Active clinical trials for "Shock"

Septic shock is a frequent and severe complication in cirrhosis. Current mortality rate ranges between 50 and 80% of cases. Refractory shock, hepatorenal failure and variceal bleeding are the main causes of death of these patients. Terlipressin administration could prevent these complications and improve survival in this setting. Aim: To evaluate the effects of terlipressin administration on hospital survival in cirrhotic patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Methods: Prospective, open labelled, controlled trial evaluating 72 cirrhotic patients with severe sepsis or septic shock who will be randomized to receive terlipressin plus alpha-adrenergic drugs or only alpha-adrenergic drugs at shock diagnosis. Patients will be submitted to continuous systemic hemodynamic monitoring (S. Ganz catheter or Vigileo). Changes in vasoactive systems and cytokines levels will be also evaluated.

Severe infection in the intensive care unit is common accounting for about 10% of admissions and has a death rate of approximately 40-50%. It is almost always associated with significant reductions in blood pressure. Administration of fluid often in large volumes is essential to normalize blood pressure and prevent failure of organs and death. Two common classes of fluid solutions are crystalloid fluids (salt based, normal saline) and colloid fluids (protein based, albumin). Due to its properties, the albumin fluid may remain in the vascular space better than the normal saline solution. Hence, there may be faster attainment of normal blood pressure as well as a reduction in failed organs and death. Preliminary clinical trial data suggests a potential for benefit with albumin in this setting but these findings require confirmation in a large clinical trial. There are few data to explain how albumin may exert its protective effects and lead to better outcomes for patients with severe infections. We will conduct a clinical study that will examine potential biological mechanisms for albumin's protective effects in 50 patients across 6 Canadian academic hospitals. We will also examine our ability to successfully recruit patients into this trial. This study will provide information that will help to understand the biological mechanisms of albumin in severe infection. The information gained will guide the investigative team for future fluid related mechanistic questions. The study will also provide essential information that will aid in the design and conduct of the future large clinical trial that will examine death as its primary outcome.

Catecholamines infusion is a major component of septic shock management. International guidelines recommend that norepinephrine should be preferred to epinephrine, though phase III trials are lacking. The present study aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of norepinephrine plus dobutamine to that of epinephrine in adults with septic shock.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) in patients with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) with Reduced Disc Displacement, by comparing it with standard treatment. Scientific Basis and Validity of Medical Research: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMR) are disorders that can cause pain in the head and neck region, limitation in mouth opening, and difficulties even in daily activities (eating, speaking, chewing, yawning, etc.). These disorders have various causes such as malocclusion, emotional stress, parafunctional habits, synovitis, capsulitis, osteoarthritis and intra-articular irregularities. Almost 25% of the world's population has TMJ intra-articular irregularities and these are usually treated with non-surgical methods. If these methods are not successful, surgical treatments are generally used. These non-surgical treatments include many physical therapy interventions such as occlusal splints, medical treatments, bite plates, ultrasound and subcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and low-level laser therapies. With these intraorally used occlusal splints, a balanced occlusal contact is achieved without applying any force to the mandible in the resting position. Occlusal splints are available in different designs and different construction materials. The stabilization splint, which is one of the most commonly used occlusal splints, and the modified Hawley splint are appliances produced from hard materials. However, some researchers have commented that soft spints produced from resilient materials may also be useful in the distribution of excessive force formed in parafunctional habits. While there are studies stating that hard splints provide more successful results than soft splints in the functional problems of the chewing system, there are also studies reporting that they have similar efficacy on muscle pain after short-term use. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), another physical therapy modality, used in the treatment of various joint and muscle pains; it is an advantageous treatment modality that is non-invasive, well tolerated by patients and has few side effects. This modality is also used in diseases of the TMJ and masticatory muscles in various sources. The availability of different non-standard treatment regimens and the few studies on the short-term results of ESWT applications make the use of ESWT in the treatment of TMJ diseases still unclear and new studies are needed.

The study aims to determine whether the infusion of DEX in septic shock can reduce in-hospital mortality, norepinephrine infusion, need and duration for mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury without significant adverse events.

Methods:Ten patients were enrolled in the study. Adipose derived-MSCs infusions were given (1x 106/ kg, on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days of therapy) together with Standard therapy. Before the MSCs applications, blood samples were collected for cytokine assessment (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10). The clinical and laboratory improvements were recorded and compared with control groups selected retrospectively.

Persistent tachycardia in sepsis or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is an ominous sign. This usually comes under control with judicious use of antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, sedation. Uncontrolled tachycardia in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis deprives the heart muscle of oxygen. As it progresses, insufficient heart muscle nutrition eventually leads to myocardial dysfunction. It can also present as heart failure. In acute coronary syndromes, beta blockers are used to control heart rate. However in MODS, it cannot be used due to hemodynamic instability and worsened myocardial function. Sinoatrial (SA) myocytes are the pacemaker cells in the heart. Pacemaker activity involves several ionic currents that influences spontaneous depolarization of SA node including I(f) current. The word I(f) means funny, because this current has unusual properties as compared with other currents known at the time of its discovery. It is one of the most important ionic current for regulating pacemaker activity in SA node. Ivabradine is an I(f) current inhibitor in SA node. Currently, it is the only agent shown to clinically lower heart rate with no negative inotropism or effects on conduction and contractility.so usage of Ivabradine to control tachycardia in patients with septic shock may help to improve myocardial filling and cardiac output. Marcos L.Miranda et al. found that Ivabradine was effective in reducing microvascular derangements evoked by experimental sepsis, which was accompanied by less organ dysfunction. These results suggest that ivabradine yields beneficial effects on the microcirculation of septic animals. No data found on effect of Ivabradine on the microcirculation of human. In this study the investigators will investigate the effect of Ivabradine on perfusion in capillary circulation using Cytocam video microscope, Braedius®.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) a severe condition with high morbidity and mortality results from the hosts overwhelming inflammatory response and cytokine storm. Staphylococcal superantigen toxins are the main causative agents. Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) being responsible for almost all of menstruation associated and more than 50% of all other cases. There is no specific therapy. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the safety and tolerability of the BioMed recombinant toxic shock syndrome toxin (rTSST-1) Variant Vaccine in healthy adults. The second aim of the study is to measure antibodies in the blood of these healthy volunteers which have been produced in response to treatment with the BioMed rTSST-1 Variant Vaccine. These antibodies are expected to be important in resistance against the diseases. 46 healthy adults, male and female, age 18-64 years will be assigned to 6 dose groups of the vaccine at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology of the Medical University of Vienna. The patients will be monitored for vital signs, hematology, clinical chemistry, blood cytokine level and antibodies against TSST-1. Immunization will be repeated 4 weeks after the first with the same dose.

Sepsis is one of the most frequent reasons for referral to emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. The incidence of sepsis is likely to rise in the upcoming years. Sepsis has a tendency to become more serious when left untreated with a high mortality rate, exceeding even those of myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, much effort has been put in to start with appropriate therapy as early as possible. Early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) in the emergency department with fluid resuscitation, administration of vasopressors/vasodilators and intravenous antibiotics in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock has indeed decreased mortality substantially. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel have already made a significant difference in improving care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, multiple trauma and stroke. Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock could also benefit greatly from timely pre-hospital care. Earlier recognition and initiation of treatment by EMS personnel may improve survival even more. Interestingly, the first hour of ED presentation seems to be the most critical hour. Administration of antibiotics and fluid resuscitation in the pre-hospital setting will reduce the time to administration substantially. In adults, to the best of our knowledge, no studies on the effect of pre-hospital administration of antibiotics have been performed. In children with meningitis, some uncontrolled studies show contradictory results, most probably due to bias by severity. We propose a non-blinded randomised multicentre clinical trial study on the efficacy of early, pre-hospital intravenous administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (ceftriaxone), which are effective against a wide variety of infectious pathogens that cause most common community-acquired infections) in patients referred to the ED with suspected severe sepsis or septic shock. Objective: To evaluate whether early, pre-hospital administration of antibiotics, together with training of ambulance personnel in recognizing and initiating treatment reduces 28-day mortality in patients referred to the ED with suspected severe sepsis or septic shock Study design: Non-blinded randomized multicentre clinical trial nested within a stepped wedge design Study population: All patients above the age of 18 years, with suspected severe sepsis or septic shock and transferred to the ED by ambulance, are eligible for study inclusion Intervention: prehospital antibiotics (ceftriaxone 2000 mg intravenously) Main study parameters/endpoints: 28-day mortality, hospital length of stay, admission to intensive or medium care unit (ICU/MC), time to administration of antibiotics. Follow up of one year. QoL after one month after discharge.

Approximately 20,000 children per year in North America present to the hospital with severe shock. Children who develop this condition have very low blood pressures and as a result may suffer damage to their internal organs and may even die. Some children with this condition may significantly benefit from the use of steroids but steroids in such patients may also have potential side effects. Therefore it is important to study the use of steroids carefully in these children. The STRIPES research program will examine the effectiveness and safety of steroids in children. Before conducting a large, randomized controlled trial (RCT), a pilot study (STRIPES Pilot Study) will be conducted in multiple sites across Canada. The STRIPES Pilot Study will allow testing of the STRIPES study protocol in a smaller group of patients.