All clinical trials

The purpose of this study is to evaluate reliability of Point-of-Care ultrasound evaluation performed by general practitioners.

Since the first local case of COVID-19 confirmed on 4 Feb 2020, Hong Kong has already experienced 4 waves of COVID-19 surge, with more than 9000 cases reported. A number of vaccines have been shown to be efficacious against symptomatic and severe infection by inducing neutralizing antibody (NAB) against spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the duration of protection and longevity of antibody response is unknown. Health care workers (HCWs) who are planning to receive COVID-19 vaccine will be recruited. The level of antibody against spike protein by different quantitative assays will also be serially measured .

Migrant populations represent an increasing proportion of newly referred people living with HIV in Canada, particularly in Quebec. Timely HIV care of newly referred patients has important individual-level health benefits that can result in decreased transmission and benefit the society as a whole. Yet, the timing of events in the HIV care cascade (from linkage to care to sustained viral suppression) together with the specific experience of care of these vulnerable populations (asylum-seekers, international students, patients with no status) who often face specific psycho-social and/or financial issues, has rarely been studied. In particular, little is known about their experience of HIV care whether they are referred to a multidisciplinary clinic or a physician-only clinic. In a context where B/F/TAF will be provided free-of-charge to all enrolled participants including migrant populations, we aim to investigate what model of care can best address current deficiencies in the standard HIV care cascade for newly-referred patients, which often involves delays in linkage to care and starting ART.

The investigators developed an index that integrates different flow-settings in High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy with non-invasively measured clinical parameters of oxygenation in pediatric patients. This observational study is designed to evaluate this index and to determine a cut-off value for imminent HFNC failure.

To design and understand the mechanism of action of different combinations of nutraceuticals coupling bacteria, fibers and polyphenols, which can act on the 4 pillars simultaneously via an innovative ex-vivo model approach coupled with functional and quantitative metagenomics.

Sarcopenia is associated with reduced pulmonary function in healthy adults, as well as with increased risk of pneumonia following abdominal surgery. Consequentially, postoperative pneumonia prolongs hospital admission, and increases in-hospital mortality following a range of surgical interventions. Little is known about the function of the diaphragm in the context of sarcopenia and wasting disorders or how its function is influenced by abdominal surgery. Liver surgery induces reactive pleural effusion in most patients, compromising post-operative pulmonary function. Hypotheses: Both major hepatic resection and sarcopenia have a measurable impact on diaphragm function. Sarcopenia is associated with reduced preoperative diaphragm function, and that patients with reduced preoperative diaphragm function show a greater decline and reduced recovery of diaphragm function following major hepatic resection. Goals: The primary goal of this study is to evaluate whether sarcopenic patients have a reduced diaphragm function prior to major liver resection compared to non-sarcopenic patients, and to evaluate whether sarcopenic patients show a greater reduction in respiratory muscle function following major liver resection when compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Methods and analysis: Trans-costal B-mode, M-mode ultrasound and speckle tracking imaging will be used to assess diaphragm function perioperatively in patients undergoing major hepatic resection starting one day prior to surgery and up to thirty days after surgery. In addition, rectus abdominis and quadriceps femoris muscles thickness will be measured using ultrasound to measure sarcopenia, and pulmonary function will be measured using a hand-held bedside spirometer. Muscle mass will be determined preoperatively using CT-muscle volumetry of abdominal muscle and adipose tissue at the third lumbar vertebra level (L3). Muscle function will be assessed using handgrip strength and physical condition will be measured with a short physical performance battery (SPPB). A rectus abdominis muscle biopsy will be taken intraoperatively to measure proteolytic and mitochondrial activity as well as inflammation and redox status. Systemic inflammation and sarcopenia biomarkers will be assessed in serum acquired perioperatively.

The purpose of the research is to evaluate new blood tests, which measure immunity to the COVID-19 coronavirus after vaccination. These tests will be used to measure T-cell and antibody immunity after COVID-19 vaccination. Recent studies show that less than one-fifth of chronically immunosuppressed transplant recipients developed anti-receptor-binding domain antibodies after the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine (Boyarski, 2021). ood sampling at periodic intervals. These samples will be used to measure T-cell and antibody immunity to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The main objective of this project is to assess the occupational insertion of these adult patients with pediatric-onset IBD and to compare it with the general population. The secondary objectives are: to assess the level of education and compare it to that of the general population to assess occupational insertion and the educational level according to: The disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or unclassified colitis) sex Age at diagnosis (<or ≥ 10 years) The occurence of surgery, the location of the disease, the treatments undertaken Quality of life Evaluate the patient's feelings about the impact of his illness on occupational insertion and the educational level To describe the quality of life of patients in relation to disease activity and health states (QALY calculation) To assess the responsivness to change of the functional handicap score IBD-DI (n = 200 patients)

The kidneys are important at getting rid of toxins and excess water from the body. If they fail, then toxins and excess water builds up within the body. Kidney failure is treated by either giving patients a new kidney (a transplant) or by removing the toxins and fluid from the body by the process of dialysis. The investigators' aim is to personalise the care given to patients with kidney failure, and as such, they have started measuring the fitness of patients with kidney failure, who either already require dialysis or may need dialysis in the near future. This is currently done in a number of ways including measuring how strong their grip is, assessing their walking speed and asking questions about how difficult they find certain activities. In the future, the investigators think that this will allow targeted treatments to help improve their fitness and potentially identify any problems earlier. Current approaches to measuring activity and fitness have limitations and in particular may over- or underestimate the level of the physical activity. To over come these limitations, participants will be asked to wear an activity tracker (called an accelerometer) on for a week. Readings from the accelerometer will be compared against the other markers of fitness and activity to see if they are comparable. It will also be noted whether patients are prepared to wear the device for 7 days (compliance).

Acute respiratory insufficiency is one of the principal causes of intensive care admission for COVID 19 positive patients. This may determine a variable mortality rate ranging from 25-30%. In these patients, many days of non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation are needed to correct severe hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilation is not a direct therapy but allows the clinicians to prolong the "time-to-recovery" interval necessary for COVID 19 respiratory insufficiency treatment. Long intensive care stay, mechanical ventilation, the use of steroids and sedatives have an impact on the survivors. Previous studies demonstrated that patients admitted to intensive care with non-COVID acute respiratory distress syndrome had a reduction in the quality of life even up to one year after discharge. The aim of this study is to understand if COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome has a worse impact on the quality of life one year after discharge when compared with non-COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.