scholarly journals Nutritional counseling with or without mobile health technology: a randomized open-label standard-of-care-controlled trial in ALS

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie M Wills ◽  
Jamie Garry ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Taylor Mezoian ◽  
Christopher T Breen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We wished to study the safety, tolerability and efficacy of nutritional counseling with or without an mHealth application to maintain or increase body weight in ALS, compared to standard care. Methods In this randomized open-label, standard-of-care-controlled, single-center clinical trial, we randomly assigned adults with ALS to one of three nutritional interventions: counseling by their physician or nurse (“standard care”), counseling by a registered dietitian (RD) (“in-person”), or counseling supported by a mHealth app (“mHealth”). Both intervention arms received tailored nutrition recommendations and recorded dietary intake and weight biweekly (mHealth) or monthly (in-person). The primary outcome of weight and secondary and tertiary outcomes of calorie intake, ALSFRS-R, and quality of life (QOL) were recorded at each clinic visit and analyzed in an ITT mixed model analysis. Results A total of 88 participants were enrolled of whom 78 were included in this analysis. The three arms were well-balanced except for excess males in the mHealth arm and greater weight lost at baseline in the in-person arm. Participants in the mHealth arm increased their calorie intake at month 3 to an average of 94% (95% CI: 85, 103) of recommended calories, compared to 81% (95% CI: 72, 91, p= 0.06 vs. mHealth) in the standard care arm. After 6 months, calorie intake and change in weight was not different among the three arms. QOL scores in the mHealth arm were stable over three months (0.3 points, 95% CI: -1.7, 2.2) compared to worsening in standard care (-2.1 points, 95% CI: -4.0, -0.2, p = 0.09 vs. mHealth), but all scores declined by six months. ALSFRS-R total scores declined by an average of -2.6 points (95% CI: -5.1, -0.1) over six months in the mHealth arm (p=0.13 vs. standard care) compared to -5.8 points (95% CI: -8.2, -3.4, p=0.74 vs. standard care) in the in-person and -5.2 points (95% CI: -7.6, -2.9) in the standard care arm. Conclusions Nutritional counseling is safe but did not increase weight compared to standard care in ALS patients.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie M Wills ◽  
Jamie Garry ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Taylor Mezoian ◽  
Christopher T Breen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We wished to study the safety, tolerability and efficacy of nutritional counseling with or without an mHealth application to maintain or increase body weight in ALS, compared to standard care. Methods In this randomized open-label, standard-of-care-controlled, single-center clinical trial, we randomly assigned adults with ALS to one of three nutritional interventions: counseling by their physician or nurse (“standard care”), counseling by a registered dietitian (RD) (“in-person”), or counseling supported by a mHealth app (“mHealth”). Both intervention arms received tailored nutrition recommendations and recorded dietary intake and weight biweekly (mHealth) or monthly (in-person). The primary outcome of weight and secondary and tertiary outcomes of calorie intake, ALSFRS-R, and quality of life (QOL) were recorded at each clinic visit and analyzed in an ITT mixed model analysis. Results A total of 88 participants were enrolled of whom 78 were included in this analysis. The three arms were well-balanced except for excess males in the mHealth arm and greater weight lost at baseline in the in-person arm. Participants in the mHealth arm increased their calorie intake at month 3 to an average of 94% (95% CI: 85, 103) of recommended calories, compared to 81% (95% CI: 72, 91, p= 0.06 vs. mHealth) in the standard care arm. After 6 months, calorie intake and change in weight was not different among the three arms. QOL scores in the mHealth arm were stable over three months (0.3 points, 95% CI: -1.7, 2.2) compared to worsening in standard care (-2.1 points, 95% CI: -4.0, -0.2, p = 0.09 vs. mHealth), but all scores declined by six months. ALSFRS-R total scores declined by an average of -2.6 points (95% CI: -5.1, -0.1) over six months in the mHealth arm (p=0.13 vs. standard care) compared to -5.8 points (95% CI: -8.2, -3.4, p=0.74 vs. standard care) in the in-person and -5.2 points (95% CI: -7.6, -2.9) in the standard care arm. Conclusions Nutritional counseling is safe but did not increase weight compared to standard care in ALS patients.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie M Wills ◽  
Jamie Garry ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Taylor Mezoian ◽  
Christopher T Breen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We wished to study the safety, tolerability and efficacy of nutritional counseling with or without an mHealth application to maintain or increase body weight in ALS, compared to standard care. Methods: In this randomized open-label, standard-of-care-controlled, single-center clinical trial, we randomly assigned adults with ALS to one of three nutritional interventions: counseling by their physician or nurse (“standard care”), counseling by a registered dietitian (RD) (“in-person”), or counseling supported by a mHealth app (“mHealth”). Both intervention arms received tailored nutrition recommendations and recorded dietary intake and weight biweekly (mHealth) or monthly (in-person). The primary outcome of weight and secondary and tertiary outcomes of calorie intake, ALSFRS-R, and quality of life (QOL) were recorded at each clinic visit and analyzed in an ITT mixed model analysis. Results: A total of 88 participants were enrolled of whom 78 were included in this analysis. The three arms were well-balanced except for excess males in the mHealth arm and greater weight lost at baseline in the in-person arm. Participants in the mHealth arm increased their calorie intake at month 3 to an average of 94% (95% CI: 85, 103) of recommended calories, compared to 81% (95% CI: 72, 91, p= 0.06 vs. mHealth) in the standard care arm. After 6 months, calorie intake and change in weight was not different among the three arms. QOL scores in the mHealth arm were stable over three months (0.3 points, 95% CI: -1.7, 2.2) compared to worsening in standard care (-2.1 points, 95% CI: -4.0, -0.2, p = 0.09 vs. mHealth), but all scores declined by six months. ALSFRS-R total scores declined by an average of -2.6 points (95% CI: -5.1, -0.1) over six months in the mHealth arm (p=0.13 vs. standard care) compared to -5.8 points (95% CI: -8.2, -3.4, p=0.74 vs. standard care) in the in-person and -5.2 points (95% CI: -7.6, -2.9) in the standard care arm. Conclusions: Nutritional counseling is safe but did not increase weight compared to standard care in ALS patients. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02418546. Registered April 16, 2015. Keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, Neurodegenerative disease, mobile health technology, mHealth, nutrition, nutritional counseling, randomized controlled trial


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian G J ◽  
Meenakumari Ramasamy ◽  
Shanthimalar Ramalingam ◽  
Sankar Ganesan ◽  
Ravichandran Vadugam Muthusamy ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 resulted in loss of human lives owing to respiratory failure caused by dysregulated immune system. Though many treatments are evaluated, the most appropriate is yet to be established. We hypothesized accelerated recovery and reduced mortality in mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 with Siddha regimen consisting of natural products.MethodsIn a randomized, controlled open-label trial conducted on 200 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, they were allocated equally to be treated with add-on Siddha regimen with Standard care or only standard care. The primary and secondary end points were accelerated recovery (≤ 7 days) and mortality comparison between the groups respectively. Patients were followed through 90 days.ResultsIn this study the accelerated recovery was 59.0% and 27.0% in treatment and control group (ITT analyses) (p < 0.001) respectively and Odds for it were four times higher in the treatment group (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.9, 8.0). The estimated median time for recovery in the treatment group was 7 days (95% CI: 6.0, 8.0; p=0.003) and 10 days (95% CI: 8.7, 11.3) in control. Hazard ratio for death in control was 2.3 times that of treatment group. No adverse reactions or alarming laboratory values were observed in response to intervention. In severe treatment group (n=80), mortality was 15.0% and 39.5% in control (n=81). The COVID stage progression was 65% less in treatment group.ConclusionSiddha regimen demonstrated that they can synergistically improve oxygenation status, enhance the recovery rate and reduce the mortality better as compared to only Standard of Care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 3379-3385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahita Sadeghi ◽  
Ali Ali Asgari ◽  
Alireza Norouzi ◽  
Zahedin Kheiri ◽  
Amir Anushirvani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Currently no effective antiviral therapy has been found to treat COVID-19. The aim of this trial was to assess if the addition of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir improved clinical outcomes in patients with moderate or severe COVID-19. Methods This was an open-label, multicentre, randomized controlled clinical trial in adults with moderate or severe COVID-19 admitted to four university hospitals in Iran. Patients were randomized into a treatment arm receiving sofosbuvir and daclatasvir plus standard care, or a control arm receiving standard care alone. The primary endpoint was clinical recovery within 14 days of treatment. The study is registered with IRCT.ir under registration number IRCT20200128046294N2. Results Between 26 March and 26 April 2020, 66 patients were recruited and allocated to either the treatment arm (n = 33) or the control arm (n = 33). Clinical recovery within 14 days was achieved by 29/33 (88%) in the treatment arm and 22/33 (67%) in the control arm (P = 0.076). The treatment arm had a significantly shorter median duration of hospitalization [6 days (IQR 4–8)] than the control group [8 days (IQR 5–13)]; P = 0.029. Cumulative incidence of hospital discharge was significantly higher in the treatment arm versus the control (Gray’s P = 0.041). Three patients died in the treatment arm and five in the control arm. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions The addition of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir to standard care significantly reduced the duration of hospital stay compared with standard care alone. Although fewer deaths were observed in the treatment arm, this was not statistically significant. Conducting larger scale trials seems prudent.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Wills ◽  
Jamie Garry ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Taylor Mezoian ◽  
Christopher T. Breen ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982199474
Author(s):  
Maggie Xing ◽  
Dorina Kallogjeri ◽  
Jay F. Piccirillo

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive training in improving tinnitus bother and to identify predictors of patient response. Study Design Prospective open-label randomized controlled trial. Setting Online. Methods Participants were adults with subjective idiopathic nonpulsatile tinnitus causing significant tinnitus-related distress. The intervention group trained by using auditory-intensive exercises for 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. The active control group trained on the same schedule with non–auditory intensive games. Surveys were completed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results A total of 64 participants completed the study. The median age was 63 years (range, 25-69) in the intervention group and 61 years (34-68) in the control group. Mixed model analysis revealed that within-subject change in Tinnitus Functional Index in the intervention group was not different than the control group, with marginal mean differences (95% CI): 0.24 (–11.20 to 10.7) and 2.17 (–8.50 to 12.83) at 8 weeks and 2.33 (–8.6 to 13.3) and 3.36 (–7.91 to 14.6) at 12 weeks, respectively. When the 2 study groups were compared, the control group had higher Tinnitus Functional Index scores than the intervention group by 10.5 points at baseline (95% CI, –0.92 to 29.89), 8.1 at 8 weeks (95% CI, –3.27 to 19.42), and 9.4 at 12 weeks (95% CI, –2.45 to 21.34). Conclusion Auditory-intensive cognitive training was not associated with changes in self-reported tinnitus bother. Given the potential for neuroplasticity to affect tinnitus, we believe that future studies on cognitive training for tinnitus remain relevant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manaf AlQahtani ◽  
Abdulkarim Abdulrahman ◽  
Abdulrahman Almadani ◽  
Salman Yousif Alali ◽  
Alaa Mahmood Al Zamrooni ◽  
...  

AbstractConvalescent plasma (CP) therapy in COVID-19 disease may improve clinical outcome in severe disease. This pilot study was undertaken to inform feasibility and safety of further definitive studies. This was a prospective, interventional and randomized open label pilot trial in patients with severe COVID-19. Twenty COVID-19 patients received two 200 ml transfusions of convalescent patient CP over 24-h compared with 20 who received standard of care. The primary outcome was the requirement for ventilation (non-invasive or mechanical ventilation). The secondary outcomes were biochemical parameters and mortality at 28 days. The CP group were a higher risk group with higher ferritin levels (p < 0.05) though respiratory indices did not differ. The primary outcome measure was required in 6 controls and 4 patients on CP (risk ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.22–2.0, p = 0.72); mean time on ventilation (NIV or MV) did not differ. There were no differences in secondary measures at the end of the study. Two patients died in the control and one patient in the CP arm. There were no significant differences in the primary or secondary outcome measures between CP and standard therapy, although a larger definitive study is needed for confirmation. However, the study did show that CP therapy appears to be safe in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypoxia.Clinical trials registration NCT04356534: 22/04/2020.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Welén ◽  
Anna K Överby ◽  
Clas Ahlm ◽  
Eva Freyhult ◽  
David Robinsson ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The main goal of the COVIDENZA trial is to evaluate if inhibition of testosterone signalling by enzalutamide can improve the outcome of patients hospitalised for COVID-19. The hypothesis is based on the observation that the majority of patients in need of intensive care are male, and the connection between androgen receptor signalling and expression of TMPRSS2, an enzyme important for SARS-CoV-2 host cell internalization. Trial design Hospitalised COVID-19 patients will be randomised (2:1) to enzalutamide plus standard of care vs. standard of care designed to identify superiority. Participants Included participants, men or women above 50 years of age, must be hospitalised for PCR confirmed COVID-19 symptoms and not in need of immediate mechanical ventilation. Major exclusion criteria are breast-feeding or pregnant women, hormonal treatment for prostate or breast cancer, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, current symptomatic unstable cardiovascular disease (see Additional file 1 for further details). The trial is registered at Umeå University Hospital, Region Västerbotten, Sweden and 8 hospitals are approved for inclusion in Sweden. Intervention and comparator Patients randomised to the treatment arm will be treated orally with 160 mg (4x40 mg) enzalutamide (Xtandi®) daily, for five consecutive days. The study is not placebo controlled. The comparator is standard of care treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. Main outcomes The primary endpoints of the study are (time to) need of mechanical ventilation or discharge from hospital as assessed by a clinical 7-point ordinal scale (up to 30 days after inclusion). Randomisation Randomisation was stratified by center and sex. Each strata was randomized separately with block size six with a 2:1 allocation ratio (enzalutamide + “standard of care”: “standard of care”). The randomisation list, with consecutive subject numbers, was generated by an independent statistician using the PROC PLAN procedure of SAS version 9.4 software (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, North Carolina) Blinding (masking) This is an open-label trial. Numbers to be randomised (sample size) The trial is designed to have three phases. The first, an exploration phase of 45 participants (30 treatment and 15 control) will focus on safety and includes a more extensive laboratory assessment as well as more frequent safety evaluation. The second prolongation phase, includes the first 100 participants followed by an interim analysis to define the power of the study. The third phase is the continuation of the study up to maximum 600 participants included in total. Trial Status The current protocol version is COVIDENZA v2.0 as of September 10, 2020. Recruitment started July 29, 2020 and is presently in safety pause after the first exploration phase. Recruitment is anticipated to be complete by 31 December 2021. Trial registration Eudract number 2020-002027-10 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04475601, registered June 8, 2020 Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig D. Seaman ◽  
Enrico Novelli ◽  
Laura De Castro ◽  
Margaret V. Ragni

Abstract Background Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD). The pathogenesis of ACS is complex and not entirely understood with multiple etiologies likely contributing simultaneously. One particular etiology is pulmonary vascular occlusion due to thrombosis. Thus, anticoagulation is an attractive therapeutic modality. Methods This was a single-center, randomized controlled, open-label, pilot study to determine the feasibility of performing a larger multicenter phase III trial to assess the effects of unfractionated heparin (UFH) in ACS. Subjects were randomized within 24 h of diagnosis of ACS to one of two treatment arms, UFH, and standard of care (SOC), or no UFH and SOC. UFH was given intravenously for 7 days, or until discharge, if discharge was shorter than 7 days. SOC consisted of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, supplemental oxygen, analgesia, red blood cell transfusion, and exchange transfusion. Results From July 2014 to June 2018, a total of 7 patients underwent randomization (four patients received UFH in addition to SOC and 3 patients received SOC only). Two of the prespecified feasibility criteria were not met: the capacity to consent eligible individuals and the timely notification of hospitalized patients with ACS necessary to permit randomization within 24 h of diagnosis; thus, as a result of poor enrollment, the study was terminated early. The duration of hospitalization was 279.43 (SD 267.98) and 127.31 (SD 137.70) h in the UFH and SOC arms, respectively. The duration of hypoxemia, leukocytosis, fever, and moderate to severe pain was 117.52 (SD 60.52), 24.90 (SD 29.69), 117.52 (SD 60.52), and 117.52 (SD 60.52) h, respectively, in the UFH group, and 51.49 (SD 44.79), 0, 53.11 (SD 25.06), and 88.68 (SD 72.77) h, respectively, in the SOC group. No major bleeding was noted in either group. Conclusions Our study did not achieve prespecified feasibility criteria, resulting in poor enrollment and early termination, and serves to highlight some of the pitfalls experienced in clinical research in SCD. It did show the use of UFH without any major adverse events in 7 subjects. No future large-scale study is planned. Trials registration Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT #02098993) on March 28, 2014.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (15) ◽  
pp. 2708-2719 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hindocha ◽  
T. P. Freeman ◽  
J. X. Xia ◽  
N. D. C. Shaban ◽  
H. V. Curran

BackgroundCannabis and tobacco have contrasting cognitive effects. Smoking cannabis with tobacco is prevalent in many countries and although this may well influence cognitive and mental health outcomes, the possibility has rarely been investigated in human experimental psychopharmacological research.MethodThe individual and interactive effects of cannabis and tobacco were evaluated in 24 non-dependent cannabis and tobacco smokers in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2 (cannabis, placebo) × 2 (tobacco, placebo) crossover design. Verbal memory (prose recall), working memory (WM) performance including maintenance, manipulation and attention (N-back), psychotomimetic, subjective and cardiovascular measures were recorded on each of four sessions.ResultsCannabis alone impaired verbal memory. A priori contrasts indicated that tobacco offset the effects of cannabis on delayed recall. However, this was not supported by linear mixed model analysis. Cannabis load-dependently impaired WM. By contrast, tobacco improved WM across all load levels. The acute psychotomimetic effects and ratings of ‘stoned’ and ‘dizzy’ induced by cannabis were not altered by tobacco. Cannabis and tobacco had independent effects on increasing heart rate and interacting effects on increasing diastolic blood pressure.ConclusionsRelative to placebo, acute cannabis impaired verbal memory and WM. Tobacco enhanced performance on WM, independently of cannabis. Moreover, we found some preliminary evidence that tobacco may offset the effects of cannabis on delayed, but not immediate, verbal recall. In contrast, the psychotomimetic and subjective effects of cannabis were unaffected by tobacco co-administration. By reducing the cognitive impairment from cannabis, tobacco co-administration may perpetuate use despite adverse health consequences.


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