Clinical trials

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain that is commonly observed in pain, rheumatology, or rehabilitation clinics. Previous studies have suggested a fibromyalgia prevalence rate of approximately 2%. Currently, evidence shows that fibromyalgia might be partially associated with increased oxidative stress, caused by mitochondrial abnormalities, genetic abnormalities, and excessive metal intake. Some research teams have experimented with dietary adjustments to control oxidative stress, but the relationship between diet and oxidative stress has not been conclusively confirmed. Plasma-activated water is a method of storing the high-energy benefits of water and effectively utilizing its energy. It also improves solubility and conductivity at room temperature. It involves activating nano gold particles with a specific wavelength light source to create surface plasmon resonance, resulting in thermoelectrons. These thermoelectrons then disrupt or reduce the hydrogen bonding capacity between water molecules in the tetrahedral chemical structure network, leading to the formation of smaller water molecules known as plasma-activated water. Studies on animals have shown that plasma-activated water possesses free radical-scavenging and antioxidant properties. It can reduce liver oxidative stress damage induced by sleep deprivation and is non-toxic. Recent studies have shown that plasma-activated water can treat cancer, chronic diseases, and degenerative conditions in animal models. In a lung cancer animal model, combining plasma-activated water with cisplatin chemotherapy increased the mice's survival time. In an animal model with chronic kidney disease, drinking plasma-activated water reduced fibronectin expression and slowed kidney fibrosis. Plasma-activated water reduced oxidative stress in an animal model of chronic sleep deprivation-induced liver damage, thereby enhancing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities of the liver cells. In an animal model with Alzheimer's disease, it reduced amyloid-β protein expression and improved memory. In a rat model with Parkinson's disease, plasma-activated water suppressed inflammation and protected nerve cells. Since plasma-activated water has demonstrated antioxidant effects in mouse and rat animal models and previous clinical trials have shown that drinking plasma-activated water does not have toxic reactions and does not significantly affect drug metabolism in the human body, this study aims to assess the safety and potential symptom improvement effects of long-term consumption of plasma-activated water in fibromyalgia patients.

This study is a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory-based mobile application integrated with a smartphone pedometer plus health education on weight self-stigma and lifestyle behaviors among overweight or obese adults. A total of 60 participants will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to the intervention (ACT-based app + pedometer + health education) or control condition. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after intervention (T1), and at 1 month after intervention (T2) and 3 months after intervention (T3) following intervention initiation. The primary outcomes are body weight (weight loss) and weight self-stigma measured; secondary outcomes include eating behavior, physical activity level, and quality of life. Analyses will include per-protocol evaluation using linear mixed-effects models to test group, time, and group-by-time effects on primary and secondary outcomes, with intention-to-treat analyses conducted as sensitivity analyses using multiple imputation for missing weight and weight self-stigma data. Findings will inform the design of a future definitive trial and contribute evidence on eHealth approaches to reducing weight-related stigma and supporting healthier lifestyles.

Delirium affects up to 83% of mechanically ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), often leading to longer hospital stays and long-term memory or cognitive problems. While standard care protocols (such as the ABCDEF bundle) exist, they are often difficult to implement fully due to their complexity and the heavy workload on nursing staff. To address these challenges, this study introduces a 'Precision Nursing' approach by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). We will implement an AI-driven system to assist nurses in making personalized care decisions more efficiently. Additionally, interactive VR technology will be used to stimulate patients' cognitive function and encourage early mobility. Our goal is to reduce the clinical burden on healthcare providers while significantly improving recovery outcomes for ICU patients.

The expected outcome of this study is that continuous 8-week supplementation with the PI-YSP-0111 prebiotic formulation will exert beneficial effects on gut microbiota modulation and liver health.

Preclinical human trials will be utilized to validate the research direction, followed by clinical trials to assess the impact of a cocktail formula product containing the optimal probiotic Y7 combined metabolites on motor, cognitive, and non-motor functions in early Parkinson's disease patients. The study aims to recruit 120 patients (stage 1-3) and employ a two-arm, randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, dividing subjects into intervention and control groups for a 12 weeks trial period. Commercial development will be contingent upon the clinical trial outcomes, evaluating whether the product offers clinical benefits such as delaying Parkinson's disease progression in motor, cognitive, and non-motor functions. Additionally, a personalized and precise prognosis prediction model for Parkinson's disease will be established. This model will gather comprehensive clinical data, including motor function assessments (functional tests, UPDRS), biochemical markers, questionnaire responses, and genotype data (TPM array), as well as metabolite and microbial data. Through integrated analysis of this biological information using machine learning techniques, a personalized and accurate prognosis prediction model for Parkinson's disease will be developed. This model will predict the disease status of PD patients 12 weeks later, accounting for factors such as cocktail therapy. The results will empower PD patients to understand their individual disease progression and treatment prognosis, enabling them to prepare accordingly. Moreover, this model will aid researchers in identifying patient profiles more likely to benefit from treatment, thereby enhancing the evaluation of the efficacy and applicability of cocktail therapy.

This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate whether an AI chatbot-enabled, nurse-led electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) intervention can improve symptom management and self-care in adults with early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The study will also assess the safety and feasibility of the intervention. Researchers will investigate whether the program reduces symptom burden, improves patient activation and health literacy, and lowers healthcare utilization such as emergency department visits and hospitalizations compared with usual ePRO monitoring alone. A total of 72 participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which receives weekly AI chatbot-supported symptom monitoring combined with nurse-led feedback and self-management support, or a control group receiving ePRO monitoring without feedback. Participants will complete PROMIS-29 assessments weekly and attend study evaluations at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, while clinical outcomes and healthcare use are tracked through electronic medical records.

This randomized controlled trial study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a combined inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and blood flow restriction (BFR) intervention in frail older adults. Outcomes of interest include feasibility, physical function, respiratory muscle strength, handgrip strength, five-times sit-to-stand performance, body composition, frailty level, fall efficacy, blood pressure, and adverse events.

The goal of this observational study is to understand more about the nutritional knowledge, nutritional status, and mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, and stress) of Indonesian live-in domestic migrant workers in Taiwan. Participants must be 20 years or older and currently working and living in their employer's home. They will be asked to fill out a set of simple surveys, either online or on paper. These surveys will include questions about nutrition knowledge, food intake, and mental health. The main goal is to find out how common malnutrition and emotional stress are in this group. The study will also look at how nutrition knowledge and food habits are connected to mental well-being. The results may help create better health programs for migrant care workers in the future.

nsomnia is a frequent complaint reported by patients with TBI, and exacerbates their ability to return to productive activity, which subsequently elevate related healthcare costs and burden. Existing literatures found that effects of CBTi, first-line therapy for insomnia, on post-traumatic insomnia is still debated, indicating that developing an alternative nonpharmacological therapy for alleviating insomnia following TBI is required. Besides, digital health is one of strategies to achieve precision health. Thus far, knowledge regarding whether mobile-delivered BBTi has non-inferiority effects as BBTi in treating insomnia is still lacking. Therefore, a RCT with a large sample size to examine the immediate and lasting effects of BBTi and mobile-delivered BBTi on insomnia, mood disturbances, and cognitive dysfunctions in patients following TBI at the recovery stage compared with the control participants.

Purpose of the Study This study wants to find out whether a virtual human (a computer-based simulated person) can help nursing students learn how to assess someone's thinking and memory skills. Main Question Do nursing students learn cognitive function assessment better when they use a virtual human compared with reading printed materials? What Participants Will Do Participants will learn how to do a cognitive function assessment for about 60 minutes, either by using a virtual human or by reading printed materials.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of circadian-based acupressure compared with sham acupressure in improving sleep quality among nursing home residents. Additionally, the study will examine the effects of the intervention on insomnia severity, heart rate variability, and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 80 older adults aged 60 years and above residing in a nursing home in Jakarta, Indonesia, will be randomly assigned to either the circadian-based acupressure group or the sham acupressure group. Participants in the intervention group will receive circadian-based acupressure twice daily, five days per week for four weeks, with acupoints selected and administered according to circadian meridian activity, while the control group will receive sham acupressure at non-acupuncture points with the same frequency and duration. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of interactive robot-based games on cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The investigators plan to recruit 80 participants and randomly assign them to a control group or an experimental group; the experimental group will participate in robot games for 12 weeks, while the control group will receive routine care. Data will be collected via questionnaires to investigate whether robot games can improve cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an app-based self-guided acupressure intervention in alleviating fatigue and pruritus, and in improving sleep quality among hemodialysis patients. Design and subjects: The parallel randomized controlled trial will be employed in one hospital. Block randomization in a 1:1 ratio will be used to assign the patients to the intervention and control groups. It is estimated that 50 to 100 participants receiving hemodialysis will be recruited. Instrument: The demographic and health-related information questionnaire, the Post-dialysis Fatigue (PDF), 5-D Itch, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index will be used in this study. Interventions: The intervention group will use an app-based self-guided acupressure program to do the acupressure by themselves once daily for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group will receive usual care and no other intervention. Data analysis: Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis approaches will be performed. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis will be used to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted to assess the impact of missing data on the treatment effect if necessary. Expected outcomes: Participants in the intervention group will know how to do the self-guided acupressure by themselves. If the intervention is effective, the App can be introduced to the hemodialysis patients who need it.

This study investigates the effects of somatosensory cognitive games interventions on older adults' cognitive and physical functions. The investigators plan to recruit up to 100 participants and randomly assign them to a control group or an experimental group. The experimental group will participate in somatosensory cognitive games for 12 weeks, while the control group will receive routine care. Data will be collected via questionnaires to examine whether somatosensory cognitive games can delay declines in cognitive and physical functions in older adults.

Nattokinase has been confirmed by many experiments to have a thrombolytic effect, but there are currently very few studies on nattokinase's effect on gut microbiota, sleeping status, and age-related cognitive function. Therefore, this study intends to explore the effect of nattokinase on cardiovascular disease risk factors, intestinal microbiota, sleep status and cognitive function in patients with metabolic syndrome risk and sleep disorders. This study will be a double-blind, self-control, placebo, crossover trial, and recruit 70-80 participants over 18 years old, and have risk of metabolic syndrome and sleep disorders. They will be divided into a placebo group and an experimental group. The experimental period was divided into two phases (12 weeks for each) and a 2-week washout period. In the first phase, 2 placebo or nattokinase capsules were given each day (each capsule contained nattokinase 3000FU, 2 capsules per day). After 12 weeks, a 2-week washout period was entered, and the second phase was entered for a crossover trial. At the 0th and 12th weeks of each stage, body position, blood pressure, blood biochemical values, sleep quality questionnaire, and cognitive function questionnaire will be measured, and feces will be collected for bacterial analysis. In addition, to improve the compliance of the trial, it is planned to ask the subjects to return for a follow-up visit in the 6th week of each phase, and to measure the subject's body composition and blood pressure. This study expects that daily supplementation of 2 nattokinase capsules for 12 weeks can improve cardiovascular risk factors, sleep quality and cognitive function, while also maintaining healthy intestinal flora.

The study is a single-blind study, parallel randomized controlled trial method. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the mobile version of Application based Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTI-APP) and the interactive e-book version of BBTI in improving the severity of insomnia, sleep quality and mood among college students. Measurement outcomes are sleep parameters measured by the Chinese version of Insomnia Severity Index, Chinese version of The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items, and sleep diary. Questionnaires will be assessed in pretreatment, posttreatment, and one-month follow-up. We hypothesized that compared with the sleep hygiene group, both the BBTI-APP and the interactive e-book BBTI can significantly improve college students' insomnia symptoms, emotional distress, and quality of life.

In Taiwan, an estimated 2.3 million individuals have diabetes, with a 44% increase observed among young adults and adolescents. Poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The widespread use of smartphones has facilitated the development of digital health technologies, including digital food photography and artificial intelligence (AI), which show promise for personalized nutrition care and health promotion. While such technologies have demonstrated short-term success in diabetes management, their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital eHealth care intervention for individuals with diabetes. Participants will be recruited from the Diabetes Shared Care Network and community care centers in Taiwan and followed for 12 months. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned by computer to either a control or an eHealth care group. • eHealth Group: Receives a 10-minute digital nutrition education session using the lab-developed "3D/AR MetaFood food portion education platform" (https://sketchfab.com/susanlab108/collections) and is required to submit weekly dietary records through food images using the "Formosa FoodAPP." Participants will receive immediate dietary feedback from nutritionists, followed by AI-generated personalized feedback on the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of their meals. They will also be provided with educational videos on healthy eating, physical activity, and selecting low-GI/GL foods. Anthropometric measurements and baseline questionnaires will be collected at enrollment. Blood biochemistry, including HbA1c, will be measured at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Collected food image data will be used to train AI systems for real-time dietary feedback and to explore the relationship between nutrient intake and long-term glycemic control.

Objectives: This 3-year study aims to develop, refine, and evaluate a brief compassion-based intervention specifically designed for family caregivers of lung cancer patients. In the first year, the primary focus will be on developing the intervention content and assessing its feasibility and acceptability. In the second and third years, the goal will be to assess the intervention's effects on depression and anxiety. Method: In the first year, the intervention will be developed in three stages. Initially, the intervention will be created based on compassion-focused theory and evidence-based exercises, incorporating feedback from family caregivers in previous studies and insights from professionals to ensure its relevance to lung cancer caregivers. Next, a pilot study will test the intervention's feasibility and acceptability with 30 family caregivers, using mixed methods to gather session-by-session feedback and assess recruitment, retention, and adherence. Following the pilot, the intervention will be revised based on participant and researcher feedback, preparing it for further study. In the second and third years, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted with 84 participants randomly assigned to either the 4-session Brief Compassion-Based Intervention (BCI) or a single-session Telephone-Based Support and Education (TSE) control group. Outcomes, including depression, anxiety, caregiver stress, mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-efficacy, will be measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. For data analysis, long-term follow-up quantitative data will be analyzed using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) to examine group differences. Moderation and mediation analyses will be conducted to explore potential moderators and mechanisms of the intervention. Qualitative data from interviews will be analyzed using content analysis. Expected Results: This study is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of compassion-based interventions for lung cancer caregivers, contributing to their application in clinical care practice.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Non-powered Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) on the healing of abdominal surgical wounds. It is designed as a randomized controlled trial with an experimental group (using NPWT) and a control group (conventional wound care). The study aims to recruit 160 participants: 80 with acute wounds and 80 with chronic wounds. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (40 acute wounds, 40 chronic wounds) or the control group (40 acute wounds, 40 chronic wounds). The study will assess wound healing rates and speed, quality of life, self-perceived health status, pain levels, complications, and wound care costs using indicators. Effectiveness will be analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). The study anticipates that results will contribute to evaluating the effects of Non-powered NPWT on wound healing, quality of life, pain, and cost-effectiveness in patients with acute and chronic wounds.

This study aims to examine the effects of an augmented reality location-based game intervention on behavioral and psychological factors related to physical activity among middle-aged and older adults. The study adopts a quasi-experimental design, targeting community-dwelling individuals aged 40-59 or 60 and above, who engage in sedentary work patterns exceeding 6 hours daily. Recruitment is scheduled to commence in February 2025 at the Xinyi Health Service Center in Taipei City. Participants will be assigned to either the experimental group or the control group based on enrollment timing. A minimum of 41 participants will be recruited, divided into two experimental groups and two control groups. The experimental group will participate in an augmented reality location-based game featuring different step count goals every two weeks, daily step count reporting, and goal achievement encouragement. The control group will maintain their usual routines without any intervention. The intervention will last for 8 weeks. Research instruments will include a basic demographic questionnaire, the short-form Taiwan Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, the Exercise Motivation and Barriers Scale, blood pressure measurements, and the Quality of Life Scale.

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital-based multimodal sleep management program compared to a waitlist control group in improving sleep-related outcomes, including insomnia severity, daytime sleepiness, objective sleep parameters, and sleep reactivity to stress, as well as psychological health indices, such as depression, anxiety, and resilience. Additionally, this study seeks to examine the mediating role of different chronotypes in the effectiveness of the sleep intervention on the outcomes of interest.

The goal of this study is to examine the feasibility of delivering an innovative intervention, caregiver-assisted strategy training (CaST), targeting enhancing activity functions in community-dwelling adults after stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is CaST acceptable to stroke survivors with functional limitations? * Does CaST show positive effects on functional outcomes? Researchers will compare the CaST program to a control education program to investigate the interventional effect size for the selected stroke participants. Participants will: * Receive CAST or an education program 1 to 2 sessions per week until finishing 10 sessions. * Be assessed clinical outcomes at 4 times: pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. * Be interviewed once after finishing their intervention.

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to examine if involving the caregivers in the strategy training (i.e. caregiver-assisted rehabilitation with strategy training, CAR-ST) works to improve activity functions in community-dwelling adults after stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does CAR-ST and strategy training alone lead to greater improvements in activity performance among stroke survivors relative to the control intervention with education? Does CAR-ST outperform strategy training alone in the efficacy of activity outcomes? Do the activity effects of CAR-ST transfer to the impairment and participation domains of outcomes? Researchers will compare the efficacy of the CAR-ST intervention against strategy training alone or control intervention (education program) to see if caregivers contribute to post-stroke functional improvements. Participants will: * receive CAR-ST, strategy training only, or an education program 1 to 2 sessions per week until finishing 10 sessions. * be assessed clinical outcomes at 4 times: pre-intervention, post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up.

Background: The transition to parenthood is stressful for first-time mothers and fathers and links to adverse health outcomes. Despite Internet use's popularity, an effective web-based, individually-tailored intervention to enhance parental self-efficacy and infant health for first-time parents remains lacking. Objectives: This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based, individually-tailored childbirth and parenting intervention program on parenting self-efficacy and infant health outcomes. The feasibility and acceptability of a theory-driven intervention will be examined in first-time mothers and fathers. Methods: A two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the effects of web-based intervention in the first-time mother and father. Participants will be randomly allocated to a web-based intervention or a control condition. A repeated measurement will be performed. Anticipatory results: The efficacy of a theory-driven web-based, individually tailored intervention program will provide a valuable contribution to perinatal health care for first-time mothers and fathers.

Background: Infertility is a serious reproductive health issue and affects 48.5 million couples worldwide. Women undergoing fertility treatment often experienced psychological distress but also social stigma that is close linked to later pregnancy outcome. Despite the advancement in assisted reproductive technology, effective interventions for reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms for infertility women remain lacking. Objectives: The objective of this proposal is to evaluate the efficacy of web-based mind-body intervention combining HRV biofeedback on the infertility women's anxiety symptoms, levels of depression, HRV function, mindful awareness, infertility self-efficacy, and pregnancy rates. Methods: We plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial on the web-based mind-body intervention combining heart rate variability biofeedback. Eligible women will be recruited and randomized into three groups. Intention-to-treat analysis and mixed regression modeling will be used to estimate the effectiveness of the interventions. Anticipatory results: Effective strategies will be determined for infertility women.