scholarly journals Double-blinded randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial of individualised homeopathic treatment of hyperthyroid cats

2017 ◽  
Vol 180 (15) ◽  
pp. 377-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Bodey ◽  
C. J. Almond ◽  
M. A. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
P Values ◽  
Endocrine Disorder ◽  
Homeopathic Treatment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Double Blinded

Feline hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in older cats for which homeopathic treatment has been advocated. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial was performed to look for evidence of efficacy for the use of individualised homeopathy in the treatment of this disease. Using a case definition of a concentration of the thyroid hormone T4 >66 nmol/l, cats were randomised into two treatment arms. Either a placebo or a homeopathic treatment was given to each cat blindly. After 21 days, the T4 levels, weight (Wt) and heart rate (HR) were compared with pretreatment values. There were no statistically significant differences in the changes seen between the two treatment arms following placebo or homeopathic treatment (T4 P=0.96, Wt P=0.16, HR P=0.36) or between the means of each parameter for either treatment arm before and after placebo or homeopathic treatment (all P values >0.13). In a second phase of the study, patients in both treatment arms were given methimazole treatment for 21 days and T4, Wt and HR determined again. Again there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, but there were statistically significant reductions in T4 (P<0.0001) and HR (P=0.02), and a statistically significant increase in Wt (P=0.004) in both groups compared with their pre-methimazole treatment levels. The results of this study failed to provide any evidence of the efficacy of homeopathic treatment of feline hyperthyroidism.

scholarly journals Study protocol for a randomised trial for atosiban versus placebo in threatened preterm birth: the APOSTEL 8 study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e029101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Klumper ◽  
Wouter Breebaart ◽  
Carolien Roos ◽  
Christiana A Naaktgeboren ◽  
Joris van der Post ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Neonatal Outcome ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Cervical Length ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Double Blinded

IntroductionPreterm birth complicates >15 million pregnancies annually worldwide. In many countries, women who present with signs of preterm labour are treated with tocolytics for 48 hours. Although this delays birth, it has never been shown to improve neonatal outcome. In 2015, the WHO stated that the use of tocolytics should be reconsidered and that large placebo-controlled studies to evaluate the effectiveness of tocolytics are urgently needed.Methods and analysisWe designed an international, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Women with threatened preterm birth (gestational age 30–34 weeks), defined as uterine contractions with (1) a cervical length of < 15 mm or (2) a cervical length of 15–30 mm and a positive fibronectin test or (3) in centres where cervical length measurement is not part of the local protocol: a positive fibronectin test or insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (Actim-Partus test) or (4) ruptured membranes, will be randomly allocated to treatment with atosiban or placebo for 48 hours. The primary outcome is a composite of perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity. Analysis will be by intention to treat. A sample size of 1514 participants (757 per group) will detect a reduction in adverse neonatal outcome from 10% to 6% (alpha 0.05, beta 0.2). A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of the Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location AMC, as well as the REC’s in Dublin and the UK. The results will be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Participants will be informed about the results.Trial registration numberNederlands Trial Register (Trial NL6469).

Liraglutide as an Additional Treatment to Insulin in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus—A 52-Week Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3-LB ◽  
Author(s):  
PARESH DANDONA ◽  
HUSAM GHANIM ◽  
NITESH D. KUHADIYA ◽  
TANVI SHAH ◽  
JEANNE M. HEJNA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Double Blinded

scholarly journals Administration of Apple Polyphenol Supplements for Skin Conditions in Healthy Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1071
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Shoji ◽  
Saeko Masumoto ◽  
Nina Moriichi ◽  
Yasuyuki Ohtake ◽  
Tomomasa Kanda
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Skin Pigmentation ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Continuous Administration ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Healthy Women ◽  
Dependent Relationship ◽  
Skin Conditions ◽  
Double Blinded

This clinical study was performed to evaluate the effects of continuous apple polyphenol (AP) administration on facial skin conditions and pigmentation induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in healthy women participants. Participants (n = 65, age 20–39 years) were randomized to receive tablets containing AP (300 or 600 mg/day) or placebo in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Continuous administration of AP for 12 weeks significantly prevented UV irradiation induced skin pigmentation (erythema value, melanin value, L value), although a dose-dependent relationship was not clearly observed. In contrast, no significant differences were detected between the groups with regard to water content and trans-epidermal water loss. Our study demonstrated that APs and their major active compounds, procyanidins, have several health benefits. Here, we report that continuous administration of AP for 12 weeks alleviated UV irradiation induced skin pigmentation, when compared with placebo, in healthy women.

scholarly journals Brain Training and Sulforaphane Intake Interventions Separately Improve Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults, Whereas a Combination of These Interventions Does Not Have More Beneficial Effects: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 352
Author(s):  
Rui Nouchi ◽  
Qingqiang Hu ◽  
Toshiki Saito ◽  
Natasha Yuriko dos Santos Kawata ◽  
Haruka Nouchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Brain Training ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Double Blinded

Background: Earlier studies have demonstrated that a single-domain intervention, such as a brain-training (BT) game alone and a sulforaphane (SFN) intake, positively affects cognition. This study examined whether a combined BT and SFN intake intervention has beneficial effects on cognitive function in older adults. Methods: In a 12-week double-blinded randomized control trial, 144 older adults were randomly assigned to one of four groups: BT with SFN (BT-S), BT with placebo (BT-P), active control game (AT) with SFN (AT-S), and active control game with placebo (AT-P). We used Brain Age in BT and Tetris in AT. Participants were asked to play BT or AT for 15 min a day for 12 weeks while taking a supplement (SFN or placebo). We measured several cognitive functions before and after the intervention period. Results: The BT (BT-S and BT-P) groups showed more improvement in processing speed than the active control groups (AT-S and AT-P). The SFN intake (BT-S and AT-S) groups recorded significant improvements in processing speed and working memory performance unlike the placebo intake groups (BT-P and AT-P). However, we did not find any evidence of the combined intervention’s beneficial effects on cognition. Discussion: We discussed a mechanism to improve cognitive functions in the BT and SFN alone interventions.

scholarly journals Probiotics Do Not Alter the Long-Term Stability of the Supragingival Microbiota in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 391
Author(s):  
Christine Lundtorp-Olsen ◽  
Christian Enevold ◽  
Svante Twetman ◽  
Daniel Belstrøm
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Test Group ◽  
External Perturbation ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Compositional Stability ◽  
Rdna Sequencing ◽  
Double Blinded

Background: The purpose of the present study was to longitudinally characterize the supragingival microbiota throughout a three months period in orally healthy individuals. We tested the hypothesis that the supragingival microbiota shows a high degree of compositional stability, which is resilient against the external perturbation of regular use of probiotics, as long as oral health is maintained. Methods: The present study was a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study population comprised a total of 110 oral and systemic healthy individuals, distributed in a probiotic (n = 55) and placebo (n = 55) group, where the test group consumed tablets with the probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillusrhamnosus (formerly Lactobacillus) PB01 DSM14870 and Latilactobacillus curvatus (formerly Lactobacillus) EB10 DSM32307 for a period of 12 weeks. Supragingival plaque samples and clinical registrations were performed at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. The supragingival microbiota was characterized by means of 16S rDNA sequencing. Sequences were referenced against the HOMD database. Results: No significant changes of the core microbiota, as expressed by relative abundance of predominant genera and species were evident during the three months observation period in the probiotic or the placebo group. Conclusions: Data from the present study clearly demonstrate long term compositional stability of the supragingival microbiota as long as oral health is maintained. In addition, the tested probiotics had no augmenting effect on the supragingival microbiota in oral health.

scholarly journals Validation of Sexological Worldview

SAGE Open ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401243907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A. Sitron ◽  
Donald A. Dyson
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Change ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Perspective Transformation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Developmental Characteristics ◽  
Definition Of

The authors originally posited that a new construct must be developed to measure the success of affective training for sexologists, particularly the Sexuality Attitudes Reassessment (SAR) modality. Couching their critique in studies that have been conducted to measure the SAR’s effectiveness as a method used to evoke perspective transformation and more sensitive and humanistic service provision, the authors argued that the development of a professional’s sexological worldview would be a more accurate construct than attitude change to measure when considering the outcomes of SAR training. This study in the United States used a two-phase qualitative approach to validate the proposed sexological worldview construct. In the first phase, they surveyed a panel of 16 sexologists regarding their original proposed definition of sexological worldview and refined it. In the second phase, they completed 30 one-on-one interviews with a convenience sample of sexologists and sexology students. Using an inductive content analysis of the interview transcripts, seven themes emerged in support of the proposed definition of sexological worldview, including its components and its developmental characteristics. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for the use of the construct for the training of sexologists.

A case for multiple views of function in design based on a common definition

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaresh Chakrabarti ◽  
V. Srinivasan ◽  
B.S.C. Ranjan ◽  
Udo Lindemann
Keyword(s):  
State Change ◽  
Multiple Views ◽  
System Environment ◽  
Common Definition ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractFunctions are important in designing. However, several issues hinder progress with the understanding and usage of functions: lack of a clear and overarching definition of function, lack of overall justifications for the inevitability of the multiple views of function, and scarcity of systematic attempts to relate these views with one another. To help resolve these, the objectives of this research are to propose a common definition of function that underlies the multiple views in literature and to identify and validate the views of function that are logically justified to be present in designing. Function is defined as a change intended by designers between two scenarios: before and after the introduction of the design. A framework is proposed that comprises the above definition of function and an empirically validated model of designing, extended generate, evaluate, modify, and select of state-change, and an action, part, phenomenon, input, organ, and effect model of causality (Known as GEMS of SAPPhIRE), comprising the views of activity, outcome, requirement–solution–information, and system–environment. The framework is used to identify the logically possible views of function in the context of designing and is validated by comparing these with the views of function in the literature. Describing the different views of function using the proposed framework should enable comparisons and determine relationships among the various views, leading to better understanding and usage of functions in designing.

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