Efficacy

Study Title: Sibling-Support for Adolescent Girls (SSAGE) Objective: Preventing Mental Illness among Forcibly Displaced Adolescent Girls Forcibly displaced adolescent girls are at higher risk for mental illness, especially due to gender inequity. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of a whole-family, gender transformative intervention called Sibling Support for Adolescent Girls in Emergencies (SSAGE) in preventing mental health disorders among adolescent girls in Colombia who were recently and forcibly displaced from Venezuela. The study will enroll 180 adolescent girls in a randomized control trial (RCT) to test the program’s effectiveness in preventing mental illness. The program will focus on reducing… ➡️➡️➡️

Impact of Skills for Change Program on Type 2 Diabetes Management Summary A 12-month trial was conducted in the United Arab Emirates to assess the impact of a culturally adapted lifestyle intervention on adults with type 2 diabetes. The intervention focused on diet and physical activity levels, guided by the social cognitive theory. Key Findings At the end of the intervention: No significant change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels was observed between the intervention and control groups. However, the intervention group showed significant reductions in body mass index (BMI) and daily caloric intake compared to the control group. There was… ➡️➡️➡️

Study Title: Incidence of self-reported tuberculosis treatment with community-wide universal testing and treatment for HIV and tuberculosis screening in Zambia and South Africa: A planned analysis of the HPTN 071 (PopART) cluster-randomised trial Key Findings: In a study involving over 1 million individuals, community-wide universal testing and treatment for HIV (UTT) combined with tuberculosis (TB) screening resulted in substantially lower TB incidence among people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to standard-of-care, with statistical significance reached in the final study year. There was also some evidence this translated to a decrease in self-reported TB incidence overall in the population. Reduction in… ➡️➡️➡️

Standard Versus Family-Based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Adolescent Substance Use in Primary Care: Protocol for a Multisite Randomized Effectiveness Trial ABSTRACT Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents (SBIRT-A) is recommended for detecting and intervening in alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in pediatric primary care. This trial aims to compare a standard adolescent-only approach (SBIRT-A-Standard) with a more inclusive family-based approach (SBIRT-A-Family) to assess their effectiveness in primary care settings. METHODS The study will involve 2300 adolescents and their caregivers in diverse urban pediatric settings. SBIRT-A procedures will be conducted digitally on handheld… ➡️➡️➡️

Comparison of Working Alliance in Blended Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Treatment as Usual for Depression in Europe Practical Solutions and Value Increasing interest has focused on the working alliance in digital mental health interventions. This study aimed to compare the working alliance scores between blended cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT) and treatment as usual (TAU) for depression, and to examine the association between working alliance and depression severity scores in both groups. The study also tested for an interaction between system usability and working alliance in bCBT at 3-month assessments. We analyzed data from the E-COMPARED trial, which compared bCBT with… ➡️➡️➡️

Effect of a diabetes-specific formula in non-diabetic inpatients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial Background/Objectives: In patients with acute stroke, high blood sugar levels have been linked to more severe symptoms and limited recovery. This study aimed to assess the impact of a specialized diabetes-specific liquid nutrition on blood sugar levels, other health problems, and mortality in patients with their first stroke who required complete liquid nutrition. Methods: This was a planned, randomized controlled trial. Patients with acute stroke who did not have diabetes and needed a feeding tube were included. The study was registered with code NCT03422900. Patients were… ➡️➡️➡️

Static Palpation Precision Evaluation Study Introduction Clinicians often use manual therapy to treat low back pain by feeling the spine to find the spinous processes. This study aims to assess how well experienced clinicians can consistently locate these spinous processes from S1 to T12 through palpation. The results will be compared to topographical data representing the lumbar lordosis at different time points. Materials and Methods In a previous prospective randomized trial, experienced clinicians used palpation to locate the lumbar spinous processes (S1-T12) and then digitized these locations in three-dimensional space. The same digitizing equipment was used to continuously collect three-dimensional… ➡️➡️➡️

Mobile Phone-Based Confidential Social Network Referrals for HIV Testing (CONSORT): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Background Critical to ending the HIV epidemic is finding undiagnosed individuals and engaging them in care. Using mobile phones in high HIV prevalence areas can help reach social networks for HIV testing and treatment. Objective This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention, “Confidential Social Network Referrals for HIV Testing (CONSORT),” in encouraging at-risk individuals to test for HIV using SMS text messages. Methods The study will be conducted in Moshi, Tanzania, enrolling 400 clients seeking HIV counseling and testing and… ➡️➡️➡️

Tofacitinib: Effective Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis Highlights of the Study: A pragmatic prospective study assessed tofacitinib’s efficacy for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) was evaluated as a tool to distinguish responders from non-responders in real-time. Key Findings: • 30 adult patients started tofacitinib; most had left-sided or extensive colitis and had previously failed biologic therapy. • At week 8, 40% showed clinical response, 20% achieved remission, and 33.3% had endoscopic healing. • IUS accurately discriminated treatment response from non-response at week 8. Practical Solutions and Value: Clinical trials are crucial for developing safe and effective treatments.… ➡️➡️➡️

Comparison of IASTM and ESWT in Myofascial Pain Syndrome Background/Aim: To compare the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in treating myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and to determine their superiority over conservative treatment (CT). Materials and Methods: 42 female MPS patients were randomly assigned to CT, CT+IASTM, or CT+ESWT groups. Treatment lasted 3 weeks, with different session frequencies. Pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, cervical range of motion, and other parameters were measured before and after treatment. Results: The CT+IASTM group showed greater improvements in pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and range of motion… ➡️➡️➡️

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Chinese Adults with PTSD Symptoms: Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial Abstract Introduction: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has shown promise as a potential psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This trial aims to test the effects of MBCT compared to an active control for individuals with subthreshold PTSD. Method and Analysis: This randomised controlled trial will enroll 160 participants with PTSD symptoms in 2 arms (MBCT vs. Seeking Safety), with both interventions consisting of 8 weekly sessions lasting 2 hours each week. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention, with… ➡️➡️➡️

Final Analysis: Phase II Trial of Daratumumab, Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Key Findings We studied the effectiveness and safety of a 24-cycle treatment combining Daratumumab with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients without needing a stem cell transplant. Our primary goal was to achieve a stringent complete response (sCR) and/or measurable residual disease (MRD) less than 10-5 after the 8th treatment cycle. Results showed a 75% rate of sCR and/or MRD less than 10-5, meeting our effectiveness target. The percentage of patients achieving a 10-6 MRD negative rate improved with continued… ➡️➡️➡️

Impact of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Stent Optimization According to Clinical Presentation in Patients Undergoing Complex PCI Practical Solutions and Value Background: The study aimed to determine if intravascular imaging-guided stent optimization has different effects based on the clinical presentation during complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Patients with complex coronary artery lesions were randomly assigned to undergo either intravascular imaging-guided PCI or angiography-guided PCI. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF), a combination of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target vessel revascularization. Results: The study found no significant difference in the treatment effect of intravascular imaging… ➡️➡️➡️

The Influence of Diet Therapy and Physical Training on MCP-1 Secretion in Obese Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Key Findings: After a 12-week intervention, participants experienced significant improvements including: 4.0% reduction in body weight 4.2% decrease in waist circumference 5.4% reduction in visceral fat 9.8% decrease in total cholesterol 16.6% decrease in LDL-cholesterol 26% decrease in triglycerides 10.33% improvement in the results of the 6-minute walk test 2.8 times reduction in LPS-stimulated monocytes secretion of MCP-1 (p=0.005) Conclusion: The study suggests that a specialized diet and regular physical activity may decrease the proinflammatory activity of monocytes in obese patients with… ➡️➡️➡️

Government Direct-to-Consumer Education to Reduce Prescription Opioid Use: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial ABSTRACT Importance: Direct-to-consumer education has been effective in reducing chronic sedative use, but its effectiveness for prescription opioids among patients with chronic noncancer pain has not been tested. Objectives: This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a government-led educational information brochure mailed to community-dwelling, long-term opioid consumers to reduce prescription opioid use compared with usual care. Design, Setting, and Participants: The trial was conducted in Manitoba, Canada, from July 2018 to January 2019, enrolling 4225 adults with long-term opioid prescriptions. Participants were identified via the Manitoba… ➡️➡️➡️

Gastrointestinal symptoms and dietary intake of patients with irritable bowel syndrome following a low FODMAP diet ABSTRACT High FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di, monosaccharides and polyols) foods have been linked with worsening symptoms of IBS patients. The aim was to compare gastrointestinal symptoms and dietary intake of patients with irritable bowel syndrome following a low FODMAP diet, with or without individual nutrition therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 54 patients that met Rome IV criteria for IBS were randomized into two groups, guided group (individual nutrition therapy, n=28) and self-management group (learned about low FODMAP diet online, n=26). Both groups… ➡️➡️➡️

Effects of Athletic Tape on Orofacial Pain and Jaw Movements: Clinical Trial Results Summary Researchers conducted a clinical trial to investigate the effects of athletic tape on orofacial pain and jaw movements in adults with temporomandibular disorder. The study involved 22 participants who were randomly assigned to two groups. Method Participants in Group A had athletic tape applied with 40% stretch to the masseter muscle, while Group B received the tape without stretching. Pain sensation and mandibular movements were assessed using specific criteria and measurements before and after the application of the athletic tape. Results Group A experienced pain relief… ➡️➡️➡️

Posterior Crossbite Corrections in Early Mixed Dentition: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Background Unilateral posterior crossbite is a common dental issue in children, and early treatment is recommended for normal growth. The choice of appliances for correcting this condition is important, especially when considering the cost-effectiveness of treatment. Objectives This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of quad helix (QH) and rapid maxillary expanders (RME) in children in the early mixed dentition. Results – The success rate of both QH and RME was similar. – From a healthcare perspective, the mean cost difference favored QH by €32.05. – From a societal perspective, the… ➡️➡️➡️

Efficacy of Esketamine for Prenatal Depression in Mothers Key Results and Practical Considerations Results: A single low dose of esketamine significantly reduced the prevalence of major depressive episodes at 42 days postpartum in mothers with prenatal depression when compared to a placebo. This represents a substantial reduction in postpartum depression risk. Additionally, esketamine led to lower depression scores on standardized tests at seven and 42 days postpartum. Adverse Events: The esketamine group experienced a higher incidence of neuropsychiatric adverse events, but these symptoms were short-lived and did not require drug intervention. Value: The study highlights the potential practical value of… ➡️➡️➡️

Treatment Outcomes of Pulpotomy vs. Pulpectomy in Vital Primary Molars with Irreversible Pulpitis Background Pulpectomy has been the traditional treatment for vital primary molars with irreversible pulpitis. However, recent advancements suggest that pulpotomy, a more conservative approach, could be effective. This trial aims to compare the effectiveness of pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in managing symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in vital primary molars over a two-year period. Methods/Design This clinical study is a two-armed, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. Children aged 4-9 with painful primary molars showing symptoms of irreversible pulpitis will be recruited. 50 vital primary molars will be randomly assigned to either… ➡️➡️➡️