Kota Makassar

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of adding metformin to standard multidrug therapy MDT for patients newly diagnosed with multibacillary leprosy. This double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial aims to see if metformin can reduce leprosy reactions, nerve damage, and corticosteroid use while assessing immunological responses. The study is supported by the Leprosy Research Initiative and conducted in Indonesia with participants aged 18 to 65. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either metformin or a placebo once daily. Metformin dosing starts at 500mg for two weeks, then increases to 1000mg for 22 weeks, alongside 48 weeks of standard MDT. The placebo group receives matching tablets to maintain blinding. The trial plans to enroll 166 patients to compare clinical outcomes between the two groups. During the 48-week study, participants will be regularly monitored for leprosy reactions, adverse events, nerve function, corticosteroid use, and quality of life through clinical assessments and questionnaires. The primary outcomes include the proportion of patients experiencing leprosy reactions and adverse events within specified timeframes. Secondary outcomes focus on reaction severity, timing, frequency, and impact on daily living. Safety and tolerability will also be closely observed throughout the study period.

This research investigates how different therapies compare in improving hand function for patients recovering from stroke. It focuses on three main interventions robotic therapy, exergame therapy using virtual reality, and standard rehabilitation. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments on functional recovery over time, changes in the blood protein Tenascin-C, and clinical outcomes among post-stroke patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups standard rehabilitation involving physical therapy exercises, exergame therapy combining conventional therapy with virtual reality hand exercises, or robotic therapy combining conventional therapy with robotic-assisted hand exercises. All treatments are scheduled three times a week for six weeks, with assessments conducted before and after the treatment period. During the study, participants will undergo tests measuring upper extremity motor ability using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, finger dexterity with the Nine Hole Peg Test, hand strength with a handgrip dynamometer, and Tenascin-C levels in the blood before and after therapy. Data collection includes interviews and physical exams, and progress will be tracked to compare the impact of each therapy. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the six-week training.

Researchers are studying whether adding mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome to standard stroke care and rehabilitation can improve cognitive recovery in adults who have had a subacute ischemic stroke. This pilot randomized controlled trial includes adults aged 40 to 75 years who experienced an ischemic stroke between 7 days and 3 months prior and have mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment. The study aims to evaluate changes in cognitive function using the Indonesian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives standard medical treatment and standardized stroke rehabilitation plus two doses of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome administered on day 1 and day 8. The other group receives the same standard care and rehabilitation without the secretome. Safety is monitored during and after secretome administration to observe for any adverse events. Throughout the study, participants undergo assessments of cognitive, neurological, and functional status, along with electrophysiological and biomarker evaluations at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Researchers measure outcomes including cognitive scores, brain wave patterns, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and interleukin-1 beta in the blood, stroke severity scales, and any treatment-related side effects. The study lasts approximately 8 weeks from baseline to final assessment.

Researchers are evaluating the real-world effectiveness and safety of Nebilet4 nebivolol in adults with hypertension across seven Asian countries. This multinational, multicenter, observational, and prospective study aims to assess blood pressure changes, treatment adherence, quality of life, prescription patterns, and cardiovascular outcomes over up to three years. The study also compares Nebilet4 used alone versus in combination therapy and investigates the relationship between home and office blood pressure measurements. Participants include about 5,000 adults newly diagnosed with or having uncontrolled hypertension who have recently started Nebilet4 or been on it no more than two weeks. Patients are followed regularly for 12, 24, and 36 months, with blood pressure measured at each visit and home readings encouraged. The study collects data on medication dosing and frequency, adherence, and cardiovascular risk factors, while monitoring major adverse cardiac events such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. During the study, participants complete questionnaires to assess quality of life and medication adherence every few months. Data are recorded through an electronic system ensuring consistency across sites. Researchers evaluate changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the proportion achieving target blood pressure goals. Safety and any adverse events are documented, with follow-up visits extending up to three years to provide insights into the long-term management of hypertension with Nebilet4.