Comparison of a new versus standard removable offloading device in patients with neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers: a French national, multicentre, open-label randomized, controlled trial

IntroductionThe offloading is crucial to heal neuropathic diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Removable offloading are the most used devices. Orthèse diabète is a new customized removable knee-high offloading device immobilizing foot and ankle joints, with some specific and innovative features that may improve offloading. We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of this device in DFU healing.Research, design and methodsThe evaluation of Offloading using a new removable ORTHOsis in DIABetic foot study is a French multicenter (13 centers) randomized controlled trial with blinded end points evaluation. Adults with neuropathic DFU were randomly assigned to either Orthèse Diabète (experimental device), or any type of conventional (usually used in France) removable offloading devices (control group). The primary outcome was the 3-month proportion of patients with fully healed DFU.ResultsAmong 112 randomized patients (men 78%, age 62±10 years), the primary outcome occurred in 19 (33%) participants using conventional device vs 19 (35%) Orthèse Diabète users (p=0.79). Study groups were also comparable in terms of prespecified secondary end points including occurrence of new DFU (25% vs 27% in conventional and experimental groups), ipsilateral lower-limb amputation (4% vs 10%) or infectious complications (14% vs 13%) (p>0.05 for all). Adverse events were comparable between groups, including 4 deaths unrelated to study allocation (1 sudden death, 2 ventricular arrhythmias and 1 pancreatic cancer). Adverse events believed to be related to the device were higher in the Orthèse Diabète group than in the control group (15% vs 4%). Orthèse Diabète was less frequently worn than conventional devices (46% vs 66%, p=0.04).ConclusionsOrthèse Diabète, a new removable offloading orthosis immobilizing foot and ankle joints did not show superiority compared with conventional removable devices in neuropathic DFU healing and cannot be recommended to heal DFU.Trial registration numberNCT01956162.

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The Effect of Lavender Oil on Perioperative Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep after Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective, Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1724465 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ronnie L. Shammas ◽

Caitlin E. Marks ◽

Gloria Broadwater ◽

Elliot Le ◽

Adam D. Glener ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Breast Reconstruction ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Control Group ◽

Lavender Oil ◽

Entire Cohort ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background Psychosocial distress, depression, or anxiety can occur in up to 50% of women after a breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of lavender oil as a perioperative adjunct to improve anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep in women undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Methods This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of 49 patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Patients were randomized to receive lavender oil or placebo (coconut oil) throughout their hospitalization. The effect of lavender oil on perioperative stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain was measured using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, Richards–Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and the visual analogue scale. Results Twenty-seven patients were assigned to the lavender group and 22 patients were assigned to the control group. No significant differences were seen in the perioperative setting between the groups with regard to anxiety (p = 0.82), depression (p = 0.21), sleep (p = 0.86), or pain (p = 0.30) scores. No adverse events (i.e., allergic reaction) were captured, and no significant differences in surgery-related complications were observed. When evaluating the entire cohort, postoperative anxiety scores were significantly lower than preoperative scores (p < 0.001), while depression scores were significantly higher postoperatively as compared with preoperatively (p = 0.005). Conclusion In the setting of microvascular breast reconstruction, lavender oil and aromatherapy had no significant adverse events or complications; however, there were no measurable advantages pertaining to metrics of depression, anxiety, sleep, or pain as compared with the control group.

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Water exchange-assisted vs. carbon dioxide-insufflated single-balloon enteroscopy: randomized controlled trial

Endoscopy ◽

10.1055/a-1459-4571 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shaopeng Liu ◽

Tao Dong ◽

Yupeng Shi ◽

Hui Luo ◽

Xianmin Xue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Water Exchange ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Balloon Enteroscopy ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Single Balloon ◽

Single Balloon Enteroscopy

Background and study aims Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is a valuable but difficult modality for the diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel diseases. The water exchange (WE) method has the advantage of facilitating intubation during colonoscopy. Here, we evaluated the effects of WE on procedure-related variables related to SBE. Patients and methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary-care referral center in China. Patients with attempt at total enteroscopy (ATE) were randomly allocated to undergo WE-assisted (WE group) or carbon dioxide-insufflated enteroscopy (CO2 group). All patients were planned to undergo both antegrade and retrograde procedures. The primary outcome was the total enteroscopy rate (TER). Secondary outcomes included maximal insertion depth, positive findings, procedural time and adverse events. Results In total, 110 patients were enrolled, with 55 in each group. Baseline characteristics between the two groups were comparable. TER was achieved in 58.2% (32/55) of the WE group and 36.4% (20/55) of the control group (p=0.022). The estimated intubation depth was 521.2±101.4 cm in the WE group and 481.6±95.2 cm in the CO2 group (p=0.037). The insertion time was prolonged in the WE group compared with CO2 group (178.9±45.1 min vs. 154.2±27.6 min, p<0.001). Endoscopic findings and adverse events were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions The WE method improved TER and increased intubation depth during SBE. The use of WE did not increase complications of enteroscopy. Clinical trial registation: https://clinicaltrials.gov/， NCT01942863.

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A randomized controlled trial on a self-guided Internet-based intervention for gambling problems

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92242-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lara Bücker ◽

Josefine Gehlenborg ◽

Steffen Moritz ◽

Stefan Westermann

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Group Differences ◽

Control Group ◽

Gambling Problems ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

Internet Based Intervention

AbstractThe majority of individuals with problematic and pathological gambling remain untreated, and treatment barriers are high. Internet-based interventions can help to address existing barriers, and first studies suggest their potential for this target group. Within a randomized controlled trial (N = 150) with two assessment times (baseline and post-intervention), we aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptance, and effectiveness of a self-guided Internet-based intervention targeted at gambling problems. We expected a significant reduction in gambling symptoms (primary outcome) and depressive symptoms as well gambling-specific dysfunctional thoughts (secondary outcomes) in the intervention group (IG) compared to a wait-list control group with access to treatment-as-usual (control group, CG) after the intervention period of 8 weeks. Results of the complete cases, per protocol, intention-to-treat (ITT), and frequent user analyses showed significant improvements in both groups for primary and secondary outcomes but no significant between-group differences (ITT primary outcome, F(1,147) = .11, p = .739, ηp2 < .001). Moderation analyses indicated that individuals in the IG with higher gambling and depressive symptoms, older age, and comorbid anxiety symptoms showed significant improvement relative to the CG. The intervention was positively evaluated (e.g., 96.5% rated the program as useful). Possible reasons for the nonsignificant between-group differences are discussed. Future studies should include follow-up assessments and larger samples to address limitations of the present study. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03372226), http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03372226, date of registration (13/12/2017).

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Pulsed Ultrasounds Reduce Pain and Disability, Increasing Rib Fracture Healing, in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pny224 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (10) ◽

pp. 1980-1988

Author(s):

Norberto Santana-Rodríguez ◽

Bernardino Clavo ◽

Pedro Llontop ◽

María D Fiuza ◽

Joaquín Calatayud-Gastardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Pain Medication ◽

Control Group ◽

Work Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Medication Intake ◽

Bone Callus

AbstractIntroductionRib fractures are an important health issue worldwide, with significant, pain, morbidity, and disability for which only symptomatic treatment exists.ObjectivesBased on our previous experimental model, the objective of the current study was to assess for the first time whether pulsed ultrasound (PUS) application could have beneficial effects on humans.MethodsProspective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of 51 patients. Four were excluded, and 47 were randomized into the control group (N = 23) or PUS group (N = 24). The control group received a PUS procedure without emission, and the PUS group received 1 Mhz, 0.5 W/cm2 for 1 min/cm2. Pain level, bone callus healing rate, physical and work activity, pain medication intake, and adverse events were blindly evaluated at baseline and one, three, and six months.ResultsThere were no significant differences at baseline between groups. PUS treatment significantly decreased pain by month 1 (P = 0.004), month 3 (P = 0.005), and month 6 (P = 0.025), significantly accelerated callus healing by month 1 (P = 0.013) and month 3 (P < 0.001), accelerated return to physical activity by month 3 (P = 0.036) and work activity (P = 0.001) by month 1, and considerably reduced pain medication intake by month 1 (P = 0.057) and month 3 (P = 0.017). No related adverse events were found in the PUS group.ConclusionsThis study is the first evidence that PUS treatment is capable of improving rib fracture outcome, significantly accelerating bone callus healing, and decreasing pain, time off due to both physical activity and convalescence period, and pain medication intake. It is a safe, efficient, and low-cost therapy that may become a new treatment for patients with stable rib fractures.

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Treatment of osteoarthritis with autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-021-05628-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rasmus Kramer Mikkelsen ◽

Lars Blønd ◽

Lisbeth Rosenkrantz Hölmich ◽

Cecilie Mølgaard ◽

Anders Troelsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Knee Injury ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Outcome Score ◽

Patient Reported

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis is a destructive joint disease that leads to degeneration of cartilage and other morphological changes in the joint. No medical treatment currently exists that can reverse these morphological changes. Intra-articular injection with autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue has been suggested to relieve symptoms. Methods/Design The study is a blinded randomized controlled trial with patients allocated in a 1:1 ratio to 2 parallel groups. Patients suffering from pain and functional impairment due to osteoarthritis Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2–3 in the tibiofemoral joint are eligible for inclusion. The intervention group is treated with an intra-articular injection with autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue prepared using the Lipogems® system. The control group receives an intra-articular injection with isotonic saline. In total, 120 patients are to be included. The primary outcome is The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS4) evaluated at 6 months. Secondary outcomes are KOOS at 3, 12 and 24 months; the Tegner activity score; treatment failure; and work status of the patient. The analysis will be conducted both as intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Discussion This trial is the first to investigate the efficacy of autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue in a randomized controlled trial. The study uses the patient-reported outcome measure Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS4) after 6 months as the primary outcome, as it is believed to be a valid measure to assess the patient’s opinion about their knee and associated problems when suffering from osteoarthritis.

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Imaginal retraining decreases craving for high-calorie food in overweight and obese women: A randomized controlled trial

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-019-0655-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Steffen Moritz ◽

Anja S. Göritz ◽

Stella Schmotz ◽

Roland Weierstall-Pust ◽

Josefine Gehlenborg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Favorable Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Obese Women ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

High Calorie

AbstractOverweight and obesity are epidemic conditions. Obesity is associated with somatic and psychological sequelae, including serious life-shortening disorders (e.g., diabetes). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed imaginal variant of approach bias modification (i.e., imaginal retraining) for the reduction of craving for high-calorie food. In a randomized controlled trial, 384 women with a body mass index above 25 were allocated to a wait-list control group or to two variants of imaginal retraining (ratio: 1; 0.5; 0.5). The two intervention groups were sent a manual on imaginal retraining. One group was explicitly encouraged and instructed to use electronic reminders (RER); the standard retraining group (RS) was not encouraged to use electronic reminders. Assessments were 6 weeks apart and were carried out online. Craving for high-calorie food represented the primary outcome (based on the Visual Analog Scale, VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Food Cravings Questionnaire (FCQ-T-R). The study was registered as DRKS00017220. Women in the RER group utilized the retraining technique more often than those in the RS condition, and utilization frequency in turn was associated with improvement on craving and eating behavior scales. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed a favorable effect of the RER group, which achieved significance on the primary outcome, as well as on several other outcomes relative to controls at a small to medium effect size. For those participants who measured their weight before and after the assessment using a scale, weight loss in the RER group was significantly greater compared to the control group. Both retraining groups (RER: 39.4%; RS: 31.1%) reduced their subjective amount of eating relative to controls (24.2%). Approximately two-thirds of the sample (68.3%) performed the exercises at least once during the study period. The present results show that, when used regularly, imaginal retraining may reduce craving for high-calorie food in overweight and obese women. Of note, there was also evidence suggestive of weight reduction, although no diet or lifestyle change was recommended in the manual. Because a large subgroup neither read the manual nor performed the exercises, we recommend that future imaginal retraining be conveyed via short video clips.

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Enhanced early sensory outcome after nerve repair as a result of immediate post-operative re-learning: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1177/1753193414553163 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 598-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

B. Rosén ◽

P. Vikström ◽

S. Turner ◽

D. A. McGrouther ◽

R. W. Selles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Nerve Repair ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Test Part ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Identification Test

We assessed the use of guided plasticity training to improve the outcome in the first 6 months after nerve repair. In a multicentre randomized controlled trial, 37 adults with median or ulnar nerve repair at the distal forearm were randomized to intervention, starting the first week after surgery with sensory and motor re-learning using mirror visual feedback and observation of touch, or to a control group with re-learning starting when reinnervation could be detected. The primary outcome at 3 and 6 months post-operatively was discriminative touch (shape texture identification test, part of the Rosen score). At 6 months, discriminative touch was significantly better in the early intervention group. Improvement of discriminative touch between 3 and 6 months was also significantly greater in that group. There were no significant differences in motor function, pain or in the total score. We conclude that early re-learning using guided plasticity may have a potential to improve the outcomes after nerve repair. Level of evidence: II

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Determining the feasibility of a trial to evaluate the effectiveness of phototherapy versus placebo at reducing pain during physical activity for people with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-020-00729-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kyle Vader ◽

Abey Bekele Abebe ◽

Mulugeta Bayisa Chala ◽

Kevin Varette ◽

Jordan Miller

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Treatment Fidelity ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Link Type ◽

Full Trial

Abstract Background Although practice guidelines recommend physical activity and exercise for the management of knee osteoarthritis, pain is a common barrier to participation. Phototherapy has been shown to reduce pain intensity for people with knee osteoarthritis, but it is unclear if it reduces pain during physical activity or contributes to improved rehabilitation outcomes. Objective The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of performing a fully powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing an active phototherapy intervention versus placebo on pain during physical activity for people with knee osteoarthritis. Methods A pilot RCT was conducted to test the feasibility of a trial comparing 8-sessions (4 weeks) of active phototherapy versus placebo. People were able to participate if they (1) were an English speaking adult (> 18 years of age), (2) had received a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis from a physician, and (3) self-reported experiencing pain and disability related to their knee osteoarthritis for > 3 months. Primary outcomes were the feasibility of participant recruitment, retention, assessment procedures, and maintaining high treatment fidelity. Secondary outcomes piloted for a full trial included pain during physical activity (primary outcome of full trial); self-reported pain severity, physical function, stiffness, adherence to prescribed exercise, global rating of change, patient satisfaction, and adverse events; 6-min walk test; and pressure pain threshold. Results Twenty participants (4 men; 16 women) with knee osteoarthritis and a mean age of 63.95 (SD: 9.27) years were recruited over a 3-week period (6.7 participants per week). Fifteen out of 20 (75%) of participants completed the primary outcome assessment at 4 weeks and 19/20 (95%) of participants were retained and completed the final 16-week assessment. Overall, 89% of all assessment items were completed by participants across all time-points. Fifteen out of 20 participants (75%) completed all 8 treatment sessions. Treatment fidelity was 100% for all completed treatment sessions. No adverse events were reported by participants in either group. Conclusions Results suggest that the trial methodology and intervention are feasible for implementation in a fully powered randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of phototherapy at reducing pain during physical activity for people with knee osteoarthritis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04234685, January 21, 2020–Retrospectively registered.

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Evaluating the use of the EORTC patient-reported outcome measures for improving inter-rater reliability of CTCAE ratings in a mixed population of cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-020-04745-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lisa M. Wintner ◽

◽

Johannes M. Giesinger ◽

Monika Sztankay ◽

Andrew Bottomley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Adverse Event ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Patient Reported ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background In oncology, detection and tracking of adverse events are of top priority and rely mostly on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Besides, clinical trials use as well patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to assess those adverse events, which are only accessible through patient self-reporting, such as fatigue, pain, and sleep disorders. Especially those issues that are not visible from the outside are often misinterpreted and underestimated by mere provider ratings. This trial aims at evaluating the impact of providing PRO data to providers on the accuracy of adverse event assessment in terms of inter-rater reliability of CTCAE ratings. Methods The trial uses a cross-sectional, unblinded, randomized controlled trial design with two trial arms and a single assessment time point. Eligible patients (aged 18 and above, any cancer diagnosis, currently under treatment, inpatient or day clinic setting, present symptom burden, no psychiatric or mental problems, written informed consent) complete an electronic version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and 16 additional questions taken from the EORTC Item Library. PRO data is immediately processed and made available to CTCAE rating providers for conducting their ratings during the medical encounter. Patients are randomly assigned 1:1 to the intervention group (providers see PRO results on the same screen as the CTCAE rating) and the control group (no access to PRO data during the CTCAE rating). A superiority analysis will compare the inter-rater reliability (using intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficients) between the control and the intervention groups for each adverse event evaluated. Discussion The presented trial will demonstrate potential benefits of using PRO measures to improve the reliability of CTCAE ratings in cancer trials and the identification of adverse events. The new insights gained may lead to a new strategy for evaluating adverse events in clinical trials by combining patient and provider ratings. This might also have implications for daily clinical practice and cancer registries. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04066868. Registered on August 26, 2019. Competence Center for Clinical Trials of the Medical University of Innsbruck 20190513-2007. Registered on May 14, 2019. (version 6.0, March 18, 2019)

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Randomized Trial of Dilute Povidone-Iodine Soak and Scrub for Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery

Foot & Ankle International ◽

10.1177/10711007211025263 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107110072110252

Author(s):

Nasima Mehraban ◽

Connor Wakefield ◽

David Rossi ◽

Johnny Lin ◽

Simon Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Povidone Iodine ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Foot And Ankle ◽

Skin Preparation ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Positive Bacterial Culture ◽

Ankle Surgery

Background: There is no consensus as to which skin antiseptic solution is most effective at reducing infection following orthopedic foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine if the addition of a dilute povidone-iodine soak and scrub to a standard preparation with alcohol and chlorhexidine decreases positive bacterial culture rates from the hallux nailfold. Methods: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 242 subjects undergoing orthopedic foot and ankle surgery were randomized to one of 2 groups. The control group received our standard 2-step skin antiseptic preparation of an alcohol scrub (step 1) followed by chlorhexidine/alcohol paint (step 2). The intervention group received a 3-minute dilute povidone-iodine soak and scrub followed by that same standard 2-step skin preparation. Immediately before skin incision, culture swabs were taken from the hallux nailfold of both groups. Results: Of the 257 subjects enrolled and randomized, 242 (94.2%) completed the study, satisfying the a priori sample size requirement of 242 subjects. There were no crossovers between groups. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups ( P > .05 for each). There was no difference in bacterial growth rates between groups (26.8% growth in the intervention group vs 26.9% growth in the control group, P = .991). Conclusion: The hallux nailfold is one of the most difficult to sterilize areas prior to orthopedic foot and ankle surgery. This randomized controlled trail found no benefit to adding a 3-minute dilute povidone-iodine soak and scrub to a standard skin preparation with alcohol and chlorohexidine. Level of Evidence: Level I, randomized controlled trial.

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