Volunteers

Visual analog scales (VAS) are one of the most common tools used in questionnaires. VAS are validated for pain and stress for example on a horizontal, non-calibrated line of 100 mm, ranging from very low (0) to very high (100). Nowadays, most VAS are used on questionnaires on internet. However, the influence of screen sizes on responses to visual analog scales were never studied.

Dyspnea that persists despite optimal pathophysiological treatment is defined as persistent dyspnea. Currently all brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies conducted to evaluate breathlessness have done so using healthy volunteers or have concentrated on acute breathlessness. Little is known about chronic breathlessness patterns and their modulation by different triggers. Furthermore, it is currently assumed in the palliative care literature that patients suffering from different advanced and progressive diseases such as cancer, heart failure (HF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have the same triggers, perceptions and neurological pathways and thus require the same treatments/interventions (i.e. opioids as first line symptomatic pharmacologic treatment). However, it is now known that patients belonging to different disease groups do not necessarily benefit from opioids. Aim of the study To assess the feasibility of identifying dyspnea patterns in different life-limiting conditions and to evaluate the effect of immersive virtual reality (IVR) on dyspnea using patient-reported-outcomes (PROMs). Study procedure: Patients with advanced chronic diseases such as cancer, COPD or HF suffering from dyspnea will undergo a brain fMRI in combination with an IVR intervention. The fMRI data will be reviewed to identify different patterns of dyspnea and the effect of IVR on dyspnea will be assessed through PROMs. Patients will be asked about the perceived burden of the study.

Prospective, single-center, single-arm, open, comparative, validation of a commercialized device, repeated measures accuracy study designed in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 81060-2:2018 AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard for the clinical validation of automated non-invasive sphygmomanometers (Non-invasive sphygmomano-meters - Part 2: Clinical investigation of intermittent automated measurement, including Amendments 1 and 2)). The validation will be conducted with volunteers rather than necessarily with patients, and all measurements will be performed outside of the subjects' normal diagnosis or treatment.

The aim of this study is to determine how inflammatory resolution impacts cardiometabolic health and disease in subjects that are either lean (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) or obese (\>30.0 kg/m2).