Opava 1

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of astegolimab compared to a placebo in adults aged 40 to 80 years who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study focuses on participants who are former or current smokers with a history of frequent COPD flare-ups. This phase III trial aims to determine how well astegolimab reduces moderate and severe COPD exacerbations over one year. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either subcutaneous astegolimab every two or four weeks or a placebo every two weeks. All participants will continue their optimized COPD maintenance treatments, which may include combinations of inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, and long-acting muscarinic antagonists. Study treatments will be administered over a 52-week period. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor the annual rate of moderate and severe COPD exacerbations. Participants will undergo lung function tests, chest imaging, and assessments of breathlessness and lung health. The study will also carefully track the safety of the treatments, including any infections or heart-related problems. The total participation time is 52 weeks, during which the effectiveness and safety of astegolimab will be evaluated.

This research aims to evaluate the long-term safety and explore the effectiveness of astegolimab in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have already completed a 52-week treatment in previous studies GB43311 or GB44332. The study focuses on participants aged 40 to 90 years and is a Phase III open-label extension trial designed to continue monitoring patients after their initial treatment period. Participants will receive astegolimab as a subcutaneous injection every two weeks during this extension study. This treatment continues from the prior placebo-controlled phase, allowing researchers to observe any ongoing effects and safety concerns over a longer period. The study does not include a placebo group during this extension phase, and all participants receive the active treatment. Throughout the study, researchers will closely monitor participants for any adverse events up to 12 weeks after the last dose of astegolimab. Participants will be assessed regularly to ensure their safety and to gather data on the treatment's long-term impact. The total duration of participant involvement depends on when they completed the parent studies but involves continued monitoring during and after the treatment period.

This research aims to improve early detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the Czech Republic. It is a national, prospective, multicenter, non-interventional pilot project conducted in 18 clinical centers. The goal is to prepare, implement, and evaluate a screening process for early HCV detection and to develop new methods to integrate this screening into social healthcare systems. The project also seeks to reduce further transmission of HCV by identifying gaps in ongoing care for this population. Participants will undergo testing for hepatitis C antibodies to determine past exposure to the virus. Those who test positive for antibodies will receive further testing for HCV RNA and genotype to confirm active infection. Approximately 3,000 PWID will be enrolled to test the screening procedure and assess its effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Participants will be screened and monitored until December 31, 2025, with researchers tracking the incidence of HCV in the screened cohort. The study will help create a methodology for continuous care from early diagnosis through treatment and propose system changes to make screening more efficient. The project is supported by European and Czech funding and registered by national authorities.

Researchers are conducting an observational, non-interventional, multicenter study to prospectively collect, store, and analyze biological samples from patients with conditions including Multiple Myeloma, Smoldering Multiple Myeloma, Plasma Cell Leukemia, Extramedullary Myeloma, and MGUS. The study aims to establish a common international infrastructure for gathering standard clinical information at the start and during treatment while uniformly collecting and storing biological samples. The main intervention involves the collection and storage of biological samples from participants. The study does not involve treatment but focuses on creating a biobank that can be used for long-term research purposes, with sample storage planned for up to 30 years. Participants will provide written informed consent and contribute biological samples and clinical data. Researchers will monitor compliance with study requirements and follow-up schedules. The primary outcome is the establishment and maintenance of a biobank over a long-term period, supporting future research and analysis.

Researchers are conducting a pilot study in the Czech Republic to examine the use of the magnetic seed Sirius Pintuition for locating non-palpable malignant breast tumors and pathological lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. This study focuses on patients who have breast cancer confirmed by biopsy and require surgery. The goal is to evaluate this device's use for precise tumor localization before surgery. Patients in this study will have their non-palpable breast cancer or affected lymph nodes localized using the magnetic seed Sirius Pintuition device. This procedure is done prior to breast cancer surgery performed at the Surgical Department of Silesian Hospital in Opava. The magnetic seed helps guide surgeons during the removal of the tumor or lymph nodes. Participants will be involved in the study through their surgery and localization process. Researchers will monitor outcomes related to the localization and surgical procedure over a one-year period, including specific hypotheses being tested. The study involves following patients who agree to participate, with assessments focused on the effectiveness of tumor localization and related surgical outcomes.