Clinical Research Directory

2D:4D Ratio vs Semen Parameters

The aim of this study evaluate the relationship between sperm count and the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) in male patients. Additionally, the associations between body mass index, hormonal profile, hand morphometric measurements, and semen parameters were investigated. Study hypotheses: H1. There is a significant relationship between the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and sperm count in male patients. H2. There is a significant relationship between body mass index (BMI) and semen parameters in male patients. H3. There is a significant relationship between hormonal profile and semen parameters in male patients. H4. There is a significant relationship between hand morphometric measurements and semen parameters in male patients. H5. There is a significant relationship between the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and hormonal profile in male patients.

Randomized Non-inferiority Within-Patient Trial of Density Gradient Processing of Sequential Ejaculates Versus Centrifugation-free Sperm Separation Device for ICSI in Men With Elevated Sperm DNA Fragmentation.

Elevated SDF can adversely impact fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ICSI cycles. Two pragmatic strategies aim to reduce SDF on the day of ICSI: (i) obtaining a second ejaculate shortly after the first to reduce oxidative damage and transit time; and (ii) selecting sperm via centrifugation-free sperm separation device, which enriches for motile sperm with intact DNA. There are limited direct comparisons between these strategies; this study addresses that gap.

Wild Blueberries for Gut, Brain, and Heart Health in Adults With High Blood Pressure

The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of wild blueberries on cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and gut microbiota composition in non-Hispanic Black and White adults with elevated blood pressure.

Effect of Probiotics on Appetite Regulation in Adults With Overweight/Obesity

The goal of this 16-week randomised, placebo-controlled parallel study is to investigate the effect of a newly formed probiotic supplement on satiety and gut microbiota composition in healthy men and women with overweight or obesity form 20-70 years old. The main question it aims to answer is: Does the probiotic supplement increase feelings of satiety and alter gut microbiota composition? Participants will: * Receive a daily dose of 6 g probiotic supplement (packed in sachets of 3 g) or placebo for 16 weeks. * Visit the research unit 3 times at baseline, week 8 and week 16 of the intervention for blood draws and delivering fecal samples. * Keep a study diary to report deviations from their daily habits and fill in food questionnaires.

A Study on the Effects of Instability Resistance Training on Dynamic Balance and Rapid Change-of-Direction Ability in College Basketball Recruits

This experiment aims to investigate the effects of unstable resistance training on the dynamic balance ability and rapid directional change mobility of college basketball majors, while comparing it with traditional resistance training to analyze the statistical differences between the two in enhancing the dynamic balance ability and rapid directional change mobility of the majors-Parazacco spilurus subsp. spilurus-and to explore the underlying reasons, thereby opening new research avenues for improving the dynamic balance ability and rapid directional change mobility of college majors.

Sex-difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training

Sex-Difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training Given the importance of muscular strength for athletic performance as well as for daily activities in the general population-including clinical populations-and the lack of data in both men and women, the aim of this study is to compare neuromuscular, intramuscular, and systemic adaptations in men and women in response to both acute and chronic resistance exercise. Specifically, the investigators will test the hypotheses that: the neuromuscular response to resistance exercise, including corticospinal excitability and motor unit activation patterns, differs between men and women; the hormonal response and exosome release following resistance exercise are reduced in women compared to men. Participants (n = 15 per group) will follow a supervised resistance training program for 8 weeks. Neuromuscular function of the knee extensor muscles, body composition, intramuscular adaptations, as well as blood profiles (hormonal and metabolic) and exosomes will be assessed before and after a single resistance exercise session and after the training period. This protocol will allow determination of both the acute and long-term effects of resistance exercise. Women's participation in sports is increasing, yet research in this area remains very limited. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms by which resistance training-a non-pharmacological and low-cost strategy-may induce different adaptations in men and women, and, where appropriate, to contribute to the development of sex-specific recommendations to maximize the health benefits of resistance training.

Effects of L-lysine on Adrenal Secretion

Data from the literature and previous in vitro research conducted in the investigators' laboratory (INSERM U413/EA4310, University of Rouen) suggest that adrenal corticosteroid secretion might be controlled by a paracrine mechanism involving serotonin type IV receptor (5-HT 4). L-lysine, a common amino-acid has been shown to act as a 5-HT4 agonist in vitro as well as in vivo. In the present physiology trial, plasma aldosterone and cortisol levels will be measured under treatment with aprepitant versus placebo, in both basal conditions and after activation of the adrenocortical function by various stimuli, including upright posture, metoclopramide, and after a 3 days salt-free diet. All healthy volunteers will be given two substances (L-lysine and placebo) in a random order during two 13 days periods separated by a 14 day-wash-out. This study should allow to determine the role of 5-HT4 receptors in the control of corticosteroid production in normal man.

A Comparative Bioavailability Study of Tamsulosin 0.4 mg Prolonged-release Tablets Versus the Reference Drug Omnic Ocas®, Tamsulosin 0.4 mg Tablets, in Healthy Adult Male Subjects, Under Fed Conditions

The aim of this study is to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of Tamsulosin hydrochloride 0.4 mg, prolonged-release tablets (Synthon Hispania SL, Spain), compared to Omnic Ocas®, Tamsulosin hydrochloride 0,4 mg, prolonged-release film-coated tablets (Astellas Pharma Europe B.V., the Netherlands), after single dose administration in healthy adult male subjects under fed conditions.

Emulsion 8-Week Anti-acne Efficacy Clinical Study

65 male and female adult subjects will be enrolled in the study, recruited according to inclusion and non-inclusion criteria listed below, at least 60 subjects should complete questionnaire, at least 40 of them should complete clinical assessment, instrumental measurement and image capture. 20 of them should complete lipid sample collection, and at least 30 of them should complete the RCM captured.

Atraumatic Zirconia Abutment Versus Customized Composite Healing Abutment in Maxilla or Mandible.

40 patients are included in the study, 20 patients in group 1 (=closure with composite material shaper; test group) and 20 patients in group 2 (=closure with custom-made zirconia oxide abutment; control group). Randomisation envelopes will be used for randomisation. Device under study: Straumann BLX, Roxolid® , SLActive® dental implants with a diameter of 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5 mm are used. Allogenic bone botiss maxgraft® cortical granules are used as graft material. Inclusion criteria: 1. Males and females at least 18 years of age or older. 2. One implant per patient. 3. Prior to any study-related activity, the subject must voluntarily sign informed consent, be willing and able to attend scheduled follow-up visits, and agree to the collection and analysis of pseudonymised data. 4. Lateral individual teeth (premolars and molars). 5. Class I extraction socket (intact buccal wall) or class II (1/3 of buccal wall). 6. The gingival contour of the tooth to be extracted - without recession. 7. Adjacent anterior teeth have no periodontal loss. 8. There are no implants in the adjacent teeth. 9. Non-traumatic tooth extraction, which results in intact walls of the socket. Exclusion criteria: 1. Deep occlusion (severe, class II). 2. The patient smokes a lot (more than 10 cigarettes per day). 3. Systemic disease (osteoporosis). 4. No initial stability has been achieved after the implant insertion procedure.

Gender-specific Evaluation of Symptom Awareness in Female Versus Male Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis

The objectives of this single center cross-sectional cohort study are to compare symptoms and disease perception of male and female patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Clinical Performance of Urine HPV Testing in Males

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most prevalent viral infections of the genital tract, primarily transmitted through sexual contact. Research indicates that individuals engaging in sexual activity have a lifetime probability of HPV infection as high as 85% to 90%. While extensive and in-depth investigations have been conducted on HPV infection in women, epidemiological studies focusing on male HPV infection remain relatively scarce. Many men with HPV are asymptomatic; reports suggest that approximately 10.5% of men in China are infected with HPV, yet only about 1% exhibit related symptoms. This substantial population of asymptomatic and unaware patients poses significant challenges for the prevention and control efforts regarding HPV in China. Furthermore, evidence suggests an association between HPV infection and conditions such as condyloma acuminatum, penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN), penile cancer (PA), and even infertility among male patients. In current clinical practice, detection of HPV typically involves collecting exfoliated cells from the external genitalia via swabs. The discomfort associated with this sampling method and its procedural complexity often deter many asymptomatic men from undergoing penile swab testing for HPV, resulting in low compliance rates. Self-sampling urine tests offer advantages including convenience, ease of use, painlessness, and non-invasiveness; thus they may serve as a viable alternative approach. In prior research endeavors, we successfully established a detection system utilizing female urine samples for identifying HPV presence. Consequently, this study aims to further refine this detection system to develop a stable and reliable methodology for detecting HPV using self-collected urine samples from males. Through this investigation not only do we seek to validate the feasibility of employing self-collected urine samples for detecting male HPV infections but also assess the accuracy and practicality of home-based self-testing methods among subjects-ultimately providing novel strategies for male-specific HPV detection

SEx-specific Differences in Cardiac Surgery Patients (SECS).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences between females and males undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators will look at perioperative factors such as adaption of body weight, previous medical history, pharmacokinetics, transfusion, coagulation, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) related factors, cardiac function, inotropic requirements, risk, and outcome scores as well as morbidity and mortality at sort-term (within 30 days) and long-term (90 days and 1 year).

Towards a Sex-specific "Female Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery'' (F-ERAS) Pathway:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences between men and women undergoing cardiac surgery. We will look at perioperative factors such as body weight, body surface area, previous medical history, pharmacokinetics, transfusion, coagulation, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) related factors, cardiac function, inotropic requirements, risk, and outcome scores as well as morbidity and mortality at 30 and 90 days, 1, 5, and 10 years.

Efficacy of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Tailor-Made Notched Music Therapy Versus Tailor-made Notched Music Training for Chronic Subjective Tinnitus

This clinical study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat sen University was the central unit, and Nanjing First Hospital, Sun Yat Sen people's Hospital, Guanfzhou Panyu central Hospital and Zhuhai integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine hospital were the cooperative units. In this study, 388 patients with chronic subjective tinnitus were recruited. In view of chronic subjective tinnitus, a common ear disease, the study gave the patients three months of treatment with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation paired with tailor-made notched music therapy or tailor-made notched music training alone. By comparing the changes of subjective scale scores related to tinnitus before and after treatment in patients receiving two different therapies, such as THI, VAS, BAI, BDI, PSQI, to evaluate the efficacy of the two therapies, so as to judge whether transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation paired with tailor-made notched music therapy is better than tailor-made notched music training alone. In addition, the study will continue to follow up the patients after the treatment for one year to observe the difference in the long-term sustained efficacy of the two therapies. This clinical study will also evaluate the two therapies from the perspective of compliance and safety, and explore the factors that affect the efficacy of the two therapies.