Project description:BackgroundRepeated pain during haemodialysis access cannulations is a serious problem for haemodialysis patients even when prescribed oral or topical analgesics. Although some studies have observed the efficacy of music therapy for improving pain and anxiety, its effectiveness during haemodialysis access cannulations during dialysis is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of music therapy for pain when cannulating haemodialysis access for haemodialysis patients.MethodsA prospective, multi-facility, single-blind, crossover, randomised controlled trial will be implemented. The intervention includes listening to Mozart, along with a white noise control condition. One hundred twenty haemodialysis patients will be enrolled across five facilities. Patients will be randomly allocated to either an Early-sequence group or a Later-sequence group. The Early-sequence group will receive cannulation while listening to Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major (K.448) during the second week (Music period) and white noise during the fourth week (White noise period). The Later-sequence group will receive cannulation along with white noise first, followed by Mozart. All patients will also undergo cannulation during a no-sound period (wearing only headphones) during the first and third week (No-sound period). The music or no-music protocol will begin 8 min prior to the cannulating procedure, and participants will finish listening after starting haemodialysis during each period. The primary outcomes that will be assessed include the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for pain during cannulation, and secondary outcomes are blood pressure, heart rate, VAS anxiety score, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score, and salivary amylase activity. The operators who are in charge of haemodialysis access cannulation will be blind to the listening condition and VAS report.DiscussionThe proposed study has several methodological benefits. First, using white noise is a suitable control condition for addressing the role of sound in pain management. Additionally, using a crossover design with repeated measurements can help control individual differences between participants, which should better distinguish between- and within-participant variability. Overall, music therapy is a safe and inexpensive intervention that does not have the problematic side effects typically associated with pharmacological treatment. If effective, music therapy can be easily implemented for reducing pain and anxiety during cannulation.Trial registrationThis trial was prospectively registered to UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on 1 July 2018 (UMIN 000032850).
Project description:BackgroundThe prevalence of depression in people receiving haemodialysis is high with estimates varying between 20 and 40 %. There is little research on the effectiveness of antidepressants in dialysis patients with the few clinical trials suffering significant methodological issues. We plan to carry out a study to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial in patients on haemodialysis who have diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder.Methods/designThe study has two phases, a screening phase and the randomised controlled trial. Patients will be screened initially with the Beck Depression Inventory to estimate the number of patients who score 16 or above. These patients will be invited to an interview with a psychiatrist who will invite those with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder to take part in the trial. Consenting patients will be randomised to either Sertraline or placebo. Patients will be followed-up for 6 months. Demographic and clinical data will be collected at screening interview, baseline interview and 2 weeks, and every month (up to 6 months) after baseline. The primary outcome is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised, double blind, placebo pilot trial in haemodialysis patients with depression. Secondary outcomes include estimation of the variability in the outcome measures for the treatment and placebo arms, which will allow for a future adequately powered definitive trial. Analysis will primarily be descriptive, including the number of patients eligible for the trial, drug exposure of Sertraline in haemodialysis patients and the patient experience of participating in this trial.DiscussionThere is an urgent need for this research in the dialysis population because of the dearth of good quality and adequately powered studies. Research with renal patients is particularly difficult as they often have complex medical needs. This research will therefore not only assess the outcome of anti-depressants in haemodialysis patients with depression but also the process of running a randomised controlled trial in this population. Hence, the outputs of this feasibility study will be used to inform the design and methodology of a definitive study, adequately powered to determine the efficacy of anti-depressants in patient on haemodialysis with depression.Trial registrationISRCTN registry ISRCTN06146268 and EudraCT reference: 2012-000547-27.
Project description:ObjectivesHigh-quality randomised controlled trials (RCT) to support the use of Fibrin Sealants (FS) in neck dissection (ND) are lacking. The DEFeND trial assessed critical pilot/feasibility questions and signals from clinical outcomes to inform a future definitive trial.Patients and methodsThe study design piloted was a blinded surgical RCT. All participants underwent unilateral ND for head and neck cancer. Interventional arm: ND with application of FS.Control armND alone. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, effectiveness of blinding, protocol adherence and evaluating administrative processes. Clinical outcomes included surgical complications (primary outcome), drainage volume, time to drain removal, length of hospital stay, pain and the Neck Dissection Impairment Index.ResultsRecruitment completed ahead of time. Fifty-three patients were recruited, and 48 were randomised at a rate of 5.3 patients/month. Blinding of patients, research nurses and outcome assessors was effective. Two protocol deviations occurred. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The mean (SD) Comprehensive Complication Index in the interventional arm was 6.5 (12.8), and it was 9.9 (14.2) in the control arm. The median (IQR) time to drain removal (days) was shorter in the interventional arm (2.67 (2.42, 3.58) vs. 3.40 (2.50, 4.27)). However, this did not translate to a clinically significant reduction in median (IQR) length of hospital stay in days (intervention: 3.48 (2.64, 4.54), control: 3.74 (3.11, 4.62)).ConclusionThe proposed trial design was effective, and a definitive surgical trial is feasible. Whilst there was a tendency for FS to improve clinical outcomes, the effect size did not reach clinical or statistical significance. (ISRCTN99181100).
Project description:BackgroundComplications after major surgery are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Neck dissection is one of the most commonly performed major operations in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology. Significant surgical complications occur in approximately 10-20% of all patients, increasing to 40% in patients who have had previous treatment to the area or have multiple co-morbidities and/or polypharmacy.Current evidence suggests that fibrin sealants (FS) may have potential clinical advantages in Head and Neck Surgery through the reduction of complications, volume of wound drainage and retention time of the drains. However, a paucity of high-quality trial-based evidence means that a surgical trial to determine the effectiveness of FS in reducing the rate and severity of complications in patients undergoing lateral neck dissection is warranted. The DEFeND randomised external pilot trial will address critical questions on how well key components of the proposed study design work together as well as the feasibility of a future phase III trial.MethodsThe study design that is being piloted is that of a two-arm, parallel group, superiority trial with block randomisation in a 1:1 allocation ratio. The interventional arm will constitute the application of FS (Artiss, Baxter Healthcare Ltd.) to the surgical wound following completion of a neck dissection procedure, in addition to standard of care (SOC). The control arm will constitute SOC alone. Eligible patients will include patients who require a lateral neck dissection with a minimum of three cervical nodal levels. Patients who require bilateral neck procedures or undergoing immediate reconstruction with free or regional flaps will be excluded. The outcomes being assessed will be recruitment rate, screened to randomisation rate, fidelity of blinding process using blinding indices, number of missing or incomplete data entries, number of protocol deviations and number of losses to follow-up. Suitability of the outcome measures proposed for the future phase III trial will also be assessed.DiscussionThe anticipated challenges for this study will be recruitment, complexity of the intervention and adherence to the protocol. The outcomes will inform the design, feasibility and conduct of a future phase III surgical trial.Trial registrationFirst participant randomised: November 06, 2018; UKCRN Portfolio ID: 37896; ISRCTN99181100.
Project description:Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is generally considered a stressful and painful procedure; we aimed to evaluate whether a single education and counseling intervention could reduce women's distress and pain after undergoing HSG for infertility. Patients were randomized into control group (n = 108) and intervention group (n = 109). All patients filled the following questionnaires before and after HSG: Zung self-rating anxiety scale (Z-SAS), Zung self-rating depression scale (Z-SDS), and an ad hoc questionnaire designed to evaluate HSG procedure knowledge. Pain was scored using a visual analog scale. The intervention consisted in a 45-minute individualised session 48 h before HSG. We observed a reduction of anxiety and depression scores in the intervention arm compared to the control group. After controlling for potential confounding variables, intervention was an independent predictor of the difference of Z-SAS score before and after HSG. This is the first randomised controlled trial to assess the potential effectiveness of a single education and counseling intervention to lower anxiety in a diagnostic setting.
Project description:The anabolic response to progressive resistance exercise training (PRET) in haemodialysis patients is unclear. This pilot efficacy study aimed to determine whether high-intensity intradialytic PRET could reverse atrophy and consequently improve strength and physical function in haemodialysis patients. A second aim was to compare any anabolic response to that of healthy participants completing the same program.In a single blind controlled study, 23 haemodialysis patients and 9 healthy individuals were randomly allocated to PRET or an attention control (SHAM) group. PRET completed high-intensity exercise leg extensions using novel equipment. SHAM completed low-intensity lower body stretching activities using ultra light resistance bands. Exercises were completed thrice weekly for 12 weeks, during dialysis in the haemodialysis patients. Outcomes included knee extensor muscle volume by magnetic resonance imaging, knee extensor strength by isometric dynamometer and lower body tests of physical function. Data were analysed by a per protocol method using between-group comparisons.PRET elicited a statistically and clinically significant anabolic response in haemodialysis patients (PRET-SHAM, mean difference [95 % CI]: 193[63 to 324]?cm(3)) that was very similar to the response in healthy participants (PRET-SHAM, 169[-41 to 379]?cm(3)). PRET increased strength in both haemodialysis patients and healthy participants. In contrast, PRET only enhanced lower body functional capacity in the healthy participants.Intradialytic PRET elicited a normal anabolic and strength response in haemodialysis patients. The lack of a change in functional capacity was surprising and warrants further investigation.
Project description:BackgroundThe effects of tPBMT are from influencing compounds by triggering specific reactions, which stimulate Adenosine triphosphate biosynthesis and neurogenesis. According to these effects, tPBMT has been applied as a potential treatment for various neural-related diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tPBMT on reducing anxiety, depression, and opioid craving in patients undergoing MMT.MethodsThis randomized controlled clinical trial included two groups of substance-dependent patients undergoing MMT. They were randomly assigned to receive tPBMT or a sham tPBMT. The intervention group received PBM in the form of Light- Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for four minutes of light exposure at 810 nm wavelength producing 250 mW/cm2 when applied to 4 mm skin depth (totaling 60 J/cm2) in both forehead locations. The levels of anxiety, depression, and opioid craving were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention, as well as at one-month and three-month follow-up assessments.ResultsBoth groups consisted of 32 (91.4%) males and 3 (8.6%) females, with the mean age of patients in the intervention group being 37.97 ± 10.58 years, and 39.66 ± 9.94 years in the control group (P = 0.495). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of depression, anxiety, and opioid craving scale scores before the intervention (p>0.05). However, the tPBMT group had statistically significant reductions in their scores compared to the sham tPBMT group. (p<0.05).ConclusiontPBMT led to significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and opioid craving among individuals in MMT, and these improvements were sustained at one month and three months after treatment, indicating a long-lasting positive effect.Trial registrationTrial registration: IRCT code: IRCT20210502051162N1, Approval ID: IR.SBMU.MSP.REC.1400.111, registered on 01.06.2021.
Project description:BackgroundMolnupiravir is an essential oral antiviral agent against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, its real-world effectiveness has not been evaluated in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD).MethodsThis multi-centre retrospective study, involving 225 patients undergoing HD with initially mild or asymptomatic COVID-19, was conducted to compare the risks of 30-day COVID-19-related acute care visits between patients receiving and not receiving molnupiravir. Patients who received molnupiravir were stratified by rapid antigen detection (RAD) test results on day 7 after disease onset to assess whether rapid molnupiravir introduction accelerated viral clearance.ResultsThirty-day COVID-19-related acute care visits were reported in 9.41% and 21.74% of the molnupiravir and control groups, respectively, and use of molnupiravir markedly reduced the risk of acute care visits after adjusting for baseline characteristics via propensity score weighting [hazard ratio 0.218, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.074-0.642; P=0.006]. The tolerability of molnupiravir in the enrolled patients was generally acceptable, with only 11.88% of molnupiravir users reporting mild adverse events. Moreover, rapid initiation of molnupiravir within 1 day of COVID-19 onset was an independent predictor of conversion to a negative RAD test result on day 7 after disease onset (odds ratio 6.207, 95% CI 2.509-15.358; P<0.001).ConclusionsMolnupiravir is well tolerated and decreases the medical needs in patients with COVID-19 undergoing HD. Furthermore, the rapid initiation of molnupiravir accelerates viral clearance in patients with COVID-19 undergoing HD. These findings highlight the therapeutic role of molnupiravir for this vulnerable population.
Project description:Background and objectivesUp to 50% of patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Access to traditional pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for depression or anxiety in this patient population has been inadequate. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of brief mindfulness meditation intervention for patients on hemodialysis with depression and anxiety symptoms.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThis study was a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial conducted in an urban hemodialysis unit. Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n=21) and treatment-as-usual (n=20) groups. The intervention group received an 8-week individual chairside meditation intervention lasting 10-15 minutes, three times a week during hemodialysis. Feasibility outcomes were primarily assessed: enrollment rates, intervention completion rates, and intervention tolerability. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7).ResultsOf those deemed eligible for the study, 67% enrolled (41 of 61). Of the participants randomized to the intervention group, 71% completed the study, with meditation being well tolerated (median rating of 8 of 10 in a Likert scale; interquartile range=10-5 of 10). Barriers to intervention delivery included frequent hemodialysis shift changes, interruptions by staff or alarms, space constraints, fluctuating participant medical status, and participant fatigue. Meditation was associated with subjective benefits but no statistically significant effect on depression scores (change in PHQ-9, -3.0±3.9 in the intervention group versus -2.0±4.7 in controls; P=0.45) or anxiety scores (change in GAD-7, -0.9±4.6 versus -0.8±4.8; P=0.91).ConclusionsOn the basis of the results of this study, mindfulness meditation appears to be feasible and well tolerated in patients on hemodialysis with anxiety and depression symptoms. The study did not reveal significant effects of the interventions on depression and anxiety scores.PodcastThis article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2017_10_12_CJASNPodcast_17_12_.mp3.
Project description:IntroductionEndothelial and cardiac dysfunction are highly prevalent and are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing dialysis. For patients undergoing dialysis, no study has explored the effect of supplementation of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on endothelial function. To our best of knowledge, only two small sample studies focused on the efficacy of supplementation of CoQ10 on cardiac function. However, the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on cardiac function remains uncertain in patients who undergo haemodialysis. The aim of this study is to explore whether CoQ10 supplementation can improve endothelial and cardiac function in patients undergoing haemodialysis.Methods and analysisThis is a pilot randomised controlled study. Eligible patients undergoing haemodialysis in our haemodialysis centre will be randomly allocated to the CoQ10 and control groups. The follow-up time is 12 months. The primary outcome is to assess the change of brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation, left ventricular systolic function, diastolic function and Myocardial Performance Index at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes are death or hospitalisation due to cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, change of CoQ10 concentration, the ratio of ubiquinol to ubiquinone, the change of oxidative stress markers (including malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine) and Left Ventricular Mass Index.Ethics and disseminationRisks associated with CoQ10 are minor, even at doses as high as 1800 mg according to previous studies. The trial has received ethics approval from the Medical Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials of Drugs, the 306th Hospital of Chinese PLA. The results of the study are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at academic conferences.Trial registration numberChiCTR1900022258.