Active clinical trials for "Chronic Disease"

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease in which patients often develop numerous autoantibodies (Abs). Unfortunately, none of the SLE specific Abs described so far (anti-DNA, -C1q, -nucleosome) are correlated enough to the disease activity to be used as a useful biomarker and reliably help in the therapeutic decision. Abs effector functions, including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and antibody-mediated complement activation, are conditioned by the structure of the crystallizable fragment (Fc) and especially the N-linked oligosaccharide structures attached to the asparagine-297 in the CH2 domain of the Fc region. It has been shown that the decrease in galactosylation, sialylation and fucolylation is generally associated with inflammatory function of circulating IgG whereas Abs with sialic acid, fucose and/or galactose in Asn-297 are anti-inflammatory. This major role of Ab glycosylation in the regulation of the effector and pathogenic functions of Abs have been well documented in rheumatoid arthritis and ANCA associated vasculitis with a good correlation between Ab sialylation and disease activity. In lupus, it has been shown that glycosylation of total IgG is also altered and correlated with disease activity but glycosylation analysis of the LES specific Abs is still lacking. The aim of this study is to analyse by mass spectrometry (MS) the different glycoforms of anti-DNA Abs in lupus patients and find a correlation with disease activity.

This ComBaCaL cohort study is to assess the impact of community-based, lay-led chronic disease screening and care interventions in rural Lesotho. It aims to establish a prospective research and service delivery platform in rural Lesotho that is managed by eHealth-supported Chronic Care Village Health Worker (CC-VHWs) providing regular chronic disease screening, monitoring and referral services. The implementation outcomes of the cohort as well as the effect of the cohort activities on disease-specific care cascades will be assessed. Subsequently, nested trials to assess the effectiveness of specific chronic disease control interventions will be developed. Measurements and data entry will be conducted by CC-VHWs. The CC-VHWs will be equipped with the essential tools required for chronic disease monitoring in the community (i.e. BP machines, scales, measuring band, glucometers, and urine dipsticks). They will undergo a theoretical and practical training covering all aspects required for correct data collection and chronic disease screening, diagnosing, referral and counselling services. At every visit, the CC-VHW will screen participants for warning signs and symptoms (i.e. shortness of breath, severe headache, chest pain, new-onset confusion, impaired consciousness, severely impaired general state of health) and refer participants to the closest health centre in case of any danger-sign. The CC-VHWs will be continuously monitored and supervised by health centre nurses of the respective village's catchment area, mainly through direct interaction during monthly VHW meetings and by CC nurses through field visits, remote interaction via phone calls or messages sent via the ComBaCaL app and through direct contact during the monthly VHW meetings at the health centre. The CC-VHWs are embedded within the Lesotho MoH VHW program and may during the project period be trained and equipped to provide further routine services in their communities.

The role of intestinal microbiota is becoming ever more important in the context of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and infectious disorders as represented by the emerging discipline "therapeutic microbiology". The gut microbiota is strictly interconnected with obesity and T2D playing also an important role in immune system regulation. Obesity and diabetes can lead to chronic inflammation, which results in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-alpha, causing immune system alteration which predisposes patients with obesity and T2D to chronic infections. Therefore, the principal aim of the study is to investigate changes in gut microbiota composition between patients with chronic infections or not, so as to attribute to specific phyla the formation of the infections in these patients.

This project will focus on perceived fatigue as a barrier to physical activity participation and will explore if and how activity pacing, fatigue management, and self-regulation strategies can help to overcome this barrier in adults with chronic conditions who experience fatigue symptoms. The main aims are: To demonstrate the differences and similarities on activity pacing, perceived fatigue, self-regulation, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in adults who experience fatigue by comparing individuals who have been through an activity pacing program or not. To explore thoughts, experiences, needs, and perspectives on activity pacing of adults with fatigue and health professionals as well as any ideas for future development of an optimal intervention. Participants will be invited to complete questionnaires on several variables (activity pacing, physical activity, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and self-regulation of physical activity). In addition, they will be invited to wear an Actigraph for 7 full days and they will also be invited to a focus group interview.

The purpose of this study is to confirm the long-term clinical safety and performance, acceptability of identified risks, and to detect emerging risks based on factual evidence for the PROPEL family of products when used according to labeling (in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) undergoing sinus surgery). Additionally, this study intends to collect data on use of corticosteroid-eluting implants in the European CRS population. Data collected will be used to ensure continued consistency between clinical data, the information materials supplied by the manufacturer, and the risk management documentation.

The goal of this randomized controlled study was to compare the effect of aerobic exercise and pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises on uterus involution. In the scope of study following questions will be answered at the end of the study. First which of the exercise type is more effective to enhance uterus involution? Secondly, does exercises induce changes in lactation rate during the study period? Thirdly, does exercises improve the experienced pain? Study will be consisted of three groups as control group, pelvic floor exercise group and aerobic exercise group. Control group will take routine gynaecological treatment. Pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercise group will attend to seven day pelvic floor strengthening exercise programme. Aerobic exercise group will attend to seven day aerobic exercise programme consisting of walking.

Through introducing physicians in front in the medical assessment and decision-making processes in acute and sub-acute illness in the municipalities, as well as including machine learning in analyzing prospective and retrospective data, the project will develop and implement innovative and knowledge-based digital diagnostic tools and decision-making support systems to be used in the municipalities. As such, the project will contribute to early identification of severe illness, prevent deterioration of disease, and facilitate early medical intervention.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating and progressive respiratory condition characterized by irreversible airflow limitation. The overall 5-year survival for COPD patients is 56-92%, depending on disease severity. Considering the recent introduction of the Budesonide, Glycopyrronium bromide and Formoterol fumarate Metered-Dose Inhaler (BGF MDI) in COPD therapeutic arsenal as well as the increasingly important role of real-world (RW) data in health care decisions, as it bridges gaps not addressed by randomized clinical trials, there is a need for RW evidence studies that can serve as inputs for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) submissions. In view of this need, this study is designed to generate RW evidence on the clinical and patient-reported outcomes of treatment with BGF MDI over a 52-week treatment period in routine care settings in Greece as well as to shed light on the reasons for switching from dual to triple therapy with BGF MDI, aiming at further characterizing the multifactorial aspects of inadequate COPD management that lead physicians to step-up treatment. The study is mainly descriptive in nature and is not planned to reject or affirm any formal statistical hypothesis. This is a single-country, non-interventional, multicenter, 52-week prospective cohort study, mainly based on primary data collection, which will include adult patients with moderate to severe COPD newly prescribed maintenance treatment with BGF MDI in routine care settings of Greece. This study design has been selected on the basis that such studies essentially, through collecting data generated in the course of routine clinical care about management practices and their outcomes from both the physician and patient perspective, help to bridge the knowledge gap between clinical research in controlled randomized settings and daily clinical practice. In line with the purely observational and non-interventional nature of the study, no changes to the current standard of care will be required and all aspects of treatment and clinical management of patients will be in accordance with local clinical practice and at the discretion of the participating physicians. The conduct of this study will adhere to the applicable national regulatory requirements governing the conduct of such type of clinical research. In addition, the study has been designed and will be conducted and reported in accordance with the ethical principles laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki, the Guidelines for Good Pharmacoepidemiology Practice (GPP) of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology, the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines where applicable, the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the local rules and regulations. Patients will have been prescribed BGF MDI (Trixeo Aerosphere™) prior to informed consent (IC) obtainment and will be treated according to the local prescribing information (Summary of Product Characteristics [SmPC]) of the study medication and routine medical practice in terms of visit frequency and type of assessments performed. The assignment of the patient to this therapeutic strategy is not decided in advance by the study protocol but falls within current practice and the prescription of BGF MDI is clearly separated from the physician's decision to include the patient in the current study. In addition, every medical decision including the course of treatment will reflect exclusively the decision of the treating physician in a routine clinical situation according to the product's SmPC. Follow-up visit frequency will be determined by the treating physician, however study-related data will be collected at study enrollment and at 12, 24, 36, and 52-week data collection timepoints post-index (i.e., after BGF MDI treatment initiation) with an allowable time window of ±2 weeks for each data collection timepoint. Data collection at the aforementioned timepoints will be performed in the context of on-site routine visits at the private practices/hospital clinics. In addition, a telephone contact will take place at 4 (±1) weeks post-index for the sole purpose of administering COPD Assessment Test (CAT) by phone interview with the patient. Any visits/contacts occurring at other times not pre-planned in the context of the study will not be captured for the purposes of this study, except for safety-related information, exacerbation data, information on BGF MDI and concomitant COPD-related treatments, that will be collected on a continuous basis. Data collection at all indicated timepoints will be performed in the context of on-site routine visits at the private practices/hospital clinics. There are no dose regimens or diagnostic procedures pre-defined within this study plan. Participation in this observational, real-life study and its documentation procedure will not affect the routine treatment situation in any way.

This clinical trial tests the Eat, Move, Live (EML) Program in reducing the risk of chronic diseases among underserved communities by improving healthy lifestyle practices, increasing physical activity and encouraging healthy eating behaviors. EML is a series of free culturally and linguistically appropriate nutrition and physical activity sessions. The interactive education segment of the EML Program is culturally responsive, and based on the community EML program, and topics will include: nutrition guidelines, reading food labels, recipe modification and healthy food preparation, eating healthy on a budget, chronic diseases information and prevention strategies. The EML program may help reduce the risk of cancer and chronic diseases by encouraging more physical activity and healthy eating behaviors.

Anemia is a common health problem. Depending on a geographical region, anemia affects even 50% of population. Among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) anemia may affect as much as 66% of patients. Moreover, many patients develop anemia during the ICU stay. In general population the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency (ID). The investigators lack information on the incidence of ID and anemia of inflammation (AI) with absolute ID (mixed type of anemia: AI + IDA) or functional ID (AI) in patients with sepsis or septic shock hospitalised in the ICU. Therefore, the aim of the study is to improve diagnosis of iron deficiency (ID) and anemia of inflammation (AI) with absolute ID (AI + IDA) or functional ID (AI) in patients with sepsis or septic shock. ID have negative effects on the body and is associated with impaired production of proteins responsible for transport of oxygen in the blood (hemoglobin) and oxygen storage (myoglobin), and impaired immune function. Development of anemia is associated with well documented complications: organ hypoxia, myocardial infarction, stroke, infection. Replenishment of iron at this early stage may potentially prevent IDA. It is advantageous to replenish iron stores in order to avoid these complications, especially in patients with sepsis or septic shock. In IDA red blood cell transfusion is not recommended as it leads to other numerous complications. Therefore the patients presenting with laboratory results suggesting ID will receive divided doses od parenteral iron. Monitoring of iron replenishment will be based on a new laboratory parameter- reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent.