Clinical trials

This study aims to investigate neurophysiological, autonomic, and subjective responses to different acute physical and emotional stress-inducing conditions using a within-subject repeated-measures design. Participants will complete four experimental conditions: a resting-state baseline, a Cold Pressor Test, a negative autobiographical memory recall task, and an affective picture-viewing task using stimuli selected from the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS). The order of the experimental stress conditions will be randomized or counterbalanced to minimize potential order and carry-over effects. Electroencephalographic (EEG) and autonomic activity will be recorded throughout the experimental session. Autonomic measures will include heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), electrodermal activity (EDA), and skin conductance responses (SCR). Subjective levels of stress, anxiety, and pain will be assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS). Participants will also complete validated psychological measures assessing resilience, perceived stress, and state and trait anxiety, together with the Tower of London task as a behavioral measure of executive planning. The primary objective is to characterize the modulation of EEG alpha-band activity during acute physical stress, with the main comparison focusing on the Cold Pressor Test relative to resting-state baseline. Secondary and exploratory objectives include comparing cortical, autonomic, and subjective responses across experimental conditions and investigating whether individual psychological characteristics and executive functioning are associated with differences in psychophysiological stress responses.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a toothpaste designed for adults aged 50 years and older with a standard toothpaste in orally healthy adults. The main question is whether the 50+ toothpaste reduces bad breath more than the standard toothpaste after 14 days of twice-daily use. The study will also assess tongue coating, dry mouth symptoms, saliva production, oral comfort, oral health-related quality of life, taste, acceptability, and unwanted effects. About 30 adults aged 18 to 65 years will take part. Each participant will use both toothpastes for 14 days each, in a randomly assigned order, with a 14-day break between the two treatment periods. Neither the participants nor the examiner performing the assessments will know which toothpaste is being used during each period. At the study visits, bad breath will be measured using a device that detects volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. Participants will also undergo an examination of the tongue, provide saliva samples, and complete questionnaires. Before each assessment visit, participants will be asked not to perform oral hygiene for 24 hours and to avoid food, drinks other than water, smoking, chewing gum, and oral care products for 3 to 4 hours.

This study is a randomized controlled clinical trial using a split-mouth design to evaluate the effectiveness of a natural bioactive gel (Sterify Gel®) as an adjunct to standard non-surgical therapy for peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the tissues around dental implants and can lead to bone loss and implant failure. The goal of the study is to determine whether the application of Sterify Gel®, which contains polyvinyl polymers, hydroxytyrosol, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and nisin, can improve clinical outcomes when used in addition to conventional mechanical debridement and air-polishing. The trial will include 20 patients, each with at least two implants in different quadrants affected by peri-implantitis. One implant will be treated with standard therapy plus the gel (test site), while the other will receive standard therapy alone (control site). Clinical outcomes will be measured over a 9-month period, including plaque levels, bleeding on probing, probing depth, suppuration, and bone loss. The results will help assess whether this gel enhances the effectiveness of routine non-surgical peri-implantitis treatment.

This observational study will evaluate whether salivary interleukin-6 levels and selected interleukin gene polymorphisms are associated with regional lymph node involvement in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Adult patients with histologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma will be enrolled before receiving any cancer-specific treatment. Participants will be classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of regional lymph node metastasis: OSCC N0M0 and OSCC N+M0. The study does not involve any experimental treatment and does not change the standard diagnostic or therapeutic pathway. Each participant will provide a saliva sample using a sterile absorbent swab. The saliva sample will be used to measure interleukin-6 levels. Available biological material will also be used to analyze selected interleukin gene polymorphisms, including IL6, IL1B, IL10, IL8/CXCL8, and IL1RN. The aim of the study is to explore whether these salivary and genetic markers may help characterize different biological patterns of locoregional progression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI)-based cephalometric analysis compared with digital manual tracing. A total of 100 standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs will be analyzed using Delta-Dent software with manual landmark identification and three fully automated AI-based systems (WebCeph, QuantX, and Smartee). Sagittal, vertical, dental, and soft tissue cephalometric parameters will be compared among the different methods. Statistical analysis will assess inter-method agreement and the clinical relevance of any observed discrepancies. The study seeks to determine whether AI-based systems provide measurements comparable to conventional digital tracing and whether they can be considered reliable adjunctive tools in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

This interventional, multicenter, low-intervention clinical trial aims to evaluate the usability, feasibility, safety, and preliminary clinical impact of a robotic rehabilitation system designed for upper limb rehabilitation in adults with neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), post-stroke sequelae, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The system under study combines a collaborative robot (cobot), inertial sensors, and a graphical user interface capable of supporting reaching exercises, trajectory tracking activities, and cognitive exergames, while also enabling automatic acquisition and visualization of patient performance data. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Is the investigational robotic rehabilitation system usable and feasible in neurological patients undergoing upper limb rehabilitation? Is the use of the device safe for both patients and healthcare operators? Does the addition of robotic-assisted rehabilitation to conventional therapy improve upper limb motor performance, cognitive function, and quality of life compared with conventional rehabilitation alone? Do movement measurements collected by the system correlate with standard clinical assessment scales? Researchers will compare conventional rehabilitation therapy plus robotic-assisted rehabilitation with conventional rehabilitation therapy alone to evaluate the impact of the device on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes. Thirty participants will be randomized into two parallel treatment groups. Both groups will receive 12 sessions of conventional rehabilitation therapy lasting 60 minutes each, three times per week. Participants assigned to the experimental group will additionally receive robotic-assisted rehabilitation sessions of up to 30 minutes supervised by rehabilitation staff. Participants will undergo: Baseline collection of demographic and clinical information; Motor, cognitive, and activities of daily living assessments using standardized clinical scales; Conventional rehabilitation therapy sessions; Robotic-assisted upper limb rehabilitation exercises, including task-oriented and trajectory-tracking activities (experimental group only); Monitoring of vital parameters and adverse events during device use; Final evaluation of usability, psychosocial impact, patient satisfaction, motor and cognitive outcomes, and safety.

The project aims to investigate how abnormal accumulation of alpha synuclein and its interaction with tau influence brain function across the Parkinson's disease (PD) spectrum, with particular focus on individuals carrying GBA1 mutations. This interventional, monocentric, cross sectional study includes patients with PD, individuals with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder, and participants without PD. All enrolled subjects will undergo clinical and neuropsychological assessments, blood based biomarker analyses related to neurodegeneration, synaptic and mitochondrial function, and multimodal brain MRI to evaluate brain structure, white matter integrity, and functional connectivity. The study aims to: * characterize the relationship between alpha synuclein/tau pathology and synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction; * identify biomarker and connectivity signatures across disease stages and genetic backgrounds; * integrate preclinical, clinical, biological, and imaging data to support the development of mechanistic models of alpha synuclein propagation. In parallel, preclinical studies in GBA PD mouse models and wild type mice will be used to investigate how changes in PD-related pathology (alpha-synuclein and tau) relates to behavior, brain imaging alterations and mitochondrial, axonal and synaptic damage. Animal model will also aid the validation of a new PET tracer that targets alpha synuclein (i.e., \[¹⁸F\]Syntacasyn). Together, human and preclinical studies are designed to provide a translational framework integrating molecular changes with brain network alterations and clinical heterogeneity in PD.

This single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based treatment using hydroxyapatite-based oral care products in adult patients with celiac disease who exhibit enamel demineralization and dentin hypersensitivity. Forty patients will be enrolled and randomly allocated into two parallel groups. The control group will perform home oral hygiene using only a hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste (Biorepair® Total Protection) twice daily. The trial group will follow the same regimen with the toothpaste, but will also apply a hydroxyapatite mousse (Biorepair® Plus Intensive Enamel Repair) once every evening before bedtime throughout the study period. The primary objective is to assess the reduction in dentin hypersensitivity using the Schiff Air Index. Secondary outcomes include changes in plaque accumulation (Plaque Index), gingival bleeding (Bleeding on Probing), pain perception (Visual Analogue Scale), and caries experience (DMFT and DMFS indices). Enamel demineralization will be analyzed through near-infrared transillumination (DIAGNOcam), laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent), and digital image analysis (ImageJ software). All clinical parameters will be evaluated at baseline and after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The study seeks to determine whether the addition of a remineralizing mousse to daily oral care provides superior benefits in reducing sensitivity and improving enamel integrity in patients with celiac disease.

This study evaluates whether amino acid supplementation, combined with a structured diet and exercise program, improves body composition (increased muscle mass and reduced fat mass) and physical performance in individuals with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The study also compares responses to the intervention between individuals with FSHD and healthy individuals matched for age and sex.

The DriveSim clinical trial investigates a dynamic driving simulator designed to train and assess functional motor and cognitive skills in individuals with neurological disorders. The study addresses a critical need in current rehabilitation practice, where maintaining patient engagement and providing ecologically valid training environments are essential yet challenging. Neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and mild cognitive impairment often result in deficits in balance, proprioception, coordination, attention and motor planning, all of which critically affect daily functioning and driving ability. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform with active steering, customizable haptic and inertial feedback, and adaptive task modules in a virtual urban scenario. This enables controlled, multisensory rehabilitation sessions that combine motor, vestibular and cognitive stimuli in a single system. The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety, usability and feasibility of the DriveSim platform in both healthy individuals and patients with neurological impairment. Secondary objectives include assessing its impact on postural control, trunk and head stability, upper and lower limb motor performance, cognitive functions, perceived stress and fatigue, and quality of life. The study also aims to support the development of adaptive software capable of automatically adjusting task difficulty based on patient performance. By integrating functional tasks such as slalom, speed control, line keeping and reaction tests with customizable sensory feedback, this research has the potential to enhance the ecological validity of rehabilitation and to provide individualized motor-cognitive training. The expected outcome is a more engaging, adaptable and measurable rehabilitation pathway that may improve functional independence and support safer driving-related abilities in neurological populations.

This multicenter interventional study aims to evaluate a three-degrees-of-freedom dynamic platform (3DoF Platform) designed to support rehabilitation of balance, proprioception, and motor and cognitive functions in patients with neurological disorders. The device integrates a mobile platform capable of roll, pitch, and vertical translation movements, a markerless motion-capture system, and an interactive environment delivered through a monitor or virtual reality headset. Compared with conventional rehabilitation systems, it offers an additional vertical degree of freedom and increased proprioceptive stimulation, with the ability to customize exercises according to individual patient capabilities. The clinical conditions under investigation include Parkinson's disease, post-stroke motor impairment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and mild cognitive impairment, all of which are associated with deficits in balance and proprioception. The novelty of this study lies in the combined use of the 3DoF platform, the markerless acquisition system, and exergames integrated with a mathematical model that adapts the platform's dynamic response in real time. The primary objective is to assess the usability, feasibility, and safety of the device. Secondary objectives include evaluating the impact of the intervention on balance, motor performance, cognitive functions, stress, fatigue, and quality of life, as well as comparing conventional rehabilitation with and without the addition of the device. The study involves 45 patients and 15 healthy volunteers and is structured into an initial phase of testing on healthy subjects and a subsequent randomized two-arm treatment phase for patients.

Oral mucositis is a frequent and often debilitating complication of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, particularly in patients treated for head and neck cancers. It is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa, leading to pain, difficulty swallowing, taste disturbances, dry mouth, and impairment of daily activities. In more severe cases, oral mucositis may require modification or temporary interruption of cancer treatment. This randomized controlled clinical trial is designed to assess the clinical effectiveness of gas ozone therapy in patients with radio- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. In addition, the study will evaluate whether combining ozone therapy with a structured biomimetic oral care regimen, including toothpaste and mouthwash, provides additional clinical benefit compared with ozone therapy alone. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The control group will receive gas ozone therapy administered in an outpatient setting according to a standardized protocol. The experimental group will receive the same ozone therapy combined with a defined home oral care regimen. Each participant will be followed for 30 days. The primary outcome is the change in oral mucositis severity, assessed using the World Health Organization Oral Toxicity Scale. Secondary outcomes include oral pain intensity, salivary flow rates, perceived dry mouth, taste alterations, swallowing function, oral pH, overall oral health-related quality of life, and treatment tolerability. The findings of this study are expected to clarify the role of ozone-based supportive care strategies in the management of cancer therapy-related oral mucositis and to contribute to the development of standardized non-pharmacological treatment protocols.

This randomized controlled clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of trehalose powder compared to glycine powder when used in air-polishing during supportive therapy for peri-implant mucositis, a reversible inflammatory condition affecting the soft tissues around dental implants. A total of 40 adult patients with peri-implant mucositis will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive non-surgical periodontal therapy combined with air-polishing using either trehalose powder (test group) or glycine powder (control group). Clinical parameters will be evaluated at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. These include Plaque Index (PI), Bleeding on Probing (BoP), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Bleeding Score (BS), in order to assess plaque accumulation, inflammation, and bleeding. The primary objective is to compare the reduction in plaque levels between the two groups over the study period. Secondary outcomes include evaluation of changes in gingival inflammation and probing depths, as well as assessment of implant surface integrity through in vitro scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after treatment. The aim of the study is to determine whether trehalose powder offers improved clinical outcomes and greater implant surface preservation compared to glycine powder in the non-surgical management of peri-implant mucositis.

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of two commercially available toothpastes containing hydroxyapatite in the remineralization of early enamel lesions. The study compares Biorepair® Total Protection Plus, which contains biomimetic microRepair particles, with Bioniq® Repair, a conventional hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste. Forty participants will be randomly assigned to either the trial group (Biorepair®) or the control group (Bioniq®), and both groups will receive quarterly professional dental cleanings and use the assigned toothpaste twice daily for 6 months. The primary outcome is the change in enamel demineralization, assessed by DIAGNOdent Pen scores, in permanent molar fissures and upper central incisors. Secondary outcomes include enamel integrity assessed by DIAGNOcam imaging and ICDAS scores, as well as changes in dental sensitivity (Schiff Air Index), erosive wear (BEWE Index), plaque accumulation (Plaque Index), gingival inflammation (Bleeding Index), and extrinsic stains (Modified Lobene Stain Index). Patient satisfaction will also be evaluated at the end of the study using a self-administered questionnaire. This study will help determine whether biomimetic hydroxyapatite offers superior benefits in maintaining enamel health compared to conventional formulations, supporting evidence-based preventive strategies in dental care.

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a lactoferrin-based oral hygiene protocol in improving periodontal health during pregnancy. Forty pregnant women between the fourth and eighth month of gestation will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The trial group will undergo professional dental cleaning every three months and will perform home oral hygiene using both a lactoferrin-based toothpaste and a lactoferrin-based mouthwash (Emoform Glic) twice daily. The control group will follow the same schedule of professional dental cleanings but will use only the lactoferrin-based toothpaste (Emoform Glic) at home. The primary objective is to assess the reduction in dental plaque, measured by the Plaque Index (PI). Secondary outcomes include improvements in gingival inflammation, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and other periodontal indices. Participants will be followed for six months, with evaluations conducted at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months.

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive coenzyme Q10 and probiotic supplementation (Limosilactobacillus reuteri Prodentis®) in improving periodontal health in pregnant women undergoing non-surgical periodontal therapy. Forty participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: the test group will receive professional oral hygiene every three months along with a coenzyme Q10-based toothpaste and daily probiotic supplementation; the control group will follow the same protocol without probiotics. The primary outcome is the reduction of the Plaque Index (PI), while secondary outcomes include Bleeding on Probing (BoP), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), gingival inflammation (MGI, PMGI), plaque distribution (PCR%, API), and gingival recession (R). The study duration is 6 months. The goal is to assess whether this combined therapy can promote a balanced oral microbiota and enhance periodontal health during pregnancy.

Many children spend a large part of the school day sitting, which can limit their opportunities to be physically active. Regular physical activity is important for children's physical health, mental well-being, and positive attitudes toward movement. Schools represent an ideal setting to promote healthy behaviors, as they reach nearly all children on a daily basis. This study aims to evaluate the effects of short, classroom-based Active Breaks on children attending primary school. Active Breaks are brief periods of physical activity integrated into regular classroom lessons. These activities are designed to be fun, safe, and easy to perform in the classroom, without reducing academic teaching time. The main goal of the study is to assess whether participating in Active Breaks improves children's enjoyment of physical activity. Enjoyment is an important factor because children who find physical activity enjoyable are more likely to stay active over time. The study also examines whether Active Breaks influence physical activity levels, basic motor skills, physical fitness perception, attention and executive functions, vitality, and quality of life. The intervention lasts 12 weeks and is carried out during the normal school timetable. In the intervention group, children perform one Active Break during each school hour. Each break lasts approximately 5 minutes and includes playful aerobic and strength-based movements that require little or no equipment. The activities are guided by classroom teachers, who receive specific training and materials before the start of the study. A comparison group continues with the usual classroom routine without Active Breaks. Participation in the study is voluntary. Parents or legal guardians provide written informed consent, and children provide verbal assent. All activities are appropriate for primary school children and are conducted in a safe and supervised environment. Children may withdraw from the study at any time without any consequences. The results of this study may help schools and policymakers understand whether simple, low-cost strategies such as Active Breaks can promote healthier and more active school days for children.

Considering recent literature, it is possible to hypothesise a link between dental anomalies and ocular and/or cutaneous findings, given the existence of shared genetic and developmental mechanisms between these two anatomical areas. Both the eye and teeth develop from ectodermal and mesenchymal tissues, involving common molecular signalling pathways such as Wnt, BMP and PAX. Genetic variants affecting these pathways can therefore determine combined phenotypes, such as congenital cataracts associated with dental agenesis or enamel malformations. Some rare genetic syndromes, such as Nance-Horan syndrome and oculofacio-cardio-dental (OFCD) syndrome, support the hypothesis of a systemic correlation between odontogenesis and ocular development. In a previous study on congenital cataracts, nearly 10% of probands with variants in the BCOR, CWC27, IFIH1, NHS, and PAX6 genes had various dental abnormalities. Therefore, exploring the possible connection between eye and dental diseases may not only facilitate early and multidisciplinary diagnosis, but also open up new perspectives in genetic research and the development of personalised therapeutic approaches, for which whole genome sequencing (WGS) appears to be the first choice for investigating non-syndromic forms. Therefore, the current clinical study aims to identify variants in genes common to eye diseases and dental anomalies (agenesis, supernumerary teeth, Hutchinson's teeth, mulberry molars) in orthodontic patients over the age of 12 with dental anomalies who are about to begin orthodontic treatment or who are attending routine check-ups at the Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatrics Sciences at the University of Pavia who have a family history of ocular and cutaneous manifestations or presenting at the same time dental, ocular and/or cutaneous anomalies. Patients who are eligible will be invited to participate in the study. After signing the informed consent form, the Case Report Form will be completed to collect the data of interest for the study; previous medical reports will be asked to patients or parents/legal guardians in case of minors to ascertain ocular and cutaneous pathologies; a buccal swab will be taken to collect a DNA sample that will be analysed with Next Generation Sequencing. In addition, cephalometric evaluations will be performed if lateral teleradiographs will be available, if already performed in accordance with Good Clinical Practice for the purposes of orthodontic assessment of patients.

Our aim will be to evaluate the actual efficacy of diode lasers in laser desensitization by comparing the topical gel Emoform Actisens, containing 5% potassium nitrate, alone and in combination with a diode laser. Dental hypersensitivity (DH) will be assessed pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1) and at 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4).

The goal of this observational study is to explore the dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and body composition in Italian athletes and physically active adults. This is a nonprofit study aimed at improving clinical practice. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Assessment of level of adherence to Mediterranean Diet using MEDI-LITE questionnaire * Assessment of nutrition knowledge * Current dietary intake and eating habits evaluation and comparison to the recommendations, according to sport practised * Eating behaviour assessment Participants will undergo the following assessments: anthropometric and body composition assessments, Resting Metabolic Rate measurement, Dietary intake assessment, Nutrition knowledge, Lifestyle and behaviour, Physical activity assessment.

The relationship between form and function within the craniofacial complex has been investigated by several Authors. However, there is still controversy regarding the different electromyographic activation patterns of the elevator muscles of the jaw. One particularly contentious area of enquiry is whether it is facial morphology that determines the strength of muscle activation, or whether a strong musculature can influence skeletal growth processes. In light of the aforementioned considerations, the objective of the current clinical observational study was to investigate the potential correlation between the electromyographic activity of selected masticatory muscles (masseter, anterior temporalis and suprahyoid) and the craniofacial morphology of subjects under examination, with a particular focus on elucidating the mechanical advantage derived from different sagittal relationships between the maxillae. The electromyographic evaluation is carried out before the beginning of the orthodontic treatment (T0).

The goal of this clinical trial is to describe the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the nutritional status, the level of physical activity, and possible eating disorders in international students attending the University of Pavia before and after a food education intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the intervention of food education change the nutritional status of the international students of the University of Pavia? Does the intervention of food education change the level of physical activity of international students of the University of Pavia? Does the intervention of food education change the possible risk of eating disorders related to the possible change of diet from the country of origin of international students? Researchers will compare the measurements done at the first meeting to the measurements made at the last meeting (6 months) to see if the food educational intervention helped the students. Participants will: * have the body composition analysed by anthropometric measurements (weight, height, electric bio impedance) * Receive personalized guidance and support from our team of experts for 6 months. Visit the clinic 3 times (beginning, 3 months, and by the end of 6 months) for check-ups and tests, and participate in online meetings the other 3 months (second, fourth, and fifth). Answer online questionnaires and perform a 3-day food diary (beginning, 3 months, and by the end of 6 months).

Childhood obesity is a strong predictor of adult obesity with health and economic consequences for the individual and society. Adiposity rebound (AR) is a rise in the Body Mass Index occurring between 3-7 years. Early adiposity rebound (EAR) occurs at a median age of 2 years and is a risk factor for later obesity. Events happening in "the first 1,000 days" play a role in obesity development. One of the key elements in this crucial time window is the gut microbiome, a highly dynamic organ that is sensitive to environmental exposure being linked to obesity development. Prenatal (dietary/lifestyle maternal factors and environmental exposure) and postnatal determinants (the type of feeding, sleep patterns, speed of growth) and environmental obesogenic pollutants may influence the infant microbial colonization, thus increasing the risk of EAR onset. LIMIT will holistically identify the longitudinal interplay between the intestinal microbiome and infant/maternal nutritional and lifestyle habits, environmental factors exposure and anthropometric measurements, in children with AR vs EAR, driving new mechanistic insights to create an EAR predictive model. The study will evaluate a group of 150 mother-infant pairs, during the first four years of life at different follow-up.