Nicosia

Researchers are evaluating the BETTER4U personalized intervention aimed at preventing obesity by improving weight management through tailored behavioral and biological strategies. This pilot study, part of a broader European Union-funded project, seeks to assess the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of the BETTER4U mobile application and intervention platform. The study involves adults aged 18 to 65 from seven countries, focusing on collecting data to refine AI models designed to support personalized weight management interventions. The study includes two main groups general population participants, called end-users, who will use a smartwatch and the BETTER4U mobile app for 21 days to monitor lifestyle behaviors such as eating, physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep, as well as environmental factors. Healthcare professionals, called implementers, will test the BETTER4U Intervention Platform and app for 7 days using synthetic data and their own wearable data to assess system usability and validate AI algorithms. Both groups receive training on their respective tools at the start of their participation periods. Participants will regularly use wearable devices and the mobile app to collect passive data and self-reports, complete online questionnaires, and provide feedback on usability and acceptability through validated surveys. Researchers will measure outcomes such as system usability, intervention acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness scores at the end of each groups participation period. The collected data will help optimize AI models and intervention delivery methods before a larger randomized controlled trial. Total participation lasts 21 days for end-users and 7 days for implementers, with ongoing monitoring of app usage and engagement metrics.

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm BPDCN is a very rare blood cancer with no agreed-upon best treatment. Researchers are working internationally to gather detailed information on how BPDCN presents, how it is diagnosed, the treatments patients receive, and their outcomes. The study aims to build a large database to better understand the disease and to develop treatment recommendations based on collected data. This study is an international registry collecting information from multiple centers about patients diagnosed with BPDCN. It includes both retrospective and prospective data from patients worldwide. The data collected covers patient details, disease characteristics, treatment information, outcomes, causes of death, and the conclusion of data collection. Consent will be obtained from prospective patients, and quality control is managed by the Immune Oncology Research Institute. Participants will provide information through questionnaires completed by their treatment centers. Researchers will analyze overall survival, complete remission rates, duration of first remission, and event-free survival over five years. This observational study does not involve treatment but gathers and monitors detailed clinical data to improve understanding and guide future therapies for BPDCN.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH is a common condition affecting many men as they age, often leading to lower urinary tract symptoms LUTS. Due to a growing and aging population, the number of men diagnosed with BPH continues to rise, making treatment for this condition one of the most performed surgical procedures in urology. This research aims to establish a global, ongoing registry that collects detailed demographic and clinical data on men undergoing medical or surgical treatments for BPH to better understand treatment patterns and outcomes worldwide. The registry records information from men aged 18 and older with a primary diagnosis of BPH and LUTS who are receiving either medication or surgical intervention. Data collected includes baseline demographics, peri-operative details, and follow-up outcomes with no actual interventions performed by the registry team. The study uses validated patient-reported outcome measures like the International Prostate Symptom Score IPSS, Sexual Health Inventory for Men SHIM, and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire for Ejaculatory Dysfunction MSHQ-EjD, along with clinical data such as quality of life, urine flow rates, prostate-specific antigen levels, and complications related to treatment. Participants provide data over a period of three years with ongoing follow-up and no fixed end date, allowing for long-term observation of treatment effectiveness and safety. The registry also ensures data security and quality through encryption, user access controls, and regular audits. Researchers will analyze outcomes including symptom scores, quality of life, post-void residual urine, and complications like incontinence, bleeding, urinary tract infections, and erectile dysfunction, aiming to inform future BPH management and research.

Researchers are evaluating two interventions to manage cognitive symptoms resulting from long COVID. This experimental study will compare a Categorization Program CP training combined with either active transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS or sham tDCS. The study aims to better understand how these treatments affect cognition in individuals experiencing post-COVID cognitive difficulties. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the experimental group receiving active tDCS combined with the CP cognitive training, and the control group receiving sham tDCS with CP training. Both interventions involve 15 one-hour sessions over three weeks, with two tDCS sessions plus cognitive training delivered during each session in the experimental group, and cognitive training with sham tDCS in the control group. The study uses updated neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments to evaluate changes before and after treatment. During the study, participants will undergo diagnostic protocols including neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy fNIRS will be used before and after the intervention to assess brain function. Outcome measures include tests from the Categorization Program, probe tasks at various points during treatment, and quality of life and dysexecutive questionnaires. The total intervention lasts six weeks, with assessments conducted pre- and post-training to monitor cognitive and quality of life changes.

This research evaluates the effects of different postoperative treatments in adults undergoing impacted mandibular third molar wisdom tooth surgery. It compares the standard postoperative care alone, platelet-rich fibrin PRF placement, and PRF combined with corticosteroid treatment to understand their impact on recovery. The study is randomized and includes 60 participants divided into three groups, aiming to reduce common complications such as pain, swelling, and limited mouth opening after surgery. Participants receive one of three treatments following surgery standard care with antibiotics, pain medication, and mouthwash standard care plus PRF applied to the extraction socket or standard care with PRF plus an intramuscular corticosteroid injection. PRF is prepared from the participants own blood and placed into the surgical site immediately after tooth removal. The corticosteroid is given once by injection right after surgery. During the study, participants will be monitored for postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after surgery. Follow-up visits will assess these recovery measures, and participants must be able to attend all scheduled visits. The study tracks the effectiveness of the treatments in improving healing and reducing complications within the first week after surgery. This trial is expected to finish by August 2026.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of exercise combined with blood flow restriction BFR in patients who have a complete anterior cruciate ligament ACL rupture. This randomized clinical trial aims to determine if adding BFR provides extra benefits to the conservative treatment of ACL injuries and whether using a knee brace promotes spontaneous healing. The study compares two groups one receiving bracing combined with BFR exercise and the other receiving bracing with sham BFR, to understand the added value of BFR in managing ACL rupture. Participants in the intervention group will wear a knee brace for 6 weeks, with adjustments made in phases to gradually increase knee movement and weight bearing. They will follow a detailed exercise program that progresses through phases, starting with isometric contractions and advancing to resistance exercises and gait training, all performed under BFR except for some later exercises. The control group follows the same splinting and exercise plan but with sham BFR instead of real blood flow restriction. Both groups will continue home-based exercises monitored through an electronic platform that ensures proper execution and compliance. Throughout the study, participants will undergo initial assessments including MRI, strength tests, swelling measurement, knee laxity evaluation, pain scales, and functional scores. Strength, swelling, and pain will be reassessed during weeks 2 and 4, with a final evaluation at the end of the 12-week intervention including all initial measures. Compliance with the home exercise program will be tracked digitally. The main outcome measured is strength, with secondary outcomes including MRI changes, knee stability, balance, swelling, pain, and patient-reported outcomes. The trial follows a double-blind, randomized design to provide reliable data on the benefits of BFR in ACL rupture treatment.

This observational study aims to collect clinical information on the safety and performance of the NEXUS Aortic Arch Stent Graft System and the Custom-Made NEXUS DUO Aortic Arch Stent Graft System for treating aortic aneurysms. The main questions focus on early mortality, safety outcomes, device failure, and procedural and hospitalization details. Participants are treated according to standard care at their institutions. Participants receive treatment per their institutions standard of care using either the NEXUS Aortic Arch Stent Graft System or the custom-made NEXUS DUO Aortic Arch Stent Graft System. The study includes both prospective and retrospective data collection with two groups based on the device used. Follow-up information is collected for up to five years after treatment. During the study, researchers will gather data on mortality at 30 days and 12 months, major adverse events, device failure, and other safety outcomes. Participants will undergo regular follow-up visits to monitor these outcomes and collect hospitalization and procedural information. The study is designed to observe real-world use of these devices and understand their longer-term safety and performance.

Researchers are investigating the effects of beta-blocker use in adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation TAVI for severe aortic valve stenosis. This trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical study aiming to evaluate whether continuing or withdrawing beta-blockers around the time of TAVI affects the need for permanent pacemaker implantation and other cardiac outcomes. The study addresses a gap in knowledge about beta-blocker safety and impact during and after TAVI, a procedure increasingly used for high-risk patients with severe valve disease. Participants are randomly assigned to either continue taking beta-blockers or to stop them at least 72 hours before TAVI and for at least 7 days after the procedure. Treatment groups receive standard care, including antithrombotic and antibiotic medications, and undergo TAVI with decisions on valve type, anesthesia, and other procedural details made by experienced operators. After TAVI, beta-blockers may be restarted in the withdrawal group after 7 days, while the continuation group maintains beta-blocker use for the same period. The study includes a screening phase, randomization, treatment, and follow-up visits. During the study, participants will have medical history reviews, physical exams, ECGs, blood tests, and echocardiograms before and after TAVI. Follow-up visits occur at hospital discharge, 7 days, 30 days, and 12 months post-TAVI to monitor for pacemaker implantation, arrhythmias, mortality, shock, and conduction abnormalities. The primary outcome is the rate of permanent pacemaker implantation within 7 days of TAVI. Secondary outcomes include mortality and various heart rhythm and conduction issues over 12 months. Safety is closely monitored with protocol adherence and adverse event tracking throughout the study period.

This research aims to evaluate how mindfulness meditation affects sleep quality, stress levels, and symptoms in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It is a randomized controlled trial conducted in hemodialysis units in Northern Cyprus, focusing on adults aged 18 to 75 years who are receiving hemodialysis treatment. The study compares a mindfulness meditation program with routine care to understand its impact on these health aspects. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will take part in a structured 4-week mindfulness meditation program, which includes weekly guided sessions and home practice, alongside their routine hemodialysis care. The control group will continue receiving routine hemodialysis care without the meditation program. Before and after the 4-week program, researchers will use validated tools to assess sleep quality, perceived stress, and symptom levels. Participants will be evaluated at the start and after completing the intervention using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Perceived Stress Scale, and Dialysis Symptom Index. The study will monitor these outcomes to understand the effects of mindfulness meditation in this patient population.

Researchers are evaluating an intervention combining behavioral recommendations and technical measures to reduce heat and air pollution exposure and related health effects in older adults with hypertension. The main focus is to see if this intervention can lower personal ambient temperature and indoor air pollution exposure, and improve abnormal circadian blood pressure patterns in this population. The study compares a control group, a group receiving heat mitigation recommendations, and a group receiving both heat recommendations and continuous use of indoor air cleaners. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups no intervention, heat intervention with personal alerts and recommendations delivered via mobile and online tools, or heat and air pollution intervention with alerts plus continuous use of air cleaners with HEPA filters in homes and workplaces. The interventions last for two months, during which participants continue their daily activities while following assigned recommendations. During the study, participants will wear a device for continuous personal ambient temperature monitoring and have core temperature measured using a medical capsule at three time points. Advanced actigraphy will assess blood pressure, oxygen saturation, ECG, and heart rate variability in three repeated assessments. Participants will also provide urine and blood samples for biomarker analysis. Researchers will measure several outcomes including night-time blood pressure dipping, sleep quality, heart rate variability, indoor air pollution levels, and various blood and urine markers throughout the follow-up.