Clinical trials

Evidence suggests the association between fine motor skills of the hand and cognitive function, as well as the positive effects of hand rehabilitation on hand function and the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In response to the question of whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between fine manual skills and cognitive function, we designed the present randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of sensory-motor rehabilitation of the hand on cognitive functions compared to the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on sensory-motor skills of the hand in patients with PD. In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, a convenience sample including 48 people with PD will participate based on simple non-random sampling. The participants will be allocated randomly through stratified randomization to parallel groups of intervention (sensorimotor hand rehabilitation) and control (cognitive rehabilitation) with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The associate researcher responsible for assessing outcome measures and the statistician responsible for analyzing the data are blinded to the intervention protocol. The intervention protocol for the intervention group includes hand sensory-motor rehabilitation for 10 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, 3 sessions per week, in addition to cognitive rehabilitation for 10 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, 3 sessions per week. The intervention protocol for the control group includes cognitive rehabilitation for 10 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, 3 sessions per week. All participants undergo three assessment sessions: the day before the intervention, the day after the intervention, and one month after the last intervention session. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. The significance level will be set at 0.05.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a hereditary disease of skin tissues that causes painful bleeding blisters in the skin and mucous membrane. The prevalence of this disease is 1 in 50,000. The severity of the disease varies depending on the type of disease and may even lead to death. This disease is caused by a genetic mutation in keratin or collagen, and its incidence is the same in all men and women of different human races. In these patients, the skin becomes extremely fragile and peels off with the slightest scratch. Many blisters are one of the most obvious symptoms of this disease. The possibility of skin cancer in people suffering from this disease is more than others. Nowadays, the preference of cell therapy methods is to use biological products produced by cells such as extracellular vesicles and mitochondria instead of stem cells. The use of Extracellular vesicles and engineered EVs as messenger carriers can introduce a new treatment method based on cell products for skin regeneration and as an alternative to cell therapy. Therefore, in this study, EV.FV will be applied topically to patients.

Present research focuses on the potential of exosomes, which are small vesicles secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a therapeutic approach for osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by the destruction of cartilage and loss of extracellular matrix. It's associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and "a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs" (ADAMTS). MSCs have been explored as a new treatment for OA over the last decade1. It's suggested that the paracrine secretion of trophic factors, in which exosomes play a crucial role, contributes to the mechanism of MSC-based treatment of OA. Exosomes derived from MSCs may suppress OA development. They carry bioactive molecules of the parental cells, including non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and proteins and anti-inflammatory factors. These exosomes have shown a significant impact on the modulation of various physiological behaviors of cells in the joint cavity. This research provides hope for developing more effective and predictable methods of using MSC-derived exosomes for OA treatment.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a new 3D-printed eyeball movement simulator improves medical education compared to traditional teaching methods. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does using the 3D simulator help medical students better understand eye anatomy and muscle function compared to standard lectures and textbooks? How do students rate the usability and effectiveness of this new teaching tool? Researchers will compare two groups of medical students: One group will learn using the 3D simulator The other group will receive standard teaching methods Participants will: 1. Complete a pre-test to assess their baseline knowledge 2. Attend training sessions using either the 3D simulator or standard methods 3. Take a post-test to measure learning improvement 4. Provide feedback about their learning experience 5. Take a post-intervention exam and satisfaction survey 6. Participate in focus groups about their learning experience The study will help determine if interactive 3D models can enhance medical education about eye movements.

Purpose: This educational trial aims to assess whether plastination models for neuroanatomy training (limbic system, basal ganglia, cerebellum, spinal cord)" improve medical students' understanding of central nervous system anatomy compared to traditional educational methods. It will also evaluate student satisfaction with this teaching tool. Key Questions: 1. Do plastination models for neuroanatomy training (limbic system, basal ganglia, cerebellum, spinal cord) enhance test scores in neuroanatomy examinations? 2. How do students perceive the educational value of these models? Study Design: Researchers will compare two teaching methods: * Intervention group: Learns using plastination models for neuroanatomy training (limbic system, basal ganglia, cerebellum, spinal cord) * Control group: Learns using standard 2D atlases, power point and plastic models Participants will: 1. Complete a pre-intervention anatomy knowledge test 2. Attend 4 weekly neuroanatomy sessions using their assigned method 3. Take a post-intervention exam and satisfaction survey 4. Participate in focus groups about their learning experience

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether a wound treatment made from acellular dermal matrix (ADM) gel can help heal chronic traumatic wounds more effectively than standard alginate dressings in adults aged 18 and older with wounds that have lasted more than 3 weeks. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ADM gel reduce the size of chronic wounds more than alginate dressings after 12 weeks? Does ADM gel help wounds heal faster and improve quality of life for patients? Researchers will compare ADM gel to alginate dressings to see if the ADM gel leads to better healing results and fewer complications. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive either ADM gel or alginate dressing. Have the treatment applied directly to their cleaned wound. Attend weekly visits for up to 12 weeks for wound checks, measurements, and dressing changes.

Abstract Background: This trial aims to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of 10 mg/day astaxanthin (ASX) administration compared with the control group on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, circulating MDA levels, severity of hirsutism, and depression in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This manuscript will outline the design, methodology, and potential clinical implications of ASX supplementation in eligible women with PCOS and a body mass index of 25-35 kg/m2, who are referred to the gynecologist clinic in Isfahan, Iran, during 2024-2025. Discussion: This study is one of the first attempts to assess the clinical efficacy of astaxanthin as an auxiliary treatment in PCOS patients, and will provide more evidence in this area. Trial registration number: Iran Clinical Trials (IRCT) website. (IRCT20231001059573N1)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of adding curcumin oral treatment to bevacizumab intravitreal injection in patients with central macular edema. A blind study and a randomized and controlled clinical trial are conducted on diabetic patients with macular edema. The patients are divided into two intervention groups (bevacizumab + curcumin) and control (bevacizumab + placebo). The evaluation of the central thickness of the macula and the evaluation of the central volume of the macula are the primary goals and the evaluation of the best visual acuity of the patient is the secondary goal.