Clinical trials

This study will investigate whether a single dose of beetroot juice can improve cardiovascular responses and recovery after exercise in adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is associated with higher blood pressure, impaired blood vessel function, and reduced autonomic control of the heart, all of which increase cardiovascular risk and may affect how the body responds to and recovers from physical activity. Beetroot juice is naturally rich in dietary nitrate, which is converted in the body into nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and improve blood flow. While these effects have been demonstrated in healthy individuals, less is known about their impact in people with Type 2 Diabetes. In this study, approximately 16 to 20 adults aged 40 to 65 years with Type 2 Diabetes will take part. After an online screening and consent process, eligible participants will attend two laboratory visits at Oxford Brookes University. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, participants will receive beetroot juice during one visit and a nitrate-depleted placebo during the other visit. During each visit, participants will undergo physiological measurements, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and capillary blood glucose. Participants will then complete a short session of supervised, light-to-moderate cycling exercise. Measurements will continue during the recovery period to assess how quickly the cardiovascular system returns to resting levels. The main outcomes are systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability during recovery, which reflect cardiovascular regulation and autonomic function. Secondary outcomes include diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, and markers related to nitric oxide availability. This study may help determine whether a simple, dietary-based intervention such as beetroot juice can support cardiovascular function and improve recovery after exercise in people living with Type 2 Diabetes.

Around 85% of women who give birth vaginally experience a perineal wound, which could be a tear or an incision between the vaginal opening and the anus. Despite that, there is often insufficient exploration of how postnatal perineal wound assessment is conducted in healthcare research. Clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) touch on the typical signs of wound infection but do not offer detailed guidance on the execution of perineal assessment. Existing research evidence is mostly focused on long-term complications, management of perineal trauma immediately after birth or severe perineal trauma. The limited research on perineal wound care highlights how poor communication and information provision harm women at a physical and psychological level, negatively affecting daily tasks such as caring for their newborns. Although there have been few studies examining women's or midwives' perspectives on perineal wound assessment in the context of uncomplicated wounds, their perspectives have never been jointly investigated to produce a comprehensive overview. Moreover, no research has had a clinical focus, investigating how the assessment is conducted in practice and what informs this practice, except from women's reports of perceived sub-standard care received. Therefore, this proposed research is clinically grounded and aims to explore women's and midwives' perspectives on postnatal perineal wound assessment. This is needed to identify evidence-based practices, or lack thereof, in order to determine ways in which the experience can be improved for women and to have a more positive impact on their wellbeing. Eight to ten pairs of midwives-women will be first observed whilst the routine assessment is conducted to understand what happens during this episode of care, and then they will be separately interviewed within a few days to gather further understanding. Recruitment will be in a single centre, which is a tertiary unit in the UK.