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.
In sub-Saharan Africa, non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) are a frequent cause of bloodstream infection, display high levels of antibiotic resistance and have a high case fatality rate (15%). In Kisantu hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), NTS account for 75% of bloodstream infection in children and many children are co-infected with Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria. NTS bloodstream infection presents as a non-specific severe febrile illness, which challenges early diagnosis and, as a consequence, prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment.Moreover, at the first level of care, frontline health workers have limited expertise and diagnostic skills and, as a consequence, clinical danger signs that indicate serious bacterial infections are often overlooked. Basic handheld diagnostic instruments and point-of-care tests can help to reliably detect danger signs and improve triage, referral and the start of antibiotics, but there is need for field implementation and adoption to low-resource settings. Further, it is known that some clinical signs and symptoms are frequent in NTS bloodstream infections. The integration of these clinical signs and symptoms in a clinical decision support model can facilitate the diagnosis of NTS bloodstream infections and target antibiotic treatment. The investigators aim to develop such a clinical decision support model based on data from children under five years old admitted to Kisantu district referral hospital in the Democratic republic of the Congo. While developing the model, the investigators will focus on the signs and symptoms that can differentiate NTS bloodstream infection from severe Pf malaria and on the clinical danger signs that can be assessed by handheld diagnostic instruments and point-of-care tests. The deliverable will be a clinical decision support model ready to integrate in an electronic decision support system.
This study is being conducted to better understand the natural course of GM1 gangliosidosis, GM2 gangliosidoses and Gaucher disease Type 2 (GD2). Information is planned to be gathered on at least 180 patients with GM1 gangliosidosis, GM2 gangliosidoses, and Gaucher Disease type 2. Retrospective data collection is planned for at least 150 deceased patients (Group A). Group B is for patients alive at the time of enrollment. In Group B it is planned to prospectively collect more comprehensive data from at least 30 patients. The purpose of this study is to collect relevant information for a adequate design of a potential subsequent research program in these diseases. In this study no therapy is being offered.
This study is an experimental single-center pilot study investigating Volatile Organic Compounds patterns in exhaled breath during on and off states of SCS, in patient with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.
The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the ex vivo neutralizing capacity and the longevity of SARS-CoV-2-specific Ab responses and (2) to measure the memory B-cell responses in a cohort of health care workers (HCW) recovering from severe, mild or asymptomatic infection. By focusing on HCW, a population that is at risk for re-infection during a second epidemic wave, the correlation between nAb levels and protection is investigated.
After tooth extraction, shrinkage of the bone is expected after 6 months. These changes may hamper dental implant placement and compromise soft tissue aesthetics. Alveolar Ridge Preservation (ARP) includes application of bovine-derived deproteinized bone particles in the extraction site. This technique is widely performed and drastically limits aforementioned volumetric changes. The amount of bone preservation following ARP is affected by the soft tissue barrier. In an open healing situation, it takes about 4 weeks to have complete soft tissue closure. Faster soft tissue closure could optimize the amount of bone preservation with obvious benefits for implant placement and aesthetics. Recent presentations showed the application of hyaluronic acid after ARP. However, no evidence can be found in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the wound healing potential of hyaluronic acid following ARP, as this has never been performed, yet seems promising from a biological point of view.
This clinical study is being conducted to evaluate a new training device, the T-CHAIR, for trunk rehabilitation and post-stroke balance. The investigators would like to study three objectives. First, the investigators want to examine whether training with a new training device is feasible and safe during rehabilitation in the later phase, more than six months after a stroke. The investigators also evaluate whether training with a new training device has an effect on the sitting balance and the function and strength of the trunk. Finally, the investigators examine whether training with a new training device has an effect on walking, standing and activities of daily life and self-care.
No instrument is available for the assessment of the symptoms in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia - postprandial distress syndrome patients - PDS. Indeed PDS is an unmet clinical need in drug development. To do so, the development of suitable endpoints for its efficacy evaluation is indicated. After interviews of patients suffering from PDS (Focus groups) and identification of the emerging symptoms a draft version of the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS) questionnaire has been designed. This study will assess the reliability of the scoring rule, the construct validity and ability to detect change of the draft LPDS. A minimum of 100 PDS patients will be randomised in two arms receiving respectively either Itopride 100 mg tid or Placebo tid during 8 weeks. Patients of both arms will be tested with LPDS using daily diary cards and by anchor questionnaires (PAGI-SYM, OSS, OTE) at baseline and during the study drug administration period.
Epidemiological data have related particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level. Air pollution may be related to an increase in the COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes that are also the main comorbidities associated with COVID-19. Epidemiological studies using individual data are needed to provide more precise estimate of the association between air pollution exposure and COVID-19. In this multicenter prospective study, the investigators will analyze the number of deaths in COVID-19 confirmed cases in geriatric patients according to long-term exposure to air pollution, taking into account confounders such as diabetes, hypertension, age, and BMI. Exposure to air pollution will be estimated as the mean concentration of air pollutants at the residential address during the previous two years. In addition, the investigators will explore the relationship between short-term variations in air pollutants, relative humidity, temperature, UV radiations, pollen and the occurrence of COVID-19.
When the COVID-19 virus infects a person, it enters the lung epithelial cells of its host and uses its genetic material to replicate. The pulmonary epithelial cells of a part of the population, known as "secretors", are capable of expressing the antigens of the "ABO" system on their surface. This secretory status can be established by determining the antigens of the Lewis blood group system. When the virus replicates in an "secreting" individual, the antigens of the "ABO" system of the infected individual will be present on the surface of the viruses formed in his/her lungs. It was shown in 2003 that the response of a given individual to the transmission of a virus depends on his/her blood group and on the antigens of the "ABO" system carried by the virus. A patient of group "O" would thus defend himself much better against a virus carrying antigens of blood group "A", the natural antibodies "anti-A" of the patient reducing the ability of the virus to bind to its specific receptor on pulmonary epithelial cells, to penetrate them to replicate itself. The first data collected in Wuhan (China) seems to confirm this hypothesis. A COVID-19 virus transmission model can therefore be established on the basis of blood groups. In order to reduce the spread of the virus among nursing staff, it is possible to establish a preferential algorithm for patient management based on the "ABO" and "Lewis" blood groups of patients and "ABO" of nursing staff in health care units, if operational and human conditions allow.
The development of chronic pain is one of the most seen sequelae in the cancer survivor population. Literature reports the presence of pain in approximately 40% of 5-year survivors. Specifically, in breast cancer survivors, chronic pain is estimated to be present in at least 50% of this population. On the other hand, chronic low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and decrease in quality of life. It has huge economical, psychological and social impacts on individuals, society and health institutions. Unhealthy dietary behavior is associated with the occurrence, maintenance and management of chronic pain. Also, excessive calorie intake and diets rich in sugar, fat, sodium and caffeine were observed in patients having chronic pain. However, although nutritional factors are suggested as an associated lifestyle factor of chronic pain, limited attention is given to dietary and nutritional factors in relation to chronic pain. One particular mechanism drawing attention in the link between nutrition and pain are blood glucose levels and the glycemic response. Animal research shows the potential for reduced blood glucose to influence several pathways involved in chronic pain, including decreased oxidative stress, and reduced neuronal excitability. Given the link between blood glucose levels, as well as the evidence for the importance of interpersonal variability in the glycemic response, this glycemic response can also be of interest for chronic pain research. Finding a possible link between both the glycemic response and pain-related outcomes, could give direction to further research focussing on implementing (personalized) nutritional/dietary advise to maintain healthy blood glucose levels in people suffering from chronic pain. Therefore, this study will provide the first step in this promising line of research, by being the first to look for differences in glycemic response between breast cancer survivors having chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls, and between chronic low back pain patients and healthy pain-free controls. Secondly, this study will also investigate possible associations between glycemic response, pain-related outcomes, nutrition related outcomes, physical activity, and body composition for breast cancer survivors and chronic low back pain patients separately in comparison with healthy pain-free controls.