scholarly journals Intrathecal baclofen therapy versus conventional medical management for severe poststroke spasticity: results from a multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label trial (SISTERS)

2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 642-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Creamer ◽  
Geoffrey Cloud ◽  
Peter Kossmehl ◽  
Michael Yochelson ◽  
Gerard E Francisco ◽  
...  

BackgroundIntrathecal baclofen (ITB) is a treatment option for patients with severe poststroke spasticity (PSS) who have not reached their therapy goal with other interventions.Methods’Spasticity In Stroke–Randomised Study' (SISTERS) was a randomised, controlled, open-label, multicentre phase IV study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ITB therapy versus conventional medical management (CMM) with oral antispastic medications for treatment of PSS. Patients with chronic stroke with spasticity in ≥2 extremities and an Ashworth Scale (AS) score ≥3 in at least two affected muscle groups in the lower extremities (LE) were randomised (1:1) to ITB or CMM. Both treatment arms received physiotherapy throughout. The primary outcome was the change in the average AS score in the LE of the affected body side from baseline to month 6. Analyses were performed for all patients as randomised (primary analysis) and all randomised patients as treated (safety analysis).ResultsOf 60 patients randomised to ITB (n=31) or CMM (n=29), 48 patients (24 per arm) completed the study. The primary analysis showed a significant effect of ITB therapy over CMM (mean AS score reduction, −0.99 (ITB) vs −0.43 (CMM); Hodges-Lehmann estimate, −0.667(95.1%CI −1.0000 to −0.1667); P=0.0140). More patients reported adverse events while receiving ITB (24/25 patients, 96%; 149 events) compared with CMM (22/35, 63%; 77 events), although events were generally consistent with the known safety profile of ITB therapy.ConclusionsThese data support the use of ITB therapy as an alternative to CMM for treatment of generalised PSS in adults.Trial registration numberNCT01032239; Results.

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e016058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godelieve Alice Goossens ◽  
Niel Grumiaux ◽  
Christel Janssens ◽  
Martine Jérôme ◽  
Steffen Fieuws ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo assess the effect on needed nursing time for dressing change.Design, setting, participantsA parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled trial in patients who are in need for a peripherally inserted central catheter insertion in one teaching hospital in Belgium. The follow-up lasted 180 days or until catheter removal, whatever came first. A computer generated table was used to allocate devices. Randomised patients were 105 adults (StatLock, n=53; SecurAcath, n=52) and primary analysis was based on all patients (n=92) with time measurements (StatLock, n=43; SecurAcath, n=49).InterventionsStatLock which has to be changed weekly versus SecurAcath which could remain in place for the complete catheter dwell time.Main outcome measureNeeded time for the dressing change at each dressing change (SecurAcath) or at each dressing change combined with the change of the securement device (StatLock).ResultsMedian time needed for dressing change was 7.3 min (95% CI 6.4 min to 8.3 min) in the StatLock group and in the SecurAcath group 4.3 min (95% CI 3.8 min to 4.9 min) (P<0.0001). The time in the SecurAcath group was reduced with 41% (95% CI 29% to 51%). Incidence rates of migration, dislodgement and catheter-related bloodstream infection were comparable across groups. Pain scores were higher with SecurAcath than with StatLock at insertion (P=0.02) and at removal (P<0.001) and comparable during dressing change (P=0.38) and during dwell time (P=0.995). User-friendliness was scored at insertion and removal. All statements regarding the user-friendliness were scored significantly higher for StatLock than for SecurAcath (P<0.05). Only for the statement regarding the recommending routine use of the device, which was asked at removal, no difference was found between the two devices (P=0.32).ConclusionUse of SecurAcath saves time during dressing change compared with StatLock. Training on correct placement and removal of SecurAcath is critical to minimise pain.Trial registration numberNCT02311127; Pre-results.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046372
Author(s):  
Ayane Cristine Alves Sarmento ◽  
Fabíola S Fernandes ◽  
Ana Paula Ferreira Costa ◽  
Kleyton Santos Medeiros ◽  
Janaina Cristina Crispim ◽  
...  

IntroductionMenopause is a physiological and progressive phenomenon secondary to decreased ovarian follicular reserve. These changes have consequences: vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, discomfort, burning and irritation, vulvovaginal pruritus, dysuria and increased frequency of genitourinary infections. The therapy more suitable for vaginal symptoms in postmenopause yet is the use of a topical hormone. However, the prescription of topical oestrogens should also be avoided in women with a history of breast cancer, oestrogen-sensitive tumours and thromboembolism, emphasising the necessity of alternative treatments. Recently, physical methods, such as laser and radiofrequency (RF), in their non-ablative, ablative and microablative forms have been used in the vaginal mucosa to promote neocolagenesis and neoelastogenesis. This randomised study aims to compare the efficiency of microablative fractional RF (MAFRF) treatment with vaginal oestrogens and no treatment.Methods and analysesThis randomised, controlled clinical intervention trial with an open label design comparing the treatment of MAFRF with vaginal oestrogens and no treatment. Four important moments were considered to evaluate treatment results (T0, T1, T2 and T3). The primary outcome includes vulvovaginal atrophy (vaginal pain, burning, itching, dryness, dyspareunia and dysuria), and the secondary outcomes will be sexual function, vaginal health (epithelial integrity, vaginal elasticity, moisture, fluid volume and vaginal pH) and quality of life.Ethics and disseminationDue to the nature of the study, we obtained approval from the ethics committee. All participants must sign an informed consent form before randomisation. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The data collected will also be available in a public repository of data.Trial registration numberRBR-94DX93.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044045
Author(s):  
Ben Colagiuri ◽  
Louise Sharpe ◽  
Zahava Ambarchi ◽  
Nick Glozier ◽  
Delwyn Bartlett ◽  
...  

IntroductionInsomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder that causes substantial personal and societal harm. There is evidence that placebo interventions can reduce insomnia symptoms, but this research has involved deceptively administering the placebo under the guise of a real medication (conventional placebo, CP), which has obvious ethical constraints. Open-label placebo (OLP) treatment, in which a placebo is administered with full disclosure that there are no active ingredients, has been proposed as a method of using the placebo effect ethically, but the efficacy and acceptability of OLP for insomnia is currently unknown.Methods and analysisThis study uses a cohort multiple randomised controlled trial design to compare OLP, CP and no treatment for insomnia. Two-hundred and sixty-seven participants with self-reported insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI ≥10) will be recruited into an observational study and have their sleep monitored over a 2-week period. Participants will then be randomised to one of three groups: invite to OLP, invite to CP described deceptively as a new pharmacological agent, or no invite/observational control. Those in OLP and CP accepting the invite receive identical placebos for a 2-week treatment period while sleep is monitored in all participants. The primary outcome is ISI at the end of the treatment period. Secondary outcomes include treatment uptake and clinically significant response rates, objective and subjective sleep parameters, fatigue, mood, expectancy, treatment satisfaction and side effects. Predictors of uptake and responses to OLP and CP will be explored.Ethics and disseminationThe trial has been approved by The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent is obtained from every participant. OLP and CP participants accepting the invite undergo an additional consent process. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed conference proceedings and publications.Trial registration numberACTRN12620001080910.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Khanna ◽  
Christopher P Denton ◽  
Celia J F Lin ◽  
Jacob M van Laar ◽  
Tracy M Frech ◽  
...  

ObjectivesAssess the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a phase II study.MethodsPatients with SSc were treated for 48 weeks in an open-label extension phase of the faSScinate study with weekly 162 mg subcutaneous tocilizumab. Exploratory end points included modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and per cent predicted forced vital capacity (%pFVC) through week 96.ResultsOverall, 24/44 (55%) placebo-tocilizumab and 27/43 (63%) continuous-tocilizumab patients completed week 96. Observed mean (SD (95% CI)) change from baseline in mRSS was –3.1 (6.3 (–5.4 to –0.9)) for placebo and –5.6 (9.1 (–8.9 to–2.4)) for tocilizumab at week 48 and –9.4 (5.6 (–8.9 to –2.4)) for placebo-tocilizumab and –9.1 (8.7 (–12.5 to –5.6)) for continuous-tocilizumab at week 96. Of patients who completed week 96, any decline in %pFVC was observed for 10/24 (42% (95% CI 22% to 63%)) placebo-tocilizumab and 12/26 (46% (95% CI 27% to 67%)) continuous-tocilizumab patients in the open-label period; no patients had >10% absolute decline in %pFVC. Serious infection rates/100 patient-years (95% CI) were 10.9 (3.0 to 27.9) with placebo and 34.8 (18.0 to 60.8) with tocilizumab during the double-blind period by week 48 and 19.6 (7.2 to 42.7) with placebo-tocilizumab and 0.0 (0.0 to 12.2) with continuous-tocilizumab during the open-label period.ConclusionsSkin score improvement and FVC stabilisation in the double-blind period were observed in placebo-treated patients who transitioned to tocilizumab and were maintained in the open-label period. Safety data indicated increased serious infections in patients with SSc but no new safety signals with tocilizumab.Trial registration numberNCT01532869; Results.


Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Hansen ◽  
Theresa Bieler ◽  
Nina Beyer ◽  
Thomas Kallemose ◽  
Jon Torgny Wilcke ◽  
...  

RationalePulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective, key standard treatment for people with COPD. Nevertheless, low participant uptake, insufficient attendance and high drop-out rates are reported. Investigation is warranted of the benefits achieved through alternative approaches, such as pulmonary tele-rehabilitation (PTR).ObjectiveTo investigate whether PTR is superior to conventional PR on 6 min walk distance (6MWD) and secondarily on respiratory symptoms, quality of life, physical activity and lower limb muscle function in patients with COPD and FEV1 <50% eligible for routine hospital-based, outpatient PR.MethodsIn this single-blinded, multicentre, superiority randomised controlled trial, patients were assigned 1:1 to 10 weeks of groups-based PTR (60 min, three times weekly) or conventional PR (90 min, two times weekly). Assessments were performed by blinded assessors at baseline, end of intervention and at 22 weeks’ follow-up from baseline. The primary analysis was based on the intention-to-treat principle.Measurements and main resultsThe primary outcome was change in 6MWD from baseline to 10 weeks; 134 participants (74 females, mean±SD age 68±9 years, FEV1 33%±9% predicted, 6MWD 327±103 metres) were included and randomised. The analysis showed no between-group differences for changes in 6MWD after intervention (9.2 metres (95% CI: −6.6 to 24.9)) or at 22 weeks’ follow-up (−5.3 metres (95% CI: −28.9 to 18.3)). More participants completed the PTR intervention (n=57) than conventional PR (n=43) (χ2 test p<0.01).ConclusionPTR was not superior to conventional PR on the 6MWD and we found no differences between groups. As more participants completed PTR, supervised PTR would be relevant to compare with conventional PR in a non-inferiority design.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02667171), 28 January 2016.


2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-220512
Author(s):  
Siddharth Jain ◽  
Varun Dhir ◽  
Amita Aggarwal ◽  
Ranjan Gupta ◽  
Bidyalaxmi Leishangthem ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThere are no head-to-head trials of different dose escalation strategies of methotrexate (MTX) in RA. We compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ‘usual’ (5 mg every 4 weeks) versus ‘fast’ (5 mg every 2 weeks) escalation of oral MTX.MethodsThis multicentre, open-label (assessor blinded) RCT included patients 18-55 years of age having active RA with disease duration <5 years, and not on DMARDs. Patients were randomized 1:1 into usual or fast escalation groups, both groups starting MTX at 15 mg/week till a maximum of 25 mg/week. Primary outcome was EULAR good response at 16 weeks, secondary outcomes were ΔDAS28 and adverse effects (AE). Analyses were intention-to-treat.Results178 patients with mean DAS28-CRP of 5.4(1.1) were randomized to usual (n=89) or fast escalation groups (n=89). At 16 weeks, there was no difference in good EULAR response in the usual (28.1%) or fast escalation (22.5%) groups (p=0.8). There was no difference in mean ΔDAS28-CRP at 8 weeks (-0.9, -0.8, p=0.72) or 16 weeks (-1.3, -1.3, p=0.98). Even at 24 weeks (extended follow-up), responses were similar. There were no inter-group differences in ΔHAQ, or MTX-polyglutamates 1-3 levels at 8 or 16 weeks. Gastrointestinal AE were higher in the fast escalation group over initial 8 weeks (27%, 40%, p=0.048), but not over 16 weeks. There was no difference in cytopenias, transaminitis, or drug discontinuation/dose reduction between the groups. No serious AE were seen.ConclusionA faster MTX escalation strategy in RA was not more efficacious over 16-24 weeks, and did not significantly increase AE, except higher gastrointestinal AE initially.Trial registration numberCTRI/2018/12/016549


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