Clinical trials

For newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), one of the main risk factors for late-onset sepsis is the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC), which is often essential for the administration of medications and parenteral nutrition in this patient population. From a nosological perspective, sepsis associated with the presence of a venous catheter is defined by two acronyms: CRBSI (Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection - a microbiological definition) and CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection - an epidemiological definition). Among preventive strategies for CRBSI/CLABSI, antibiotic or antimicrobial catheter lock solutions - instilled in a volume equivalent to the catheter dead space and retained within the lumen until the next use - have demonstrated favorable efficacy in reducing infection risk. Taurolidine 2% is considered a preferred agent due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity and its lack of association with the development of antimicrobial resistance. However, its prophylactic use in neonates remains largely investigational, with current evidence limited to small, retrospective observational studies involving catheters ≥3 Fr (e.g., femoral inserted central catheters - FICCs, centrally inserted central catheters - CICCs, and umbilical venous catheters). In NICUs, epicutaneo-caval catheters (ECCs) are the most commonly used central venous access devices and represent a major source of catheter-related infections. Despite this, the use of antimicrobial lock prophylaxis in ECCs has been limited by concerns regarding catheter occlusion, given their smaller diameter (≤2 Fr). Nevertheless, available evidence indicates that short-duration locks, when combined with meticulous infusion line management, can be safely implemented without increasing the risk of catheter occlusion. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of 2% taurolidine lock in the prevention of CLABSI/CRBSI in neonates with CVC (ECC, FICC, or CICC).

BALANCE is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolling men with unilateral high-risk localized prostate cancer identified by prostate biopsy, multiparametric MRI, and PSMA PET imaging. Eligible patients scheduled for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either unilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection or bilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Pelvic lymph node dissection is commonly performed in high-risk prostate cancer for staging purposes, but its therapeutic benefit remains uncertain and the procedure may increase operative time, costs, and postoperative morbidity. Modern imaging techniques may improve the identification of patients with predominantly unilateral disease and support a more selective surgical approach. The co-primary objectives are to compare 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival and early postoperative PSA persistence between the two surgical strategies. Secondary objectives include comparison of perioperative complications, operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, quality of life, long-term oncologic outcomes, and costs. This study is designed to determine whether unilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection can reduce surgical morbidity while preserving oncologic outcomes in appropriately selected patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Hyponatremia due to SIAD is frequently insufficiently corrected by fluid restriction alone, which remains the first-line therapy but is often poorly tolerated. Urea supplementation is recommended as second-line therapy. This prospective study evaluates the effectiveness of oral urea supplementation in patients with chronic SIAD and persistent hyponatremia despite fluid restriction.

Particulate contamination due to infusion therapy (administration of parenteral nutrition and medications) carries a potential health risk for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). In-line filtration is increasingly used in critically-ill infants but its benefits, by preventing micro-particle infusion in neonates, remain to be demonstrated. In-line filters in the intravenous administration sets prevent the infusion of particles, which may reduce infectious complications.

This randomized clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional simulation intervention for medical and nursing students. The primary aim is to compare the effectiveness of high-fidelity versus low-fidelity interprofessional simulation in improving knowledge and skills related to the ABG test. The hypothesis is that participants in the high-fidelity interprofessional simulation group will develop better knowledge and skills for ABG testing compared to those in the low-fidelity group. The secondary aims are to evaluate the effectiveness of high-fidelity interprofessional simulation compared to low-fidelity interprofessional simulation in (i) enhancing self-efficacy and self-confidence in learning, and (ii) improving interprofessional education and satisfaction with the simulation experience. It is hypothesized that participants in the high-fidelity interprofessional simulation group will report higher levels of self-efficacy, self-confidence, interprofessional education, and satisfaction with the learning experience post-intervention compared to those in the low-fidelity interprofessional simulation group. The key questions it seeks to address are: 1. Does high-fidelity interprofessional simulation help in developing better technical skills for ABG testing? 2. Does high-fidelity interprofessional simulation lead to greater self-efficacy and self-confidence? 3. Does high-fidelity interprofessional simulation lead to greater satisfaction with the experience, readiness for interprofessional simulation, and better perceptions of interprofessional education? The researchers will compare high-fidelity interprofessional simulation (immersive medical training room with an actor) to low-fidelity interprofessional simulation (a structured clinical case analysis) to assess whether high-fidelity simulation effectively enhances knowledge and skills on arterial blood gas tests, as well as interprofessional collaboration and attitudes. Participants will: * Attend brief interactive lessons on the principles, technique, and interpretation of arterial blood gas tests. * Participate in a series of clinical-based interprofessional simulation scenarios delivered in low- or high-fidelity.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate which factors influence the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for depressive symptoms in real-world settings in Italy. The main questions the study seeks to answer are: * Which key factors influence EMDR outcomes in terms of mediators, moderators, and predictors of its effectiveness for depressive symptoms? * Do lower levels of individual psychological functioning at baseline, including high co-occurrence of personality domains and pathogenic personal beliefs, predict the effects of EMDR in treating depressive symptoms? * Are baseline psychological comorbidities (anxiety, dissociation, post-traumatic symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and sleep difficulties) and the quality of the therapeutic alliance related to the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for depressive symptoms? Participants will be both therapists and patients. * Eligible therapists must be certified members of the EMDR Italian National Association to ensure adherence to established standards in the practice of EMDR therapy and consistency in therapeutic delivery. Therapists will identify patients from their routine clinical practice who meet the study inclusion criteria and facilitate their enrollment. * Eligible patients must meet the following criteria: 1. Being 18 years of age or older. 2. being able to give informed consent. 3. presenting clinically significant symptoms in at least one of the following domains: anxiety, depression, dissociative, or post-traumatic stress symptoms. Individuals presenting with severe neurological impairment or other severe psychiatric conditions were excluded. Researchers will combine data from multiple N-of-1 trials (N-of-1 or single-subject clinical trials studies) using a Bayesian multilevel random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression to generate robust estimates of treatment efficacy.

Tracheal intubation (TI) is associated with a high risk of adverse events in critically ill patients and peri-intubation hemodynamic collapse is the most commonly observed. The primary aim of the PREVENTION trial is to compare the effect of the pre-emptive use of noradrenaline versus no peri-intubation use of noradrenaline on incidence of cardiovascular collapse following TI in adult critically ill patients. Patients with absolute indication or contraindication to vasopressor support will be excluded from this trial. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to a continuous infusion of noradrenaline started before induction titrated according to baseline mean arterial pressure. The primary outcome will be the incidence of cardiovascular collapse. Secondary outcomes will include lowest systolic blood pressure and cardiac arrest within 30 minutes from intubation.

This is a multicentric voluntary observational study with a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data concerning the treatment of visceral aneurysms with flow diversion stent Derivo Peripher and Derivo 2 (DED, Acandis GmbH) Follow-up will include clinical and radiological (CT) evaluation at least 12 months after the intervention. The enrollment period will be of 65 months (01/jan/2020-30/jun/2025). Sample size will be of 100 patients.

According to WHO, more than 230 million major surgical procedures are carried out under general anaesthesia each year worldwide. Despite important technological advances, airway management remains a major challenge in anaesthesiology. Data from large perspective studies on current incidence of major peri-intubation adverse events are lacking in the anaesthesia setting, especially on outcomes such as peri-intubation cardiovascular collapse, severe hypoxemia, and cardiac arrest. These events are more common in case of difficulties with airway management so that first pass intubation failure significantly increase the risks. Moreover, it has been documented that even transient hypotension during general anaesthesia, may have long-term consequences and may be associated with a worse outcome in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The primary aim of the study is to assess the current incidence of major adverse events during advanced airway management for anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery and in the setting of nonoperating room anesthesia. The secondary aim is to assess the current practice of airway management during anesthesia worldwide. STARGATE Study will be a large international observational study recruiting all consecutive adult (≥ 18 years old) patients undergoing general anesthesia in operating room and outside operating room. Primary outcome will be a composite of cardiovascular collapse, cardiac arrest and severe hypoxemia.

The leading hypothesis behind this study is that a 3-month frequency of supportive peri-implant care (SPIC) recalls after surgical therapy of implants affected by severe peri-implantitis yields better results when compared to a 6-month frequency. Thus, the primary aim of this randomized clinical trial is to compare 2 different frequencies of SPIC recalls (3 and 6 months) after surgical treatment of severe peri-implantitis in terms of treatment success (absence of implant loss, probing pocket depth (PPD) ≤ 5 mm at all aspects, bleeding on deep probing ≤1 site/implant, no suppuration at all aspects, bone loss \<0.5 mm) at early follow-up (1-year) and implant survival at the 5-year examination. Secondarily, this randomized clinical trial aims to assess the effects of the 2 different frequencies over clinical attachment levels around remaining teeth.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a life-saving treatment for people with severe blood-related diseases. However, it comes with serious risks, including a condition called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where the transplanted cells attack the patient's body. GVHD can occur in about 50% of patients acutely and 35% in a chronic form, potentially affecting organs like the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal system. Currently, doctors diagnose GVHD based on symptoms, as there are no easy tests available. Infections can also be a problem after HSCT, as dormant viruses may reactivate. These infections are monitored using specialized tests. Additionally, doctors use advanced methods, like analyzing minimal residual disease (MRD) and chimerism, to check for the risk of the original disease coming back. MRD is tracked by looking for specific genetic markers of the disease in the patient's blood or bone marrow. Another emerging tool involves analyzing cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-tiny fragments of DNA found in bodily fluids that come from dying cells. This technique, called liquid biopsy, has been revolutionary in areas like cancer detection, pregnancy testing, and organ transplants. For example, in organ transplants, cfDNA can indicate early signs of rejection, helping reduce the need for invasive biopsies. In HSCT, the use of cfDNA to monitor complications like GVHD or relapse has not been fully explored. This pilot study aims to investigate whether analyzing cfDNA using a technique called epigenomic profiling can help detect acute GVHD, as well as other post-transplant issues like infections, disease relapse, and chronic GVHD. The goal is to compare cfDNA analysis to current testing methods to see if it offers better or earlier detection of complications. This research could pave the way for improved, less invasive monitoring of HSCT patients, potentially leading to better outcomes and fewer complications.

The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of either fibre retention osseous resective surgery (FibReORS) or conservative surgery with or without PPT in the treatment of deep residual pockets ≥ 6 mm in stage III-IV periodontitis patients after cause related therapy (step II) in terms of endpoints of therapy and other secondary outcomes at different time intervals (1, 3 and 5 years). Moreover, the study aims to evaluate the stability of the results obtained for the different surgical approaches over a 5 years follow-up period.

The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of conservative surgery with or without papilla preservation technique in the treatment of deep residual pockets ≥ 6 mm in stage III-IV periodontitis patients after cause related therapy (step II) in terms of endpoints of therapy and other secondary outcomes at different time intervals (1, 3 and 5 years). Moreover, the study aims to evaluate the stability of the results obtained for the different surgical approaches over a 5 years follow-up period.

The communication of an altered Pap smear or positive HPV test has a strong impact on patients on a psychological level. HPV positive women are more likely to have higher level of stress, anxiety, depression and impaired sexual life. The examiner want to establish this impact through different surveys (DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales); PCL-5 (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist); DTS (Dyadic Trust Scale), CDDQ (Cervical Dysplasia Distress Questionnaire) and MPI (Match Patient Inventory) from the moment the patient receives the news until after completing treatment for her intraepithelial neoplasia.

To date, the quest for ideal biological inductors for periodontal regeneration is still ongoing, especially when facing non-containing defect anatomies. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic performance of a bone graft combined with either enamel matrix derivatives or hyaluronic acid for periodontal regeneration of non-containing intrabony defects in terms of clinical attachment gain (primary outcome) and other secondary outcomes (probing pocket depth reduction, radiographic bone fill). Moreover, this study aims to compare early wound healing and patient-reported outcome measures.

An Italian randomized controlled trial parallel-group in patients with a malignant tumor of the right or proximal transverse colon requiring right hemicolectomy.

The investigator propose an extension of the previous National, multicentric study, promoting an observational registry, both retrospective and prospective, in order to expand and further characterize the series of Italian patients with Philadelphia-positive, chronic phase CML (CP-CML) who discontinue TKIs in an off-protocol setting. As safety concerns may arise for patients receiving long-term treatments, and due to the growing number of patients discontinuing TKIs in clinical practice, the study aim to collect all available data regarding feasibility and freedom from progression of the cohort of patients.