There are about 2325 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Ireland. 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.
This research project will investigate the effects of two 6-week adductor (hip muscle) exercise programmes on adductor muscle function and performance. Measures of adductor muscle strength and performance (jump height, hopping and sprint) and self reported hip and groin function using a questionnaire will be recorded pre and post a 6-week period. A group of footballers will be recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. Two different intervention groups will complete two different, six-week adductor exercise programmes in addition to their regular training programme. The exercise programmes will last 15 minutes (approximately) per session, with 3 sessions per week. The control group will continue their regular training programme.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10% of all women, and it usually co-exists with high levels of sex hormones called androgens, such as testosterone. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic complications such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high blood pressure and heart disease. However, very little is understood about how androgen excess may drive the metabolic complications observed in women with PCOS. Skeletal muscle is an important site of energy metabolism; increasingly, it is suspected that skeletal muscle energy balance is adversely impacted by androgens, thereby driving metabolic complications. To take this theory forward, we want to investigate the effects of androgens on muscle energy metabolism. We will perform detailed metabolic testing (including blood tests and muscle biopsies) in women with PCOS before and after taking tablets that block the action of testosterone for 28 days. In addition, we will be using a gold standard technique to see how women with PCOS metabolise fat and other nutrients by measuring markers in blood and breath samples after a breakfast test meal. This clinical research will increase our understanding of the complex relationships between hormonal abnormalities and metabolic disease in women with PCOS.
The goal of this observational study is to learn about how a prescribed Exercise Training Program would affect children living with a Fontan circulation. From birth, the children who are born with single functioning ventricle will undergo 3-staged Fontan surgery to achieve a unique Fontan circulation, supported by one functioning ventricle. With advancement in surgical technique and medical care, there are increasing number of children living with Fontan circulating surviving into adulthood. A significant number of these individuals develop complications in their adulthood due to problems related to this unique circulation, including reduced exercise tolerance, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm or premature death. Many of these children have acquired sedentary lifestyle, and may have lower self-perceived health related quality of life. Exercise training is a well-established therapy used in adult population with heart failure. It has been shown to be safe in children with congenital heart disease and with Fontan circulation, it improves their aerobic exercise capacity which is associated with better outcomes. The main question[s] it aims to answer are the impact of a Exercise Training program on: 1. Single ventricle function 2. Exercise capacity 3. Self-perceived quality of life 4. Skeletal muscle mass Participants will be given a 20-weeks exercise program, 3 sessions of 30 minutes workout weekly, to carry out at home. The following tests will be performed prior to starting and upon completion of the exercise program: - Echocardiogram - Cardiopulmonary exercise test - Body composition scan using a bio-impedance analyser - Quality of life questionnaires
This study proposes an approach to address an urgent unmet need in clinical practice, namely a pragmatic method of establishing what is the cause of a patient's complaint and the next steps to address this problem. In this study, the investigators will compare the proposed classification with current best practice of self-report, spirometry and FeNO. The investigators will compare the two approaches with a gold standard of deep characterisation by 3 separate diagnostic tests. The investigators hypothesize that patients with symptoms of respiratory disease fall into one of four working groups based on accurate knowledge of three parameters, airflow, treatment use and the patient's symptoms.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema (CSUA) is a disease of the skin characterised by hives, swellings or both that last longer than 6 weeks. People with this disease commonly describe poor sleep, reduced quality of life and psychological difficulties such as depression and anxiety. This study seeks to understand relationships between physical activity, sleep and symptoms of urticaria. We are asking individuals with urticaria to wear a fitbit tracker which monitors their physical activity and sleep. Participants also download an app onto their smartphone called Athena CX which is designed by the study team in DCU. The purpose of the app is capture real-time information from participants on mood and any skin symptoms they experience. We will use this information to learn more about possible links between symptoms of urticaria and lifestyle behaviours.
The treatment of locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancers is highly individualized to each patient and their pattern of disease, and this decision is often made at the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting . The PelvEx collaborative was designed with the intent to provide greater international consensus on appropriate treatment decisions for this cohort. However, we propose that international variation exists in how certain patients will be evaluated, assessed and ultimately treated despite having the same disease. We plan to measure this variation in order to provide a greater understanding of the differences that exist.
Tracheal intubation (TI) is associated with a high risk of adverse events in critically ill patients and peri-intubation hemodynamic collapse is the most commonly observed. The primary aim of the PREVENTION trial is to compare the effect of the pre-emptive use of noradrenaline versus no peri-intubation use of noradrenaline on incidence of cardiovascular collapse following TI in adult critically ill patients. Patients with absolute indication or contraindication to vasopressor support will be excluded from this trial. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to a continuous infusion of noradrenaline started before induction titrated according to baseline mean arterial pressure. The primary outcome will be the incidence of cardiovascular collapse. Secondary outcomes will include lowest systolic blood pressure and cardiac arrest within 30 minutes from intubation.
A single-blinded randomized controlled trial is initiated. Four weeks of plaster cast immobilization is compared with six weeks of plaster cast immobilization in adult patients with adequately reduced distal radius fracture. Primary outcome parameters are functional outcomes measured with the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation after 6 months of follow-up (FU). Secondary outcomes are Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score after 6 months and one year, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey after 6 months and one year, functional outcome earlier in Follow up (6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and one year), range of motion, pain level, and complications: number of re-interventions, secondary displacement, delayed and non-union.
Surgical site infections (SSI) remain one of the most common complications associated with reversal of ileostomy and colostomy. In addition to having detrimental impacts on the patient's post-operative course, they also pose significant financial ramifications. There have been comparative studies in the use of negative pressure wound therapy in reducing surgical site infections. PREVENA Incision Management System is a type of disposable, customizable and powered negative pressure system designed to help manage and protect surgical incisions and their surrounding environment. It is now commonly used as a surgical wound dressings in the setting of vascular surgeries, post-cesarean infections and colorectal resections. Our study is designed as a randomised controlled trial to examine if PREVERA therapy as a NPWT is more superior than conventional dressings in reducing the rate of surgical site infections.
This is a pilot randomised controlled feasibility study investigating the effects of a neuropilates exercise class compared to a generalised exercise in the post stroke population. This study is being conducted as part of an MSc qualification at the Institute of Technology, Sligo in Ireland. The study will be conducted in conjunction with Sligo University Hospital and it attained ethical approval through the relevant University Hospital Ethics Committee.