There are about 13446 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Belgium. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignancies in caucasian population. The effect of the immune system on the development of skin tumors has been demonstrated in transplant patients taking immunosuppressive agents (65 fold risk increase). It has been reported that activation of EGFR and RAS signaling pathways play an important role in disease progression maybe through downregulation of the immune system. The investigators want to treat unresectable SCC patients with an antibody against EGFR (Vectibix®, panitumumab). This antibody induces tumor regression in metastatic colorectal cancer and has been approved as single agent for this indication. The investigators want to measure the response rate but also analyze the modification of expression profile of some key proteins involved or supposed to be involved in the signaling pathways of EGFR and in the regulation of the immune system. Chemokines such as CCL27 have been shown to play a critical role in the skin-associated immune response by regulating T cell homing. Pivarcsi et al have reported that downregulation of CCL27 is mediated by activation of EGFR/RAS/MAPK signaling pathways.
The physical and psychological effects of the hormonal treatment of transsexual persons are not sufficiently described. 'Transparency' wants to answer this question in a prospective manner, in a multicenter study to describe these effects. The low prevalence of transsexualism was the stimulus to search for European partners for this Protocol. A common standardized hormonal protocol was designed.
Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a frequent cause of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. Secondary IAH is mainly caused by excessive fluid resuscitation.The World Society for the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) recommends using diuretics to remove excess fluids and decrease intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). However, critically ill patients may not tolerate negative fluid balance in the acute phase of their disease and the injured kidney may not respond to diuretics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of furosemide on fluid balance, IAP and kidney function in critically ill patients.
Vasculitis is group of diseases where inflammation of blood vessels is the common feature. Patients typically present with fever, fatigue, weakness and muscle and joint aches. These symptoms are very common among many different diseases, not just vasculitis. A clustering of other symptoms, physical examination findings, blood tests, radiology and biopsy help make the diagnosis. There are currently no criteria to help doctors make a diagnosis of vasculitis when a patient presents with these non specific symptoms and they are reliant on previous experience and disease definitions. One of the aims of this project is to develop diagnostic criteria for the primary systemic vasculitides (granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis, Churg Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis). We, the investigators, will do this by studying a large group of patients with vasculitis and comparing them to a large group of patients that present in a similar way, but do not have vasculitis. By comparing the 2 groups we will create a list of items to differentiate between vasculitis and 'vasculitis mimics'. We also aim to update the current classification criteria. Classification criteria are used to group patients into different types of vasculitis, once a diagnosis of vasculitis has been made, and are useful for studying patients in clinical trials with similar or identical diseases. The current classification criteria (American college of Rheumatology 1990 criteria) were developed 20 years ago, before the availability of some important diagnostic tests (e.g. antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies [ANCA]), and are now not consistent with some of the current disease definitions. Therefore to progress future research in vasculitis, it is important that the classification criteria are updated. We will recruit 260 patients with each of the 6 types of vasculitis and compare them with 1300 controls (patients with the 5 other types of vasculitis), in order to determine the optimal combination of symptoms, signs and investigations that classify each person into the appropriate group.
The main purposes of the AIDA protocol are to test the role of intermittent maintenance therapy with ATRA, standard maintenance chemotherapy with methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine of both in PCR negative patients at the end of the consolidation phase and to evaluate the role of allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation in PCR positive patients at the end of the consolidation phase.
The purpose of this study is: Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of the Compression Anastomosis Ring (CAR™ 27) device for creation of circular, colorectal anastomoses in previously radiated patients.
Following the sudden and unexpected emergence of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (2009 H1N1) virus, this observational study was initiated to estimate rates of morbidity and mortality and to examine predictors of severity among participants with 2009 H1N1 infection. In 2011, as surveillance indicated that 2009 H1N1 virus was co-circulating with other seasonal influenza A and B viruses worldwide, the protocol was expanded to include other influenza A subtypes and influenza B viruses. The current version of the protocol (released in August 2013) further broadens the scope of this observational study. With the recognition that novel respiratory viruses other than novel influenza A viruses, e.g., Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), could become prevalent and of major public health importance, the objectives of this protocol have been expanded.
Children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Recent studies suggest that pediatric patients with even moderately impaired kidney function may be afflicted with significant early cardiac and vascular abnormalities. The pathogenesis and the natural course of CV comorbidity in pediatric CKD patients is still elusive. In this multicenter, prospective, observational study the prevalence, degree and progression of CV comorbidity in children will be characterized and related to CKD progression. The morphology and function of the heart and vessels will be monitored by sensitive, non-invasive methods and will be compared with aged matched healthy controls. Multiple potential clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, and pharmacological risk factors will be monitored prospectively and will be related to CV status. Genotyping might identify predisposing genetic factors for progression of CV comorbidity and underlying nephropathies.
Laparoscopic anterior resection is a standardized procedure requiring a small muscle split incision to retrieve the specimen and to fashion the proximal part of the double stapled anastomosis. Most patients can be included within a standardized perioperative care program called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). A new evolution as a primary step towards a complete Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES)-procedure is a hybrid approach (transrectal and laparoscopic). The dissection is performed laparoscopically but the specimen is retrieved within an endobag through the rectum. The anastomosis is created intracorporeally using a triple stapled technique. There are no trials available in the literature concerning these 2 techniques. Therefore this study will be undertaken to establish the role of the 2 surgical procedures and to compare them after short-term follow-up.
Banded Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (GABY). The aim of this novel study is to evaluate, if an additional restrictive silastic ring can avoid dilation of the gastro-entero anastomosis and adjacent small bowel with consecutive better postoperative weight loss and significantly improved long-term weight maintenance. The study will not investigate the GaBP-Ring as medical product but the effect of the GaBP-Ring on weight loss in comparison to gastric bypass alone.