Heat Flash

Increasing heat exposure caused by climate change is affecting communities worldwide, especially those living in poor housing conditions such as informal settlements and low-income households. This research aims to study the impact of applying sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings on indoor temperatures and overall health. The trial is a global, multi-center, cluster-randomized controlled study conducted in five urban climate hotspots across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, where heat exposure and vulnerable housing conditions pose significant health risks. The study compares households that receive a cool roof coating, which reflects sunlight and reduces indoor heat, with those that keep their original roofs. The cool roof coating works by reflecting ultraviolet and visible sunlight and radiating absorbed heat, thus lowering indoor temperatures and energy use. The trial will run over a 12-month period, including the hottest months of the year, to measure the effects on health, indoor environment, and economic outcomes. Participants will undergo repeated measurements including resting heart rate, blood glucose control, depression symptoms, and various health and environmental factors over the course of the study. Data will be collected at baseline and multiple times during the hottest months and alternate months. Researchers will monitor indoor air temperature, humidity, heat index, and household energy use continuously. The study seeks to provide evidence on whether cool roofs can improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing in vulnerable populations facing extreme heat.

Researchers are evaluating whether blue light (BL) photobiomodulation can improve healing of donor site wounds in adult patients with intermediate or deep burn injuries treated surgically. The study aims to find out if adding BL therapy to standard care reduces healing time, improves wound conditions, reduces pain and infection signs, is safe, and enhances long-term scar quality. Burn injuries often require skin grafting, and donor sites can have complications that affect healing and patient comfort. Participants will receive standard wound care on both donor sites, with one site also receiving weekly BL therapy using a medical device for 60 seconds per session over 3-4 weeks. The donor site on the right side will get BL plus standard care, while the left side will receive only standard care. This intra-patient controlled design allows direct comparison of healing between treated and untreated areas within the same patient. During the treatment period, participants will have weekly clinical evaluations including wound observation, pain assessments, skin swabs for infection, and photographic documentation. After complete healing, follow-up visits at 1 and 3 months will assess scar quality and check for late side effects. Safety monitoring will record any adverse reactions related to the blue light treatment throughout the study. The total study duration per participant spans about 4-5 weeks of treatment plus follow-up.

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a serious risk, especially for people with weakened immune systems. This research focuses on adults with severe burn injuries, as a previous study showed that about 31.6% of such patients developed IFDs, which greatly impact health and survival. The study aims to understand why some burn patients develop these infections while others do not, looking particularly at how burn injuries affect immune responses and skin barriers. This observational study involves adult burn patients who have experienced significant burns covering at least 15% of their body surface area and were admitted within 4 days of injury. Researchers will collect biological samples, including blood, rectal swabs, and skin swabs from burned areas, at multiple times: day 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. These samples will help study the body's antifungal immune response and its role in infection development. Participants will be followed during their hospital stay for up to 18 months. Researchers will monitor the onset of invasive fungal disease, survival at 30 and 90 days, organ failure, severity scores, days without kidney or ventilation support, and length of ICU and hospital stays. The study involves regular biological sampling and clinical assessments to track immune status and health outcomes related to fungal infections in burn patients.

Researchers are investigating whether Iyengar Yoga can have a rejuvenating effect on women after menopause by assessing their biofunctional status before and after the program. This randomized clinical trial includes postmenopausal women who experience frequent hot flushes and aims to compare the effects of a 12-week yoga intervention against no yoga practice. Participants are recruited from a university hospital and public advertisements, with careful screening for eligibility. The study involves two groups: the intervention group attends weekly 90-minute Iyengar Yoga classes led by a professional instructor and is asked to perform two additional 45-minute yoga sessions at home each week, recording these in a diary. The control group does not participate in yoga classes but undergoes the same biofunctional assessments. Both groups will have their biofunctional status measured at the start and after the 12-week period. Participants will be assessed for their biofunctional status, including blood sample collection and evaluations related to hot flushes, inflammation markers, and oxidative balance. Researchers will monitor adherence through yoga session attendance and home practice diaries. The main outcome is the change in biofunctional age after 12 weeks. The study continues until the end of 2025, with safety and health status carefully monitored throughout.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding a low-dose ketamine infusion during burn wound care can safely relieve pain and reduce opioid use compared to the current standard treatment with fentanyl and midazolam. This phase 4 randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study aims to improve pain management for patients with burn injuries. The study is sponsored by the University of Tennessee and focuses on assessing analgesia and opioid consumption during wound care procedures. Participants will receive either a ketamine infusion at 0.3 mg/kg/hr or a saline placebo. The infusion starts one hour before wound care, continues during the procedure, and lasts for one hour afterward. Two study arms compare ketamine to placebo to determine if ketamine provides better pain relief and reduces opioid needs. During the study, participants will be closely monitored for pain levels using numeric rating scales and opioid consumption for up to seven days after enrollment. Safety and pain relief will be assessed to understand the effects of ketamine in this setting. The trial includes follow-up visits and evaluations to track outcomes and adverse events over this period.

Researchers are evaluating whether paraffin wax can improve the range of motion and function of burn scars that cross joints when used alongside scar rehabilitation therapy. This trial focuses on burn patients with scars affecting joints such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, or ankle. The study aims to gather new information about paraffin wax as an additional treatment to exercise therapy, as current options for improving joint movement in burn scars are limited. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one will receive standard exercise therapy alone, and the other will receive exercise therapy combined with paraffin wax treatment applied to the scar. The paraffin wax is applied for 15 minutes before the exercise therapy sessions, which include scar massage, exercises, and functional activities. The study involves four exercise therapy sessions over about eight weeks, conducted in an outpatient setting. Before starting treatment, participants will attend a pre-treatment visit where scar assessments will be performed, including photos, range of motion measurements, imaging, and questionnaires about symptoms and function. At each visit, various measurements such as scar stiffness, water loss, skin temperature, pain, and itch will be taken. The study will carefully monitor changes in range of motion and other scar characteristics to evaluate the effect of paraffin wax during rehabilitation. The total participation period lasts around eight weeks with regular follow-ups.

Researchers are conducting a multicenter, randomized, double-blind Phase II clinical trial to study the safety, effectiveness, and immune response of KJ101 for removing dead tissue in deep second-degree burns. This trial also examines how the body processes KJ101 and will help support future Phase III studies. The study compares different doses of KJ101 with an active drug, chymotrypsin, and a placebo. Participants will be assigned to one of four groups: KJ101 at 800 U/mL, KJ101 at 1200 U/mL, chymotrypsin at 800 U/mL, or placebo. All treatments are applied locally to the burn wound once daily until the dead tissue is fully removed, then every other day until the wound heals or up to 28 days. After treatment ends, there is a one-week safety follow-up. During the study, participants will undergo assessments of wound healing time, pain levels, and removal of dead tissue. Blood tests will measure drug levels and immune responses. The main outcome is monitoring adverse events by day 35. The total study duration includes treatment up to 28 days plus a safety follow-up week.

This research aims to evaluate and compare the effects of foot reflexology and acupressure on sleep disturbances and hot flashes in postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55 years. These women experience moderate to severe hot flashes and sleep problems affecting their daily activities and social life. The study addresses a significant health issue as hot flashes are common and distressing during menopause, and alternative treatments are sought by many to alleviate symptoms. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive foot reflexology involving manual pressure on specific reflex points on the feet related to various glands and organs, applied for 15 minutes per session, three times a week, over six weeks. The other group will receive acupressure on four key acupoints on the wrists, feet, neck, and forehead for 21 minutes per session with the same frequency and duration. Both treatments are non-invasive complementary therapies studied for their impact on menopausal symptoms. During the study, researchers will assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and measure hot flashes severity with a questionnaire, both before and immediately after the treatment period. Participants' body mass index and menopausal symptom severity will be monitored. The study includes strict eligibility checks and excludes those with recent hormone therapy, mental disorders affecting sleep, or other relevant conditions. The trial spans six weeks of treatment with evaluations at the beginning and end, aiming to provide valuable insights into alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms.

The trial investigates the effects of using a hologram fan to reduce pain, anxiety, and fear in children aged 3 to 12 during burn dressing procedures. Burn injuries can cause both physical harm and significant psychological distress, especially in pediatric patients who often experience intense discomfort and anxiety during dressing changes. This study aims to explore whether hologram technology, which creates three-dimensional visual illusions, can help distract children and improve their experience during these treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group will receive a visual distraction using a hologram fan during burn dressing changes, while the control group will undergo standard dressing procedures without any distraction method. The hologram fan uses LED lights on fast-spinning blades to create realistic 3D images that engage children's attention. Both groups will have their pain, anxiety, and fear levels measured before, during, and after dressings, with data collected until the planned number of participants is reached. Throughout the study, children’s vital signs such as pulse and respiration will be monitored during each dressing application. Pain will be assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, and fear will be measured with the Children's Fear Scale. The study will track these outcomes over the course of the dressing procedures to evaluate the potential benefits of hologram distraction. Participation will last for the duration of the dressing treatments required by each child.

Researchers are evaluating a new type of nerve block called the Lateral, Anterior, Medial (LAM) femoral cutaneous block in patients undergoing split-thickness skin grafting surgeries. The study focuses on patients who have donor sites on the thigh, where postoperative pain can be significant. Traditional nerve blocks may reduce pain but can cause loss of motor function; this study aims to see if the LAM block can reduce sensation in the thigh area without affecting leg movement. The LAM nerve block is a relatively new approach designed to target the lateral and anterior femoral cutaneous nerves, providing pain relief specifically to the anterolateral thigh area. This observational case series involves mapping the area of sensation change after the nerve block is applied to each patient. The main measure is the size of the area with altered sensation around 20 minutes after the nerve block placement. Participants will be monitored shortly after the nerve block is given to assess sensory changes and ensure motor function is preserved. Researchers will collect data on how consistent the sensation changes are and how large the affected area is. The study is led by the University of Washington and is planned to run until the end of 2026. Participants will be adults scheduled for skin graft surgeries with donor sites on the thigh and will be observed during their normal surgical care without additional treatments.