Bangor

This research aims to understand the genetic factors that contribute to the risk of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). GCA is a serious inflammatory disease affecting blood vessels, mainly in people over 50, which can cause severe complications like vision loss or stroke if untreated. PMR causes pain and stiffness in the limbs with signs of inflammation. The study involves both patients recently suspected of having GCA and those with confirmed diagnoses from the past. It seeks to provide new insights into disease causes and improve diagnosis and treatment approaches. Participants are observed in a multi-center study collecting clinical and genetic data. The study includes both prospective patients with suspected GCA and retrospective patients with confirmed GCA or PMR diagnoses. Some retrospective participants receiving tocilizumab for recurring or difficult-to-treat GCA are also included in a safety monitoring registry. Data collected include clinical features, imaging, tissue and blood samples, and advanced genetic testing. The study also follows patients over time to assess disease impact, quality of life, and long-term outcomes. During the study, participants provide medical information, biological samples, and complete questionnaires about their symptoms and quality of life. Researchers monitor disease activity and treatment effects, especially among those starting certain immune-modifying drugs. The main measurements focus on genetic susceptibility at the study start, with ongoing evaluation of diagnosis, prognosis, and disease progression. The study is designed to improve understanding and management of GCA and PMR over time.

Researchers are evaluating the use of digital monitoring tools to improve the quality of life and symptom management in adult cancer survivors. The study focuses on the feasibility of routine self-assessment of symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaire delivered through Microsoft Forms. Participants are adult outpatients with controlled cancer under surveillance, aiming to find ways to measure patient-reported outcomes (PROs) accurately without adding extra burden to healthcare services. Participants will receive a smartwatch and a smartphone or an app on their own phone. The smartwatch will continuously record physical activity, sleep patterns, heart rate, and other data, which participants are expected to wear all the time for about four months. The study lasts 18 months in total, but each participant is involved for approximately four months. They will attend a research appointment at the start and end of the study and will complete weekly questionnaires via MS Forms. After the study, participants are invited to a focus group to share their experiences. During the study, researchers will monitor how feasible it is for participants to routinely self-assess their symptoms from enrollment until 16 weeks. They will collect data on physical activity, sleep, heart rate, and symptom reports. The study will also look for factors that predict if participants drop out or are dissatisfied. The total involvement for each participant is around four months, with regular monitoring and follow-up through questionnaires and smartwatch data.

Researchers are evaluating the use of an AI-based Lung Cancer Prediction (LCP) tool in patients with solid or part-solid pulmonary nodules detected on CT chest scans during routine care. This prospective observational study aims to understand whether using the AI tool in physician decision making can provide clinical and health-economic benefits compared to current standard care. The study focuses on patients aged 35 and older with specific types and sizes of lung nodules. Participants must have at least one solid or part-solid pulmonary nodule between 5 and 30 mm detected on a baseline CT scan that meets certain technical quality standards. The study observes how the AI tool influences healthcare service use and patient outcomes without altering the usual diagnostic or treatment process. The study does not involve investigational treatments but follows participants prospectively to monitor clinical decisions and effects. During the study, researchers will track patient outcomes and healthcare utilization for up to one year after discharge. Assessments include reviewing imaging quality, nodule characteristics, and physician decisions guided by the AI tool. The main goal is to determine the potential impact of the AI solution on clinical outcomes and resource use over this period, providing insight into its value in managing lung nodules.

Researchers are evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of an online self-compassion training program tailored for adults living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The program is designed to reduce diabetes-related distress, self-criticism, and shame, while improving physical health. This pilot randomized controlled trial compares the compassion training course to a waitlist control group and measures various indices to determine if the intervention is suitable for a larger future study. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the four-week online self-compassion course or a waitlist group that will receive the intervention after the study ends. The course, provided by Balanced Minds, is based on Compassionate Mind Training and includes weekly 30-minute videos on specific topics, daily 10-minute compassion exercises, and brief summaries. Topics covered include foundations of self-compassion, developing a compassionate self, deepening self-compassion, and applying self-compassion in everyday life. During the study, four self-report measures will be completed online at baseline and after the intervention. Researchers will track recruitment success, participant retention in both the intervention and study, acceptability of the course, and completion rates of outcome measures. The main outcome is the change in diabetes distress from baseline to post-intervention. The study period covers approximately 10 weeks, including assessment and follow-up, to monitor the program's effectiveness and feasibility.

Researchers are evaluating a medicine called elranatamab for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), a type of cancer. This study focuses on people aged 18 or older who have MM that has returned or not responded to previous treatments, including prior use of an anti-CD38 antibody and lenalidomide. The goal is to compare elranatamab to other common combination therapies that include 2 to 3 different MM medicines. This is a Phase 3 study to learn about the safety and effectiveness of elranatamab compared to these other treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either elranatamab or a combination therapy selected by the study doctor. Elranatamab is given as a shot under the skin at the study clinic about once a week, which may later reduce in frequency. The combination therapy options include medicines taken by mouth and given either as shots under the skin or through a needle in the vein at the clinic. The combination medicines used may be elotuzumab, pomalidomide, dexamethasone, bortezomib, or carfilzomib, depending on the chosen treatment plan. Participants may continue their assigned treatment until their MM stops responding. During the study, participants will visit the clinic regularly for monitoring and evaluation. Researchers will track how well the treatments work by measuring progression-free survival and will watch for any side effects or safety concerns. Follow-up will continue after treatment ends through phone calls or visits. The study may last up to about 5 years to fully assess the outcomes of the treatments.

Researchers are investigating treatments for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have undergone nephrectomy, focusing on those at high or intermediate risk of the cancer returning. The study evaluates whether durvalumab alone or combined with tremelimumab can improve disease-free survival or overall survival compared to the current standard of care, which is active monitoring. This phase III multi-arm, multi-stage randomized controlled trial includes patients with specific risk scores, and recruitment of intermediate risk patients will be limited based on time and accrual targets. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either durvalumab alone, the combination of durvalumab and tremelimumab, or active monitoring. The drugs are given via controlled infusion through a pump into a vein. The trial includes a screening phase and treatment period, with careful monitoring of patients' disease status and side effects throughout the study. During the study, participants will undergo clinical and radiological assessments, including post-operative scans and laboratory tests like blood counts and ECGs. Researchers will track disease-free survival and overall survival over several years, including specific time points up to 20.5 years for some comparisons. Participants will also provide tissue and blood samples for future research. Safety and treatment effects will be closely monitored to understand how the therapies impact long-term outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating the accuracy of a new way to measure breathing rate using the plethysmography waveform from Philips FAST Pulse Oximetry technology. This method, called Respiration from Pleth (RfP), is tested in both adults and children who are inpatients breathing on their own. The study compares respiratory rates from the plethysmography waveform with rates measured by capnography, which is the standard method, to assess how accurate and precise the new technology is under continuous and spot-check monitoring conditions. Participants will undergo noninvasive monitoring using age- and weight-appropriate Philips SpO2 sensors placed on the finger, nose, or ear, depending on the participant. At the same time, capnography measurements are taken using a LoFlo Sidestream etCO2 sensor with oral/nasal cannulas. Each participant has a single study visit during which a 20-minute continuous recording of respiratory data is collected from both devices. A spot-check evaluation covers the first 5 minutes of the finger sensor recording. No data from the devices are used to guide clinical care. During the study visit, clinicians blinded to other signals annotate the breathing waveforms to confirm normal breathing and exclude artifacts. The study measures respiratory rate accuracy using specific statistical methods, including root mean square error and mean bias. They also track how quickly the pleth-derived respiratory rate becomes valid and assess adult participants' comfort with the CO2 cannula. All participant data are collected during one visit, and the investigational respiratory rate readings are not shown on monitors during the study.