Articles

Executive function training in chronic traumatic brain injury patients: study protocol

Some individuals who sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) continue to experience significant cognitive impairments chronically (months to years post injury). Many tests of executive function are insensitive...

Authors: Daniel C. Krawczyk, Kihwan Han, David Martinez, Jelena Rakic, Matthew J. Kmiecik, Zhengsi Chang, Linda Nguyen, Michael Lundie, Richard C. Cole, Marielle Nagele and Nyaz Didehbani

A dose-ranging, parallel group, split-face, single-blind phase II study of light emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for skin scarring prevention: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Skin fibrosis is a significant global health problem that affects over 100 million people annually and has a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation a...

Authors: Julie K. Nguyen, Jeremy Weedon, Jeannette Jakus, Edward Heilman, R. Rivkah Isseroff, Daniel M. Siegel and Jared R. Jagdeo

Postoperative complications and nutritional status between uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis and Billroth II anastomosis after D2 distal gastrectomy: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignant disease worldwide, with lower one-third gastric cancer the most common type. Distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was recommended as a standard su...

Authors: Shi Chen, Dong-Wen Chen, Xi-Jie Chen, Yi-Jia Lin, Jun Xiang and Jun Sheng Peng

Patient-reported outcome after stemmed versus stemless total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis: a patient-blinded randomized clinical trial

Stemless shoulder arthroplasty systems with uncemented metaphyseal fixation have been used for glenohumeral osteoarthritis since 2004 (Hawi, et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 17:376, 2016). The stemless design h...

Authors: Zaid Issa, Jeppe Vejlgaard Rasmussen, John Kloth Petersen, Kim Schantz and Stig Brorson

Implementation and effectiveness of evriMED with short messages service (SMS) reminders and tailored feedback compared to standard care on adherence to treatment among tuberculosis patients in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: proposal for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is challenging because of many factors. The World Health Organization has recommended the use of digital adherence monitoring technologies in its End TB Strategy. Howev...

Authors: Marion Sumari-de Boer, Francis M. Pima, Kennedy M. Ngowi, Geoffrey M. Chelangwa, Benson A. Mtesha, Linda M. Minja, Hadija H. Semvua, Stella Mpagama, Blandina T. Mmbaga, Pythia T. Nieuwkerk and Rob E. Aarnoutse

Self-injury: Treatment, Assessment, Recovery (STAR): online intervention for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a clinically significant behavior affecting approximately 18% of adolescents and young adults worldwide. The importance of NSSI is supported by its association with a broad s...

Authors: Michael Kaess, Julian Koenig, Stephanie Bauer, Markus Moessner, Gloria Fischer-Waldschmidt, Margarete Mattern, Sabine C. Herpertz, Franz Resch, Rebecca Brown, Tina In-Albon, Michael Koelch, Paul L. Plener, Christian Schmahl and Alexandra Edinger

Depression in the nursing home: a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge study to probe the effectiveness of a novel case management approach to improve treatment (the DAVOS project)

Depression is the second most common psychiatric illness in old people. Up to 30% of nursing home residents have minor or major depression. Although depressive disorders in old age can be improved and even cur...

Authors: Valentina A. Tesky, Arthur Schall, Ulrike Schulze, Ulrich Stangier, Frank Oswald, Monika Knopf, Jochem König, Maria Blettner, Elisabeth Arens and Johannes Pantel

Acupuncture of different treatment frequency in knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a pilot randomized clinical trial

This study aims to determine whether 3 sessions per week of acupuncture treatment is superior to 1 session per week of acupuncture treatment for symptomatic outcomes in knee osteoarthritis.

Authors: Lu-Lu Lin, Jian-Feng Tu, Jia-Kai Shao, Xuan Zou, Tian-Qi Wang, Li-Qiong Wang, Jing-Wen Yang, Ning Sun and Cun-Zhi Liu

Enrolling study personnel in Ebola vaccine trials: from guidelines to practice in a non-epidemic context

Enrolling participants in clinical trials can be challenging, especially with respect to prophylactic vaccine trials. The vaccination of study personnel in Ebola vaccine trials during the 2014–2016 epidemic pl...

Authors: Edouard Lhomme, Camara Modet, Augustin Augier, Sylvain Faye, Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli, Claire Levy-Marchal, Eric D’Ortenzio, Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Geneviève Chêne, Abdoul Habib Beavogui and Laura Richert

Antibiotic Review Kit for Hospitals (ARK-Hospital): study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial

To ensure patients continue to get early access to antibiotics at admission, while also safely reducing antibiotic use in hospitals, one needs to target the continued need for antibiotics as more diagnostic in...

Authors: Ann Sarah Walker, Eric Budgell, Magda Laskawiec-Szkonter, Katy Sivyer, Sarah Wordsworth, Jack Quaddy, Marta Santillo, Adele Krusche, Laurence S. J. Roope, Nicole Bright, Fiona Mowbray, Nicola Jones, Kieran Hand, Najib Rahman, Melissa Dobson, Emma Hedley…

Combination therapy of vitamin C and thiamine for septic shock in a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled study (ATESS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Septic shock is a life-threatening condition with underlying circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormalities. Vitamin C and thiamine are potential candidates for adjunctive therapy; they are expected to impro...

Authors: Sung Yeon Hwang, Jong Eun Park, Ik Joon Jo, Seonwoo Kim, Sung Phil Chung, Taeyoung Kong, Jonghwan Shin, Hui Jai Lee, Kyoung Min You, You Hwan Jo, Doyun Kim, Gil Joon Suh, Taegyun Kim, Won Young Kim, Youn-Jung Kim, Seung Mok Ryoo…

A clinical study to assess the influence of acupuncture at “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints on limb spasticity in patients in convalescent stage of ischemic stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Stroke is characterized by high morbidity, high mortality, and high disability. Spasticity, one of the most common complications after stroke, may reduce the potential success of rehabilitation and has a detri...

Authors: Huanqin Li, Dehuai Long, Bin Li, Huilin Liu, Tingting Ma, Tingying Wu, Martin Eriksson, Yali Wen, Jia Wei, Wei You, Yinxia Liu, Xiaobai Xu, Yajie Zhang, Linpeng Wang and Jingqing Sun

Cervicogenic headache treated by acupuncture based on jin theory: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Numerous randomized trials involving acupuncture treatment for cervicogenic headache (CEH) have been conducted in recent years, but the evidence for its effectiveness is not clear. Hence, we designed a randomi...

Authors: Youkang Dong, Taipin Guo, Lei Xu, Chunlin Wang, Guanfen Wen, Zhiyong Zhao, Lianhai Duan, Mei Zou, Yong Xiang and Shu Wang

The effect of visual support strategies on the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and cerebral visual impairment/perceptual visual dysfunction in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI), including perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD), is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Inventories of questions relating to practical aspects of visual perception in e...

Authors: Roseline Duke, Komomo Eyong, Kathryn Burton, David MacLeod, Gordon N. Dutton, Clare Gilbert and Richard Bowman

Ensuring trial conduct is consistent with trial design: assumption is the enemy of quality

‘Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong’ (Albert Einstein)

Authors: Joanna Kelly, Barry Hounsome, Gill Lambert and Caroline Murphy

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PLC in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women with Hot Flashes: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Hot flashes are the most frequent symptoms of the menopause, with 10–20% of all postmenopausal women reporting nearly intolerable occurrences. Although pharmacopuncture with hominis placenta extract is one of ...

Authors: Su-Ji Choi and Dong-Il Kim

Effect of motivational interviewing in hypertensive patients (MIdNIgHT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Only one-third of hypertensive patients achieve and maintain blood-pressure control. This is attributed to low treatment adherence and has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Adherence is multidimensional ...

Authors: Luana Claudia Jacoby Silveira, Graziella Badin Aliti, Elisabeth Meyer Da Silva, Ravi Pereira Pimentel, Miguel Gus and Eneida Rejane Rabelo-Silva

Glibenclamide in aneurysmatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (GASH): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Recent findings on the benefits of glibenclamide as a neuroprotective drug have started a new era for prospective studies on sulfonylureas. The effect of glibenclamide blocking the Sur1-Trpm4 channel was exami...

Authors: Bruno Braga Sisnando da Costa, Isabela Costola Windlin, Edwin Koterba, Vitor Nagai Yamaki, Nícollas Nunes Rabelo, Davi Jorge Fontoura Solla, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira and Eberval Gadelha Figueiredo

Leveraging policy to reduce chronic opioid use by educating and empowering community dwelling adults: a study protocol for the TAPERING randomized controlled trial

Opioid use has risen to epidemic proportions across Canada, with increasing evidence of harms including accidental overdose and death. Policy-makers have called for effective approaches to promote opioid reduc...

Authors: Justin P. Turner, Patricia Caetano and Cara Tannenbaum

Improved participation of older people with joint contractures living in nursing homes: feasibility of study procedures in a cluster-randomised pilot trial

Acquired joint contractures have a significant impact on functioning and quality of life in nursing home residents. There is very limited evidence on measures for prevention and treatment of disability due to ...

Authors: Susanne Saal, Hanna Klingshirn, Katrin Beutner, Ralf Strobl, Eva Grill, Martin Müller and Gabriele Meyer

Ovarian function after the use of various hemostatic techniques during treatment for endometrioma: protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Laparoscopic cystectomy is currently considered the gold standard for the treatment of ovarian endometrioma, resulting in an improvement in symptoms, a lower recurrence rate, and a higher pregnancy rate among ...

Authors: Raquel Silveira da Cunha Araujo, Sabina Bastos Maia, Clara Micalli Ferruzzi Baracat, Moisés Diogo Lima, Eduardo Sérgio Sousa Soares, Helizabet Salomão Abdalla Ayroza Ribeiro and Paulo Augusto Ayroza Galvão Ribeiro

Effects of neuromuscular training on pain intensity and self-reported functionality for patellofemoral pain syndrome in runners: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is common and affects approximately 15% of individuals at different ages and activity levels. As a non-surgical intervention, physiotherapy is widely used to treat PFPS. Neu...

Authors: Haoyu Hu, Yili Zheng, Xiaochen Liu, Di Gong, Changcheng Chen, Yizu Wang, Mengsi Peng, Bao Wu, Juan Wang, Ge Song, Juan Zhang, Jiabao Guo, Yulin Dong and Xueqiang Wang

Enhancing & Mobilizing the POtential for Wellness & Emotional Resilience (EMPOWER) among Surrogate Decision-Makers of ICU Patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Critical illness increases the risk for poor mental health outcomes among both patients and their informal caregivers, especially their surrogate decision-makers. Surrogates who must make life-and-death medica...

Authors: Holly G. Prigerson, Martin Viola, Chris R. Brewin, Christopher Cox, Daniel Ouyang, Madeline Rogers, Cynthia X. Pan, Shayna Rabin, Jiehui Xu, Susan Vaughan, Janna S. Gordon-Elliot, David Berlin, Lindsay Lief and Wendy G. Lichtenthal

The effect of a postpartum IUD intervention on counseling and choice: Evidence from a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge trial in Sri Lanka

The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), in collaboration with the Sri Lankan College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (SLCOG), launched an initiative in 2014 to institutionalize imme...

Authors: Mahesh Karra, Erin Pearson, Elina Pradhan, Ranjith de Silva, Arnjali Samarasekera, David Canning, Iqbal Shah, Deepal Weerasekera and Hemantha Senanayake

A novel mindful-compassion art therapy (MCAT) for reducing burnout and promoting resilience for end-of-life care professionals: a waitlist RCT protocol

End-of-life (EoL) care professionals are prone to burnout given the intense emotional nature of their work. Previous research supports the efficacy of art therapy in reducing work-related stress and enhancing ...

Authors: Andy Hau Yan Ho, Geraldine Tan-Ho, Thuy Anh Ngo, Grace Ong, Poh Heng Chong, Dennis Dignadice and Jordan Potash

Collaborative care for child and youth mental health problems in a middle-income country: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial training general practitioners

Child and youth mental health problems are leading causes of disability and particular problems in low- and middle-income countries where populations are young and child mental health services are in short sup...

Authors: Vandad Sharifi, Zahra Shahrivar, Hadi Zarafshan, Sheida Beiky Ashkezary, Elizabeth Stuart, Ramin Mojtabai and Lawrence Wissow

Investigating the effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing on pain intensity in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Unpleasant experience with the previous menstruation can increase the sensitivity to pain which may lead to moderate to severe pain in patients with dysmenorrhea. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing ...

Authors: Sahar Valedi, Zainab Alimoradi, Mohammad MoradiBaglooei, Amir H. Pakpour, Mehdi Ranjbaran and Venus Chegini

Comparison of effectiveness between warm acupuncture with local-distal points combination and local distribution points combination in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: a study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Lymphedema is the most common complication after breast cancer treatment, but management of lymphedema remains a clinical challenge. Several studies have reported the beneficial effect of acupuncture for treat...

Authors: Chien-Hung Yeh, Tian Yi Zhao, Mei Dan Zhao, Yue Wu, Yong Ming Guo, Zhan Yu Pan, Ren Wei Dong, Bo Chen, Bin Wang, Jing Rong Wen, Dan Li, Yi Guo and Xing Fang Pan

Learning to resist the urge: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial investigating alcohol-specific inhibition training in abstinent patients with alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) leads to a significant individual and societal burden. To achieve higher therapy success rates, therapeutic interventions still need to be improved. Most current neuroscientific conc...

Authors: Raphaela M. Tschuemperlin, Maria Stein, Hallie M. Batschelet, Franz Moggi and Leila M. Soravia

Development and evaluation of decision aids for people considering taking part in a clinical trial: a conceptual framework

Ethical requirements of informed consent stipulate that patients approached to participate in a clinical trial be provided with written information that must cover key aspects of the trial. For consent to be d...

Authors: Katie Gillies and Marion K. Campbell

Preoperative CT versus intraoperative hybrid DynaCT imaging for localization of small pulmonary nodules: a randomized controlled trial

Localization of small and/or deep pulmonary nodules before thoracoscopic exploration is paramount to minimize the likelihood of unplanned conversion to thoracotomy. As far as the percutaneous approach is conce...

Authors: Yin-Kai Chao, Kuang-Tse Pan, Chih-Tsung Wen, Hsin-Yueh Fang and Ming-Ju Hsieh

Analgesia effect of premixed nitrous oxide/oxygen during the rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

The morbidity of knee arthritis is increasing among aged people and total knee arthroplasty has been its mainstream treatment to date. Postoperative rehabilitation is an important part of the procedure. Howeve...

Authors: Ya-Liang Dai, Xiao-Min Chai, Ning Zhu, Kai-Bin Wang, Wen-Qiang Bao, Xue-Sen Zhang, Lu-Lu Gao, Qiang Liu, Dong-Mei Bao, Li-Ting Wang, Yi-Ling Wang, Jun-Jun Zhang, Yu-Xiang Li and Jian-Qiang Yu

Hypoglossal acupuncture for acute chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia in patients with breast cancer: study protocol of a randomized, sham-controlled trial

Distortion of taste sensations is a common chemotherapy-induced side effect; however, treatment evidence is limited. Pilot data indicated that acupuncture might be able to improve symptoms of dysgeusia. Thus, ...

Authors: Heidemarie Haller, Taige Wang, Romy Lauche, Kyung-Eun Choi, Petra Voiß, Sabine Felber, Holger Cramer, Beyhan Ataseven, Sherko Kümmel, Anna Paul and Gustav Dobos

Do mobile phone-based reminders and conditional financial transfers improve the timeliness of childhood vaccinations in Tanzania? Study protocol for a quasi-randomized controlled trial

Vaccination is a cost-effective strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years old. To be fully protected from diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio, child...

Authors: Jan Ostermann, Lavanya Vasudevan, Joy Noel Baumgartner, Esther Ngadaya and Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga

HIV-1 self-testing to improve the efficiency of pre-exposure prophylaxis delivery: a randomized trial in Kenya

The introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) prevention in Africa presents new challenges for health systems that are already overburdened because PrEP deliver...

Authors: Katrina F. Ortblad, John E. Kearney, Kenneth Mugwanya, Elizabeth M. Irungu, Jessica E. Haberer, Ruanne V. Barnabas, Deborah Donnell, Nelly Rwamba Mugo, Jared M. Baeten and Kenneth Ngure

Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of CBT vs antipsychotics vs both in 14–18-year-olds: Managing Adolescent first episode Psychosis: a feasibility study (MAPS)

Adolescent-onset psychosis is associated with more severe symptoms and poorer outcomes than adult-onset psychosis. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommend that adolescents with first ep...

Authors: Melissa Pyle, Matthew R. Broome, Emmeline Joyce, Graeme MacLennan, John Norrie, Daniel Freeman, David Fowler, Peter M. Haddad, David Shiers, Chris Hollis, Jo Smith, Ashley Liew, Rory E. Byrne, Paul French, Sarah Peters, Jemma Hudson…

Efficacy of electro-acupuncture and manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial

Acupuncture is widely used for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), despite contradictory evidence. This study is designed to determine the efficacy of electro-acupuncture and manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture ...

Authors: Jian-Feng Tu, Jing-Wen Yang, Li-Qiong Wang, Yang Wang, Jin-ling Li, Na Zhang, Lu-Lu Lin, Zhang-Sheng Yu and Cun-Zhi Liu

Inhaled methoxyflurane (Penthrox®) versus placebo for injury-associated analgesia in children—the MAGPIE trial (MEOF-002): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Pain from injuries is one of the commonest symptoms in children attending emergency departments (EDs), and this is often inadequately treated in both the pre-hospital and ED settings, in part due to challenges...

Authors: Stuart Hartshorn, Michael J. Barrett, Mark D. Lyttle, Sue Anne Yee and Alan T. Irvine

Foam sclerotherapy versus ambulatory phlebectomy for the treatment of varicose vein tributaries: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Ambulatory phlebectomies and foam sclerotherapy are two of the most common treatments for varicose vein tributaries. Many studies have been published on these treatments, but few comparative studies have attem...

Authors: Amjad Belramman, Roshan Bootun, Tristan R. A. Lane and Alun H. Davies

Analgesic efficacy of preemptive local wound infiltration plus laparoscopic-assisted transversus abdominis plane block versus wound infiltration in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection: study protocol for a randomized, multicenter, single-blind, noninferiority trial

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and wound infiltration (WI) are common locoregional anesthesia techniques for pain management in patients undergoing colorectal laparoscopic surgery. Comparative data be...

Authors: Corrado Pedrazzani, Soo Yeun Park, Giovanni Scotton, Jun Seok Park, Hye Jin Kim, Enrico Polati, Alfredo Guglielmi and Gyu Seog Choi

Do antibacterial skin sutures reduce surgical site infections after elective open abdominal surgery? - Study protocol of a prospective, randomized controlled single center trial

Surgical site infections (SSI) remain one of the most common complications in conventional abdominal surgery with an incidence between 4% and 19% (Sandini et al., Medicine (Baltimore) 95:e4057, 2016) in the li...

Authors: Daniel Matz, Saskia Teuteberg, Andrea Wiencierz, Savas Deniz Soysal and Oleg Heizmann

Fimasartan versus perindopril with and without diuretics in the treatment of elderly patients with essential hypertension (Fimasartan in the Senior Subjects (FITNESS)): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, even in the elderly. Fimasartan is a new non-peptide angiotensin II receptor blocker with a selective type I receptor blocking effect. The o...

Authors: Min-gu Kang, Kwang-il Kim, Sang Hyun Ihm, Moo-Yong Rhee, Il Suk Sohn, Hae-Young Lee, Sungha Park, Eun-Seok Jeon, Jong-Min Song, Wook Bum Pyun, Ki-Chul Sung, Moo Hyun Kim, Sang-Hyun Kim, Seok-Yeon Kim, Shin-Jae Kim, Eung Ju Kim…

PULSE-I - Is rePetitive Upper Limb SEnsory stimulation early after stroke feasible and acceptable? A stratified single-blinded randomised controlled feasibility study

Reduction in sensorimotor function of the upper limb is a common and persistent impairment after stroke, and less than half of stroke survivors recover even basic function of the upper limb after a year. Previ...

Authors: Kausik Chatterjee, Rachel C. Stockley, Steven Lane, Caroline Watkins, Katy Cottrell, Brenda Ankers, Sioned Davies, Mary Fisher Morris, Nick Fallon and Turo Nurmikko

Adverse effects of xenogenic scaffolding in the context of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study for repairing full-thickness rotator cuff tears

The purpose of the study was to compare the safety and efficacy of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) embedded in a xenogenic scaffold for repairing the supraspinatus tendon.

Authors: José Ramón Lamas, Carlos García-Fernández, Pilar Tornero-Esteban, Yaiza Lópiz, Luis Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Luis Ortega, Benjamín Fernández-Gutiérrez and Fernando Marco

Piloting and evaluating feasibility of a training program to improve patient safety for inter-professional inpatient care teams – study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial

Improving patient safety is a major goal in healthcare systems worldwide. There are several international training programs to improve patient safety, but they are often focused on single topics and profession...

Authors: Julia Dinius, Antje Hammer, Tanja Manser, Corinna Bergelt, Levente Kriston and Mirjam Körner

Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations (CUES©) to address intolerance of uncertainty in autistic children: study protocol for an intervention feasibility trial

Anxiety is a common diagnosis in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One key mechanism underlying anxiety is intolerance of uncertainty, which is a tendency to react negatively on an emotional, cogni...

Authors: Jacqui Rodgers, Jane Goodwin, Jeremy R. Parr, Victoria Grahame, Catharine Wright, John Padget, Deborah Garland, Malcolm Osborne, Marie Labus, Ashleigh Kernohan and Mark Freeston

Safety of early oral feeding after total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (SOFTLY): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths and has the fifth highest incidence worldwide, especially in eastern Asia, central and Eastern Europe, and South America. Currently, surge...

Authors: Quan Wang, Bo-Yang Guo, Qing-Chuan Zhao, Zun-Dong Yan, Li-Feng Shang, Juan Yu and Gang Ji

Multicentre Randomised trial of Acute Stroke treatment in the Ambulance with a nitroglycerin Patch (MR ASAP): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Some studies have suggested that transdermal administration of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN; nitroglycerin) in the first few hours after symptom onset increases the chance of a favourable outcome after ischaemic s...

Authors: Sophie A. van den Berg, Diederik W. J. Dippel, Jeannette Hofmeijer, Puck S. S. Fransen, Klaartje Caminada, Arjen Siegers, Nyika D. Kruyt, Henk Kerkhoff, Frank-Erik de Leeuw, Paul J. Nederkoorn and H. Bart van der Worp

Self-administered acupressure for allergic rhinitis: study protocol for a randomized, single-blind, non-specific controlled, parallel trial

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated inflammatory disease. Current conventional therapies for AR are unsatisfactory. Acupuncture has been recommended as an optional treatment for AR patients who are inter...

Authors: Yaqun Liang, George Binh Lenon and Angela Wei Hong Yang

Letter in response to: “Randomised open label exploratory, safety and tolerability study with calmangafodipir in patients treated with the 12-h regimen of N acetylcysteine for paracetamol overdose—the PP100-01 for Overdose of Paracetamol (POP) trial: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial”

Authors: Jan Olof G. Karlsson, Per Jynge, Ingemar Lundström and Louis J. Ignarro