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.
Since the first successful spinal fusion surgery using a modern stabilization technique in 1909, surgical fusion has become one of the most commonly performed procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. The incidence of lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative conditions has more than doubled from 2000 until 2009. Despite the high incidence of fusion surgery, the decision making in lumbar fusion surgery is complicated by a wide variety of indications (the greatest measured in any surgical procedure). This could indicate there might be an overuse of lumbar fusion. However, decompression alone, or non-operative care for degenerative conditions may risk progressive spinal instability, intractable pain, and neurological impairment. These complications in the absence of fusion surgery, clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of adding spinal fusion surgery. Because of its beneficial effect and high usage, it is of greatest importance to reduce postoperative disability and pain, by diminishing surgical invasiveness. Traditional open posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are used to treat degenerative diseases of the spinal column. These techniques require an extensive dissection of the paraspinal musculature, which in term can lead to muscle denervation, loss of function, muscular atrophy, and spinal instability. It has also been known that paraspinal muscle damage induced during surgery is related to long term disability and pain. With this knowledge, minimally invasive spine surgery began to develop in the mid-twentieth century. Since then, new direct approaches to the lumbar spine, known as lumbar lateral interbody fusion (LLIF), direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF), or extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF), have been introduced. This study will focus on XLIF. Ozgur. 2006 first reported the XLIF procedure, as a minimally invasive procedure that approaches the spine from the lateral via the space between the 12th rib and the highest point of the iliac crest. This approach allows direct access to the intervertebral disc space without disruption of the peritoneal structures or posterior paraspinal musculature. Ohba. 2017 compared XLIF with percutaneous pedicle screws to traditional PLIF, and found that PLIF was associated with less intraoperative blood loss, postoperative white blood cell (WBC) counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and creatine kinases (CK) levels, indicating less muscle damage. Postoperative recovery of performance was significantly faster in the XLIF group. 1-year disability and pain scores were also significantly lower in the XLIF group. Despite these significant better results reported in the XLIF group, the systematic review of Barbagallo. 2015 concluded that there is insufficient evidence of the comparative effectiveness of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF) versus PLIF/ TLIF surgery. This indicates that the evidence for choosing between XLIF or a traditional approach is still scarce, and no recommendations can be made. This study will focus on comparing XLIF to PLIF. The objective of this study is to compare clinical and structural outcome measures between the XLIF and PLIF groups, to confirm our hypothesis that the minimally invasiveness of the XLIF technique facilitates a significant faster post-operative recovery, and improves functional and structural outcomes.
Prospective interventional follow-up of diabetic foot surgery patients, their metabolic/nutritional profile, and the nutritional adequacy in the perioperative setting. Primary objective: to establish the preoperative metabolic profile of diabetic patients scheduled for foot surgery and determine the postoperative nutritional status. The daily values of caloric intake compared to caloric need and protein intake compared to protein need will be evaluated as primary endpoint. [Actual daily caloric and protein intake is compared to the calculated need.] These values will each be presented as relative %. Wound healing is an anabolic process that requires ample access to nutrients. Insulin is considered the main anabolic hormone of the body, and regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Diabetic patients lack this very hormone, and in addition are required to follow a strict dietary regime that further limits caloric and protein intake. Very little research had been done to evaluate the role of malnutrition in delayed wound healing. Overall: What is the metabolic/nutritional profile of a diabetes patient with foot wounds undergoing surgery? Is the intake of proteins and caloric adequate in the perioperative setting and are nutritional goals met? Is there a possibility for iatrogenic malnutrition? What kind of nutrition would possibly be useful to optimize intake?
Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) (formerly "senile" or "degenerative") is a frequent disease of heart valves and is characterized by a thickness and calcification of leaflets with a significant increase of the pressure gradient, defined as an aortic jet velocity of > 2 m/s. Whenever the aortic jet velocity is > 4 m/s, in association with an aortic valve area of < 1 cm2, the disease is classified as severe and cardiac outflow obstruction develops. AS affects 1-2% of population aged of > 65 years and 12% of those aged > 75 years. Among those aged > 75 years, it is estimated that 3.5% has severe AS. With the aging of population, the prevalence of AS is expected to increase in the forthcoming years. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has been introduced in 2004 and consists in percutaneous replacement of the aortic valve. It is indicated in those patients with severe AS who cannot undergo surgical replacement because of high surgical risk. TAVI seems to be a good alternative to surgical intervention also for patients deemed at intermediate risk, especially if they are frail or aged. Ballistocardiography (BCG) consists of the measurement of the body's accelerations as a consequence of the recoil forces generated by the blood mass ejection at each cardiac contraction and recorded on the body's surface close to the subject's center of mass. Seismocardiography (SCG) records the heart-induced accelerations generated at each cardiac contraction and transmitted to the local chest surface. Thanks to specific algorithms applied to the SCG and BCG waves, it is possible to compute the kinetic energy (KE) and Power (P) of a single cardiac contractile cycle. The aims of our study are to demonstrate that: LVOT Vmax and LVOT VTI changes obtained with echocardiography can be estimated reliably throught BCG and SCG signals, before and after TAVI procedure; Pmax and KE computed from the BCG and SCG signals could predict the severity of the AS before the TAVI procedure. KE and P computed from non invasively recorded BCG and SCG waves may prove useful in the evaluation of AS severity and its evolution before and after TAVI procedure, respectively.
A better understanding of the impact of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the elderly, in terms of brain damage, cognitive and motor functions, sleep quality and quality of life is necessary due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of TBI in this population and its high economic impact on society. Therefore, this study aims at describing the short-term consequences of TBI by studying injury patterns, injury severity, risk profiles, brain damage, co-morbidities, post-traumatic history, level of dependency, serum-based injury biomarkers, cognitive and motor functions, sleep quality and quality of life 6 months after TBI. All the obtained results will be integrated in a new prognostic tool for the course of the outcomes of TBI in the elderly population.
This is an open-label, Phase 1b/2 study to determine the recommended dose of lucitanib in combination with nivolumab in patients with an advanced solid tumor (Phase 1b); followed by evaluation of the safety and efficacy of lucitanib and nivolumab in patients with an advanced gynecological solid tumor (Phase 2) and evaluate the effects of dosing under fasting or fed state (Food Effect)
The study will assess the pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerability, and safety of oral trimetazidine administered to subjects with AD (ACLF Grade 0) or with ACLF Grade 1 or 2.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of an intravenous (IV) induction and subcutaneous (SC) maintenance administration of ustekinumab on the pharmacokinetic (PK) of a cocktail of representative probe substrates of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP1A2) in participants with Active Crohn's disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC).
The investigators noticed a variable prescription of blood components to haematological patients in the hospital. This study will analyze the prescription and administration of blood components to Haematological patients (pre measurement). Based on these results guidelines on transfusion triggers will be updated and educated to the physicians and new ICT (information and communications technology) implementations will be added to the electronic order for blood components. The investigators hope to see afterwards (post measurement) a more stable prescription and administration of blood components and a more economic use of blood components.
The purpose is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Stellarex DCB for the treatment of stenosis or occlusions of below-the-knee arteries.
Baclo-Sleep trial aims to investigate the effect of baclofen on sleep after scheduled cardiac surgery.