The Clinical Times
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Clinical & Research · page 29

New research and findings from open-access journals and the U.S. research agencies.

MedCity News · Jul 9, 2026

Phase 3 Failure Keeps AstraZeneca and Ionis Out of a Growing Heart Disease Market

AstraZeneca and Ionis Pharmaceuticals drug eplontersen, brand name Wainua, failed a Phase 3 test in cardiomyopathy caused by transthyretin amyloidosis. More details will be shared at a medical conference next month, but it appears the RNA therapy’s slim hopes now ride on a subgroup analysis. The post Phase 3 Failure Keeps AstraZeneca and Ionis Out of a Growing Heart Disease Market appeared first on MedCity News .

PLOS Medicine · Jul 9, 2026

How to benchmark medical AI agents

by Silas Ruhrberg Estévez, Dyke Ferber, Mihaela van der Schaar, Jakob Nikolas Kather Medical artificial intelligence research is shifting from single-task models toward multimodal large language model-based agents for complex clinical workflows, requiring benchmarks that assess clinical reasoning, process safety, and resource stewardship rather than final outputs alone. In this Perspective article, Silas Ruhrberg Estévez and colleagues discuss why, as medical AI research shifts toward multimodal large language model-based agents for complex clinical workflows, benchmarks that assess clinical…

PLOS Medicine · Jul 9, 2026

The association of socioeconomic status and response to pediatric health behavior and lifestyle obesity treatment in Germany and Sweden: A multiyear, two-cohort observational study

by Marie Auzanneau, Resthie R. Putri, Martin Wannack, Pernilla Danielsson, Stephanie Brandt-Heunemann, Claude Marcus, Susann Weihrauch-Blüher, Stefanie Lanzinger, Emilia Hagman Background Whether socioeconomic status (SES) influences obesity treatment response among children remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between SES and response to health behavior and lifestyle pediatric obesity treatment over 3 years in two European countries. Methods and findings In this two-cohort study, data were obtained from the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register (BORIS) and the…

PLOS Medicine · Jul 9, 2026

Genetic and sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of physical and mental health multimorbidity in a South Asian cohort in the UK: A multistate modelling analysis

by Daniel Stow, Ruby S. M. Tsang, Ioanna K. Katzourou, Qinqin Huang, Miriam Samuel, Megan L. Wood, Jack F. G. Underwood, Genes and Health Research Team, The LIfespaN multimorbidity research Collaborative (LINC) , Rupert A. Payne, James T. R. Walters, Nicholas J. Timpson, Inês Barroso, Hilary C. Martin, Peter A. Holmans, Marianne B. M. van den Bree, Rohini Mathur, Sarah Finer Background UK South Asian populations are at high risk of physical and mental health multimorbidity, which means they live with multiple long-term conditions. The life course emergence of multimorbidity, its underlying…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Indicated interventions for undergraduate university students experiencing anxiety and depression in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs): a scoping review protocol

Introduction Depression and anxiety are significantly elevated among undergraduate university students worldwide. Despite this, treatment rates among this population remain low. To address this gap, there is a need for not only the provision of treatment options but also for relevant scalable prevention interventions. Such programmes have become more common in high-income countries but remain limited in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review will identify and map key components, delivery and assessment methods and reported outcomes of indicated prevention…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Work stressors associated with mental health, well-being and intention to leave among ambulance staff in England: an explanatory mixed-methods study

Background and aim(s) Ambulance staff have the highest sickness absence, burnout and turnover intentions in the National Health Service, with work-related stress and anxiety identified as key drivers. Although multiple occupational stressors have been reported, it remains unclear which have the greatest impact. This study examined which work stressors are most strongly associated with mental health, well-being and intention to leave; whether these associations are explained by stress appraisals and mental rest; and which staff are most vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Methods A mixed-methods…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Efficacy and safety of haemostatic agents for patients receiving antiplatelet therapy before coronary artery bypass grafting: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Introduction Most patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) receive preoperative antiplatelet therapy to reduce ischaemic events but this increases perioperative bleeding and transfusion risk. Tranexamic acid, aminocaproic acid, aprotinin and desmopressin are commonly employed to reduce such risk; however, robust direct head-to-head comparative evidence remains limited in this specific population. Therefore, we will conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to compare their relative efficacy and safety. Methods and analysis We will…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Association between insufficient balloon dilatation during endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation and post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with choledocholithiasis: a multicentre retrospective study in China

Objectives To determine whether insufficient balloon dilatation during endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) is associated with postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) and prolonged hospitalisation and to identify clinical and anatomical factors related to insufficient dilatation. Design Multicentre retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching analysis. Setting Three tertiary referral hospitals in China: Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Center of the…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Association of wearable device-based perioperative physical activity with recovery outcomes in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction Lung cancer surgery is a cornerstone of curative treatment for resectable disease, but postoperative recovery is often prolonged and may be complicated by impaired pulmonary function, reduced physical activity, symptom burden and delayed functional restoration. Wearable devices may support perioperative physical activity through objective monitoring and activity promotion; however, existing evidence remains fragmented and has not been synthesised in a focused review. This protocol describes a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association of wearable device-based…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Effects of a fasting-mimicking diet on long-term prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing radical resection: protocol for a multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial

Introduction Given the metabolic vulnerability of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, periodic fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) have emerged as a promising dietary strategy for improving clinical outcomes. Although preclinical studies have suggested that FMDs may suppress tumour growth and early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated their safety and feasibility, evidence regarding their effects on long-term survival outcomes in CRC remains limited because of certain constraints in patient cohorts and study designs. Method and analysis This multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial will…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Effect of preconception care on under-five childrens nutritional status: a follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial in a North Maharashtra district, India

Background Child undernutrition has remained a major public health problem. Preconception care is evident to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the role of preconception care services in long-term child health outcomes is unknown. Objective To compare the nutritional status of preschool children born to women who received preconception care with children born to women who did not receive preconception care. Design This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted 2 years after the end of the preconception care services provided. Settings Rural area in Nashik district, including two…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Oliceridine compared with sufentanil in multimodal analgesia after renal transplantation: protocol for a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, positive-controlled trial

Introduction Most patients undergoing renal transplantation experience moderate to severe postoperative pain, which may induce physiological stress, exacerbate preexisting complications and impair functional recovery of the transplanted kidney. Although opioids are commonly used for postoperative analgesia, they are associated with various opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). Oliceridine, a novel G protein-biased ligand μ-opioid receptor agonist, has been shown to provide effective analgesia while reducing the incidence of ORAEs without adversely affecting renal function. Therefore…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

BEnefit of HYpnosis on Pain during stitches in an Emergency Room: a study protocol using a randomised controlled trial - the BE-HYPER protocol

Introduction Wounds are one of the most common causes of emergency department visits. Their care often involves stitches, a potentially painful and stressful procedure. Pain and stress management is usually based on local anaesthesia, which is not always optimal. Medical hypnosis may offer a non-pharmacological alternative. Heart rate variability is a pain-free, easy-to-use and objective biomarker of stress. This study aims to assess the benefit of hypnosis on stress and pain during stitching using a randomised controlled trial. Methods and analysis This is a single-centre, randomised…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Determinants of cervical screening in Ghana: a systematic review

Background Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in Ghana, yet screening coverage is extremely low and organised national programmes are limited. Although several studies have examined determinants of screening, no comprehensive synthesis has summarised the evidence to guide effective policy and intervention design. Objective To synthesise existing evidence on determinants of cervical screening in Ghana and identify opportunities to strengthen national screening strategies. Design This is a systematic review conducted following Aromataris and Pearson’s…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in the 21st century: a protocol for an umbrella review of systematic reviews

Introduction Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) remain a global challenge despite technological advancements and evolving workplace practices. Ergonomic interventions—including workplace redesign, equipment modification, training and organisational strategies—have been increasingly adopted to address these challenges. However, systematic reviews assessing their effectiveness have yielded heterogeneous and sometimes contradictory findings. This protocol outlines a methodology for an umbrella review of systematic reviews aimed at synthesising high-quality evidence on ergonomic…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Nursing managers experiences of delegation strategies and practices: a qualitative content analysis in Tehran, Iran

Objective Delegation is a key nursing management skill that enhances staff empowerment, team performance and quality of care. In complex healthcare environments, effective delegation requires structured managerial strategies that balance responsibility with staff empowerment. This study aimed to explore nursing managers’ experiences of delegation strategies and practices in clinical settings. Design A qualitative study using a conventional content analysis approach. Data were collected between 2024 and 2025 through semistructured, in-depth interviews and analysed concurrently using an…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Impact of geographical location on ICU outcomes in adults: a scoping review

Objectives Rural populations experience poorer health outcomes than urban counterparts globally. Limited studies have examined the impact of geographical location—specifically travel distance/time and rurality—on intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes. This scoping review aimed to map literature on geographical location and ICU outcomes to better inform policy and improve ICU access in underserved communities. Design Scoping review. Data sources MEDLINE, CINAHL and Embase were searched through to 8 May 2025. Grey literature was identified through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, including…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Quality of maternal and newborn care, perinatal mental health and the emotional birth experience of women: findings of the IMAgiNE EURO study in Belgium

Objective This study explored the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) in Belgium, focusing on women’s experience with care and their mental health (MH). Design We conducted a cross-sectional survey using the WHO-based IMAgiNE EURO questionnaire, updated with MH items. Setting All women who gave birth in a health facility in Belgium were included. Participants Data were collected from 621 women who gave birth between March 2022 and January 2025. Primary and secondary outcome measures Descriptive statistics summarised QMNC and MH outcomes, while logistic regression examined factors…

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