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In temporomandibular disorder (TMD), the effects of standard interventions such as using an occlusal splint and its impact on pain relief and pain catastrophizing are poorly understood. Earlier work pointed to a crucial role of insula activation with changes in pain relief by occlusal splint treatment. We performed a functional imaging study using specially developed splint systems to allow for a placebo‐controlled longitudinal design. Using functional MRI we examined 20 TMD patients during repetitive occlusal movements at baseline and over the course of splint therapy and also collected self‐reported pain catastrophizing. For balancing performance between baseline and after intervention we used occlusion force measures in an individualized fMRI‐splint system. Splint therapy lasted for approximately 7 weeks with one group selected by randomization wearing a palatine placebo splint over the first 3 weeks (delayed start; 11 individuals). As expected, fMRI activation in areas involved in pain processing (insula, primary and secondary somatosensory cortex) decreased with intervention. At baseline a positive correlation between activation of the left anterior insula and pain catastrophizing was present. Both parameters decreased over intervention while associations were primarily observable for patients with rather mild TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many researchers in China have performed related clinical research. However, systematic reviews of the registered clinical trials are still lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of clinical trials for COVID-19 to summarize their characteristics.Methods: This study is based on the PRISMA recommendations in the Cochrane handbook. The Chinese Clinical Registration Center and the ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched to identify registered clinical trials related to COVID-19. The retrieval inception date was February 9, 2020. Two researchers independently selected the literature based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias.Results: A total of 75 registered clinical trials (63 interventional studies and 12 observational studies) for COVID-19 were identified. The majority of clinical trials were sponsored by Chinese hospitals. Only 11 trials have begun to recruit patients, and none of the registered clinical trials have been completed; 34 trials were early clinical exploratory trials or in the pre-experiment stage, 13 trials were phase III, and four trials were phase IV. The intervention methods included traditional Chinese medicine in 26 trials, Western medicine in 30 trials, and integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in 19 trials. The subjects were primarily non-critical adult patients (≥ 18 years old). The median sample size of the trials was 100 (IQR: 60-200), and the median length of the trial periods was 179 d (IQR: 94-366 d). The main outcomes were clinical observation and examinations. Overall, the methodological quality of both the interventional trials and observational studies was low.Conclusions: Intensive clinical trials on the treatment of COVID-19 using traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are ongoing or will be performed in China. However, based on the uncertain methodological quality, small sample size, and long trial duration, we will not be able to obtain reliable, high-quality clinical evidence regarding the treatment of COVID-19 in the near future. Improving the quality of study design, prioritizing promising drugs, and using different designs and statistical methods are worth advocating and recommending for clinical trials of COVID-19 in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preclinical data have shown that rilmenidine can regulate autophagy in models of Huntington's disease (HD), providing a potential route to alter the disease course in patients. Consequently, a 2-year open-label study examining the tolerability and feasibility of rilmenidine in mild-moderate HD was undertaken. 18 non-demented patients with mild to moderate HD took daily doses of 1 mg Rilmenidine for 6 months and 2 mg for a further 18 months followed by a 3-month washout period. The primary outcome was the number of withdrawals and serious adverse events. Secondary outcomes included safety parameters and changes in disease-specific variables, such as motor, cognitive and functional performance, structural MRI and serum metabolomic analysis. 12 patients completed the study; reasons for withdrawal included problems tolerating study procedures (MRI, and venepuncture), depression requiring hospital admission and logistical reasons. Three serious adverse events were recorded, including hospitalisation for depression, but none were thought to be drug-related. Changes in secondary outcomes were analysed as the annual rate of change in the study group. The overall change was comparable to changes seen in recent large observational studies in HD patients, though direct statistical comparisons to these studies were not made. Chronic oral administration of rilmenidine is feasible and well-tolerated and future, larger, placebo-controlled, studies in HD are warranted. Trial registration: EudraCT number 2009-018119-14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate in an interventional trial on knee osteoarthritis (OA) the level and change of two serum biomarkers and their correlation with imaging parameters. The previously reported interventional OA study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00536302) identified a positive effect of collagen hydrolysate (CH) on cartilage morphology in patients with knee OA using delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (dGEMRIC). It was the objective in this research project to evaluate in an interventional clinical trial on knee OA the level and change of two serum biomarkers and their correlation with imaging parameters. In blood samples of study participants, we determined the concentration of procollagen type II N-terminal propeptide (PIIANP) and aggrecan chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS846) at baseline (BL) and at the follow-up (FU) visits at 24 and 48 weeks. We measured the level and change of biomarker concentrations in both study groups, and the correlation of those changes with changes in dGEMRIC. For the biomarker PIIANP, we observed a significantly greater increase in the CH group (29.9% vs. 1.2% at week 24, P = 0.001). For CS846, the mean concentration was lower among the CH treated participants at 24 weeks (78% vs. 96%, P = 0.045). Consistent correlations of changes in biomarkers PIIANP and CS846 with changes of the dGEMRIC score could not be observed. In this study, different changes per treatment group, CH and placebo were seen for dGEMRIC and PIIANP BL to 24 weeks FU, but only weak correlations between changes in dGEMRIC and biochemical markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to their effects on bone health, high doses of cholecalciferol may have beneficial non-classic effects including the reduction of incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These pleiotropic effects have been documented in observational and experimental studies or in small intervention trials. Vitamin D insufficiency is a frequent finding in renal transplant recipients (RTRs), and this population is at risk of the previously cited complications. Methods/design: The VITALE study is a prospective, multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial with two parallel groups that will include a total of 640 RTRs. RTRs with vitamin D insufficiency, defined as circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of less than 30 ng/ml (or 75 nmol/l), will be randomized between 12 and 48 months after transplantation to blinded groups to receive vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) either at high or low dose (respectively, 100,000 UI or 12,000 UI every 2 weeks for 2 months then monthly for 22 months) with a follow-up of 2 years. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of high-dose versus low-dose cholecalciferol on a composite endpoint consisting of de novo diabetes mellitus; major cardiovascular events; de novo cancer; and patient death. Secondary endpoints will include blood pressure (BP) control; echocardiography findings; the incidences of infection and acute rejection episodes; renal allograft function using estimated glomerular filtration rate; proteinuria; graft survival; bone mineral density; the incidence of fractures; and biological relevant parameters of mineral metabolism. Discussion: We previously reported that the intensive cholecalciferol treatment (100 000 IU every 2 weeks for 2 months) was safe in RTR. Using a pharmacokinetic approach, we showed that cholecalciferol 100,000 IU monthly should maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D at above 30 ng/ml but below 80 ng/ml after renal transplantation. Taken together, these results are reassuring regarding the safety of the cholecalciferol doses that will be used in the VITALE study. Analysis of data collected during the VITALE study will demonstrate whether high or low-dose cholecalciferol is beneficial in RTRs with vitamin D insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Statin pleiotropy is still an evolving concept, and the lack of clarity on this subject is due at least in part to the lack of a definitive biomarker for statin pleiotropy. Using plasma mRNA analysis as a novel research tool for the non-invasive in vivo assessment of gene expression in vascular beds, we hypothesised that atorvastatin lowers the plasma mRNA level from statin pleiotropy-target genes, and the reduction is independent of the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Design and methods: Forty-four patients with stable angina received atorvastatin therapy (20mg/day, 10weeks). Plasma chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) mRNA levels and their protein concentrations (MCP-1, sICAM-1) were analysed before and after the treatment. Plasma vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) concentrations were also analysed. Results: Atorvastatin lowered plasma mRNA levels (CCL2: −31.76%, p=0.037; ICAM1: −34.09%, p<0.001) and MCP-1 protein concentration (−18.88%, p=0.008) but did not lower sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 protein concentrations, and the decreases appeared to be independent from the lowering of LDL-C. The plasma mRNA levels correlated with their protein concentrations following statin treatment only. Conclusion: Our results significantly strengthen the clinical evidence in support of statin pleiotropy. Furthermore, this unique simultaneous measurement of plasma mRNAs and their protein concentrations offers an advanced non-invasive in vivo assessment of the circulation pathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Patients with first venous thromboembolism (VTE) and high factor VIII (FVIII) are at increased risk of recurrence. It is unknown whether these patients benefit from prolonged secondary thrombophrophylaxis. In a prospective trial patients with first spontaneous VTE and FVIII levels >230 IU/dl were randomized to discontinue vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) after 6 months or to continue VKA for additional 24 months. Patients were excluded if they had a natural inhibitor deficiency, lupus anticoagulant, cancer, were pregnant, required long-term antithrombotic therapy or had acute-phase reaction. Primary study endpoints were symptomatic recurrent VTE or major bleeding within 2 years. Follow-up was continued beyond 2 years. Of 3,219 screened patients 34 met the inclusion criteria. Mean observation time was 37 months. Two of 17 patients allocated to discontinue VKA and two of 17 patients randomized to prolonged anticoagulation had recurrent VTE within 2 years. In the prolonged treatment group, one patient had recurrence during VKA therapy and one patient 4 weeks after voluntary discontinuation of VKA. One major nonfatal bleeding (severe epistaxis) after 10 months of VKA occurred in the prolonged treatment group. Five patients allocated to prolonged anticoagulation had recurrent VTE after discontinuation of VKA. The probability of recurrence at 2 years after discontinuation of VKA was 30% (95% CI 13–46%). Patients with high FVIII are at increased risk of recurrence. Our findings in a small number of patients indicate that prolonged anticoagulation seems to be effective but that the benefit is not maintained after discontinuation of anticoagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among familial cancers, chemoprevention has been studied for familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancers, and familial breast cancers. This report reviews the studies on chemoprevention in familial adenomatous polyposis. A large number of clinical trials have been performed using sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Sulindac reduces the size and number of large-bowel polyps. However, as yet, it cannot be used for this indication in the clinical setting, because of the frequent occurrence of serious gastrointestinal side effects, and there are a number of patients in whom aggressive tumors developed despite a reduction in the size of polyps. Studies of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors, with minimal side effects on the digestive tract, are showing promising results. In addition to NSAIDs, clinical trials have been performed using vitamins and dietary components. These show minimal side effects, but their efficacy is still insufficient for clinical use, and further studies are anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]