Clinical trials

This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of Linzhi Jianghuang Fufang Huoxue Anshen Capsule (LJF) for non-alcoholic fatty liver.

The current study, JC Project MuSE, is a multi-year project aimed at initiating transformative changes in the lives of young learners in schools with a lower socio-economic background through the integration of music and sports education. The research project posits that engaging in structured music and sports programmes can lead to significant improvements in educational performance through the enhancement of executive functions. The research further explores the longitudinal effects of continuous music and sports training, examining the impact of these interventions on developing a greater sense of appreciation for these activities in these young learners. This research is a 3-year study that examines theoretical underpinnings, methodological approaches, and the impact of music and sports interventions to empower youth in schools of lower socio-economic background and promote holistic development through the synergistic effects of sports and music education.

Background In Bangladesh, many children do not get enough opportunities for active play because safe play spaces are limited, school culture often prioritises academic success over physical activity, and many families have safety concerns about outdoor play. These factors reduce the time children spend being active, despite the fact that active play is known to be crucial for children's healthy growth and development. Active play helps children move more, stay physically fit, and develop important social and emotional skills such as teamwork, confidence, and enjoyment. It also supports motor skill development, which includes basic skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. The lack of active play in everyday life suggests a strong need for school based programs that can safely introduce regular, structured, and enjoyable physical activity opportunities for children. Objective The main objective of this study is to find out whether a school based active play program can help children increase their daily physical activity, reduce the amount of time they spend sitting, and improve their sleep patterns. The study also aims to examine whether the program improves children's fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Methods This study will use a randomised controlled trial design. Randomisation will be at the school level to ensure fairness and reduce bias. This study will test a 12-week school-based AP programme designed to help primary school children in Bangladesh be more active, sit less, sleep better, and improve their basic movement skills. The study will involve eight primary schools, with each school acting as one cluster. Four schools will receive the AP programme and the remaining four will continue their usual routine. About 43 children from each school will join, giving a total sample of around 343 students. Eligibility Criteria Children can take part if they are students at a primary school, healthy, staying in their school for at least six months, able to understand basic Bengali or English, and are Bangladeshi citizens. Children will not be included if they are outside the age range, not attending school, or regularly involved in organised sports, dance, or athletic training. These rules help ensure that the programme is safe and that the comparison between the AP group and the control group is fair. Intervention Description The AP programme will run twice a week for 60 minutes. Each session will include 30 minutes of free play where children choose their own games and 30 minutes of researcher-led guided play. Activities will help children practise running, jumping, throwing, catching, and other fundamental skills. Weekly themes will keep the sessions enjoyable. Students will earn activity points for being active during sessions, reducing screen time at home, and following healthy sleep routines. Each week, the top three "Active Champions'' from every school will receive a small reward. Orientation Sessions Before the programme begins, orientation sessions will be held for parents, teachers, and children. Parents will learn how to support safe play at home, especially when outdoor play is limited due to dengue or safety concerns. They will also receive tips on reducing screen time and encouraging good sleep habits. Teachers will be trained to integrate active breaks, organise movement-friendly classrooms, use outdoor areas safely, and give feedback to students. Children will learn why active play is important and how it can help their health, learning, confidence, and friendships. Data Collection Plan Data will be collected at three time points: before the programme (T1), immediately after 12 weeks (T2), and eight weeks later (T3). Researchers will collect questionnaire responses, measure height, weight and use wrist-worn accelerometers to measure physical activity, sitting time, and sleep. Teachers and parents will help children wear the devices correctly and keep usage records. Fundamental motor skills will be assessed using the (Test of Gross Motor Development) TGMD 3 tool. Data Analysis Researchers will check all data for accuracy and compare results between the AP and control groups. The study will examine changes in PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep patterns, and FMS. It will also explore whether age, gender, or family background affects how children respond to the programme. The results will help determine whether the AP programme is practical for Bangladeshi schools and effective in improving children's movement behaviours and FMS. Expected Results It is expected that children who participate in the AP program will show clear improvements in PA levels, movement skills, sitting time, and sleep patterns compared with children in the control group. Schools may also learn simple and low-cost ways to support children's activity within limited time and space, making the program valuable beyond the study itself.

This is a prospective, cross-sectional study aim to include 1000 patients with urinary incontinence and 100 healthy controls in Hong Kong. The overall objection is to address the gaps in epidemiological profiles, TCM syndrome differentiation, and biomarkers discovery of urinary incontinence among older women. The specific aims including: 1. To assess the epidemiological characteristics of urinary incontinence among older women, as well as patients' knowledge and healthcare-seeking barriers, and to explore factors influencing the disease subtypes, severity, and healthcare-seeking behaviors; 2. To establish diagnostic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation of urinary incontinence, and analyze the distribution of TCM syndromes; 3. To explore diagnostic biomarkers and severity evaluation biomarkers for three subtypes of urinary incontinence (SUI, UUI, MUI).

This single-arm, open-label pilot clinical trial will test the hypothesis that S-2196, a Chinese herbal medicine formula, will show efficacy and safety in alleviating the amount and frequency of urinary incontinence in female individuals with stress urinary incontinence. All participants (n=15) will receive 1 week of screening, 2 weeks of intervention, and 1 week of follow-up.

This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the effects of a brief behavioral intervention that includes (1) self-recording of a regularity-focused sleep diary, (2) 10 strategies for maintaining sleep regularity, and (3) a sleep education information sheet on the maintenance of sleep regularity in young adults during the Christmas break.

Osteoporosis is an age-related disease, characterized by a decreased bone mass and an increased risk of fragility fractures. Osteoporosis leads to increasing mortality, disabilities, morbidity of chronic pain, and the cost of health and social care, as well as decreasing the quality of life from reduced independence and hindered physical, mental, and social well-being. A recent review and meta-analysis, investigating the association between physical activity and osteoporosis prevention in elderly people, indicated that the traditional exercise interventions (i.e., resistance training) were undertaken for 60+ mins, 2-3 times/week for 7+ months. However, participation rates remain low in these exercise programs among older adults, in part due to a need for specialized equipment and correct techniques to prevent injury. In addition, low motivation and associated compliance with such conventional exercise is problematic among older adults. Considering there is little evidence of HIIT benefits related to older women with osteopenia, the current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 24-week HIIT intervention on bone mineral density, bone turnover markers and other health-related outcomes among Hong Kong Chinese older women.

Frailty is a common clinical syndrome that is becoming increasingly important as populations age worldwide. Individuals who are frail are at a higher risk for negative outcomes, such as falls, disability, hospitalizations, and even death. The understanding of frailty has evolved from a straightforward concept to a complex model that includes physical, psychological, cognitive, and social factors. Since frailty is not static and can change over time, early interventions can be beneficial. Nevertheless, research in this area has been challenging due to a lack of agreement on what frailty encompasses and an inadequate understanding of how its different components interact. Defining frailty as a multidimensional issue is essential to recognize the adverse effects that can arise from medical, psychological, and social influences. However, recent studies have not sufficiently addressed how these different aspects work together or developed effective multidimensional interventions.

In this study, a 12-week pragmatic, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of long Covid neuropsychiatric symptoms and provide reference for clinical non-drug treatment.

This single-arm, open-label pilot clinical trial will test the hypothesis that SCD-2101, a Chinese herbal medicine formula, will have efficacy in alleviating constipation in elderly individuals with functional constipation. All participants (n=14) will receive 2 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of follow-up.

This is a single-arm design. A total of 15 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients with comorbid Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) will be recruited from community. The intervention will be a 4-week of Chinese Herbal Medicine granules treatment, which will consist of six Chinese herbs. The primary outcome measure will be fasting plasma glucose and blood pressure. Secondary outcome measures including changes of anthropometric data (body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio), lipid panels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein), HbA1C, Framingham Stroke Risk Score (FSRS), Audit of diabetes-dependent quality of Life (ADDQoL), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), daily step count and physiological parameters from wearable watch, dietary record, retinal and sublingual vein imaging, concurrent medications and adverse events.