Efficacy

This research aims to evaluate how a structured productivity training program affects nurses' perceived job stress and their attitudes toward productivity. The study is designed as a randomized controlled experimental trial with assessments before the training, immediately after, and three months later. Researchers want to see if nurses who receive the training report lower stress and better productivity attitudes compared to those who do not. The study involves two groups: an experimental group that receives a three-week productivity training totaling 20 hours, and a control group that receives no training during the same period. The training covers nursing productivity concepts, time and stress management, teamwork, leadership, digital tools, and coping with job stress. Various teaching methods like lectures, case studies, simulations, and group work are used to improve cognitive, emotional, and practical skills. Participants will complete assessments using the Nurses' Attitudes Toward Productivity Scale and the Perceived Job Stress Scale at three time points: before training, right after the training, and three months later. The control group also completes these assessments without receiving training during the study but will get access to the training materials afterward. The total study duration includes the training period plus follow-up assessments to monitor lasting effects.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of biological agents in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), a condition that often affects people with severe bronchial asthma. The study follows guidelines from ISHAM for ABPA diagnosis and treatment, aiming to understand how biologics can impact this condition. This is a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study sponsored by Qianfoshan Hospital. Participants receive standard medical treatment consisting of oral prednisone with a tapering dose over several weeks, with or without oral voriconazole. Some patients also receive biological agents combined with this standard therapy for at least four months, following GINA2025 guidelines. The biologics are given alongside existing asthma treatments, such as inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists. The study compares groups receiving biologics plus standard treatment versus standard treatment alone. During the study, researchers monitor participants for one to two years, assessing the number of exacerbations, hospitalizations, time to first exacerbation, remission rates, glucocorticoid use, asthma control, and various immune markers such as serum IgE and eosinophil counts. Safety and overall mortality are also tracked. This extensive follow-up includes measuring treatment responses at eight weeks and ongoing assessments to evaluate long-term effects and disease control.

Researchers are conducting a long-term follow-up trial for patients who previously received imlifidase treatment before kidney transplantation. This trial includes patients from a prior study (PAES trial) who were transplanted with a new kidney, either after imlifidase treatment or standard care medication. The aim is to continue evaluating kidney function and safety over time, fulfilling European Medicines Agency requirements. Participants include those treated with imlifidase, an enzyme that breaks down certain antibodies to prevent kidney rejection, or those who received the best available treatment as per standard transplantation routines. The study follows patients for up to five years after transplantation to collect ongoing data. During the trial, patients will be monitored regularly for kidney graft survival, kidney function tests like estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and creatinine levels, antibody levels, rejection episodes, treatment of rejections, adverse events, and life participation changes. The trial tracks these outcomes at 2, 3, and 5 years post-transplantation to understand long-term efficacy and safety, with participation lasting up to five years.

Researchers are evaluating the combination of candenizumab, lenvatinib, and the SOX regimen for treating patients with HER2 negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma that cannot be removed by surgery. The study focuses on patients who have not previously received systemic treatment for their advanced or metastatic disease, aiming to measure the objective response rate and observe survival outcomes and safety. The sponsor is Fujian Medical University. The study includes a phase 1 ramp-up test to adjust the dose of lenvatinib, followed by phase 2 treatment with six cycles of the combined drugs given every three weeks. Patients who do not experience disease progression enter phase 3, which involves maintenance therapy with candenizumab, lenvatinib, and tigio also every three weeks. This multi-stage treatment plan is designed to evaluate the combination therapy's effects and safety over time. Participants will be monitored regularly with assessments of tumor response, survival times, and quality of life changes. Safety evaluations include tracking adverse events, dose adjustments, and treatment pauses. The study requires participants to have measurable lesions, normal organ function, and an estimated survival time longer than three months. The total study period extends through treatment and follow-up, allowing researchers to gather comprehensive data on treatment response and tolerability.

Apathy, characterized by loss of motivation and withdrawal, commonly affects many people after a stroke and significantly lowers quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. This research aims to evaluate if a fast-delivered form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) can be safe, tolerable, and helpful for treating apathy following stroke. The study is a randomized, double-blind trial designed to explore efficacy, safety, and other impacts beyond apathy in stroke survivors. The trial compares two groups: one receiving active accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) rTMS to the left dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and the other receiving a sham version that mimics the procedure without active stimulation. Participants receive 12 sessions daily over six treatment days within two weeks, totaling 72 sessions and 43,200 pulses. Brain imaging and neuronavigation guide precise treatment delivery, and the study uses advanced devices to ensure blinding and standardized targeting. Participants will be assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and one month later through clinical tests, brain MRIs, and questionnaires evaluating apathy and cognition. Safety is monitored throughout each treatment day, and participant retention and treatment acceptability are tracked. Outcomes include changes in apathy symptoms, cognition, and depression, as well as any adverse events, with the total involvement spanning the treatment period plus follow-up assessments.

Researchers are evaluating whether brief sounds or tones played during a limited recovery sleep period after 40 hours of sleep deprivation can enhance the restorative effects of sleep and improve performance during the following awake period. This study involves healthy adults aged 18 to 39 and aims to understand how acoustic stimulation during slow-wave sleep affects alertness and cognitive functions. Participants will experience two nights of approximately four-hour recovery sleep after sleep deprivation. During these recovery sleeps, one group will receive acoustic stimulation via the Philips SmartSleep device during slow-wave sleep, while the other group will receive sham treatment without acoustic stimulation. The device is applied prior to bedtime on both recovery nights to deliver or withhold the acoustic signals. Throughout the study, participants' performance and alertness will be assessed using various tests including the Psychomotor Vigilance Task, mathematical processing tests, mood scales, and sleepiness scales over several days. Sleep and wakefulness will also be monitored via polysomnographic recordings and actigraphy. The study includes safety monitoring and adherence checks, with total participation spanning multiple days to capture effects during and after sleep deprivation and recovery.

Researchers are studying different warm-up methods in young competitive swimmers to see how they affect athletic performance. The focus is on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE), a technique thought to improve performance after short bursts of intense activity. The study compares three warm-up protocols added to the swimmers' usual routine, measuring their impact on jump height and swim times over various distances. The study involves four groups: one doing squats with elastic bands, one performing drop jumps from a box, one combining both exercises, and a control group that follows no special warm-up. Each exercise protocol has specific sets, repetitions, and recovery times to evaluate their effects. The squats use different resistance bands, while the drop jumps use a 45 cm box for plyometric training. Participants will undergo baseline assessments before warm-ups and repeated tests immediately after and up to 12 minutes later. Measurements include countermovement jump height, swim times, skin temperature, heart rate, muscle oxygen levels, and perceived exertion. The study uses a randomized design and statistical analysis to compare results, aiming to identify the most effective warm-up for young swimmers. The study will run from December 2025 to February 2026.

Researchers are exploring the use of adebrelimab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This phase II, single-arm study aims to evaluate the pathological complete response (pCR) rate after surgery and assess the safety of this treatment approach. The study is motivated by the need for more effective and well-tolerated therapies, as current standard treatments have limitations including higher recurrence and surgical complexity. Participants will receive at least two cycles of neoadjuvant therapy every three weeks, consisting of intravenous adebrelimab at 20 mg/kg on day 1, combined with chemotherapy drugs given on day 2. Chemotherapy includes either cisplatin or carboplatin along with liposomal paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel. All patients undergo surgery following neoadjuvant treatment. The trial also plans to develop organoids from tumor and normal tissue for future research. During the study, patients will be monitored for pathological response, safety including treatment-related and immune-related adverse events, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes include major pathological response, objective response rate, tumor downstaging, surgery success, and perioperative complications. Exploratory endpoints include overall and relapse-free survival. The study involves detailed pathological evaluations at the end of 2 to 4 treatment cycles and aims for comprehensive assessment of treatment impact over the course of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery.

Researchers are investigating ischemic stroke cases in patients who are on oral anticoagulants due to atrial fibrillation or other cardioembolic arrhythmias. This observational study, called ASPERA, aims to understand the characteristics of these stroke cases and to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of different strategies used to prevent recurrent strokes. The study includes both retrospective and prospective data collection from multiple centers worldwide, coordinated by the University of L'Aquila. The study has two parts: ASPERA-R and ASPERA-P. ASPERA-R collects retrospective data over five years, focusing on baseline demographic, clinical, and neuroimaging features of ischemic strokes in patients on oral anticoagulants. ASPERA-P enrolls patients prospectively for two years with follow-up for five years to assess risks of stroke recurrence and safety events under different secondary prevention approaches, such as continuing or changing oral anticoagulation. Participants will have their data collected at several time points, including hospital admission, discharge, and follow-ups at 90 days, 1 year, and 5 years after stroke. Assessments include clinical evaluations, neuroimaging exams, and monitoring for stroke recurrence, bleeding events, heart attacks, and mortality. The study tracks outcomes to better understand risks and to identify features linked to stroke recurrence and safety events, with total participation lasting up to seven years for prospective patients.

This research aims to understand how the length of time patients experience symptoms affects the results of lumbar spine surgery. It focuses on people with conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and disc herniation who have not improved after 3 to 6 months of conservative treatment. Surgery is considered when neurogenic claudication and positive imaging findings are present, with previous studies showing surgery can improve disability and pain for at least four years compared to conservative care. The study includes patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery for symptoms like lower back pain, radiculopathy, neurogenic claudication, leg weakness, and bowel or bladder issues. There is one study group consisting of these patients who will have surgery. The trial does not involve a comparison group or placebo, as it is observational and focuses on monitoring outcomes after surgery. Participants will be followed for at least six months after surgery. Researchers will assess disability, pain levels, musculoskeletal conditions, and patient satisfaction at this time. Data will be collected to evaluate how symptom duration before surgery relates to these outcomes. The study is sponsored by Kafrelsheikh University and plans to start in July 2025 and end in January 2026.