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Abstract Background Aging is frequently associated with impairments of the musculoskeletal system and many elderly people experience joint discomfort or pain which might reduce their ability to move and consequently alter their quality of life. A beneficial effect of fish cartilage hydrolysate (FCH) on pain and joint function has recently been shown in an ACLT/pMMx osteoarthritis rat model. Methods We therefore performed an exploratory, non-comparative, multi-centric clinical trial including 33 subjects with moderate knee joint discomfort and loss of functionality to investigate the efficacy of FCH on their algo-functional status. We further determined the potential health benefit of FCH in an original clinical ex vivo study investigating the role of FCH human metabolites on primary human chondrocytes. Results FCH significantly improved knee pain and function, as assessed by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Moreover, FCH significantly reduced pain at rest and while walking, and patient global assessment (PGA), as assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and improved patients’ quality of life (SF-36). FCH metabolites decreased the synthesis of catabolic factors (MMP-13) and pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, PGE2) and limited the inhibitory effect of IL-1β on the synthesis of cartilage matrix components (GAG and collagen). Conclusions Thus, these data provide insights on the mode of action of FCH in humans and contribute to explain how FCH may relieve pain and improve joint function in subjects with knee discomfort. Although these preliminary data need to be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial, they strongly support the potential health benefit of such an active ingredient. Trial registration: The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT04420091 (09/06/2020).

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy was one of the main global public health threats. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis and its associated risks only reinforced this hesitancy. This study aimed to identify to what extent the COVID-19 vaccination affected confusion around vaccination in general, its change and any associated factors. A questionnaire was distributed to the university population of Liège between April-June 2021 (Time 1) and July-September 2022 (Time 2). The impact of the COVID-19 vaccination on confusion around vaccination in general (score 0 to 100) was divided into three groups based on the tertiles of the study sample at different times and whether or not any change had been observed. Ordinal and multinomial regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the confusion and various determinants. The sample consisted of 491 participants. Time 1 vs Time 2, 41.3% vs 35.4% seemed to be less confused, 24.2% vs 28.7% were moderately confused and 34.4% vs 35.8% more confused, respectively. In terms of change, 19.4% of participants were less confused, 55.2% had not changed their opinion and 25.5% were more confused. The determinants causing confusion at both times and regarding change were self-perception, health literacy, past vaccination experiences and COVID-19 related factors (COVID-19 vaccination intention and trust in source of information at Time 1; preferred source of information, trust in vaccine producers and conspiratorial beliefs at Time 2; trust in vaccine producers for change). The results demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccination impacted confusion around vaccination in general. Both unrelated and related COVID-19 factors, particularly regarding the progression of the pandemic, seem to have contributed to this confusion. Contributing factors require a personalised approach, evidence-based information being communicated with messages adapted to the situation and its evolution designed to allay individuals' fears about vaccination.

ObjectivesThe effect and safety of Nasafytol®, a food supplement combining curcumin, quercetin, and Vitamin D, on hospitalized COVID-19-positive patients as support to standard of care were to be assessed.MethodsThis exploratory, open-label, randomized, controlled trial was carried out among hospitalized adults with COVID-19 infection. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Nasafytol® or Fultium® control. The improvement of the clinical condition and occurrence of (serious) adverse events were evaluated. The study was registered on clincaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT04844658.ResultsTwenty-five patients received Nasafytol®, and 24 received Fultium®. Demographic characteristics were well balanced between the groups. On day 14 (or at hospital leave if

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a heterogeneous, inherited motile ciliopathy in which respiratory cilia beat abnormally, and some ultrastructural ciliary defects and specific genetic mutations have been associated with particular ciliary beating alterations. Ciliary beating can be evaluated using digital high-speed videomicroscopy (DHSV). However, normal reference values, essential to assess ciliary beating in patients referred for a PCD diagnostic, vary between centres, as minor variations in protocols might influence ciliary beating. Consequently, establishment of normal values is essential for each PCD diagnostic centre. We aimed to evaluate whether delay after sampling, and temperature for conservation of respiratory ciliated samples, might modify assessments of ciliary beating. In total, 37 healthy nasal brushing samples of respiratory ciliated epithelia were collected. Video sequences were recorded at 37 °C immediately using DHSV. Then, the samples were divided and conserved at 4 °C or at room temperature (RT). Ciliated beating edges were then recorded at 37 °C, at 3 h and at 9 h post sampling. In six samples, recordings were continued up to 72 h after sampling. Ciliary beating was assessed manually by ciliary beat frequency (CBFM) and ciliary beat pattern (CBP). A semi-automatic software was used for quantitative analysis. Both CBF and CBP evaluated manually and by a semi-automated method were stable 9 h after sampling. CBFM was higher when evaluated using samples stored at RT than at 4 °C. CBP and the semi-automated evaluation of ciliary beating were not affected by storage temperature. When establishing normal references values, ciliary beating can be evaluated at 37 °C up to 9 h after nasal brushing, but the storage temperature modifies ciliary beating and needs to be controlled.

While many studies have documented the intentions for the COVID-19 vaccine booster, few have explored the change from intention to final decision. This study explores the COVID-19 booster intentions and the change from intention to decision in a primo-vaccinated university population, with a distinction between staff members and students. It looks at the sociodemographic and medical characteristics, health literacy, personal COVID-19 infection and vaccination history, and attitudes/intentions regarding the booster, among the 1030 participants (64.4% staff members, 61.3% female, median age 36.0 years). Of the 8.7% who were initially hesitant, 72.7% ultimately got a booster and 27.3% did not. Another 84.2% intended to get a booster and 7.1% did not. Among the latter two groups, 88.9% maintained their intention and 11.1% changed their minds. The determinants associated with the intentions were health literacy and previous intentions regarding the COVID-19 primo-vaccination. The determinants associated with the change to non-vaccination were a previous COVID-19 infection, a past COVID-19 primo-vaccination intention, and a neutralizing antibody level. The results point to an opening for the support in decision-making, with a significant percentage of the study population potentially changing their mind between intention and final decision; this process should start early and be tailored to the individual’s COVID-19 history. A personalized approach seems necessary in order to ensure that individuals make an informed choice.

Objective: To identify profiles of patients who are at risk of dropping out from biopsychosocial approaches to chronic pain management. Patients: A total of 575 patients were included in the study. Of these, 203 were randomized into 4 treat-ment groups: self-hypnosis/self-care; music/self-care; self-care; and psychoeducation/cognitive behavioural therapy. The remaining 372 patients were not randomized, as they presented with the demand to learn self-hypnosis/self-care, and therefore were termed a “self-hypnosis/self-care demanders” group. Methods: Socio-demographics and behavioural data were included in the analyses. Univariates analyses, comparing early drop-outs (never attended treatment), late drop-outs (6/9 sessions’ treatment) and continuers were conducted in order to select variables to include in a multivariate logistic regression. Results: Univariate analyses yielded 8 variables, out of 18 potential predictors for drop-out, which were eligible for inclusion in the multivariate logistic regression. The model showed that having an intermediate or high educational level protects against dropping out early or late in the pain management process. Having to wait for more than 4 months before starting the treatment increases the risk of never starting it. Being randomized increases the risk of never starting the treatment. Conclusion: In a context in which randomization is considered a “gold standard” in evidence-based practice, these results indicate that this very principle could be deleterious to pain management in patients with chronic pain.

BackgroundIn chronic pain, it seems that the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is boosted when it is combined with hypnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of self-hypnosis combined with self-care (i.e., a type of CBT) compared to music/self-care, self-care and psychoeducation/CBT and to evaluate their long-term effects.MethodsAn open label randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with chronic pain and was carried out at the University Hospital of Liège (Belgium). Patients were randomized into four groups: self-hypnosis/self-care, music/self-care, self-care, psychoeducation/CBT (7 monthly sessions of 2 hours). Two follow-up sessions were delivered at 6- and 12-month. Levels of pain, fatigue intensity, anxiety, depression, insomnia severity, disability, health locus of control, mental and physical quality of life and attitudes (control, disability, harm, emotion, medical cure, medication, solicitude) towards pain were assessed before and after the treatments, and at follow-up.Results203 patients were randomized: 52 in self-hypnosis/self-care, 59 in music/self-care, 47 in self-care, and 45 in psychoeducation/CBT. No group effect was found. A significant time effect was showed. Directly after the treatment, all groups decreased in pain attitudes and physical quality of life. Perceived control increased. At 6-month, all patients kept their levels of physical quality of life and perceived control, and showed decrease in pain intensity, harm, emotion and medical cure. At 12-month, scores that had change previously remained ameliorated, a decrease in insomnia severity and an increase in internal locus of control were observed.ConclusionsThe present findings are encouraging as they display long-term beneficial effects of complementary biopsychosocial-based treatments in chronic pain. It seems that patients continued to apply the learnt strategies as improvements were observed one year after the treatments had ended.