Clinical trials

Jing Si Herbal Tea has been found to be effective in improving health for the conditions of cancers, aging, depression, and sleep. Such evidence has been shown in animal models and clinical research with publications in the international journals. However, empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of Jing Si Herbal Tea for patients with dementia and their caregivers on their quality of life and psychosocial health remains unclear. Therefore, the present project aims to investigate the feasibility of taking Jing Si Herbal Tea among patients with dementia; then, to investigate if Jing Si Herbal Tea could improve quality of life and psychosocial health for patients with dementia and their caregivers. The project will be three years. The first year will examine the feasibility for the patients with dementia. A total of 100 patients with dementia will be recruited and they will be informed to take the Jing Si Herbal Tea two times per day (one time in the morning and another time in the afternoon). All the participants will be measured for their quality of life and psychosocial health at baseline, three months after baseline, and six months after baseline, to have initial evidence of the improvements in quality of life and psychosocial health without having a control group. The second year will recruit 200 patients with dementia and randomly assign them into a treatment group (taking Jing Si Herbal Tea) and a control group (taking placebo). All the participants will be measured for their quality of life and psychosocial health at baseline, three months after baseline, and six months after baseline, to investigate the strong evidence of Jing Si Herbal Tea on quality of life and psychosocial health. The third year will recruit 200 caregivers of patient with dementia and randomly assign them into a treatment group (taking Jing Si Herbal Tea) and a control group (taking placebo). All the participants will be measured for their quality of life and psychosocial health at baseline, three months after baseline, and six months after baseline, to investigate the strong evidence of Jing Si Herbal Tea on quality of life and psychosocial health.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disorder characterized by persistent airflow limitation and increased lung compliance. It leads to dyspnea, skeletal muscle dysfunction, impaired functional capacity, and reduced quality of life. Physical inactivity is considered a major contributor to symptom deterioration, the development of a vicious cycle, and ultimately increased mortality. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), pulmonary rehabilitation should include aerobic and resistance exercise for at least 20 minutes per session, performed three to five times per week for a minimum of 12 weeks. Exercise intensity should be progressively increased to exceed 60% of peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), and patients are encouraged to maintain long-term exercise habits. However, there is still no consensus regarding the optimal initial intensity, progression strategy, and exercise duration. Previous studies have demonstrated that whole-body vibration (WBV) can improve lower extremity muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with COPD. However, its effects on lung function and the optimal training dose remain unclear. In addition, COPD also affects respiratory muscles, upper extremity strength and flexibility, as well as cardiac autonomic function. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different WBV frequencies on lung function, respiratory muscle function, upper extremity strength and flexibility, and cardiac autonomic function, in order to determine the optimal training dose.

Investigate the effects of exercise training on the cardiopulmonary function and exercise capacity in healthy and CKD patients

Investigate the effects of exercise training on the cardiopulmonary function and exercise capacity in COPD patients.

Progress in medical technology, enhancements in environmental cleanliness, and elevated living conditions have notably prolonged the mean life expectancy, resulting in a swift increase in the aging population. The prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is more pronounced among the elderly in contrast to younger demographics. With the aging of the CKD population, the capacity to autonomously handle daily activities becomes a critical concern. This demographic frequently encounters concurrent health conditions, a decrease in self-care capabilities, general health decline, and diminished quality of life. Recent studies suggest that physical activity has the potential to enhance cardiovascular health, cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle strength, quality of life, uremic toxin management, and inflammation levels among individuals with CKD. Given that CKD patients often exhibit sedentary behavior and reduced exercise capacity, eccentric cycling exercises may be particularly well-suited for this demographic. Compared to concentric contractions, eccentric contractions subject the muscles to higher tension. Since muscle growth partially depends on the "stress exerted on muscle fibers"-meaning the greater the stress, the more stimulation the muscles receive-training focused on eccentric contractions could provide more stimulation and promote greater muscle growth. In recent studies, eccentric cycling has emerged as a feasible and promising aerobic exercise intervention. It can provide a safe and appropriate amount of exercise while relatively reducing joint pressure. This novel combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise method is particularly beneficial for individuals with weaker lower limb muscles, lower joint pressure tolerance, poor metabolic and cardiovascular function, and a tendency to fatigue.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of a mobile application intervention on postoperative lung rehabilitation. The main purposes of this study are: 1. To understand the effectiveness of the pulmonary rehabilitation mobile application in improving lung function. 2. To assess the feasibility of the pulmonary rehabilitation mobile application in post-surgery rehabilitation care. Researchers will compare the intervention group (using the pulmonary rehabilitation mobile application) to the usual care group to determine if the mobile application is effective in lung surgery rehabilitation. Participants will join the study immediately after providing informed consent and will continue for up to 7 weeks post-surgery. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. Both groups will receive regular pulmonary rehabilitation during their hospital stay (1 day before surgery and 2 to 3 days after surgery). Researchers will guide participants in the intervention group to use the mobile application for pulmonary rehabilitation exercises throughout the study period. Participants in the usual care group will receive health education and an exercise guide before discharge. Participants will undergo three study assessments: at baseline (within 1 week after enrollment), post-surgery (week 5), and at follow-up (week 8).