scholarly journals Azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19–a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 2100752
Author(s):  
Pradeesh Sivapalan ◽  
Charlotte Suppli Ulrik ◽  
Therese Sophie Lapperre ◽  
Rasmus Dahlin Bojesen ◽  
Josefin Eklöf ◽  
...  

BackgroundCombining the antibiotic azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine induces airway immunomodulatory effects, with the latter also having in vitro antiviral properties. This may improve outcomes in patients hospitalised for COVID-19.MethodsPlacebo-controlled double-blind randomised multicentre trial. Patients ≥18 years, admitted to hospital for≤48 h (not intensive care) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test, were recruited. The intervention was 500 mg daily azithromycin for 3 days followed by 250 mg daily azithromycin for 12 days combined with 200 mg twice daily hydroxychloroquine for all 15 days. The control group received placebo/placebo. The primary outcome was days alive and discharged from hospital within 14 days (DAOH14).ResultsAfter randomisation of 117 patients, at the first planned interim analysis, the data and safety monitoring board recommended stopping enrolment due to futility, based on pre-specified criteria. Consequently, the trial was terminated on February 1, 2021. A total of 61 patients received the combined intervention and 56 patients received placebo. In the intervention group, patients had a median of 9.0 DAOH14 (IQR, 3–11) versus. 9.0 DAOH14 (IQR, 7–10) in the placebo group (p=0.90). The primary safety outcome, death from all causes on day 30, occurred for 1 patient in the intervention group versus. 2 patients receiving placebo (p=0.52), and readmittance or death within 30 days occurred for 9 patients in the intervention group versus. 6 patients receiving placebo (p=0.57).ConclusionsThe combination of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine did not improve survival or length of hospitalisation in patients with COVID-19.

2018 ◽  
Vol 100-B (3) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Sprowson† ◽  
C. Jensen ◽  
N. Parsons ◽  
P. Partington ◽  
K. Emmerson ◽  
...  

AimsSurgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of surgery with an incidence of about 1% in the United Kingdom. Sutures can lead to the development of a SSI, as micro-organisms can colonize the suture as it is implanted. Triclosan-coated sutures, being antimicrobical, were developed to reduce the rate of SSI. Our aim was to assess whether triclosan-coated sutures cause a reduction in SSIs following arthroplasty of the hip and knee.Patients and MethodsThis two-arm, parallel, double-blinded study involved 2546 patients undergoing elective total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at three hospitals. A total of 1323 were quasi-randomized to a standard suture group, and 1223 being quasi-randomized to the triclosan-coated suture group. The primary endpoint was the rate of SSI at 30 days postoperatively.ResultsThe baseline characteristics of age, gender and comorbidities were well matched in the two groups. The rates of superficial SSI were 0.8% in the control group and 0.7% in the intervention group (p = 0.651), and when deep and superficial SSIs were combined the rates were 2.5% and 1.8 (p = 0.266). The length of stay in hospital and the rates of medical complications did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 1.000).ConclusionThis trial provided no evidence that the use of triclosan-coated sutures at THA and TKA leads to a reduction in the rate of SSI. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:296–302.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 877-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venta Donec ◽  
Raimondas Kubilius

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping® method for mobility and functioning improvement for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KO). Design: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial. Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation department. Subjects: A total of 187 subjects with symptomatic I–III grade KO participated; of these, 157 subjects were included in the analyses (intervention group, n = 81 (123 knees); control group, n = 76 (114 knees). Intervention: The intervention group received a specific Kinesio Taping application, and the control group received non-specific knee taping for a month. Main measures: Changes in Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS), knee active range of motion, 10-Meter Walk, and the five times sit to stand tests (5xSST) were assessed at baseline, after four weeks of taping, and a month post taping intervention. Subjective participants’ experiences and opinions on the effect of knee taping were evaluated. The chosen level of significance was p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 68.7 ± 9.9 in intervention group and 70.6 ± 8.3 in control group ( p > 0.05). The change from baseline in gait speed in the intervention group after taping month was +0.04 ± 0.1 m/s, at follow-up +0.06 ± 0.1 m/s; in control group +0.07 ± 0.1 m/s, and +0.09 ± 0.1 m/s; the change in time needed to accomplish 5xSST was –2.2 ± 3.2 seconds, at follow-up –2.4 ± 3.1 seconds; in control group –2.8 ± 3.6 seconds, and –2.4 ± 4 seconds. Improved knee flexion and enhancement in functioning assessed by KOOS were noticed in both groups, with lasting improvement to follow up. No difference in the change in the above-mentioned outcomes was found between groups ( p > 0.05). Fewer subjects (6.2% (5) vs. 21.1% (16), χ2 = 7.5, df = 2, p = 0.024) from Kinesio Taping group were unsure if taping alleviated their mobility and more intervention group patients indicated higher subjective satisfaction with the effect of knee taping to symptom and mobility alleviation than control group ( p < 0.005). Conclusion: Investigated Kinesio Taping technique did not produce better results in mobility and functioning improvement over non-specific knee taping; however, it had higher patient-reported subjective value for symptom attenuation and experienced mobility enhancement.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Di Bao ◽  
Dongmei Chi ◽  
Lu Li ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Postoperative pain is a common problem that occurs in pediatric patients following neurosurgery which may lead to severe complications. Dexmedetomidine is a commonly used adjuvant medicine in craniotomy owing to its sedative, amnestic, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. Besides, studies suggest that lidocaine has similar effects on sedation, analgesia, and neuroprotection. Both two adjuvants can reduce postoperative pain after neurosurgery in adults. However, it is still unknown whether dexmedetomidine or lidocaine can reduce postoperative pain in children undergoing craniotomy, and if yes, which is a better medicine choice. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine on postoperative pain in pediatric patients after craniotomy. Methods/design We will perform a randomized (1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial. Children aged 1–12 years scheduled for craniotomy will be eligible for inclusion. The 255 recruited participants will be stratified by age in two strata (1–6 years and 7–12 years), and then each stratum will be equally randomized to three groups: group D (infusion of dexmedetomidine [intervention group]), group L (infusion of lidocaine [intervention group]), and group C (infusion of normal saline [control group]). Patients will be followed up at 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery. The primary outcome will be total sufentanil consumption within 24 h after surgery. Discussion In this clinical trial, we expect to clarify and compare the postoperative analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine infusion on pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy. We believe that the results of this trial will provide more choices for postoperative analgesia for the pediatric population. Trial registration Chinese ClinicalTrials.gov ChiCTR1800019411. Registered on 10 November 2018


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Di Bao ◽  
Dongmei Chi ◽  
Lu Li ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Postoperative pain is a common problem that occurs in pediatric patients following neurosurgery which may lead to severe complications. Dexmedetomidine is a commonly used adjuvant medicine in craniotomy owing to its sedative, amnestic, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. Besides, studies suggest that lidocaine has similar effects on sedation, analgesia, and neuroprotection. Both two adjuvants can reduce postoperative pain after neurosurgery in adults. However, it is still unknown whether dexmedetomidine or lidocaine can reduce postoperative pain in children undergoing craniotomy and if yes, which is a better medicine choice. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine on postoperative pain in pediatric patients after craniotomy. Methods/design: We will perform a randomized (1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial. Children aged 1–12 years scheduled for craniotomy will be eligible for inclusion. The 255 recruited participants will be stratified by age in two strata (1–6 years and 7–12 years), and then each stratum will be equally randomized to three groups: Group D (infusion of dexmedetomidine [intervention group]), Group L (infusion of lidocaine [intervention group]), and Group C (infusion of normal saline [control group]). Patients will be followed-up at 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery. The primary outcome will be total sufentanil consumption within 24 h after surgery.Discussion: In this clinical trial, we expect to clarify and compare the postoperative analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine vs. lidocaine infusion on pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy. We believe that the results of this trial will provide more choices for postoperative analgesia for the pediatric population.Trial registration: Chinese ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR1800019411. Registered 10 November 2018. Registered with the name of “A randomized double-blind controlled trial for low-dose dexmedetomidine and lidocaine in the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in children” URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=32822


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e026086
Author(s):  
Yasutake Tomata ◽  
Fumiya Tanji ◽  
Dieta Nurrika ◽  
Yingxu Liu ◽  
Saho Abe ◽  
...  

IntroductionPhysical activity is one of the major modifiable factors for promotion of public health. Although it has been reported that financial incentives would be effective for promoting health behaviours such as smoking cessation or attendance for cancer screening, few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effect of financial incentives for increasing the number of daily steps among individuals in a community setting. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of financial incentives for increasing the number of daily steps among community-dwelling adults in Japan.Methods and analysisThis study will be a two-arm, parallel-group RCT. We will recruit community-dwelling adults who are physically inactive in a suburban area (Nakayama) of Sendai city, Japan, using leaflets and posters. Participants that meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated to an intervention group or a waitlist control group. The intervention group will be offered a financial incentive (a chance to get shopping points) if participants increase their daily steps from their baseline. The primary outcome will be the average increase in the number of daily steps (at 4–6 weeks and 7–9 weeks) relative to the average number of daily steps at the baseline (1–3 weeks). For the sample size calculation, we assumed that the difference of primary outcome would be 1302 steps.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been ethically approved by the research ethics committee of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan (No. 2018-1-171). The results will be submitted and published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.Trial registration numberUMIN000033276; Pre-results.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Kondo ◽  
Teru Okitsu ◽  
Kayo Waki ◽  
Toshimasa Yamauchi ◽  
Masaomi Nangaku ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Mobile health interventions, a more cost-effective approach compared to traditional methods of delivering lifestyle coaching in person, have been shown to improve physical parameters and lifestyle behavior among overweight populations. It is useful to know the efficacy of mobile apps in treating abdominal obesity, as it is a known risk factor for metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether a mobile self-management app (DialBeticsLite) could be used by patients with abdominal obesity to achieve a reduction in visceral fat area (VFA) and other physical parameters. METHODS This study was an open-label, 2-arm parallel-design randomized controlled trial. We recruited 122 people in September 2017, and randomly assigned them into either the intervention group or the control group. All participants attended an educational group session, which delivered information regarding diet and exercise. Additionally, participants in the intervention group were asked to use DialBeticsLite for 3 months. DialBeticsLite facilitated the daily recording of several physical parameters and lifestyle behavior, and provided feedback to encourage an improvement in behavior. The primary outcome was the change in VFA from baseline to the 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included changes in both physical and metabolic parameters, from baseline to the 3-month follow-up. Welch t test was conducted to analyze the effects of DialBeticsLite on both the primary outcome and the secondary outcomes. RESULTS Out of the 122 participants recruited, 75 participants were analyzed due to 47 participants being excluded: 37 due to ineligibility and 10 due to withdrawal of consent. The mean age was 49.3 (standard deviation: SD 6.1) in the intervention group (n=41) and 48.5 (SD 5.3) in the control group (n=34), and all participants were male, though unintentionally. Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the intervention and control group, except for VFA. The averaged change of VFA was -23.5cm2 (SD 20.6) in the intervention group and +1.9cm2 (SD 16.2) in the control group (P<.001). Statistically significant differences were also found for the change of body weight, BMI and waist circumference. These findings did not change after adjusting for VFA at baseline. The intervention had no significant effect on any of the metabolic parameters. An exploratory analysis showed significant associations between the change in VFA and steps per day, and between the change in VFA and calorie intake per day within the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that although unsuccessful in improving metabolic parameters, a mobile health intervention facilitating the daily monitoring of several physical parameters and lifestyle behavior, can be highly effective in inducing visceral fat loss and weight loss among adults with abdominal obesity. CLINICALTRIAL Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000042045 Retrospectively Registered; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr.cgi?function=brows&action=brows&recptno=R000046495&type=summary&llanguag=J


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-241
Author(s):  
Zeinab Alibeigi ◽  
Effat Jafari-Dehkordi ◽  
Soleiman Kheiri ◽  
Maryam Nemati ◽  
Gholamreza Mohammadi-Farsani ◽  
...  

The problem of infertility is growing rapidly in the world. Traditional medicine with thousands of years of history has claimed that it can treat some kinds of infertility using nutritional and lifestyle modifications and interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a traditional medicine-oriented diet and lifestyle on infertility treatment. Based on a clinical trial study, 180 infertile women who were 20–40 years old and candidates for in vitro fertilization (IVF) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group used diet and lifestyle recommendations based on Iranian traditional medicine for at least 3 months. The number of ova, mature ovum number, embryo number, embryo quality, and fertilization rate were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (for all items; p < 0.05). Overall pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the intervention group (35.2 vs. 12.4%; odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% CI, 1.8–8.3). The intervention group had a higher rate of getting spontaneous pregnancy than the control group (20.9 vs. 2.2%; OR, 11.5; 95% CI, 2.6–50.9). Chemical pregnancy was significantly higher in the intervention group (64 vs. 27.5%; OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.9–11.6). Diet and lifestyle modifications based on traditional medicine can contribute greatly to the infertility treatment. Thus, many infertility cases can be treated without the need to use advanced methods. In case of using assisted reproductive techniques, traditional medicine can enhance the efficiency of these methods.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Tak ◽  
Yun Kim ◽  
Jeong Lee ◽  
Yu-Hyun Yi ◽  
Young Cho ◽  
...  

Recent animal studies found the potential of a collagen peptide derived from skate skin to have anti-obesity effects through the suppression of fat accumulation and regulation of lipid metabolism. However, no studies have yet been performed in humans. Here, this very first human randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of skate skin collagen peptides (SCP) for the reduction of body fat in overweight adults. Ninety healthy volunteers (17 men) aged 41.2 ± 10.4 years with a mean body mass index of 25.6 ± 1.9 kg/m2 were assigned to the intervention group (IG), which received 2000 mg of SCP per day or to the control group (CG) given the placebo for 12 weeks and 81 (90%) participants completed the study. Changes in body fat were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as a primary efficacy endpoint. After 12 weeks of the trial, the percentage of body fat and body fat mass (kg) in IG were found to be significantly better than those of subjects in CG (−1.2% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.024 and −1.2 kg vs. 0.3 kg, p = 0.025). Application of SCP was well tolerated and no notable adverse effect was reported from both groups. These results suggest the beneficial potential of SCP in the reduction of body fat in overweight adults.


2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 598-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rosén ◽  
P. Vikström ◽  
S. Turner ◽  
D. A. McGrouther ◽  
R. W. Selles ◽  
...  

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


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Bazyar ◽  
Ahmad Zare Javid ◽  
Hossein Bavi Behbahani ◽  
Fardin Moradi ◽  
Bahman Moradi Poode ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease. Dyslipidemia and hypertension are two complications that may develop in diabetic patients if hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and weight gain are not controlled. This study investigated the effects of melatonin supplementation on some cardiovascular disease risk factors and anthropometric indices in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Materials and Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 50 T2DM patients were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups which received two tablets of either melatonin or placebo (250 mg) once a day for eight weeks. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference (WC, HC), body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), conicity index, and waist-to-height ratio (WHR) were evaluated in all the patients pre- and post-intervention.Results: Melatonin supplementation for eight weeks significantly decreased the mean levels of MAP, PP, weight, BMI, WC, HC, BAI, AVI, conicity index, and WHR post-intervention (p<0.05). Also, the median changes of MAP, PP, weight, BMI, WC, HC BAI, AVI, and conicity index were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (p<0.05). A significant increase (p<0.001) was observed in the mean levels of ABSI in the intervention group. The median changes of ABSI were significantly greater in the intervention group compared with the control group (p<0.001).Conclusions: Consumption of melatonin supplement may be effective in controlling arterial pressure and anthropometric indices (as predictors of obesity) in T2DM patients.Trial registration: This trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials website at 2019/5/17. (IRCT20190303042905N1).


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