Clinical trials

This study examines whether simple speech tasks and a swallowing screening test can help identify swallowing risk in adults of different ages. Participants will complete basic questions, a swallowing self-assessment, a saliva swallowing test, and short voice recordings of rapid syllables. The study is non-invasive, takes about 75 minutes, and may help develop an easy, low-cost screening tool for early swallowing problems.

The objective of the first year is to collect limb occlusion pressure (LOP) measurements in older adults with varying levels of muscle health, which will serve as foundational data for subsequent investigations on blood flow restriction (BFR) combined with resistance training in individuals with dynapenia. This phase aims to examine LOP values and their potential influencing factors, including demographic and physiological characteristics such as age, height, body weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, body fat percentage, medical history of chronic diseases, and habitual physical activity. Muscle-related assessments will include skeletal muscle mass, thigh and calf circumference, handgrip strength, and lower limb muscle strength. Functional performance will be evaluated using the five-times sit-to-stand test and the SARC-F questionnaire for sarcopenia risk screening. LOP of the lower limbs will be measured using a BFR cuff system combined with a laboratory-developed blood flow detection device. The study will further investigate whether LOP values are associated with the aforementioned factors. The objective of the second year is to utilize high-density surface electromyography (dEMG) to analyze the electrophysiological characteristics of muscle contraction in individuals with sarcopenia under varying BFR pressures and resistance intensities. This includes examining motor unit recruitment patterns and recruitment thresholds, with the goal of identifying effective and appropriate BFR exercise parameters for this population. The objective of the third year is to investigate the effects of lower limb BFR combined with resistance training on functional performance in individuals with dynapenia. Building upon the findings from the first year, this phase will implement BFR resistance training interventions and evaluate both short-term and long-term effects. Through an experimental design, the study will assess changes in body composition, muscle strength, and functional performance following a four-month intervention, along with a three-month follow-up period, to determine whether participants can improve to a healthy status and maintain these improvements over time.

The goal of this study is to learn if an interactive e-book helps home care nurses improve their skills in managing pressure injuries at home. It will also learn if digital learning can overcome the challenges of traditional training. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the e-book increase home care nurses' knowledge about pressure injury prevention and treatment? 2. Does it improve their confidence and reduce the barriers they face when providing wound care? 3. How long do the learning benefits last after completing the program? Researchers will compare an interactive e-book to standard PDF training materials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to see which is more effective for nursing education. Participants will: 1. Use an online interactive e-book covering 11 units of wound care for 1 month 2. Use standard PDF training materials from the MOHW Long-term Care section 3. Complete surveys about their knowledge and skills before the study, immediately after the program, and 1 month later Expected Outcomes and Contributions: This study aims to solve the problem of nursing shortages and training difficulties in rural areas. The researchers expect that home care nurses will become more competent in wound management, leading to better patient health and fewer hospital readmissions. These results will support Taiwan's "Long-term Care 3.0" policy by driving innovation in digital education.

(1) To compare the efficacy and safety of a 14-day bismuth-amoxicillin-vonoprazan triple therapy versus a 14-day bismuth-based quadruple therapy as first-line treatments for H. pylori infection, and (2) To investigate the influence of H. pylori antibiotic resistance, along with host CYP3A4, CYP2C19, and IL-1B -511 genotypes, on the eradication efficacy of H. pylori therapies.

1. Compare the efficacies and safety of 14-day bismuth-amoxicillin-vonoprazan tiple therapy, 14-day vonoprazan dual therapy and 14-day rabeprazole triple therapy in the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. 2. To investigate the impacts of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori as well as CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and IL-1B -511 genotypes of host on the eradication efficacies of anti-H. pylori treatments.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the daily Three Good Thing intervention can prevent negative mental health outcomes like stress and burnou, and promote Gratitude and Psychological Wellbeing in undergraduate Nursing Students. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the daily Three Good Things intervention effective in promoting gratitude and psychological wellbeing among nursing students? Researchers will compare four different arms from Solomon Four Group Design to see if the increase in Gratitude and Psychological Wellbeing scores is significantly greater in the groups that received the 3GT intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the four groups, and those in the intervention groups will: 1. Complete a pre-test questionnaire (for some groups) on their current level of Gratitude and Psychological Wellbeing. 2. Perform the Three Good Things (3GT) intervention by writing down three positive things that happened each day for 7 consecutive days. 3. Complete a post-test questionnaire to measure the final level of Gratitude and Psychological Wellbeing.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common sports-related injury, particularly in sports that require extensive jumping and cutting movements. Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery can restore knee stability, many athletes still face the risk of re-injury after returning to competition.Current return-to-play assessment relies primarily on single-plane horizontal hop tests and symmetry indices (LSI ≥ 90%); however, an increasing body of research suggests that these tests may not comprehensively reflect functional deficits in the vertical plane, repeated hopping, or high-intensity sport-specific activities.This study hypothesizes that incorporating multiple vertical jump tests-including single-leg vertical jumps and 10-second repeated vertical jumps-combined with advanced force plate analytics (such as Reactive Strength Index \[RSI\] and Time to Stabilization \[TTS\])-can more sensitively reveal residual neuromuscular control deficits following surgery. This approach would provide evidence-based guidance for return-to-play decision-making, thereby improving athletes' long-term athletic performance and safety.

Lung cancer in never-smokers is increasingly recognized as a disease influenced by genetic susceptibility. Aldehyde-metabolizing enzymes, including the ALDH gene family and ADH1B, play key roles in detoxifying reactive aldehydes that can damage DNA and promote oxidative stress. In this study, we will examine whether ten selected genetic variants, nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across five ALDH family genes and one variant in ADH1B are associated with the risk of lung cancer and its major subtypes. Limited epidemiological evidence is currently available on the association between these aldehyde-metabolizing gene variants and lung cancer. This research aims to clarify their potential contribution to the development of lung cancer, particularly among never-smokers.

In modern environments, stress is present regardless of age or social role. Stress does not always have negative effects; in fact, it is a necessary response for survival, known as the stress response. This response includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and decreased alpha brainwave activity. These physiological changes are primarily regulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, enabling us to cope with environmental threats. However, when the stress response system becomes overwhelmed or imbalanced-whether due to accumulated chronic stress or acute stress-it may result in adverse effects on both physical and mental health. Relaxation techniques are non-pharmacological methods that promote parasympathetic nervous system activity. The goal is to reduce excessive arousal, alleviate anxiety, slow down thought processes, and relieve stress, thereby achieving relaxation in a natural way. These methods help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, relax muscles, and enhance concentration. Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between relaxation and attention, suggesting that relaxation can improve attentional efficiency. Moreover, it is well-documented that executive function tends to decline under stress. Relaxation techniques are commonly incorporated into psychological therapies, yet they are more accessible, easier to practice, and can be conveniently performed at home. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether PMR can produce immediate relaxation effects as measured by EEG (cortical excitability), heart rate variability, and muscle tone, and whether it can improve performance under psychological stress. The goal is to further explore the potential application of PMR in healthy populations facing acute stress conditions.

This study aims to evaluate the immediate hemodynamic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the popliteal artery and vein. Vascular issues like PAOD and DVT are common in patients with diabetes, obesity, or immobility due to increased resistance and reduced blood flow. Traditional treatments (medication or surgery) are not always feasible, prompting interest in TENS as an alternative. Although primarily used for pain relief, TENS may enhance blood flow. This research compares different stimulation frequencies (80 Hz vs. 4 Hz) and sites (gastrocnemius muscle vs. thoracolumbar sympathetic ganglia) to identify the most effective configuration.

To examine the long-term effects of the Geriatric Trauma Care Program (GTCP) regarding pain, functional disability, depression, loneliness, and health-related quality of life among older adults with traumatic injuries who live alone.

The purpose of this study is to test the effects of the first three months of instructor-led HBA regimen on physical fitness (aerobic endurance, lung capacity, upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, handgrip strength, upper body strength, and lower body strength) between the HBA intervention and control groups, to test the effects of another three months of DVD-led HBA regimen followed by the three months of instructor-led on physical fitness between the HBA intervention and control groups and to test the changes at three and six months of the HBA regimen in comparison to the baseline of the physical fitness in the HBA intervention group.

This clinical trial aims to find a better drug concentration of Remifentanil in Uterine Fibroid Ablation. The main question it seeks to answer is: \[primary hypothesis 1\] Remifentanil concentration of 2.0 ng/mL provides better pain control in Uterine Fibroid Ablation. There is a comparison group in this study: Researchers will compare Remifentanil concentration of 1.0 ng/mL to see if provides similar pain control with fewer side effects. Participants will be separated into two groups, one group with a Remifentanil concentration of 2.0 ng/mL and the other 1.0 ng/mL. During uterine fibroid ablation, the patient\'s pain index will be recorded (using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of 0\~10 points). We will also record vital signs during the procedure.