Clinical Research Directory

The Acupuncture Treatment Effect in Patients With Schizophrenia

Among various psychiatric disorders, this study focuses specifically on patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on antipsychotic medication-related side effects and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. This is a single-blind randomized study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Neiguan and Shenmen. Both the Neiguan and Shenmen groups will receive acupuncture treatment twice weekly, with each session lasting 30 minutes, for a total of four consecutive weeks. Assessments will be conducted prior to acupuncture intervention and after each acupuncture session. All assessment data will be collected and analyzed using statistical methods including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE-I) and multiple linear regression analyses will be applied to examine differences in psychological health, quality of life, and happiness before and after acupuncture intervention. It is anticipated that acupuncture will reduce antipsychotic-related side effects, improve psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and subsequently enhance patients' quality of life and happiness.

School-Based Mental Health Education on Mental Health Literacy Among Adolescents

The goal of this clinical trial was to learn whether a single interactive mental health education session improves mental health literacy among senior high school students in a remote area on the Indonesia-Malaysia land border (Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia). The main question was whether students who attended the session would score higher on the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire immediately afterwards than students who received a printed leaflet, after accounting for their scores before the activity. Researchers compared intact classes that attended the session with classes that received a printed mental health leaflet. Participants completed the questionnaire before the activity, then either attended one face-to-face session of about 60 minutes or received the leaflet, and completed the same questionnaire again immediately afterwards on the same day. This record was registered after data collection had been completed.

A Natural History of Cardiometabolic Disease Among US Bhutanese: Developing the Cross-Sectional Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study to Understand Acculturation as Synergizing Socioenvironmental and Biobehavioral Risk Factors Propagating ...

Background: As of 2021, almost 45 million people in the United States were foreign-born immigrants. South Asians, including people from Bhutan, are the fastest-growing immigrant subgroup in the US. Their income and education levels are higher than the US average. Yet they have worse physical and mental health outcomes than their White US-born counterparts. These risks include type 2 diabetes and obesity. Objective: This natural history study will explore how life experiences and environmental factors affect heart health and metabolism among Bhutanese people living in the US. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older who identify as Bhutanese and live in the US. Design: Participants will be recruited and screened by the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO). They will have 1 visit to the BCCO s Arogya Clinic in Reynoldsburg. The visit will last 2 hours. Participants will take a survey; they may use either English or Nepali. They will answer questions about their background; their experiences living in the US; and how their customs and habits might have changed. They will also be asked about their experiences with discrimination; their mental health and well-being; their community; quality of life; and overall physical health. The survey will take 60 minutes. Participants will also speak with a researcher. They will be asked how they feel about providing biological samples; these may include saliva, blood, and urine. Their answers will be audio recorded.

Intervention to Reduce HIV Related Stigma Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Purpose of this Study: The main purpose of this study is to adapt an existing evidence-based intervention, Project Accept Post-Test Support Services (PTSS) Module 3, specifically for pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (WLWH) in Ghana. The adapted intervention aims to reduce HIV-related stigma and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, among this vulnerable population. Why was this study done? (Background): HIV-related stigma is a major obstacle for women living with HIV, particularly pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), hindering their engagement in HIV care and adherence to ART. This contributes to poor health outcomes, including inadequate viral suppression, depression, and an ongoing risk of HIV transmission to their children and sexual partners. While effective HIV stigma-reduction interventions exist for the general adult population living with HIV, there is a critical lack of tailored interventions for pregnant and postpartum WLWH in SSA. This study addresses this gap by adapting a proven intervention (Project Accept PTSS Module 3), which has shown success in reducing stigma and improving outcomes in other populations, for this specific group in Ghana, where HIV-related stigma remains disproportionately high. Who participated in this study? (Target Population): This study will involve several groups: Pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV: 30 women will participate in in-depth interviews to share their experiences with stigma and HIV care. HIV care providers: 20 providers will participate in in-depth interviews to offer their perspectives on stigma and care provision. Stakeholders: This group will include HIV care providers, program administrators/directors, and pregnant and postpartum women. They will collaborate in the iterative process of adapting the intervention. Pregnant women living with HIV (for feasibility testing): 90 pregnant women will be randomized, with half receiving the adapted intervention and half receiving standard care, to assess the intervention's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact. What happened in this study? (Intervention/Methods): This 3-year study has three main aims: Understanding Stigma Experiences: Researchers will describe the experiences of stigma and HIV care from the perspectives of pregnant and postpartum WLWH and compare them with providers' experiences. This will involve longitudinal data collection and in-depth interviews to understand how stigma affects women's health, clinical care (e.g., provider discrimination, ART adherence), and mental health over time. Intervention Adaptation: Project Accept PTSS Module 3 will be adapted specifically for pregnant and postpartum WLWH using the ADAPT-ITT framework. This involves an iterative process with stakeholders to ensure the intervention is culturally and gender-appropriate, enhancing its acceptability for the target population. Feasibility and Preliminary Impact Assessment: The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted intervention. Ninety pregnant women will be randomly assigned to either receive the intervention or continue with standard care. Researchers will then estimate the intervention's potential impact on anticipated and internalized HIV-related stigma (primary outcomes), as well as ART adherence and symptoms of anxiety and depression (secondary outcomes). What were the results of this study? (Outcomes): As a preliminary and adaptation study, this research aims to: Provide essential data to inform and justify a larger, fully-powered randomized clinical trial to rigorously evaluate the adapted intervention's effectiveness. Identify potential indicators associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Develop a model that can be applied to other Sub-Saharan African countries facing similar challenges. Foster new collaborations focused on HIV-related stigma among women in Ghana. Build research capacity among researchers in sub-Saharan Africa. What are the side effects of the treatments in this study? (Safety): This study focuses on a behavioral intervention (a support and counseling module) rather than a drug or medical treatment. Therefore, typical physical side effects associated with medications are not expected. The intervention aims to improve well-being and health outcomes by addressing psychosocial factors. Any adverse events or discomfort experienced by participants will be carefully monitored and addressed in accordance with ethical guidelines. What are the conclusions of this study? (Implications/Future Plans): The findings from this study are expected to demonstrate the feasibility and potential impact of a culturally and gender-tailored HIV stigma-reduction intervention for pregnant and postpartum WLWH in Ghana. This research will be foundational for launching a larger-scale clinical trial to definitively test the intervention's efficacy.

Sibling Caregiver CMC Pilot Study

Children with medical complexity require intense caregiving from their parents and other health care providers, such as family doctors and medical specialists. These children have complex and lifelong medical conditions, and can be dependent on technology to help them breathe, move, or eat. From a young age, siblings of children with medical complexity typically assume caregiving roles to support their families. Caregiving may be associated with increased depression and anxiety in siblings, disruptions in routine, parental neglect, and constant changes. There is a gap in research on, and supports for, the mental health of these siblings. The goal of this study is to understand how to best support the mental health of siblings of children with medical complexity. A new model of support that involves measuring mental health symptoms in siblings age 10-17 through surveys and a mental health assessment conducted by social workers was created. Siblings who need support can be referred to social work and child psychiatry services that are integrated in the health care team the family already has a relationship with. By using screening and built-in supports, the investigators hope to create a pathway for siblings that is easy to access and proactive. Social workers can provide talk therapy to help siblings manage difficult emotions. Psychiatrists can provide a medical diagnosis if the sibling meets the criteria for an illness such as depression or anxiety. Psychiatrists can also recommend medications or resources to help siblings manage symptoms. This is a pilot study, meaning the investigators are exploring a new model and would like to gather more information on whether it is realistic to run this model, whether siblings will use it, and to gather information on sibling mental health patterns. The investigators will also be interviewing siblings so they can share their experiences with caregiving and any challenges with mental health support. Findings from this study can inform a larger, more robust study to measure how effective the model is compared to normal care. While sibling research is new, the investigators have already conducted a similar study where this model was tested on parents of children with medical complexity. The investigators found parents used the model and were linked to supports quickly.

Reducing Stigma and Building Employability Skills for Young People With HIV in Zambia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a program called Kupambana can improve mental health and HIV care outcomes in young people with HIV in Zambia by combining stigma-reduction support with financial and job-skills training. The main questions it aims to answer are whether Kupambana is feasible and acceptable to young people with HIV and whether it improves mental health, reduces stigma, and improves progress along the HIV care continuum, such as staying in care and taking HIV medicine as prescribed. Researchers will compare young people who participate in Kupambana with those who receive a one-time financial literacy training session (usual care) to determine whether Kupambana leads to greater improvements in stigma, mental health, and HIV care outcomes. Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire and then be randomly assigned to either the Kupambana program or the one-time financial literacy training. Those assigned to Kupambana will attend eight weekly peer-led support group sessions focused on reducing HIV- and poverty-related stigma, receive a voucher for technical and vocational education and training, and attend a one-time financial literacy session. Those assigned to the comparison group will attend only the one-time financial literacy session. All participants will complete follow-up surveys at the end of the program and again 3 and 6 months later.

This Study Tests the Development and Efficacy of a Kindness Focused Intervention on University Students in Islamabad. It Aims to See the Impact of This Intervention on the Psychosocial Well-being of These Emerging Adults.

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the development and efficacy of an evidence-based kindness intervention. By focusing on university students in Islamabad, this research aims to determine whether a positive psychology intervention centered on practicing intentional acts, emotions and thoughts of kindness can serve as an accessible mental health tool. Ultimately, the study seeks to understand if this program can successfully enhance the psychosocial well-being of young adults navigating the unique psychological, social, and personal pressures of university life. This study attempts to answer the following central question: What is the impact and efficacy of a developed kindness intervention on the psychosocial well-being of emerging adults, particularly university students in Islamabad?

The Impact of Equine-Assisted Therapy on Mental Health and Addictive Behaviors in Patients Receiving Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a major public health issue. According to the World Health Organization (2024), approximately 400 million people worldwide suffer from alcohol- or drug-related disorders, resulting in nearly 3.2 million deaths per year. In France, the situation is also cause for concern: approximately three million people engage in risky alcohol consumption, thirteen million smoke daily, and nearly one and a half million use illicit drugs, primarily cannabis. Addiction, defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder, is characterized by the compulsive pursuit and use of a substance despite knowledge of its harmful effects. Its development depends on multiple factors: personal (trauma, psychiatric disorders, genetic predispositions), environmental (stress, isolation, family context), and those related to the substance itself (addictive potential). The diagnosis of substance use disorders is based on 11 criteria defined in the \*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders\* (DSM-5), the main ones being: loss of self-control, interference of substance use with academic or occupational activities, continued use despite awareness of the problems it causes, and a new central criterion, craving, defined as an irresistible urge to use, which serves as both a symptom and a diagnostic and prognostic marker because it is a predictor of relapse. The cumulative total of criteria allows the disorder to be classified as mild (2-3), moderate (4-5), or severe (≤ 6). Since the 2020 health crisis, researchers have observed an increase in the use of psychoactive substances, particularly among vulnerable populations. Despite public policy efforts and treatment programs, relapses remain common after treatment, affecting 60 to 70% of patients within six months of their hospitalization. This phenomenon is also observed at La Musse Hospital, where many patients admitted to the nutrition and alcoholism unit express a sense of emptiness upon returning home: a void in relationships, therapy, and daily activities. This feeling often contributes to a return to substance use. To address these relapses, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a post-hospitalization equine-assisted therapy program on the mental health and addictive behaviors of patients receiving addiction treatment. Already used at La Musse Hospital as part of the care pathway, equine-assisted therapy is based on the interaction between the patient and the horse in a therapeutic setting. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of this approach on emotional regulation, self-confidence, stress management, and overall well-being. This prospective, single-center, interventional study will include twenty-two patients who have been hospitalized at least once in the nutrition and alcoholism unit at La Musse Hospital or another facility. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a group receiving post-hospitalization equine-assisted therapy or a control group.

Building Resilience Through Anxiety Virtual Education in PICU Survivors

Survivors of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admissions often experience adverse mental health consequences, either as a result of, or associated with, their intensive care stay. Evidence-based digital cognitive behavioral therapy (dCBT) tools exist for both children and parents to learn cognitive behavioral strategies. In this feasibility study, we aim to measure the adoption and acceptability of a dCBT tool among PICU survivors and their parents. We hypothesize that \>50% of subjects will meet completion criteria for these programs, and that we will observe a trend toward improved anxiety scores.

Enlace Familiar: Supporting the Mental Health of Latino Adolescents

The goal of this clinical trial is to pilot and evaluate Enlace Familiar, a culturally responsive intervention designed to support Latino adolescents in discussing their mental health needs with caregivers or other trusted adults. The study will examine the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and examine its potential impact on mental health communication among Latino adolescents ages 14-18 experiencing mental health concerns. Participants will be randomized into two groups, with 32 adolescents assigned to the Enlace Familiar intervention and 32 adolescents assigned to a control condition. The intervention will be implemented in partnership with community health workers (CHWs), who will serve as culturally relevant facilitators. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Is Enlace Familiar feasible and acceptable for Latino adolescents when delivered by CHWs? 2. Does participation in Enlace Familiar improve adolescents' discussions of mental health needs with caregivers or other trusted adults? Participants will: * Complete baseline assessments related to mental health communication, attitudes toward mental health, mental health literacy, and engagement in mental health services. * Participate in the Enlace Familiar intervention, delivered by trained CHWs. * Complete follow-up assessments to evaluate changes in primary and secondary outcomes. * Participate in qualitative interviews or feedback activities to provide information about the acceptability and perceived usefulness of the intervention. Researchers will use a mixed methods design to evaluate intervention feasibility and acceptability and to explore preliminary changes in adolescent mental health communication following participation in the intervention.

Pilot Study to Co-create and Implement a Multicomponent Intervention to Reduce Mental Health Stigma in Primary Care

Most people turn first to primary care when they experience emotional distress. Mental health stigma can influence how symptoms are understood, the care people receive, and the trust between professionals and patients. ODISSEA is a pilot study that will co-create and test a practical training intervention designed to help primary care teams reduce mental health stigma in everyday practice. The program combines brief narratives from people with lived experience of mental health problems, guided reflection, and practical digital or audiovisual materials adapted to busy primary care settings. The intervention will be implemented in at least six primary care centers, and changes in mental health-related attitudes, practice-oriented knowledge, and perceived usefulness will be assessed. Focus groups with professionals and interviews with people with lived experience will explore perceived usefulness, needed adaptations, barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for improvement. The results will support the development of an optimized and transferable training package for potential integration into continuing professional education within the Catalan health system and scientific societies.

Women s Health Awareness Community Resiliency, Environmental Action and Collaborations for Health (REACH)

Background: Inequalities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in under-studied, under-represented, and under-reported groups of people are severe. A growing number of studies have assessed the impact of individual risk factors. But few studies have assessed which factors are the greatest drivers of COVID-19 disparities from a wider perspective. Objective: To understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on minority women and their families to assist in developing community-based programs to help in recovery. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 and older who reside in North Carolina. Design: Participants will take a 45-minute online survey. The survey will cover their demographics, community, health, lifestyle, household, and environment. Participants may choose to have tests. They may visit the Clinical Research Unit. They may also have a home visit for these tests. In some cases, they may mail samples to the study team in prepaid envelopes. Participants may take an optional 15 minute survey about their reproductive history. Participants may give a blood sample. Participants may give a urine sample. They will fill out a log and return with their sample. Participants may give saliva samples. Participants may give toenail samples from each toe. Participants may give dust samples. They will be given 8 alcohol swabs. Two will be for testing. They will be asked to swipe a total of 3 door frames. Each door frame should be in a different room of the house. Participants may be given silicone wristbands to wear for 1 week. This is to measure their exposure to air pollutants. Participants may be contacted in the future for follow-up. They may be contacted by phone, email, or letter.

Inflammatory Pathways Modulated by Prenatal Mindfulness: A Route to Improve Maternal Child Emotional Well Being and Whole Person Health

The goal of this study is to investigate inflammation as the biological mechanism by which mindfulness based cognitive therapy for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) administered during pregnancy improves women's emotional well-being and whole person health index during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Secondarily the investigative team will determine if MBCT-PD administered during pregnancy improves the physical health and emotional well-being of the developing child.

MOms in REcovery (MORE) Study: Defining Optimal Care

Northern New England has among the highest rates of opioid dependence in the U.S. This region also has among the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the U.S., with a disproportionate high rate among pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Newborns impacted by OUD have increased risk of poor outcomes, including preterm birth and long hospitalization for neonatal withdrawal and other newborn complications. For pregnant women with OUD, medication treatment (MOUD) significantly reduces these risks. Many maternity care providers have begun to prescribe MOUD in their practices. Other practices have maintained the longstanding evidence-based standard of care, referral of patients with OUD to specialty treatment programs. Most pregnant women with OUD have other psychosocial needs, ranging from lack of housing and untreated mental health conditions, to need for parenting education and support. There is variability among practices in terms of types of other services provided to patients. Although pregnancy is a time when women are highly motivated to start MOUD, many women are also likely to discontinue MOUD postpartum due to loss of insurance coverage, difficulty transitioning to another provider, loss of motivation for treatment, or competing demands on time and resources as a new parent. The challenge for patients, providers, and other stakeholders is to understand the relative advantage of the two MOUD models (receiving MOUD as part of maternity care or at a specialty program) for improving key outcomes for baby \& mother. A second challenge is to understand the relative contributions of onsite services such as mental health care, care coordination and parenting education to improved outcomes. Addressing these challenges is particularly important in rural areas where obstetric practices \& specialty care services are limited. Patients, providers \& other stakeholders need guidance in choosing the optimal models for building programs to provide maternity care for women with OUD.

The Effect of MIND-BE Program on Mental Health Parameters (Mindfulness Based Empowerment)

This study will be carried out in a prospective (pre-test, post-test, and 3-month and 6-month follow-up), randomized controlled (parallel), experimental order in order to examine the effect of the MIND-BE program applied to intensive care nurses on mental health parameters. The hypothesis of this study is that MIND-BE program increases resilience, posttraumatic growth, mindfulness, self-compassion levels, and reduces mental symptoms.

Chatbot Effectiveness for Improving Mental Health and Reducing Stress in Nursing Students

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using a chatbot to improve mental health and reduce stress among nursing students during their internships. The study will be conducted through convenient sampling of nursing students from a technology university in southern Taiwan. Students will be divided into experimental and control groups to compare differences in mental health and stress levels after receiving support from the chatbot. Expected outcomes include gaining a better understanding of the fundamental characteristics of nursing students and their mental health and stress levels during internships. The results are expected to demonstrate that the chatbot can aid nursing students in handling typical internship issues, stress, and challenges, as well as in accessing mental health resources.

Development & Validation of a Life Balance Program for Parents of Preschoolers: A Pilot Study

This study aims to examine the relationships among life balance, parenting stress, and mental health in parents of preschool children, and to develop an individualized life balance promotion program for this population. Parents of preschool children will be recruited to support program development and to evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness.

A Community-based, Peer-led Counseling Service: A Hybrid Type 3 Effectiveness-implementation Study

The goal of this observational study is to learn how a community-based peer counselling service works in everyday practice and whether it helps people who are going through a psychologically difficult time. Peer counsellors are trained people with their own lived experience of mental health problems. The service, Peerberatung St. Gallen, already exists in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It offers up to six one-hour counselling sessions per year per client. The study does not change the service or decide who receives it. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Do clients report changes in their personal recovery, well-being and stress after using the service? * How do clients experience the counseling, and what do they find helpful? * How is the service put into practice, and how do peer counsellors and partner organizations view it? Clients who use the service will: * Fill out an anonymous questionnaire at the start of counseling and again after their last session * Be invited to take part in an interview about their experience Peer counsellors and staff of partner organizations will: \- Fill out a questionnaire about how acceptable, appropriate and practical they find the service Be invited to take part in group discussions (peers) or interviews (staff of organizations)

Effectiveness of the Self-Control Module of a Positive Mental Health Promotion Programme for Adult Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the self-control module of the Mentis Plus+ Positive Mental Health Promotion Programme for Caregivers (Mentis Plus+ Caregivers), compared with usual care, in improving positive mental health among adult informal caregivers of people with dementia. The secondary objectives are to assess the programme's effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, as well caregiver burden, compared with usual care.

The Health Literacy for Healthier Mind Study

Health literacy is critical for patient safety, quality of care, and long-term health outcomes, yet health professionals often lack the support, time, and tools to deliver health literacy-sensitive care (health literacy sensitivity is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes health professionals require to effectively meet patients' health literacy needs). Building on a successful feasibility study showing that a targeted intervention can enhance health literacy sensitivity and teamwork without harming mental or occupational well-being. The Health Literacy for Healthier Minds study will build on these positive results and test a scalable, multi-component intervention in four Norwegian hospitals. The study aims to strengthen health professionals' health literacy sensitivity, safeguard their mental and occupational well-being, and explore patients' experiences with health literacy-sensitive care.

Mental Health Resources and Employability in Healthcare

This interventional study evaluates the effectiveness of two 8-week self-regulation training programs (coaching-based and mindfulness-based) designed to enhance mental health and employability resources among healthcare workers (HCWs). Participants are allocated into two intervention arms based on their baseline level of anxiety (GAD-7). The study applies a non-randomized controlled pre-test/post-test design. The primary outcome is change in employability. Secondary outcomes include mental health indicators, such as perceived stress, anxiety, psychological well-being, and self-regulation. Baseline assessment was conducted in Week 1, the post-test in Week 10, and a follow-up assessment in Week 17. Additionally, qualitative feedback was collected to explore participants' subjective experiences with the interventions.

Optimizing HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Women Who Use Drugs in Tanzania

This study is testing two different approaches to help women who use drugs in Tanzania take and continue using HIV prevention medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Women who use drugs face a higher risk of HIV infection, but many do not start or continue PrEP due to barriers like stigma, mental health challenges, and lack of support. The study will enroll 200 women who use drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These women will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Motivational Interviewing for PrEP (MI-PrEP) Only - Women in this group will receive two one-hour counseling sessions focused on HIV prevention, PrEP education, and problem-solving to help the women start and continue using PrEP. Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) + MI-PrEP - Women in this group will receive the same MI-PrEP counseling sessions plus additional mental health counseling (up to 14 sessions) tailored to the women's individual needs, addressing issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use. Treatment as Usual (TAU) - Women in this group will receive basic information on PrEP, mental health, and harm reduction, along with optional referrals to PrEP or drug treatment clinics. The study will evaluate feasibility of administering MI-PrEP and CETA+MI-PrEP and how well these interventions help women start and stay on PrEP, as well as the intervention's impact on mental health and drug use. Researchers will also interview participants and counselors to understand the participants and counselors experiences with the program. The goal is to find effective ways to support PrEP use among women who use drugs and to develop a model that could be used in similar settings to reduce HIV risk. This pilot study is approved by ethics committees in the United States and Tanzania, and results will be shared with communities, policymakers, and researchers.

The Effectiveness of Augmented Reality to Enhance CPAP Therapy in OSA Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to exam if artificial reality works to improve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. It will also learn about the feasibility of AR guided CPAP therapy. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does AR guided CPAP therapy increase the adherence of CPAP therapy among OSA patients? What barriers do participants have when using AR guided CPAP therapy? Researchers will compare AR guided CPAP therapy to a control (standard of care) to see if AR guided CPAP therapy works to enhance the adherence of CPAP therapy. Participants will: 1. Take AR guided CPAP therapy or standard of care every day for 6 months 2. Visit the clinic on baseline (t0), receiving CPAP therapy at the 1st month (t1), for checkups and tests, receiving CPAP therapy at the 3rd month (t2), receiving CPAP therapy at the 6th month (t3). 3. Response their symptoms on each following time.

Fermented Milk Drink With Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei Strain Shirota Helps Triathletes With Cold-Like Symptoms Before and After a Race

This study aims to evaluate whether a fermented milk drink containing the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LCS), commonly found in Yakult®, can help reduce upper respiratory symptoms in triathletes before and after competition. Athletes often experience cold-like symptoms due to physical stress, intense training, and immune system challenges. The study investigates whether daily consumption of this probiotic drink can help improve immune response and reduce the incidence or severity of symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion, or coughing. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study involving healthy adult triathletes. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the probiotic drink or a placebo for a specific period before and after a triathlon event. Symptoms and health markers will be tracked through questionnaires and biological samples. The goal is to explore whether probiotic supplementation can provide practical, non-pharmacological support for athletes' immune health and well-being during intense physical activity.