Clinical trials

This is a phase II/exploratory clinical trial with a single-center, open-label design to evaluate the effect of modafinil on cognitive deficits in adult patients with multiple sclerosis and identify predictors of response using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

Central venous catheter (CVC) are intravascular devices used in clinical practice, namely to administer fluid therapy, parenteral nutrition, drugs, blood products, hemodynamic monitoring, also being a gateway to the collection of blood samples or laboratory monitoring. The fully implanted central venous catheter (CVCTI) is a type of central venous access surgically placed, which is characterized by containing a subcutaneous reservoir that is accessed by puncturing the camera with a blunt needle, widely used in cancer patients. The fully implanted central venous catheter is recommended when there is a need for intermittent vascular access and of long duration. The maintenance of the CVCTI, as it's the necessity, frequency, and method is subject of some controversy, with discrepancies between the various cancer centers and guidance documents, once they occur several different intervals and maintenance methods. The objective of this study is to assess the necessity of frequent maintenance of fully implanted central venous catheter, still assuring its viability and holding the same or lower number incidence of complications. Participants in this study are cancer patients with a CVC fully implanted for chemotherapy, in follow-up phase. Participants will be randomized in one of two arms: Maintenance with saline solution and no maintenance.

The most common and effective treatment for OCD is pharmacological therapy that includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants and, in the case of patients resistant to this approach, a combination with antipsychotics. Risperidone and aripiprazole are atypical antipsychotics that act on dopamine (D2) and serotonin receptors. Studies have shown that these drugs are effective in boosting SSRIs for the treatment of OCD in resistant patients. Currently a high percentage of people diagnosed with OCD do not respond to the existing treatments. Pramipexole is a dopaminergic receptor agonist that specifically binds to dopamine D2 and D3 receptors, having demonstrated benefit in resistant depression. The aim of this clinical trial is to explore how pramipexole can act in the treatment of OCD in resistant patients, evaluating its safety and efficacy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most prevalent human diseases and a major cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Some men respond to current medical treatment (mainly α-1 adrenoreceptor antagonists and 5 α-reductase inhibitors), but a large proportion of patients continues to need a surgical procedure to treat resistant LUTS or even more serious complications of BPH, creating the emerging necessity for novel pharmacological therapies. Oxitriptan may have a possible positive effect on BPH associated symptoms with probably no impact in sexual function (which is a common side effect of the current drugs for BPH associated symptoms). Also, improvement in symptoms could be higher than that of current drugs used for this condition. This is a single-center parallel group, randomized clinical trial. The study will take place in Hospital de Braga (Urology department). Eligible patients will be randomized to receive tamsulosin 0.4mg (once a day, q.d.) or 5-HTP (5-hidroxitriptophan) 100mg (three times a day, t.i.d.), for 6 months.