All clinical trials

The alternate binaural bithermal caloric test (ABBT) is a well established examination in the evaluation of the dizzy patient. ABBT is useful in detecting the side of peripheral vestibulopathy by stimulating each ear separately, it contributes to the diagnosis of bilateral vestibular involvement when all responses to cold and warm stimuli are reduced, and adds to the differentiation of peripheral from central vestibular involvement by measuring the fixation-induced inhibition of the caloric response. In spite of these benefits, ABBT is the most time-consuming part of the electronystagmography/Videonystagmography (ENG/VNG) test battery, and frequently causes significant inconvenience to the patient due to the repeated extreme vestibular stimuli. The head impulse test (HIT) assesses vestibular function by brisk, passive rotations of the head in the plane of the examined semicircular canals. Whenever the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is deficient, this maneuver would produce catch-up saccades aiming to the re-fixation of the eyes on the target. Hence, both residual VOR and catch-up saccades act synergistically to stabilize gaze. The HIT requires only several minutes and might cause minimal discomfort only. The study hypothesis is that the HIT recorded by standard VNG equipment of the VNG system would provide diagnostic information on the side of vestibular involvement matching that of the ABBT.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experience of labor in parous women induced because of fear of labor and, to compare the experience of parous women induced without fear of labor. A comparison with the experience of women delivered with elective cesarean section because of fear of labor is done. In the induced labors, the induction method is amniotomy. Between groups the experience of delivery is evaluated with a questionnaire: Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire(WEDQ-B). Groups are also compared with regard to time from induction to delivery and rate of operative delivery. Hypotheses: there is no difference in experience of delivery there is no difference in time to delivery or rate of operative deliveries

Purpose Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia) are complex neurobehaviour disorders influenced by genetic, neurodevelopmental, neurochemical, as well as psychosocial factors. Despite significant progresses in pharmacotherapy, the disorder often results in long-term disability (ranked globally amongst the top ten leading causes of disability-adjusted life years, DALYS), often associated with extensive cost, burden, morbidity and mortality. Objective / hypothesis The study aims to (1) measure the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in the Hong Kong population; (2) explore associated risk and protective factors for the expression of psychotic symptoms; (3) characterize the functional disability in people with psychotic symptoms; and (4) study the determinant of clinical presentation or non-presentation in people with psychotic symptoms. Design, subjects and study instrument The survey will be conducted with a two-phase design. The first phase interviews will include approximately 5,000 subjects with structured assessments serving diagnostic criteria for CMD, screening instruments for psychotic disorder, substance misuse and suicidal behaviours, functioning, service use and demographics. The second phase comprises of clinician interviews for psychotic disorder and "at risk mental state" and other variables including neurocognitive, help seeking, stigma and well-being. Analysis Prevalence estimates will be weighted, expressed as rates and confidence intervals. Comorbidity will be estimated using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) Logistic regression will be used to identify significant factors associated with mental disorders.

Hypothesis: the hyponatremia of multiple myeloma (m.m.)is true and not pseudohyponatremia by using the stewart approach to acid - base interpretation, would like to show that the positive charged m- proteins produced in m.m.result in true hyponatremia.

This is a prospective chart review/data collection study of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) for ventral hernia repair, that will include questionnaires administered throughout the study. Subjects enrolled will be those intending to have a transvaginal NOTES ventral hernia repair. Data will be collected and reviewed through 12 months post-op.

The purpose of this study is to Characterize the population of people who suffer from trigger finger (TF) in terms of demographic (Gender, age, occupation, etc.); motor skills (hand function); the Consequences of the disease on a person's daily functioning and impact on quality of life. The study will also attempt to examine the suitability of several common assessment tool for evaluation of hand rehabilitation Patients who suffer from TF. Information obtained from the study will enable a deeper comprehension of the consequences of TF on the patient and will be the first step in developing a protocol assessment and evidence-based treatment in this population.

The purpose of this study is to examine the range of cerebral tissue oxygen saturation in healthy and sick very low birthweight infants during the first 72 hours of life.

Patients attending the University Hospital Coventry UK with a broken wrist requiring an operation, will be invited to enter the study. At the first visit, they will have an xray of the wrist and will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires. The questions are to determine if they normally have pain in the wrist and how well they can perform their daily activities. The patient will then have an operation, and the fracture in the wrist will be held in the correct position with either a metal plate and screws or wires. At 6 weeks following the operation the patient will be reassessed and an xray will be taken. At 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after the operation patients will perform tests to assess the strength of their grip, pinch and movement of their wrist. In addition they will complete the the same questionnaires from their first visit. At the 12 month visit patients will have another xray.

Next generation sequencing (including targeted gene seqeuncing, exome and transcriptome sequencing) will be performed from fresh frozen tumor samples to understand the genetic alteration of tumors and to aid in optimal selection of further therapeutic agents.

Enterovirus and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 are the main causative agents of central nervous system infections. Instead, the role of lymphocytic herpesviruses in the etiology of central nervous system (CNS) infections is not clear, even if there is the positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-result for the virus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of DNA from lymphocytic herpesviruses in the CSF obtained from the immunocompetent patients with CSF pleocytosis and from the patients with normal CSF leukocyte count.