There are about 21062 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.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) are minimally invasive techniques to establish the benign or malignant nature of lymph nodes (LNs) with a very high accuracy. In particular, for mediastinal LNs, a meta-analysis underlined that EUS features alone are not enough to reach a good sensitivity and specificity, while EUS-TA showed a slightly high sensitivity (88% vs. 85%) and a significantly high specificity (96% vs. 85%) for diagnosing the cause of LN enlargement. Considering all sites, according to the meta-analysis of Xu and colleagues, the assessment of LNs by EUS-elastography is a useful tool in differentiating benign and malignant LNs, with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 85%. For lymphadenopathy of unknown origin, ESGE recommends performing EUS-TA (or alternatively endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS]-guided) if the patient management requires a pathological result and no superficial lymphadenopathy is easily accessible. Unfortunately, EUS-TA may sometimes be challenging or inconclusive, due to blood contamination or insufficient material. EUS elastography (EUS-E) is a non-invasive ultrasound technique that measures the hardness of tissues. The level of hardness of region of interest (ROI) can be evaluated using qualitative scores and/or quantitative methods (strain ratio; SR). To date, most of the studies on EUS-E have been carried out using the Hitachi ultrasound machine. In particular, Paterson performed a quantitative analysis considering as a pathological value cut-off, the SR ≥7.5 for EUS-E in the nodal staging of esophageal cancer. The study involved 53 LNs using cytology as gold standard: their data showed that EUS-E had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 96%, PPV of 95% and NPV of 86%. Recently, a new compact ultrasound processor, EU-ME2 (Olympus SE & CO. KG, Hamburg, Germany) that includes an elastography software was developed although data regarding its application in LNs evaluation are still not available. The concept of fractal geometry as a tool for describing natural objects was originally introduced by Benoit Mandelbrot. A fractal can be considered as an irregularly shaped object and that can be divided into fragments, each of them representing a self-similar reduced copy of the whole. The hun body is an example of natural fractal, as many of its parts are characterized by features resembling the typical fractal nature. It has been demonstrated that fractal geometry can be used to efficiently evaluate the geometrical complexity of imaging patterns observed in oncology. The investigators recently published a study on the role of EUS elastography and fractal based analysis in the differentiation of solid pancreatic lesions. However, data regarding the application of fractal analysis to evaluate lymphadenopathies are still not available.
The aim of the study is to identify clinical criteria, easily achievable with patient's follow-up tests, which can identify individuals at increased risk of being unfit to drive. Only they, then, will be directed to further investigations. These clinical standards should also be suitable for implementing or substituting the current law's criteria, after appropriate additional studies, so that the law can be based on the clinic.
Background Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is most commonly located at the uterosacral ligaments, rectovaginal septum, pararectal space and vesicouterine fold. A nodule within the uterosacral ligaments (i.e involvement of the dorsal parametrium), increases the complexity of surgical resection. Parametrial involvement in DIE cases occurs in 25% of patients with severe endometriosis, possibly with hypogastric/sacral plexus or sciatic nerve involvement. The bladder functional impairment, after surgery for DIE involved the parametria, may vary between the 6.5% to 32.8%. Preservation of the hypogastric and pelvic splanchnic nerves represents the key aspect in pelvic surgery to prevent postoperative voiding disfunction. Several techniques for the excision of DIE have been described, but large, prospective RCTs are lacking. In particular, a clear standardization of the parametrectomy for DIE is missing. Systematic reviews on the surgical treatment of DIE demonstrated that it is impossible to compare the literature about the parametrectomy for DIE, because to unclear definitions and lack of standardization. We therefore believe it is necessary to propose a standardization of the definition of parametrectomy performed during procedures for DIE, to allow a clear comparison in the future between scientific works on surgical treatment of DIE, as already widely accepted in gynaecologic oncology with the classification of radical hysterectomy of Querleu-Morrow. In particular we believe that the parametrectomy for DIE must be described based on its anatomical extension and focused on the concepts of nerve sparing dissection, and vascular structures preservation, to reduce the risk of complications due to ischemia (i.e. ureter fistula). Rationale A standardized description of the procedure (parametrectomy) will allow the comparison between the different techniques in terms of functionality preservation of the pelvic sympathetic and parasympathetic neural pathway. Therefore, the availability of a clear classification able to define parametria involvement during surgery would be clinically relevant, as they would allow to optimize counselling (risk of neurological consequences) and surgery planning. Type of the study Multicentric prospective observational study. Primary objective To determinate the incidence of bladder functional impairment, after surgery for DIE involved the parametria. Secondary objectives To classify the parametrectomy into a clear system of classification, based on anatomical landmark, and evaluate intra/postoperative complication to each classes of proposed parametrectomy. Sample size The sample size has been calculated on the basis of the primary objective; in order to detect a proportion of bladder functional impairment of 30%, with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 9%, a sample of N=100 patients is required. Inclusion criteria - Patient scheduled for surgery for DIE - Confirmation of DIE needed of parametrectomy at laparoscopic surgery Exclusion criteria - Patients younger than 18 years and older than 50 years at time of operation - Refusal to answer the questionnaires - Absence of sexual activity - Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis - Pre-operative urodynamic diagnosis of neurogenic bladder dysfunction Statistical analysis The sample will be described in its clinical and demographic characteristics using descriptive statistics techniques. Qualitative variables will be summarized as frequencies and percentages. Quantitative variables will be presented as mean (std.dev). Normality of data will be checked with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The primary objective will be achieved calculating the incidence of bladder functional impairment after surgery. The secondary objective will be achieved using descriptive statistics techniques already described.
Gastrointestinal (GI) fistula is a complex condition with high mortality and requiring a multidisciplinary management. The aim of this study is to exploit the regenerative-tissue capacities of autologous emulsified adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (tSVFem, widely used in other medical fields - like plastic surgery -for different purposes) harvested and delivered locally by endoscopy to close the GI fistula. The proposed technique for the treatment of GI fistulas with tSVFem requires a minimal, inexpensive, easily reproducible mechanical manipulation of autologous adipose tissue without necessity of any enzymatic digestion or cell expansion.
An international consortium of leading medical experts in the field of chronic respiratory disease, the research team of Galenus Health and the non-profit organization EUFOREA (European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway diseases) has been conceived to conduct real-life outcome research. The Galenus Health digital platform consisting of a mobile application for patients and an online dashboard for physicians will be implemented in each of the participating centres. The data will be centralized in a pseudonymized database and will be the basis of the Chronic RhinoSinusitis Outcome Registry.
This is an interventional study on nutraceuticals. It is a randomized controlled, open-label, prospective, single-center study that involves the enrollment of 82 patients with osteoporosis and 41 subjects without osteoporosis. The hypothesis the decarboxylated form of Osteocalcin (OC), called GluOC, represents a clinically useful marker for monitoring the effects of supplementation with vitamin K in association with anabolic treatment with teriparatide will be analyzed not only on bone but also on skeletal muscle and energy metabolism in patients with severe osteoporosis.
The purpose of this study is to define the recommended Phase 2 Dose, safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy of EO2463 during monotherapy and in combination with lenalidomide and/or rituximab in patients with indolent NHL
Aim: to investigate the effects of dietary supplements on postoperative edema and pain in patients undergoing quadrantectomy for breast cancer. Methods: 120 patients will be randomized into 3 groups: A, treated with Bromelain/Boswellia Serrata Casperome and Centella Asiatica with Vitamins for 30 days; B, treated with Bromelain/Bosswellia Serrata and placebo for 30 days; C, treated with 2 placebos. Inclusion criteria: adult (>18 years) patients with breast cancer undergoing quadrantectomy with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy. Exclusion criteria: diabetic neuropathy, previous breast/chest surgeries, allergies to studied drugs, severe kidney failure, alcohol and toxics addiction, axillary lymphadenectomy. Patients will be studied through ultrasound examination for edema and collections, VAS and DN4 for pain, during 30 postoperative days. Patients will also be studied through psychological and physiatric evaluations. Wilcoxon, T student, Chi-Squared tests will be used to evaluate the outcomes. STATA 14 (StataCorp LP, College Station, Tex, USA) will be used for the analysis. P<0.05 will be statistically significant.
The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between DMD and BMD brain comorbidities, and the location of the gene mutation which causes the disease.
Observational studies have shown that prone position (PP) in spontaneously breathing patients, may improve oxygenation in individuals with Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF), due to Covid-19 infection. None so far have evaluated the clinical efficacy of this approach on the patients' outcomes and in a randomised control fashion