Medical Center and does not involve any intervention or treatment changes for participants.

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common condition often treated by neurosurgical evacuation and drainage of the hematoma. This research aims to compare two drainage methods after surgery: 24 hours of active subperiosteal drainage versus 24 hours of passive subdural drainage. The study is a nationwide, randomized clinical trial conducted across all neurosurgical units in Denmark to evaluate if active drainage is not worse than passive drainage in terms of safety and recurrence. Participants will be adults with symptomatic unilateral CSDH undergoing single burr hole evacuation. Before surgery, patients will be randomly assigned to receive either 24 hours of active subperiosteal drainage or 24 hours of passive subdural drainage. Both drainage methods are already in use, but a direct comparison has not been done. The trial will monitor patients for 90 days post-surgery to assess outcomes. During the study, participants will be evaluated for mortality and recurrence of CSDH requiring reoperation within 90 days. Other assessments include complications related to surgery, length of hospital stay, and functional outcomes measured by the simplified modified Rankin scale. The study uses a double-blind design for patients and statisticians and plans to enroll 354 participants over approximately two years.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of CS-1103 given by intravenous infusion in healthy adults aged 18 to 55. This study involves a fentanyl challenge combined with naloxone blockade to assess how CS-1103 interacts with these drugs. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial sponsored by Clear Scientific, Inc., focusing on fentanyl overdose and poisoning scenarios. Participants receive naloxone (400 mcg IV) first, followed by fentanyl (200 mcg IV), and then either CS-1103 (1,000 mg IV) or a placebo (saline) infusion. The trial compares the effects of CS-1103 against placebo under these controlled drug administration conditions. The study includes a single dose of the investigational drug administered intravenously after fentanyl and naloxone. During the study, participants are closely monitored for adverse events through physical exams, ECGs, vital signs, and laboratory tests over a period of three days plus a follow-up on Day 10. Blood and urine samples are collected for up to 48 hours to measure CS-1103 and fentanyl levels. The trial also evaluates the impact of CS-1103 on QT intervals and naloxone pharmacokinetics. Total participation lasts through these monitoring and follow-up periods to ensure safety and gather efficacy data.

This research aims to reduce Black-White maternal health disparities by using interventions to decrease bias in prenatal care, improve care coordination, and increase social support. Known as ACURE4Moms, this pragmatic 4-arm cluster randomized controlled trial involves 39 prenatal practices across North Carolina. The study focuses especially on reducing pregnancy complications and low birthweight deliveries among Black patients, who face higher risks related to institutional racism and discrimination. The study compares four groups: standard care with Medicaid care management for high-risk pregnancies; care management plus Data Accountability and Transparency interventions including electronic warning systems, disparities dashboards, and racial equity training; care management plus Community-Based Doula support providing culturally relevant care during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum; and a combination of both Data Accountability and Transparency and Doula Support interventions. Each practice participates for two years, initiating prenatal care for approximately 750 to 1,500 patients, with outcomes tracked through delivery and one year after birth. Participants include patients who self-identify as Black or African American receiving prenatal care at participating clinics. Researchers collect data from electronic health records on low birthweight and other pregnancy outcomes and gather patient experiences of discrimination through internet surveys at four time points from the first prenatal visit to three months postpartum. Additional interviews with staff, doulas, and facilitators help assess intervention fit. The study is led by a Stakeholder Advisory Board focusing on patient-centered outcomes and policy advocacy.

Researchers are evaluating a video intervention designed to improve advance care planning (ACP) discussions and hospice care knowledge among adult patients with serious illnesses receiving home-based medical care. The study aims to assess whether this video can enhance communication between patients and clinicians about patients' wishes for their medical care, ultimately supporting more patient-centered care. This is a randomized clinical trial involving 500 participants within the Clover Health House Calls Program. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives usual home-based care from their medical team. The second group receives usual care plus access to a specially designed ACP video during a visit from a trained study clinician. This clinician will discuss the video content with participants and answer any questions to support understanding of ACP and hospice care. During the study, participants will be monitored for hospice utilization up to one year or until death. Researchers will assess patient knowledge about advance care planning, patient confidence in care, satisfaction with clinician communication, and decisional satisfaction and certainty shortly after the intervention. Additional outcomes include documentation of resuscitation preferences and ACP in electronic health records. The study involves follow-up for up to one year to evaluate these outcomes and ensure comprehensive data collection on patient experiences and care choices.

This research aims to evaluate a new advanced wireless skin sensor system designed to monitor vital signs in healthy newborn infants of at least 35 weeks gestational age. The study focuses on assessing the feasibility, safety, and accuracy of this wireless system compared to the standard wired monitoring during the first two hours after birth, especially during unsupervised parental care in the obstetrical center. The goal is to improve early detection and prevention of Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC), a rare but serious condition affecting newborns shortly after delivery. Participants will have both the wireless monitoring system and the standard wired system placed on their chest and limb. For vaginal births, the wireless system is placed first, followed by the wired system after 15-20 minutes; for C-section births, the order of placement is randomized. Both monitoring systems remain in place for two hours to continuously record vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and skin temperature. During the study, newborns' vital signs will be recorded and compared between the two systems for up to two hours immediately after delivery. Researchers will evaluate the feasibility by checking for gaps in data and user satisfaction, assess safety through skin and pain scores, and measure accuracy using statistical comparisons. The study also includes monitoring the time between sensor placement and data display. Participation lasts only the initial two-hour period after birth, with monitoring done under real-world conditions in the obstetrical center.

Researchers are evaluating two different advice approaches on alcohol drinking in more than 10,000 Spanish adult drinkers aged 50 or older for men and 55 or older for women. The study aims to compare whether following a moderate alcohol drinking pattern, specifically the Mediterranean Alcohol Drinking Pattern (MADP), is not worse than abstaining from alcohol in preventing all-cause mortality and other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, depression, dementia, and infections. This large, randomized trial addresses the ongoing debate about alcohol consumption and health risks in older adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for four years. One group will receive advice to follow the MADP, which includes moderate alcohol consumption (7 or fewer drinks per week for women and 14 or fewer for men), avoiding binge drinking, preferring red wine consumed with meals, and spreading intake throughout the week. The other group will receive advice to abstain from alcohol. Both groups will receive support through quarterly remote sessions with specialized coaches, including psychologists and dietitians, involving small group meetings, personal interviews, and educational videos. During the study, participants will have four contacts per year for up to four years to receive their assigned advice and support. Researchers will monitor the incidence of a combined index of health outcomes including mortality, cardiovascular events, invasive cancer, liver cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, depression, dementia, serious injuries, and infections requiring hospitalization. Safety and adherence will be tracked through these regular contacts and assessments. The study's main measurement is the comparison of these health outcomes between the two groups over the intervention period.

Thick meconium in the amniotic fluid occurs in about one out of seven pregnancies and can increase the chance of breathing problems for newborns, such as needing oxygen or breathing support, NICU admission, or severe issues like meconium aspiration syndrome or persistent pulmonary hypertension. Previous studies on amnioinfusion—a procedure that places sterile fluid into the uterus during labor—had limitations like varied meconium types and inconsistent protocols. This trial aims to determine if a modern, standardized warm lactated Ringer's (LR) amnioinfusion can reduce newborn respiratory problems when thick meconium is present. Participants who are at least 36 weeks pregnant with confirmed thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid will be randomly assigned to either receive a warm LR amnioinfusion through an intrauterine pressure catheter or standard care without amnioinfusion. The intervention involves a 500 mL bolus of warmed LR infused over 30 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion until the fluid clears or delivery occurs. Ultrasound checks and infusion details are recorded to ensure the procedure follows a strict protocol. During the study, researchers will collect umbilical cord blood at birth to measure inflammation and brain injury markers. They will monitor newborn respiratory health for 72 hours, including oxygen needs, breathing support, NICU admission, and other complications. Families will be contacted when the child is 12 months old to complete a developmental questionnaire. The trial also tracks longer-term respiratory and healthcare outcomes, aiming to provide strong evidence for care during labor when thick meconium is present.

The study focuses on patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), a key part of modern healthcare that provides specialized care for critically ill individuals. It aims to analyze how patient outcomes and mortality rates have changed over time from 1991 to 2026 at the Hospital Universitario Getafe's 18-bed medical-surgical ICU. The research highlights the evolution of intensive care practices, particularly regarding mechanical ventilation and its impact on patient survival. This is an observational study that does not involve specific treatments or interventions. Instead, it reviews data collected over several decades, including changes in ICU management strategies, respiratory support techniques, and other critical care practices. The study covers various outcomes such as use of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU and hospital stay, and complications during ICU admission. Participants will have their medical records and outcomes analyzed retrospectively without additional procedures or interventions. Researchers will measure ICU mortality at 180 days as the primary outcome and also examine hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, mechanical ventilation use, length of stay, and complications over the same period. The study spans from patients admitted since 1991 through to 2026, providing a long-term view of ICU patient care evolution and outcomes.