Adalimumab vs placebo as add-on to Standard Therapy for autoimmune Uveitis: Tolerability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness–a protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ASTUTE trial)

Introduction
Adalimumab is an effective treatment for autoimmune non-infectious uveitis (ANIU), but it is currently only funded for a minority of patients with ANIU in the UK as it is restricted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Ophthalmologists believe that adalimumab may be effective in a wider range of patients. The Adalimumab vs placebo as add-on to Standard Therapy for autoimmune Uveitis: Tolerability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness (ASTUTE) trial will recruit patients with ANIU who do and do not meet funding criteria and will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adalimumab versus placebo as an add-on therapy to standard care.

Methods and analysis
The ASTUTE trial is a multicentre, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, pragmatic randomised controlled trial with a 16-week treatment run-in (TRI). At the end of the TRI, only responders will be randomised (1:1) to 40 mg adalimumab or placebo (both are the study investigational medicinal product) self-administered fortnightly by subcutaneous injection. The target sample size is 174 randomised participants. The primary outcome is time to treatment failure (TF), a composite of signs indicative of active ANIU. Secondary outcomes include individual TF components, retinal morphology, adverse events, health-related quality of life, patient-reported side effects and visual function, best-corrected visual acuity, employment status and resource use. In the event of TF, open-label drug treatment will be restarted as per TRI for 16 weeks, and if a participant responds again, allocation will be switched without unmasking and treatment with investigational medicinal product restarted.

Ethics and dissemination
The trial received Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval from South Central – Oxford B REC in June 2020. The findings will be presented at international meetings, by peer-reviewed publications and through patient organisations and newsletters to patients, where available.

Trial registration
ISRCTN31474800. Registered 14 April 2020.

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Effects of a multicomponent physical activity programme, Mobility-Fit, compared with a standard care lower limb strengthening programme, to promote safe mobility among older adults in care facilities: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Upper limb and core strength training is essential for older adults to safely perform daily activities. However, existing exercise programmes mainly focus on lower limb strength and are not designed or delivered to suit people with different functional capacities. This study describes the design of a two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial to examine the effects of a multicomponent physical activity (PA) programme, Mobility-Fit, on mobility and frailty in older adults living in care facilities.

Methods and analysis
160 older adults from 20 care facilities in Hong Kong will be recruited and randomised by care facilities (1:1) to an intervention or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will attend the Mobility-Fit programme, led by facility-based instructors, three times per week, 45 min per session, for 12 weeks, while the control group will participate in a standard care lower limb strengthening programme offered by the care facility. Participants will then be followed up for 9 months. Mobility-Fit comprises agility, postural coordination, balance and strength training, with suitable dosage based on participant’s baseline physical and cognitive function. The primary outcomes encompass upper and lower limb strength, trunk stability, reaction time, mobility function and fall efficacy. Secondary outcomes comprise daily PA level and performance, frailty, cognitive function and quality of life. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and generalised estimating equation (GEE) will be used to examine changes in outcomes over time and between groups. Data will be analysed following the intention-to-treat principles. We will also evaluate programme implementation and health economics throughout the follow-up period.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval was acquired in November 2022 from the Joint CUHK-NTEC Clinical Research Ethics Committee in Hong Kong (CREC-2022-459). Informed consent will be obtained from participants. The results of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations and social media.

Trial registration number
ChiCTR2300072709.

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Randomised, siteless study to compare systematic atrial fibrillation screening using enrichment by a risk prediction model with standard care in a Swedish population aged >= 65 years: CONSIDERING-AF study design

Introduction
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and confers an increased risk of mortality, stroke, heart failure and cognitive decline. There is growing interest in AF screening; however, the most suitable population and device for AF detection remains to be elucidated. Here, we present the design of the CONSIDERING-AF (deteCtiON and Stroke preventIon by moDEl scRreenING for Atrial Fibrillation) study.

Methods and analysis
CONSIDERING-AF is a randomised, controlled, siteless, non-blinded diagnostic superiority trial with four parallel groups and a primary endpoint of identifying AF during a 6-month study period set in Region Halland, Sweden. In each group, 740 individuals aged≥65 years will be included. The primary objective is to compare the intervention of AF screening enrichment using a risk prediction model (RPM), followed by 14 days of a continuous ECG patch, with no intervention (standard care). Primary outcome is defined as the incident AF recorded in the Region Halland Information Database after 6 months as compared with standard care. Secondary endpoints include the difference in incident AF between groups enriched or not by the RPM, with and without an invitation to 14 days of continuous ECG recording, and the proportions of oral anticoagulation treatment in the four groups.

Ethics and dissemination
This study has ethical approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. Results will be published in peer-reviewed international journals.

Trial registration number
NCT05838781.

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Standard of care versus Octreotide in Angiodysplasia-related bleeding (the OCEAN study): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled trial

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasias are vascular anomalies that may result in transfusion-dependent anemia despite endoscopic therapy. An individual patient data meta-analysis of cohort studies suggests that octreotide decreases rebleeding rates, but component studies possessed a high risk of bias. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of octreotide in reducing the transfusion requirements of patients with angiodysplasia-related anemia in a clinical trial setting.

Leggi
Dicembre 2023

Internal brace augmentation reconstruction versus standard anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomised controlled clinical trial study protocol

Introduction
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most common knee injuries in sports, and the gold standard for treating ACL rupture is tendon graft reconstruction. Internal brace technology is being used nowadays for ligament repair; however, more relevant in vivo clinical evidence is required for using internal brace technology in ACL reconstruction (ACLR). We conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate the clinical efficacy of internal brace technology in ACLR.

Methods and analysis
This randomised, parallel-controlled trial included patients with ACL rupture who underwent inpatient surgery at the Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. Random number table method was used to assign the participants to either the test or the control group. The test group underwent ACLR using the internal brace technique, whereas the control group underwent standard ACLR. Uniform postoperative rehabilitation protocol was used for both the groups. Patient-reported outcomes included preoperative baseline and postoperative recovery at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome was International Knee Documentation Committee function from baseline (ACL rupture) to 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included (1) other patient outcome reporting metrics, Lysholm knee score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and Visual Analog Scale; (2) the use of Kneelax3 knee stabiliser to assess knee stability; (3) occurrence of adverse events, such as graft refraction or symptomatic instability, postoperative infection and contralateral injury and (4) magnetic resonance images at 12 and 24 months after ACLR.

Ethics and dissemination
This trial was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University on 26 October 2021. Data will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number
ChiCTR2200057526.

Leggi
Dicembre 2023

Study protocol for a single-blind, parallel-group, randomised, controlled non-inferiority trial of 4-day intensive versus standard cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction
Individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention is an effective treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). However, individual CBT is costly and time-consuming, requiring weekly therapy sessions for 3–4 months. A 4-day intensive version of CBT for OCD delivered in group format has been recently developed in Norway (Bergen 4-day treatment, B4DT). B4DT has shown promising results in several uncontrolled and one small, randomised trial, but its non-inferiority to the gold standard treatment has not been established.

Methods and analysis
This single-blind, randomised controlled trial including 120 patients (60 per arm) will compare B4DT to individual CBT. The primary outcome is the blind assessor-rated Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). We hypothesise that B4DT will be non-inferior to gold standard CBT 15 weeks after treatment start. The non-inferiority margin is set at four points on the Y-BOCS. Secondary outcomes include time to treatment response, cost-effectiveness, response and remission rates, drop-out rates and adverse events.

Ethics and dissemination
This study has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. Hypotheses were specified and analysis code published before data collection started. Results from all analyses will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement for non-pharmacological trials and Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards irrespective of outcome.

Trial registration number
NCT05608278.

Leggi
Dicembre 2023

Three double-dose reinforced hepatitis B revaccination scheme for patients with cirrhosis unresponsive to the standard regimen: an open-label randomised clinical trial

Objective
We aimed to compare the response rates between two different hepatitis B virus vaccination schedules for cirrhotic subjects who were non-responders to the first three 40 µg doses (month 0-1-2), and identify factors associated with the final response.

Design
A total of 120 cirrhotic patients (72.5% decompensated) were randomised at a 1:1 ratio to receive a single 40 µg booster vaccination at month 6 (classical arm) versus an additional round of three new 40 µg doses administered at monthly intervals (experimental arm). The main outcome was the rate of postvaccinal anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies levels ≥10 mIU/mL.

Results
Efficacy by ITT analysis was higher in the experimental arm (46.7%) than in the classical one (25%); OR 2.63, p=0.013. The experimental arm increased response rates compared with the classical one from 31% to 68% (OR 4.72; p=0.007), from 24.4% to 50% (OR 3.09; p=0.012) and from 24.4% to 53.8% (OR 3.62; p=0.007), in Child A, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)

Leggi
Dicembre 2023

REstrictive versus StandarD FlUid Management in Mechanically Ventilated ChildrEn Admitted to PICU: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial (REDUCE-1)

Introduction
Intravenous fluid therapy is the most common intervention in critically ill children. There is an increasing body of evidence questioning the safety of high-volume intravenous fluid administration in these patients. To date, the optimal fluid management strategy remains unclear. We aimed to test the feasibility of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing a restrictive with a standard (liberal) fluid management strategy in critically ill children.

Methods and analysis
Multicentre, binational pilot, randomised, controlled, open-label, pragmatic trial. Patients

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Comparison of drug-coated balloon angioplasty versus standard medical therapy on recurrent stroke and mortality rates among patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction
Stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide, a common cause of which is intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Medical treatment is recommended as first-line therapy for treating ICAS, but the recurrence rate remains high. Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty has been designed to lower the risk of recurrent stenosis, holding therapeutic promise in the treatment of ICAS. However, the benefits of DCB require further evaluation.

Methods and analysis
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols was followed to develop this protocol. We will systematically search online databases including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, China Biological Medicine Database, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP from 1 January 2011 to the date of search. This will be supplemented by a manual search of unpublished and ongoing trials to manually select articles for inclusion. Inclusion criteria are randomised or quasi-randomised clinical trials and observational studies that investigated DCB or medical treatment for patients with a symptomatic ICAS of 50%–99%. The primary outcome is short-term composite safety including death of any cause, or non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes include long-term death or stroke, restenosis, neurological rehabilitation, quality of life and other complications. The available data will be analysed using meta-analysis, if appropriate. The evaluation of heterogeneity and biases will be guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Ethics and dissemination
This systematic review does not require ethical approval as all available data from eligible studies will be anonymous with no concerns regarding privacy. Our findings will be disseminated through international conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Additional data from the study are available on request to corresponding authors via email.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42022341607.

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Optimal measurement of gastric emptying of solids in gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia: evidence to establish standard test

Objective
Symptoms in gastroparesis (Gp) and functional dyspepsia (FD) overlap; using egg protein substitute to measure gastric emptying of solids (GES), ~40% of patients are reclassified from Gp to FD, and vice versa. Our aim was to assess inter-individual and intra-individual coefficients of variation (COV) in GES in symptomatic patients with Gp or FD with documented slow or normal GES, respectively.

Design
Scintigraphic GES (T1/2 and GE% at 2 and 4 hours) using a 320 kcal real egg meal (30% fat) was tested in the following: single measurements in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus (10 each type 1 and type 2); repeat GES to estimate COVintra measured: 3 days apart in 9 Gp, 4 weeks apart in 21 Gp and 18 with FD with normal GE assigned to placebo and in 70 patients at 94.3 weeks (median) apart.

Results
COVinter for GE% at 4 hours and GE T1/2 were respectively 14.2% and 23.5% in FD and 27.5% and 33% in Gp; COVintra for GE% at 4 hours and GE T1/2 up to 4 weeks apart were 23.4% and 37.9% in FD and 20.1% and 33% in Gp. GE% at 2 hours showed less consistent results. However, >85% retained original diagnosis as normal or delayed. From clinical GES to baseline research for Gp group, repeat GES (after treatment) showed the COVintra for GE% at 4 hours was 37.3% at median 94.3 weeks, with 26/70 changed diagnoses.

Conclusion
The 320 kcal (30% fat) GES scintigraphic test provides consistent diagnosis in >85% and should be the standard test for suspected gastric emptying disorders.

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Effectiveness of an online management platform (Joint Cloud) versus standard process for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: study protocol for a prospective randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of mobility impairment in the elderly worldwide. Therefore, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often performed and is one of the most successful surgery and has resulted in substantial quality-of-life gains for people with end-stage arthritis. There is still room for improvement in the standard treatment process in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period of TKA. Telerehabilitation has the potential to become a positive alternative to face-to-face rehabilitation nowadays. But it remains unclear how well telemedicine interventions cover the entire surgical pathway (preoperation, intraoperation, postoperation). This study aims to explore the effectiveness of Joint Cloud (JC, an online management platform) compared with existing standard process in regulating functional recovery, pain management, muscle strength changes and other health-related outcomes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty preoperation, intraoperation and postoperation.

Methods and analysis
A randomised controlled trial was designed to compare the online management platform (JC) with standard process (SP) in patients undergoing TKA. A total of 186 TKA patients will be randomly assigned to the intervention (n=93) or control (n=93) group. Patients in the intervention group will receive access to the ‘JC’ mini-program. This mini-program provides popular science information (eg, information about OA and TKA), functional exercise information and communication channels. Patients evaluate their condition and functional level through standardised digital questionnaires. The control group of patients will not accept any functions of this mini-program. The primary outcome is knee functional recovery, and the secondary outcomes are pain management, isometric knee extensor muscle strength, patient satisfaction and cost-benefit analysis. Assessments will be performed 1 month and 3 days before surgery (T0) and 1 month and 3 months after surgery. Data analysis will be performed according to the intent-to-treat (ITT) principle. Repeated measures of linear mixed models and parametric and non-parametric testing will be used for statistical analysis.

Ethics and dissemination
The study was reviewed and approved by the Tianjin Hospital Medical Ethics Review Committee on 10 February 2023 (2022YLS155). Test data are considered highly sensitive but are available upon request. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number
ChiCTR2300068486.

Leggi
Novembre 2023

Multicentre, national, investigator-initiated, randomised, parallel-group, register-based superiority trial to compare extended ECG monitoring versus standard ECG monitoring in elderly patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack and the effect on stroke, death and intracerebral bleeding: the AF SPICE protocol

Introduction
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and AF detection can be challenged by asymptomatic and paroxysmal presentation. Long-term ECG monitoring after ischaemic stroke or TIA is recommended by all major societies in cardiology and cerebrovascular medicine as a secondary prophylactic measure. However, data on stroke reduction are lacking, and the recommendations show significant diversity.

Methods and analysis
AF SPICE is a multicentre, national, investigator-initiated, randomised, parallel-group, register-based trial comparing extended ECG monitoring versus standard ECG monitoring in patients admitted with ischaemic stroke or TIA, with a composite endpoint of stroke, all-cause-mortality and intracerebral bleeding. Patients aged ≥70 years without previous AF will be randomised 1:1 to control (standard ECG monitoring) or intervention (extended ECG monitoring). In the control arm, patients will undergo 48±24 hours (ie, a range of 24–72 hours) of continuous ECG monitoring according to national recommendations. In the intervention arm, patients will undergo 14+14 days of continuous ECG monitoring 3 months apart using an ECG patch device, which will provide an easy-accessed, well-tolerated 14-day continuous ECG recording. All ECG patch recordings will be read in a core facility. In cases of AF detection, oral anticoagulation will be recommended if not contraindicated. A pilot phase has been concluded in 2022, which will transcend into the main trial during 2023–2026, including approximately 30 stroke units. The sample size was calculated to be 3262 patients. The primary outcome will be collected from register data during a 36-month follow-up.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval has been provided by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, reference 2021–02770. The trial will be conducted according to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and national regulatory standards. Positive results from the study have the potential for rapid dissemination in clinical practice.

Trial registration number
NCT05134454.

Leggi
Novembre 2023