IntroductionThere is a strong body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of brief interventions by primary care professionals for risky drinkers. However, implementation levels remain low because of time constraints and other factors. Facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website offers primary care professionals a time-saving alternative to standard face-to-face intervention, but it is not known whether it is as effective.Methods and analysisA randomised controlled non-inferiority trial for risky drinkers comparing facilitated access to a dedicated website with standard face-to-face brief intervention to be conducted in primary care settings in the Region of Friuli Giulia Venezia, Italy. Adult patients will be given a leaflet inviting them to log on to a website to complete the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) alcohol screening questionnaire. Screen positives will be requested to complete an online trial module including consent, baseline assessment and randomisation to either standard intervention by the practitioner or facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website. Follow-up assessment of risky drinking will be undertaken online at 1 month, 3 months and 1 year using the full AUDIT questionnaire. Proportions of risky drinkers in each group will be calculated and non-inferiority assessed against a specified margin of 10%. Assuming a reduction of 30% of risky drinkers receiving standard intervention, 1000 patients will be required to give 90% power to reject the null hypothesis.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol was approved by the Isontina Independent Local Ethics Committee on 14 June 2012. The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations and public events involving the local administrations of the towns where the trial participants are resident.Registration detailsTrial registration number NCT: 01638338.
IntroductionObesity is a growing health problem in Europe and it causes many diseases. Many weight-reducing methods are reported in medical literature, but none of them proved to be effective in maintaining the results achieved over time. Self-empowerment can be an important innovative method, but an effectiveness study is necessary. In order to standardise the procedures for a randomised controlled study, a pilot study will be run to observe, measure and evaluate the effects of a period of self-empowerment group treatment on overweight/obese patients.Methodsand analysis Non-controlled, experimental, pilot study. A selected group of patients with body mass index >25, with no severe psychiatric disorders, with no aesthetic or therapeutic motivation will be included in the study. A set of quantitative and qualitative measures will be utilised to evaluate the effects of a self-empowerment course in a 12 month time. Group therapy and medical examinations will also complete this observational phase. At the end of this pilot study, a set of appropriate measures and procedures to determine the effectiveness of individual empowerment will be identified and agreed among the different professional figures. Results will be recorded and analysed to start a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee of Udine in March 2012. The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations and public events involving the local administrations of the towns where the trial participants are resident.Trial Registrationhttp://www.clinicalstrials.gov identifier NCT01644708.
Malnutrition is a common finding in chronic pancreatitis and its pathogenesis is multifactorial. In 14 patients with chronic pancreatitis we assessed the dietary intake, some anthropometric indices and the concentration of some serum proteins. In muscle specimens obtained by needle biopsy we examined the DNA, RNA and non-collagen alkali-soluble protein (ASP) content. In muscle we determined also the activity of cathepsin D, an enzyme involved in intracellular myofibrillar catabolism. Protein and energy intake were lower than in the normal healthy population. Plasma protein content (an index of liver protein synthesis) was generally in the normal range, whereas anthropometry and the biochemical muscle indices were generally subnormal, suggesting a depressed muscle protein content and synthesis (evaluated, respectively, by the ASP: DNA and RNA: DNA ratios). Cathepsin D activity was lower than in controls, and the percentage of ‘free’ activity tended to be higher but not significantly. This study suggests that muscle protein content and synthesis are reduced in patients with chronic pancreatitis, whereas liver protein synthesis is generally preserved. Possibly as a consequence of metabolic abnormalities and/or of an inadequate protein and energy intake, the nutritional status was often abnormal in our patients and a nutritional support therapy was needed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.