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.
Project synopsis: This prospective cohort study investigates impact of (1) hearing loss and (2) cochlear implantation on cost and health state on one hand, and employment, productivity and social wellbeing on the other hand in a professionally active group using validated questionnaires. Participants: The investigators aim to include 100 professional active adults between 18 and 65 years old. All participants have a bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. Due to several reasons such as an optimal hearing aid fitting, the presence of a residual hearing or physical contra-indications, half of these participants will not be implanted with CI. Additionally, 100 participants with a single-sides deafness (SSD) in the acute or chronic setting (SDD present for at least three months) will be included. Study design Study measures: All audiological tests and patient-reported outcome measures will be included in this test protocol and repeated throughout the follow-up visits depending on aided or unaided setting. The cognitive evaluation will be executed during the first and last test moment. The investigators anticipate that the protocol will take 1 hour per follow-up in the hospital (audiological testing and to go over the questionnaires), plus an extra hour at home to fill out the questionnaires. For the cognitive tests, an extra hour in the hospital will be scheduled. Hypothesis As a primary endpoint, the investigators anticipate demonstrating that severe-to-profound hearing loss has a significant impact on sick leave and self-reported productivity. Health state will also be analyzed as a secondary endpoint because the investigators anticipate only marginal improvement (if any) on these instruments due to the lack of sensitivity and responsiveness, even in this population. The investigators will also determine the rate of usage and non-usage at this long-term follow-up to demonstrate the utility of cochlear implants. Statistical analysis IBM SPSS Statistics (IBM; Armonk, NY) will be used for the statistical analyses. The participants' hearing profiles will be summarized using descriptive statistics (median, and range). In view of the sample size, non-parametric tests and linear mixed models (to describe evolution in time and difference between groups) will be used. Quantitative data will be presented as median and range (minimum and maximum). Descriptives will be used to summarize the outcomes of the subjective data logging. For the speech perception in noise results, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be used. In addition, to correct for the multiple speech in noise test configurations, Holm's correction will be applied. The level of significance will be set at p.0.05. Data storage REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed exclusively to support data capture for research studies. REDCap provides an interface for data entry (with data validation) and audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures. Data will be pseudomized before storage in REDCap.
This is a retrospective European multicenter study evaluating surgical treatment of patients with a complex ventral incisional hernia using robotic-assisted laparoscopic transversus abdominis release (rTAR) or open transversus abdominis release (oTAR).
Rationale: Acute intestinal ischemia is a life-threatening condition with a short-term mortality that can range up to 80%. Medical diagnosis and treatment have remained troublesome, due to the clinical presentation which is mostly characterized by non-specific signs and symptoms. Early unambiguous diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia is critical to prevent progression from reversible to irreversible intestinal injury, and henceforth decrease morbidity and improve survival. Objective: We aim to validate a panel of plasma biomarkers and investigate volatile biomarkers that allow early and accurate identification of acute intestinal ischemia in patients. In addition, we aim to identify a volatile organic compound (VOC) profile specific for acute intestinal ischemia in exhaled breath. Study design: Prospective observational study Study population: All patients suspected of acute intestinal ischemia Main study parameters: The primary endpoint of the study is the early and accurate identification of presence and severity of acute intestinal ischemia in patients. The main study parameters are plasma biomarkers indicative for intestinal damage and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled air of patients suspected of acute intestinal ischemia. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: There is a minimal amount of risks involved in participating in this study. Blood samples will be obtained with the use of an arterial line, intravenous line (IV), central venous catheter (CVC), peripheral venous catheter (PVC) or a venepuncture. The risk of venepuncture is a small local hematoma. In addition to blood sampling, we will also obtain exhaled air. This non-invasive procedure takes approximately 5 minutes in which patients breath in a 3L Tedlar bag at a normal frequency and volume. This procedure will not cause any physical strain. Collection of samples and data will take place during the hospital stay of the included patients. For this reason, no additional hospital visits are required for this study. Participating patients in this study will have no direct benefits, but in the future the results of our study will likely be useful in the early diagnosis of patients suspected of acute intestinal ischemia. The research goal in this study is the early identification of patients that suffer from acute intestinal ischemia. These patients are difficult to diagnose due to a multitude of non-specific symptoms and the lack of fast and specific tests. In this study we will be able to investigate patients that are admitted with acute abdominal complications and observe them in the early stages of their condition. Accordingly, we will be able to evaluate the proposed panel of biomarkers and to identify VOC patterns in patients with acute abdominal complications.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm. The most common type, the epithelioid type, has been further divided into histological patterns of tubulo-papillary, acinar, adenomatoid, micropapillary, or solid. Its prognosis is improved by the use of a locoregional treatment combining extensive cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which increases survival up to 50 months. Histology is one of the most important prognostic variable that, forms the basis for treatment decisions. However, the prognostic of the epithelioid type varies greatly due to its tumor heterogeneity. It is therefore necessary to find prognostic factors of malignant epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma in order to better define the therapeutic strategy. Among histological factors, solid growth, tumor necrosis, nuclear atypia, and mitotic count were found to be independent prognostic factors in epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma. However, in epithelioid malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (EMPM), these factors were studied in small and heterogeneous series in terms of histological growth and definitions used for histological factors. The present large study was conducted to investigate the prognostic impact of several histologic factors in EMPM. Their prognosis impacts were assessed using overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in EMPM.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and requires the patient to remain perfectly still during the entire acquisition process to ensure quality. Children under 6 years of age are not very cooperative and sedation is required for this age group. Currently, there are no specific recommendations for sedation for a paediatric MRI examination. In 2018, a retrospective study on the sedation protocol applied at Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola (H.U.D.E.R.F.) was conducted. In this protocol, premedication was done with oral midazolam and sedation with iterative boluses of propofol. This study concluded that the protocol in place was effective, but found that image acquisition during the procedure was interrupted in 25% of cases, largely due to involuntary movements of the child. Preoperative stress can be emotionally traumatic for the child and may even extend beyond the perioperative period, hence the importance of premedication. For the most anxious children, non-pharmacological means of premedication are often not sufficient. Moreover, the literature shows that pharmacological premedication is useful in reducing parental separation anxiety and in facilitating induction of anaesthesia. Midazolam is an effective premedication agent with some disadvantages (paradoxical reaction, low compliance of oral intake). Dexmedetomidine is a highly effective α-2 receptor agonist that can also be used as premedication according to the current literature. A report by the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium (P.S.R.C.) shows that it has a safe profile and an incidence rate of serious adverse events of 0.36% in the paediatric population. Furthermore, administered intranasally, it is non-invasive, painless and has good bioavailability (over 80%). The primary objective is to demonstrate the superiority of intranasal dexmedetomidine over oral midazolam as a premedication for bolus sedation of propofol in terms of the incidence of any event during the MRI procedure requiring temporary or permanent interruption of the examination. The impact of dexmedetomidine on the amount of propofol administered and on the post-sedation period, the impact of external factors on the primary objective, the acceptance of intranasal premedication by the children and the quality of the MRI images will also be analyzed.
The objective of this prospective, multicenter, non-randomized, single-arm observational study is to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the iCover covered stent for the treatment of de novo aorto-iliac atherosclerotic lesions in patients with symptomatic arteriopathy of the lower limbs (Rutherford class 2 to 5).
The investigators' main focus of this trial will be to investigate - why people with low back pain perceive lifting (with a bent back) as harmful. - whether general measures of pain-related fear are associated with task-specific measures of perceived harmfulness - why people with low back pain avoid lifting (with a bent back) This will be investigated using self-report (i.e., questionnaires)
Context: Therapeutic plasma exchange is an extracorporeal blood purification technique that removes pathogenic substances (including antibodies) from plasma. This technique also combines an immunomodulatory effect. The impact on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 titre and the humoral and cellular responses in the general population benefiting from therapeutic plasma exchanges is not known at this time. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evolution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies' titre over time in vaccinated adult patients treated with therapeutic plasma exchange. Research question and associated variables: Prospective non-drug interventional study on the possible variation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titre in adult patients regularly treated with therapeutic plasma exchange. Study population: any adult patient vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (any type of vaccine) and regularly receiving therapeutic plasma exchange in the adult hematology department of the Cliniques universitaires Saint Luc in Brussels, Belgium. Number of subjects expected to be enrolled: 10-15
The diagnostic performance of the HEMSTOP (Hematoma, hEmorrhage, Menorrhagia, Surgery, Tooth extraction, Obstetrics, Parents) standardized questionnaire collected during the preoperative anesthesia consultation in order to detect a deficit in hemostasis associated with the risk of hemorrhage in pregnant women will be analyzed. The primary aim of the study is to assess the sensitivity and the specificity of the HEMSTOP questionnaire to identity patients with an abnormal first-line hemostasis test requiring further development by performing second-line hemostasis tests. The second aim of the study is to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the HEMSTOP questionnaire in predicting postpartum hemorrhage.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death in the Western world. It can be effectively prevented by removal of pre-malignant polyps (polypectomy) during colonoscopy. Large (≥20mm) non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) represent 2-3% of colorectal polyps, and require special attention prior to treatment. If submucosal invasion (SMI) is suspected careful decision making is required to exclude features which unacceptably increase the risk of lymph node metastases and render local treatment (endoscopic) non-curative. Such patients require a multi-disciplinary approach and consideration of surgery +/- systemic therapy. Recently the endoscopic imaging characteristics which precisely determine the risk of SMI within colon polyps have been elucidated. This suggests endoscopic imaging may be the ideal investigation to stratify the presence and extent of SMI within LNPCP, particularly as it can be applied in real-time at the time of planned endoscopic treatment. Unfortunately, current classification systems are complex, require extensive training and technology not available in the majority of non-tertiary hospitals. They are therefore underused leading to incorrect decision making and negative patient outcome (e.g piecemeal resection without the chance of endoscopic cure or unnecessary further procedures in referral centres with resultant surgery anyway or surgery for benign disease) A simple clinical support tool was created, based on well-established parameters (i.e., presence of a demarcated area within a polyp, size of the polyp, Paris classification, location within the colon and granularity) to identify OVERT (visible on the surface) and COVERT (hidden) submucosal invasion (SMI) within LNPCPs. Crucially this tool only uses what is reproducible in the majority of endoscopy units in the Western world (i.e. standard magnification, no extra chromic dyes etc). predict SMI within LNPCPs and we translated it into a single web-based clinical support tool that can be used by every endoscopist (expert and non-expert). To evaluate the tool, a survey will be send to participants. The survey consist of a 10-minute educational video where the use of the tool will be explained. Then 20 standardised videos of LNPCPs will be shown. Participants are first asked about their first impression regarding the presence of SMI. Then they are redirected to the web-based tool. After filling the required data from a standardised video (45 seconds to minute, no focus on one particular area of the polyp) the score generated by our tool is copied to the participants computer clipboard and then pasted in the survey so that we could analyse it.