Herzberg Am Harz

Researchers are evaluating two medications, prednisolone and colchicine, for treating acute gout attacks, a common rheumatic disease where urate crystals cause severe joint pain. This study focuses on patients treated in general practice, including those with common health conditions often excluded in past research. The goal is to determine if prednisolone is comparable or only slightly less effective than colchicine in reducing pain during gout attacks. This phase 4 trial is conducted as a double-blind, randomized, controlled study across multiple university sites in Germany. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either prednisolone or colchicine tablets for five days, with both groups also receiving placebo tablets to maintain blinding. The study uses the double-dummy method to ensure neither patients nor doctors know which treatment is given. Additionally, participants have the option to undergo a dual-energy CT scan of their feet to detect urate crystal deposits, which may provide insights into disease burden. During the study, patients will visit their general practitioner twice: once at the start and again after about one week. They will complete daily diaries tracking pain, joint swelling, tenderness, and any additional pain medication use for six days. Blood tests will check uric acid levels, inflammation, and kidney function. After four weeks, participants will be contacted by phone to assess recovery, recurrence, treatment, work incapacity, and side effects. The main measurement is the highest pain level reported on day 3 after starting treatment.

Researchers are evaluating the treatment and disease progression in men with recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer through a long-term registry study. The study includes patients with four distinct prostate cancer conditions: biochemical recurrence after surgery or radiation, non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Each group is studied independently during different time periods to better understand their treatment courses and disease outcomes. There is no specific treatment assigned by the study. Instead, patients receive care according to the usual medical practice at their treatment centers. Treatments may vary and are decided by each patient's doctor. Data is collected at routine visits after enrollment, then every 3 or 6 months, and whenever therapy changes. This includes recording treatments, disease status, quality of life questionnaires (FACT-P and EQ-5D-5L), and collection of biomaterial. Participants will be involved in regular follow-up visits where their disease progression and therapy details are documented. The study monitors therapy frequencies and patterns for an average of 7 years. Researchers assess these long-term outcomes along with quality of life and other clinical data to better understand prostate cancer management in real-world settings.