There are about 20863 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Italy. 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.
Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine. In its most common form (about 70% of cases), the causes are unknown, therefore it is called idiopathic scoliosis. In most cases, it is discovered after 10 years of age, and is defined diagnostically as a curve of at least 10°, measured on a standing x-ray using the Cobb method. If scoliosis exceeds the critical threshold of 30° Cobb at the end of growth, there is a progressively greater risk of health and social problems in adult life. For this reason, the main aim of the treatment is to complete the growth period with a curve less than 30° and good sagittal balance, or at least well below 50°, which represents the surgical threshold. Growth is a factor favouring the evolution of deformities, therefore patients are followed until the end of growth. This is why therapy can last many years, from the discovery of the presence of a deformity until bone maturation is achieved. The early identification of parameters predictive of the outcome of the therapy to direct the least possible aggressiveness towards the result necessary for the patient's future, integrated with the evaluation of its effectiveness (monitoring), is one of the most important objectives in this field to minimize the burden of treatment in a particular phase of growth such as adolescent development, as well as to identify the subjects most at risk of worsening in adulthood. The systematic collection of clinical data during the therapeutic process offers the possibility, through advanced analysis models, applied retrospectively, to identify predisposing factors and protective factors. When the data available is sufficiently large, it is possible to obtain predictive equations that assist clinicians in therapeutic choices and help patients understand the risks and benefits of available therapies. New technologies such as artificial intelligence techniques offer new and interesting ways of estimating risks and calculating the benefits and safety of some therapeutic choices compared to others. This study aims to develop and internally validate data-driven stratification and prediction models to predict multiple end-of-care outcome measures that include curve magnitude, measured in Cobb degrees, measures determining the sagittal balance, and measures of quality of life and function measured through self-completion questionnaires.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) implants are limited by availability and costs of field clinical specialist (FCS) bioengineers. This study explores feasibility of remotely supported implantations through an internet based platform, aiming at enhancing efficiency and overcoming geographical or pandemic related barriers. The first phase of the study included programming and phantom assessments in 20 cases followed by 10 remote guided CRT-D and ICD implantations in additional heart failure patients, compared to 20 procedures with FCS on site. Data analysis revealed no significant differences in acute outcomes or electronic parameters at one year follow-up compared to on-site FCS. Finally, this study demonstrates the safety after testing at one year of follow-up.
Background Individuals with rare skeletal disorders frequently experience psychological distress, social isolation, unmet needs, and significant challenges due to limited treatment options. Adventure Therapy, employing exposure to natural environments, has shown promise in improving self-esteem, autonomy, and social skills in chronic illness and disability populations. This pilot study explores the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a sailing-based intervention for enhancing physical, social, and psychological well-being in this specific population. Outcome Measures The primary outcome is to investigates the feasibility of sailing to improve well-being and quality of life in patients living with rare skeletal disorders. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that participation in a sailing program led by occupational therapists will lead to improvements in: - Movement confidence: assessing whether sailing enhances participants' ability to move and perform daily activities. - Mental health: evaluating if sailing reduces anxiety and fear and promotes self-esteem. - Social interaction: exploring if sailing fosters social connection and reduces feelings of isolation. Methods The study will use a prospective, single-arm, longitudinal design. Eight participants with rare skeletal disorders will be enrolled in a 5-day sailing-based occupational therapy intervention. Comprehensive pre- and post-intervention assessments will measure psychosocial factors, quality of life, functional mobility, kinesiophobia, and body segment movement using questionnaires and functional scales.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment in the elderly, characterized by multifactorial etiology. Recent evidence suggests a potential involvement of the gut-retina axis in AMD pathogenesis, prompting exploration into novel therapeutic strategies. The investigators assessed the effects of a micronutrient mix containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and saffron, recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties, on ophthalmological and microbial parameters in neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients. Thirty nAMD subjects were randomized to receive daily micronutrient supplementation along with anti-VEGF therapy or anti-VEGF treatment alone for 6 months. Ophthalmological assessments, anthropometric and biochemical measurements and stool samples were obtained pre- and post-treatment. Gut microbiota (GM) characterization was performed through 16S rRNA sequencing while short (SCFAs), medium (MCFAs) and long (LCFAs) chain fatty acids were analyzed with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol. nAMD patients exhibited reduced GM alpha diversity, altered taxonomic abundances and decreased total SCFA amount, coupled with elevated proinflammatory octanoic and nonanoic acids. Micronutrient supplementation led to improved visual acuity in comparison to the control group, along with the reduction in the total amount of MCFAs, metabolites exerting detrimental ocular effects. This study reveals compositional and functional imbalances in the GM of nAMD patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore micronutrient supplementation demonstrated a potential to restore the gut-retina axis, suggesting its therapeutic efficacy in improving ocular outcomes in nAMD patients. These findings underscore the intricate interplay between the GM and ocular health, offering insights into innovative interventions for AMD management
the investigators study different modality to obtain nerve evoked reponses. They use different parameters of acquisition and stimulation and they compare amplitude and latency of nerve conduction response
In some cases of hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative early breast cancer the benefit of adding adjuvant chemotherapy to hormonal treatment, estimated on the basis of the classical clinico-pathological parameters, is unclear. In these cases the application of a genomic test could be useful in guiding the therapeutic choice.
Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) represent the most common NeuroEndocrin Neoplasms (NEN) site, comprising 55-70% of all NENs, and they are extremely heterogeneous diseases in terms of clinical presentation and aggressiveness. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the incidence of such neoplasms, partially due to incidental findings of small indolent lesions. However, the behavior of GEP- NEN is variable and mainly dictated by some factors as age, sex, histologic grade, primary site, and stage at diagnosis1. As for grade which is defined by the proliferative activity as measured by mitotic count or ki67 staining, some 75% of neoplasms fall into the G1 grading category, 15% into the G2 category, and 10% into the G3 category. The probability of developing metastases is directly correlated with grading. In addition, the grading of GEP-NENs is also correlated with the type of differentiation of the neoplasm (well differentiated or poorly differentiated). Managing the complexity of this type of neoplasm has made it necessary to stratify patients into progression risk classes. The therapeutic approach is accordingly defined, and may include different treatments (surgery, loco-regional, targeted therapies, chemotherapies,...). Among treatments, the most widely used for patients with well-differentiated NENs are somatostatin analogs (SSAs), targeted therapies, and the combination of oral capecitabine and temozolomide. Systemic intravenous chemotherapy is instead employed in a subset of G3 neoplasms, especially if poorly differentiated.
Between January 2021-2023, 65 consecutive patients at risk for PAL (defined in accordance to "2019 Society of Thoracic Surgery score-criteria of PAL") underwent lung resection (lobectomy or sublobar resection) for malignancy. 5 patients were lost. The remaining have been assigned with a 1:2 randomization into: group A (22 patients), received intra-operative phrenic nerve infiltration with Ropivacaine 10 mg/ml in the peri-neurotic fat on the pericardium and group B (38 patients), did not receive infiltration. Data on hemidiaphragm elevation, air leaks, pain at 24 and 72 hours post-surgery, shoulder pain, length of hospital stay, length of chest tube permanence, were retrospectively collected and compared.The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of intra-operative phrenic nerve infiltration with long acting anesthetic in patients at high risk for PAL, improving pulmonary expansion after surgery, and reducing air leaks, while controlling post-operative pain.
Macular degeneration, also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a leading cause of visual impairment and severe vision loss. AMD is a disease with a multifactorial etiology. The main factors which, associated with the genetic ones, increase the risk of WMD onset are represented by smoking, obesity, hypertension, cardio-vascular diseases, a diet rich in dietary fat and alcohol intake. From an organic point of view, AMD is a disease that affects the macular region of the retina, causing progressive loss of central vision. Retinal cells are characterized by high oxygen consumption. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical are the standard product of cellular metabolism within the mitochondria. Under physiological conditions, ROS are neutralized by a system of antioxidants. In case of cellular metabolism disturbances or insufficiency of the antioxidant system, an excess of ROS can be produced which contributes to oxidative stress, widely described as exerting deleterious effects on cells. The high oxygen requirement and low levels of antioxidant enzymes make the retina extremely sensitive to oxidative stress and more susceptible to cell death. Prevention of neuronal death in the retina becomes a crucial aspect for the management of WMD. The treatment of choice for AMD today is the use of anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) drugs, they are effective for neo-vascular AMD, acting on the inhibition of the angiogenic protein VEGF, which is produced in the retina and induced by hypoxia and other conditions. It is practice, however, to support the integration of nutritional supplements such as zinc, resveratrol, carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ozonated oil with high ozonides (HOO) administered orally as gastro-resistant capsules (O3Zone, GS Pharma, Malta), as an integrative and complementary treatment in patients affected by macular degeneration in the possible slowing of disease progression.
The aim of this study is to develop, study and validate a rigorous and sustainable method for assessing the clinical appropriateness of the decision taken in the Emergency Department to admit or not to admit patients.