Postgraduate medical journal
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Electroacupuncture with intermittent wave stimulation as rehabilitation approach for chronic Bell's palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) using intermittent wave stimulation in enhancing facial symmetry and nerve function in chronic Bell's palsy patients. ⋯ EA with intermittent wave stimulation notably enhanced facial symmetry in chronic Bell's palsy patients over Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation by Week 6, maintaining this edge throughout the follow-up.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Risk factors for thromboembolic events in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia in a general ward and requiring treatment with oxygen.
To assess risk factors for arterial and venous thromboses (AVT) in patients hospitalized in general wards for COVID-19 pneumonia and requiring oxygen therapy. ⋯ Among patients hospitalized in general wards for COVID-19 pneumonia during the first wave of the epidemic, diabetes (but not obesity) and a high CRP level were risk factors for AVT. The use of higher doses of anticoagulant in these high-risk patients could be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Zinc supplementation ameliorates type 2 diabetes markers through the enhancement of total antioxidant capacity in overweight patients.
Evidence show that the recommended dose of zinc may not be sufficient for controlling pathological conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). ⋯ These data, together with our previous report, may suggest that the control in the glycaemic condition in overweight patients with T2DM is correlated with the antioxidative/oxidative balance following intake of 50 mg zinc supplementation for 8 weeks. Under these circumstances, the clinical and glycaemic indices, including fasting blood glucose, insulin, haemoglobin A1c and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance, were controlled.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a Pilates programme in spinal curvatures and hamstring extensibility in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis: a randomised controlled trial.
To evaluate the effects of a 9-month Pilates exercise programme on the sagittal spinal posture and hamstring extensibility of adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis. ⋯ The adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis from the PG had a decreased thoracic kyphosis in relaxed standing position, and improved hamstring extensibility as compared with the CG. More than 50% of the participants obtained kyphosis values inside normality, showing an adjusted mean difference between groups in the thoracic curve of about 73% of the baseline mean, resulting in a large improvement and high clinical importance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Educational impact and recommendations from implementation of student-led clinical trial recruitment: a mixed-methods study.
Medical students have an essential role in medical research, yet often lack opportunities for involvement within randomised trials. This study aimed to understand the educational impact of clinical trial recruitment for medical students. Tracking wound infection with smartphone technology (TWIST) was a randomised controlled trial that included adult patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery across two university teaching hospitals. ⋯ Student recruitment in clinical trials is feasible and accelerates recruitment to clinical trials. Students demonstrated novel clinical research competencies and increased their likelihood of future involvement. Adequate training, support and selection of suitable trials are essential for future student involvement in randomised trials.