Clinical trials

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder accompanied by sedentary lifestyles, which worsens cognitive function and physical health. Short-duration high-frequency exercise snacks (ES) may be a feasible intervention for adults with ID. This randomized controlled crossover study aims to explore the acute effects of exercise snacks, conventional HIIT and daily routine control on cognitive function, stereotyped behaviors and prefrontal cortex activation in adults with mild to moderate ID. All participants will receive three intervention conditions with a 1-week washout period between each trial. Neurophysiological indicators including EEG and heart rate variability will be measured to reveal the underlying mechanisms.

The purpose of this study is to identify multimodal biological markers associated with postpartum depression (PPD) and to evaluate the effectiveness of precision brain stimulation treatment. PPD is a common mental health condition after childbirth that can affect maternal well-being and early child development. Current identification of PPD relies largely on clinical assessments and screening questionnaires, which may not fully capture underlying biological changes. This study uses brain activity, cardiac signals, blood-based biomarkers, interoceptive assessments, and clinical measures to characterize multimodal biological profiles associated with PPD and treatment response. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What multimodal biological differences exist between women with diagnosed PPD and healthy comparison groups, including postpartum and non-postpartum controls? * Which biological or psychological markers can predict whether a patient will respond well to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment? * Can a clinical model be created to help doctors choose the best treatment based on these markers? The study focuses on characterizing multimodal biological differences in women with diagnosed PPD and examining clinical response profiles following rTMS treatment, rather than predicting the onset of PPD in the general population. Participants will: * Undergo electroencephalography (EEG) using a 128-channel cap to measure neural activity. * Have electrocardiography (ECG) recorded to analyze heart rate variability and autonomic function. * Provide blood samples to measure inflammatory cytokines, endocrine levels, and metabolic markers. * Complete Interoceptive Assessments (tasks to measure awareness of internal body signals) and clinical psychological surveys. * Complete follow-up assessments via online surveys and scheduled visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. Participants in the PPD group will: * Receive 4 weeks of high-precision, robot-guided rTMS treatment (20 sessions total). * Undergo pre-intervention multimodal assessments, including EEG, ECG, blood biomarkers, and interoceptive tasks, to identify potential predictors of clinical response to rTMS treatment.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness training program on sports performance and mental health in university basketball players. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the mindfulness program improve basketball skills, body movement control, and psychological health? 2. Does the program's effectiveness differ between male and female athletes? 3. Is there an association between athletes' current psychological states and their athletic performance before training? Researchers will compare a mindfulness group to a psychological skills training group and a standard control group to see if the mindfulness program leads to significantly greater improvements in performance and well-being. Participants will: 1. Complete surveys about their mental health and stress. 2. Perform physical fitness tests, such as jumping, running, and strength exercises. 3. Perform basketball skill tests, including shooting, dribbling, and passing. 4. Play in standardized 5-on-5 basketball games that are video-recorded for analysis . 5. Attend 15-to-20-minute training sessions 3 times a week for 8 weeks (if assigned to a training group) .

This research project aims to explore how combining e-health literacy with mindfulness practices can help university students navigate the complex landscape of e-health information and make more informed, healthier choices. Specifically, the study will assess the current levels of e-health literacy, food literacy, and media literacy among university students, and examine how these factors are related to critical thinking, decision-making confidence, and overall well-being. The project will involve a 4-arm design, including: (1) a mindfulness group, (2) an e-health group, (3) a mindfulness + e-health Group, and (4) a Control Group. Participants in the intervention groups will engage in short mindfulness exercises focused on mindful eating and movement during break times and cool-down sessions of their Physical Education (PE) classes. Additionally, digital health content (e.g., videos and articles) will be provided to enhance e-health literacy. This could lead to better-informed, more confident students who are able to make healthier choices in their daily lives, both during their university years and into the future. Study Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week intervention delivered during PE classes, comparing the effects of: 1\. Mindfulness Group 2. E-health Group 3. Mindfulness + E-health Group 4. Control Group The intervention will assess changes in students' e-health literacy, food literacy, media literacy, critical thinking, self-compassion and decision-making self-efficacy over time, with assessments at pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up. Study Hypotheses: 1. Students in the mindfulness group, e-health group, and combined group will show significantly greater improvements in all outcome measures from pre-test to post-test compared to the control group. 2. The combined group will demonstrate the greatest gains in literacy and cognitive outcomes, due to the additive effect of both interventions. 3. Improvements will be maintained at the 4-week follow-up, particularly in the combined group.

The goal of this randomized crossover study is to investigate the effects of plyometric training, functional training, and whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) on athletic performance and health in university basketball and volleyball players. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Which training modality (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) leads to the greatest improvements in athletic performance measures such as power, speed, and agility? 2. How do these training modalities compare in terms of their effects on overall health, injury risk reduction, and psychological well-being? Researchers will use a crossover design, where each participant experiences multiple training modalities in a sequential manner, to provide a more rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of the interventions' effectiveness. Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to one of four training sequences, each consisting of two 8-week intervention periods separated by a 4-week washout phase; 2. Experience at least two of the three training modalities (plyometric, functional, or WB-EMS) during the intervention periods; 3. Maintain their regular training routines if assigned to the control group; 4. Undergo assessments, including anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests, and questionnaires, at baseline, after each intervention period, and during a follow-up session. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the optimal sequencing and combination of training modalities to maximize athletic performance and promote health among university basketball and volleyball players.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if the mindful eating and movement program can improve food literacy, physical literacy, and social-emotional competencies in university students aged 18-25 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Will the mindful eating and movement program lead to significant improvements in food literacy? 2. Will the mindful eating and movement program enhance physical literacy? 3. Will the mindful eating and movement program improve social-emotional competencies? Researchers will compare an intervention group receiving the combined mindful practices with a control group participating in standard physical education to see if the intervention group shows greater improvements in these areas. Participants will: Engage in mindful eating exercises during the break of physical education classes for 10 minutes. Participate in mindful movement exercises before each physical education class end for 10 minutes, in pairs or in groups. Complete baseline, immediately post-intervention (8 weeks), and one month post-intervention (4 weeks after) assessments to measure changes in food literacy, physical literacy, and social-emotional competencies.

The current project is dedicated to creating a comprehensive cognitive and neural assessment platform and corresponding norms tailored specifically to the older adults in Macau.