Managing the selection of placebo group switched to experimental treatment group in post-randomised controlled trial extension studies

2022 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-221775
Author(s):  
Maya H Buch ◽  
Walter P Maksymowych ◽  
Maarten Boers
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-Juan Wu ◽  
Wen-Liang Lv ◽  
Juan-Mei Li ◽  
Ting-Ting Zhang ◽  
Wen-Hui Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Hepatitis B-related compensated liver cirrhosis is related to higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, anti-viral therapy is the preferred method. As the pathological mechanisms of liver fibrosis are complex, drugs developed for a single target are difficult to be effective in clinical practice, so there are no chemical drugs or biological drugs with clear efficacy available for clinical application at present. Traditional Chinese medicine is a kind of medical science that has been gradually formed during thousands of years and continuously enriched by the people of all ethnic groups in China. Traditional chinese medicine shows curative effects in the treatment of liver diseases, especially in the field of liver fibrosis prevention and treatment. This study aim to test the integrative medicine (chinese medicine plus anti-riral therapy) effective on lowing hepatocellular carcinoma risk among patients with hepatitis B-related compensated liver cirrhosis.Methods and Analysis: This is a multicentre randomised controlled trial, total 5 hospitals and 802 patients will involved in. All the subjects are randomly allocated to the YinQiSanHuang Jiedu decoction(YQSHD) group (n=401) or the placebo group (n=401). The YQSHD group receives YQSHD granule with Entecavir(ETV), the placebo group receives YQSHD placebo with ETV. Treatment period will last for 52 weeks, and follow-up period for 52±2 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the annual incidence of HCC. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after treatment. Objective of this trial is “the integrative of YQSHD with ETV reduce the annual incidence of HCC to 1%”.Ethics and dissemination:The protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Guang’anmen Hospital, China (No.2019-006-KY), and the other centres in the trial will not begin recruiting until local ethical approval has been obtained.Trial final results will be disseminated via publication. Trial registration: ChiCTR1900021532, this protocol was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx) on February 26th, 2019.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjebm-2021-111714
Author(s):  
Heppy Khanpara ◽  
V Prakash

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of spin in the abstract of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on physiotherapists’ perception of treatment benefit evaluated in the trial.DesignParallel-group RCT.SettingPhysiotherapy departments in hospitals and clinics in India.ParticipantsPhysiotherapists working in clinical settings.InterventionsWe selected one abstract with high level of spin published in one of the core journals of physiotherapy and created two versions of the abstract, that is, with and without spin. We randomly assigned physiotherapists working in clinical settings (N=128) to read one version of the selected abstract, with or without spin. Participants were blinded to the study design, objectives and randomisation.Main outcome measuresPhysiotherapists’ interpretation of beneficial effect of the experimental treatment (0–10 scale) reported in the abstract. The secondary outcomes were clinicians’ perception of methodological rigour and the study importance, their interest in reading the full text, and their interest in running another trial evaluating this treatment.ResultsWe found a medium reduction in confidence of beneficial effect of the experimental treatment among physiotherapists who read the abstract without spin (mean score 4.3±2.8) compared with those who read the abstract with spin (mean score 6.14±2.6). The mean difference in scores between abstracts with and without spin was 1.8 (95% CI 0.8 to 2.8; p<0.001). For other outcomes measures studied there was no statistically significant effect.ConclusionsRemoval of spin in the abstract of RCT reporting statistically non-significant results have medium effect in improving physiotherapists’ accuracy of interpretation of study results. Spin contributes to clinicians’ positive perception about the benefit of experimental intervention tested in the trial despite the evidence showing no superiority of experimental intervention.Trial registration numberCTRI/2020/02/023557.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 00275-2019
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Lenahan ◽  
Evangelyn Nkwopara ◽  
Melda Phiri ◽  
Tisungane Mvalo ◽  
Mari T. Couasnon ◽  
...  

BackgroundAs part of a randomised controlled trial of treatment with placebo versus 3 days of amoxicillin for nonsevere fast-breathing pneumonia among Malawian children aged 2–59 months, a subset of children was hospitalised for observation. We sought to characterise the progression of fast-breathing pneumonia among children undergoing repeat assessments to better understand which children do and do not deteriorate.MethodsVital signs and physical examination findings, including respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2), chest indrawing and temperature were assessed every 3 h for the duration of hospitalisation. Children were assessed for treatment failure during study visits on days 1, 2, 3 and 4.ResultsHospital monitoring data from 436 children were included. While no children had SpO2 90–93% at baseline, 7.4% (16 of 215) of children receiving amoxicillin and 9.5% (21 of 221) receiving placebo developed SpO2 90–93% during monitoring. Similarly, no children had chest indrawing at enrolment, but 6.6% (14 of 215) in the amoxicillin group and 7.2% (16 of 221) in the placebo group went on to develop chest indrawing during hospitalisation.ConclusionRepeat monitoring of children with fast-breathing pneumonia identified vital and physical examination signs not present at baseline, including SpO2 90–93% and chest indrawing. This information may support providers and policymakers in developing guidance for care of children with nonsevere pneumonia.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e034304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pilar López-Royo ◽  
Eva Maria Gómez-Trullén ◽  
Maria Ortiz-Lucas ◽  
Rita Maria Galán-Díaz ◽  
Ana Vanessa Bataller-Cervero ◽  
...  

IntroductionPatellar tendinopathy is a degenerative disease of the patellar tendon, which affects athletes from a variety of sports, and is especially predominant in sports involving high-impact jumping. The aim of this study is to determine the additional effect of two interventions combined with eccentric exercise and compare which one is the most effective at short-term and long-term follow-up for patients with patellar tendinopathy.Methods and analysisThis study is a randomised controlled trial with blinded participants. Measurements will be carried out by a specially trained blinded assessor. A sample of 57 patients with a medical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy will participate in this study and will be divided into three treatment groups. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either: (a) treatment group with percutaneous needle electrolysis, (b) treatment group with dry needling or (c) treatment group with placebo needling. In addition, all groups will perform eccentric exercise. Functionality and muscle strength parameters, pain, ultrasound appearances and patient perceived quality of life shall be evaluated using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment for patellar (VISA-P), jump tests, Visual Analogue Scale, ultrasound images and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively. Participants will be assessed at baseline, at 10 weeks and at 22 weeks after baseline. The expected findings will allow us to advance in the treatment of this injury, as they will help determine whether a needling intervention has additional effects on an eccentric exercise programme and whether any of the needling modalities is more effective than the other.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Aragon (N° PI15/0017). The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.Trial registration numberNCT02498795


Author(s):  
Karen Luyt ◽  
Sally L Jary ◽  
Charlotte L Lea ◽  
Grace J. Young ◽  
David E Odd ◽  
...  

BackgroundProgressive ventricular dilatation after intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants has a very high risk of severe disability and death. Drainage, irrigation and fibrinolytic therapy (DRIFT), in a randomised controlled trial (RCT), reduced severe cognitive impairment at 2 years.ObjectiveTo assess if the cognitive advantage of DRIFT seen at 2 years persisted until school age.ParticipantsThe RCT conducted in four centres recruited 77 preterm infants with IVH and progressive ventricular enlargement over specified measurements. Follow-up was at 10 years of age.InterventionIntraventricular injection of a fibrinolytic followed by continuous lavage, until the drainage was clear, and standard care consisting of control of expansion by lumbar punctures and if expansion persisted via a ventricular access device.Primary outcomeCognitive quotient (CQ), derived from the British Ability Scales and Bayley III Scales, and survival without severe cognitive disability.ResultsOf the 77 children randomised, 12 died, 2 could not be traced, 10 did not respond and 1 declined at 10-year follow-up. 28 in the DRIFT group and 24 in the standard treatment group were assessed by examiners blinded to the intervention. The mean CQ score was 69.3 (SD=30.1) in the DRIFT group and 53.7 (SD=35.7) in the standard treatment group (unadjusted p=0.1; adjusted p=0.01, after adjustment for the prespecified variables sex, birth weight and IVH grade). Survival without severe cognitive disability was 66% in the DRIFT group and 35% in the standard treatment group (unadjusted p=0.019; adjusted p=0.003).ConclusionDRIFT is the first intervention for posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation to objectively demonstrate sustained cognitive improvement.Trial registration numberISRCTN80286058.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuaki Nagami ◽  
Taishi Sakai ◽  
Masafumi Yamamura ◽  
Masami Nakatani ◽  
Takayuki Katsuno ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endoscopic removal of colorectal adenoma is considered an effective treatment for reducing the mortality rates associated with colorectal cancer. Warfarin, a type of anticoagulant, is widely used for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolism; however, bleeding may increase with its administration after polypectomy. In recent times, a high incidence of bleeding after endoscopic polypectomy has been reported in patients receiving heparin bridge therapy. However, previous studies have not compared the bleeding rate after endoscopic colorectal polypectomy between patients who continued with anticoagulant therapy and those who received heparin bridge therapy. We hypothesised that endoscopic colorectal polypectomy under the novel treatment with continuous warfarin is not inferior to endoscopic colorectal polypectomy under standard treatment with heparin bridge therapy with respect to the rate of postoperative bleeding. This study aims to compare the efficacy of endoscopic colorectal polypectomy with continuous warfarin administration and endoscopic colorectal polypectomy with heparin bridge therapy with respect to the rate of postoperative bleeding. Methods We will conduct a prospective multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial of two parallel groups. We will compare patients scheduled to undergo colorectal polypectomy under anticoagulant therapy with warfarin. There will be 2 groups, namely, a standard treatment group (heparin bridge therapy) and the experimental treatment group (continued anticoagulant therapy). The primary outcome measure is the rate of postoperative bleeding. On the contrary, the secondary outcomes include the rate of cumulative bleeding, rate of overt haemorrhage (that does not qualify for the definition of haemorrhage after endoscopic polypectomy), incidence of haemorrhage requiring haemostasis during endoscopic polypectomy, intraoperative bleeding during endoscopic colorectal polypectomy requiring angiography, abdominal surgery and/or blood transfusion, total rate of bleeding, risk factors for postoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay, incidence of thromboembolism, prothrombin time-international ratio (PT-INR) 28 days after the surgery, and incidence of serious adverse events. Discussion The results of this randomised controlled trial will provide valuable information for the standardisation of management of anticoagulants in patients scheduled to undergo colorectal polypectomy. Trial registration UMIN-CTR UMIN000023720. Registered on 22 August 2016


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Towe Wadensten ◽  
Emma Nyström ◽  
Karin Franzén ◽  
Anna Lindam ◽  
Elisabet Wasteson ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Many women experience urgency and mixed urinary incontinence, but commonly hesitate to seek care. Treatment access and self-management can be supported through eHealth methods. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the efficacy of a mobile app for self-management of urgency and mixed urinary incontinence. METHODS This randomised controlled trial was conducted in Sweden. We included women of ≥18 year old, with urgency or mixed urinary incontinence and ≥2 leakages/week, excluding those with alarm symptoms. The women were recruited via information on TV, radio, and newspapers, and via Facebook advertisements. Initial selection was performed using a web-based screening questionnaire at our webpage. Data was then collected using an inclusion questionnaire and a two-day bladder diary. Symptom diagnosis was confirmed through a telephone interview. Participants were randomised to a treatment app (pelvic floor muscle training, bladder training, psychology, lifestyle advice, individual advice, statistics, reinforcement messages, and reminders) or brief information app (control). No guidance on the treatment was provided outside of the apps. The primary outcome was incontinence symptoms at follow-up (15 weeks), measured by ICIQ-UI SF score. Urgency symptoms were assessed via ICIQ-OAB score, and quality of life via ICIQ-LUTSqol score. Improvement was measured using Patient’s Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I). These outcomes were patient reported. Cure was defined as no leakages (based on bladder diary). Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS Between April 2017 and March 2018, 123 women were randomised to treatment (n=60, two lost to follow-up) or information (n=63). Of the included women, 28% had symptoms of urgency urinary incontinence, and 72% had mixed urinary incontinence. The mean age was 58.3 (SD 9.6) years and the majority had a university education. Half of the women were overweight or obese. Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The mean follow-up ICIQ-UI SF score was lower in the treatment group than the information group (estimated difference 3.1; 95% CI −4.8 to −1.3). For the follow-up ICIQ-OAB score, the estimated between-groups difference was −1∙8 (95% CI −2∙8 to −0∙99) and for the ICIQ-LUTSqol, the estimated between-groups difference was -6.3 (95% CI -10.5 to -2.1). Of women in the treatment group 90% reported an improvement, compared to 30% in the information group. Cure was reported by 19 women in the treatment group, and 4 in the control group (OR 5.38, 95% CI 1.86 to 15.57, p=0.002). During the 15-week treatment period, 69% of women in the treatment group used the app daily, and 10% used it at least three times per day. CONCLUSIONS The tested treatment app was effective for improvement and cure of urgency and mixed incontinence in women. It may be a good alternative to pharmacological treatment or other conservative management, increasing access to care. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03097549


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e045866
Author(s):  
Qian Lu ◽  
Zhifei Yin ◽  
Xuefeng Shen ◽  
Jinhua Li ◽  
Panpan Su ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on chronic refractory wounds.DesignRandomised controlled trial.SettingThe outpatient wound care department of the Affiliated Jiangsu Shengze Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2019 to June 2020.ParticipantsSixty patients were enrolled in this study and were randomised into control (n=30) and treatment (n=30) groups.Interventions and outcome measuresThe control group was treated only with conventional wound dressing, whereas the treatment group received irradiation with HILT in addition to standard wound care, such as debridement, wound irrigation with normal saline solution and application of dressing and sterile gauze. Patient scores on the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) were evaluated before and after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment.ResultsOne patient was excluded from the control group, and a total of 59 subjects completed the trial. The BWAT scores significantly decreased in the treatment group compared with the control group at the end of 3-week treatment (difference=−3.6; 95% CI −6.3 to–0.8; p<0.01). Similarly, patients in treatment group showed a significant reduction of PUSH scores compared with the control group (difference=−5.3; 95% CI −8.1 to –2.6; p<0.01).ConclusionsThe therapeutic effects of HILT on chronic refractory wounds are significant and far more superior to those of conventional wound dressing.Trial registration numberChinese Clinical Trial Registry; ChiCTR1900023157. URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=38866


2021 ◽  
pp. emermed-2021-211253
Author(s):  
Mariana Cannellotto ◽  
Mariano Duarte ◽  
Guillermo Keller ◽  
Ramiro Larrea ◽  
Eleonora Cunto ◽  
...  

BackgroundHyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy has been proposed to treat hypoxaemia and reduce inflammation in COVID-19. Our objective was to analyse safety and efficacy of HBO2 in treatment of hypoxaemia in patients with COVID-19 and evaluate time to hypoxaemia correction.MethodsThis was a multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between July and November 2020. Patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxaemia (SpO2 ≤90% despite oxygen supplementation) were assigned to receive either HBO2 treatment or the standard treatment for respiratory symptoms for 7 days. HBO2 treatment was planned for ≥5 sessions (1 /day) for 90 min at 1.45 atmosphere absolute (ATA). Outcomes were time to normalise oxygen requirement to SpO2 ≥93%, need for mechanical respiratory assistance, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and mortality within 30 days. A sample size of 80 patients was estimated, with a planned interim analysis after determining outcomes on 50% of patients.ResultsThe trial was stopped after the interim analysis. 40 patients were randomised, 20 in each group, age was 55.2±9.2 years. At admission, frequent symptoms were dyspnoea, fever and odynophagia; SpO2 was 85.1%±4.3% for the whole group. Patients in the treatment group received an average of 6.2±1.2 HBO2 sessions. Time to correct hypoxaemia was shorter in treatment group versus control group; median 3 days (IQR 1.0–4.5) versus median 9 days (IQR 5.5–12.5), respectively (p<0.010). OR for recovery from hypoxaemia in the HBO2 group at day 3 compared with the control group was 23.2 (95% CI 1.6 to 329.6; p=0.001) Treatment had no statistically significant effect on acute respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation or death within 30 days after admission.ConclusionOur findings support the safety and efficacy of HBO2 in the treatment of COVID-19 and severe hypoxaemia.Trial registration numberNCT04477954.


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