The Clinical Times
The Front Page of Medicine

Latest medical news · page 8

The latest headlines across every section, pulled from official and open-access sources.

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Development and validation of the Good Limb Position Management Scale for Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia by Nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background A good limb position (GLP) plays an important role in the rehabilitation process of patients who have had a stroke with hemiplegia. However, there remains a lack of effective assessment tools for clinical nurses to evaluate their GLP management practices. Objective This study aimed to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Good Limb Position Management Scale for Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia by Nurses (GLPMSSPHN). Design A quantitative and cross-sectional design. Setting 89 hospitals in 16 cities of China. Participants A total of 516 participants completed the…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

How do acute worsening events influence daily life and healthcare-seeking behaviour in patients with COPD: an international multicountry qualitative study

Objective To explore the impact of acute worsening events (AWEs), defined as clinically relevant deteriorations in peak expiratory flow, reliever use and/or symptoms, on patients’ daily lives and identify behaviours linked to their recognition and management. Design A qualitative international substudy was conducted in the Netherlands, Spain, the USA, Canada and the UK (2023–2024). Participants 19 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from a randomised clinical trial participated. Interviews, triggered by AWEs and repeated 6 weeks later, were…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Identifying social determinants of health subgroups and their associations with health outcomes in a prospective US adult COVID-19 cohort: an analysis of the INSPIRE registry

Objective To identify subgroups with similar social determinants of health (SDOH) characteristics using latent class analysis (LCA) and examine their associations with physical and mental health, cognitive function and missed workdays at 3 and 6 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesised that intersecting SDOH factors would differentially influence COVID-19-related health outcomes across subgroups. Design Prospective cohort study from the Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE), with longitudinal data collection and cross-sectional analyses at…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

The LIFE study: a cross-sectional study protocol for LIfestyle risk Factors for chronic disease across the stagEs of reproductive ageing

Introduction The dynamic physiological and hormonal changes through the menopause transition predispose women to an increased risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, depression and dementia. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, yet it is thought that chronic systemic inflammation and changes to lifestyle behaviours play important roles. The LIfestyle risk Factors for chronic disease across the stagEs of reproductive ageing (LIFE study) is a cross-sectional study aimed to characterise how hormonal and lifestyle (physical activity, diet and sleep)…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

The association of triglyceride-glucose index with acute myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease stratified by acute myocardial infarction status: a large-scale retrospective cohort study from South China

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and to inspect whether AMI mediates the relationship between TyG index and mortality. Design A large-scale, retrospective cohort study. Setting This single-centre study was conducted at a tertiary academic hospital in South China. The association between the TyG index and AMI was assessed using multivariable logistic regression, with progressive adjustment for demographic and…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Clinical relevance of intracranial stenosis as false-positive findings of a deep learning algorithm trained to detect large vessel occlusions: a retrospective cohort study of a supraregional stroke centre

Objectives This study aims to explore the ability to identify high-grade intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) by an artificial intelligence (AI) designed to detect large vessel occlusions (LVO) and the clinical relevance of these ‘false positive’ findings. Design We are presenting a retrospective cohort study. Setting The study was conducted at a supraregional stroke centre of an urban tertiary care provider. Participants Consecutive stroke cases treated between January 2023 and December 2023 of patients >18 years of both sexes and any ethnicity were eligible for inclusion. 934 patients…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Effect of supplemental hydrocortisone during stress in prednisolone-induced adrenal insufficiency: a study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial on health-related quality of life in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis on low-dose prednisolone treatment (the RESCUE study)

Introduction Patients on low-dose prednisolone may develop adrenal insufficiency causing reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased risk of adrenal crisis. This study examines whether supplemental hydrocortisone during mild to moderate stress improves HRQoL in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA) with adrenal insufficiency on low-dose prednisolone. Methods and analysis A multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial including patients with PMR/GCA receiving ongoing prednisolone ≤5 mg/day. Eligible patients…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Socioeconomic burden of osteoarthritis in Sub-Saharan Africa and the determinants of healthcare inequities: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Access to musculoskeletal healthcare services in Sub-Saharan Africa is inadequate. As osteoarthritis is the most prevalent chronic osteoarticular disease globally, it’s essential to understand its social and economic impact, as well as the determinants of inequities in access to healthcare services in Sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of systematised knowledge on this topic makes this review pertinent. However, due to data scarcity, assessing this burden is challenging. The objective of this scoping review is to map and summarise the available literature up to 2025 on the…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Prevalence of PRISm and COPD and associated factors in a university medical centre spirometry unit: a cross-sectional analysis

Objectives Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is a new spirometric entity defined in international guidelines, associated with overall worse outcomes. It remains unclear whether this represents a distinct entity or an early phase of multiple other diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and restrictive lung diseases. There is a notable scarcity of data on PRISm, particularly in Lebanon. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of PRISm and COPD, and their associated factors, among individuals aged 40 years and above who underwent spirometry in a single…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Lived experiences, challenges and coping strategies of patients with spinal cord injury using intermittent catheterisation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

Objectives This study explored the lived experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Arab male patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who rely on intermittent catheterisation (IC) to manage neurogenic bladder. Design A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data analysed using a phenomenological framework. Setting Rehabilitation Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants Male patients with SCI undergoing rehabilitation and performing IC were included in the study. Although both male and female patients were approached to participate, all eligible…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Exploring global access to healthcare and utilisation for neurocutaneous syndromes: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Both dermatological and neurological manifestations characterise neurocutaneous syndromes (NCSs). Although individually rare, collectively they impose a substantial clinical, humanitarian and economic burden, often contributing to barriers in healthcare access. This scoping review aims to map global evidence on healthcare access and service utilisation in NCSs and identify barriers, facilitators and gaps in care. Methods and analysis This scoping review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Pregnancy care-seeking stress in the USA: a prospective cohort study

Objectives To prospectively assess pregnancy-related care sought and obstacles and stress experienced by newly pregnant people. Design The ADAPT Study, a longitudinal cohort study, followed 2015 non-pregnant participants aged 15–34 years for a year. Those with confirmed incident pregnancies were followed through their pregnancies and for 3 years. Setting We recruited participants from 23 reproductive and primary care facilities located in five southwestern states with different sociopolitical reproductive health contexts (restrictive, Arizona and West Texas; protective, southeastern…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Effects of Erbium:YAG laser combined with vaginal estriol therapy in postmenopausal women with Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: protocol for a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

Introduction Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a chronic, oestrogen-deficient condition that is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. Although low-dose vaginal estriol improves epithelial trophism and microbial balance, a substantial proportion of women report persistent symptoms. High-quality randomised evidence evaluating combined therapeutic strategies remains scarce. Energy-based modalities, including the erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser (=2940 nm), have been proposed as adjunctive treatments. This trial aims to assess the efficacy of Er:YAG laser therapy combined with vaginal…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Pregnant womens perceptions and experiences of social media communication for antenatal care: a scoping review

Objectives To map and synthesise existing evidence on pregnant women’s perceptions and experiences of social media communication for antenatal care (ANC). Design Scoping review. Data sources Four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar) alongside ‘grey’ and supplementary searches were conducted between December 202–January 2026. Study selection All studies reporting pregnant women’s perceptions or experiences of social media communication for ANC. Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using a structured charting…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Use of ultrasound for early detection of ICU patients at risk of acquiring swallowing disorders: EIDAR, a prospective diagnostic study protocol

Introduction Postextubation swallowing disorders (SD) are common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and are associated with severe complications, including aspiration pneumonia, a three-fold increase in reintubation risk and higher mortality. While fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and videofluoroscopy are gold standards for diagnosis, they are often impractical or impossible to perform on intubated patients. The use of ultrasound offers a non-invasive, bedside alternative to evaluate the musculoskeletal structures involved in swallowing. The Echographie Identifier les…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Persistent increased risk of renal replacement therapy following COVID-19: a 2-year follow-up study in Japan using propensity score matching and inverse probability censoring weighting

Background This retrospective cohort study investigated the long-term risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) following COVID-19 using a nationwide database of Japanese medical claims. Methods Propensity score matching was utilised to form a cohort of individuals with COVID-19 and a non-infected control group using data from the National Claims Database encompassing six prefectures in Japan. The primary outcome measured was the initiation of renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplantation) after the index month of the study period. Cox proportional hazards models incorporating…

BMJ Open · Jun 11, 2026

Use of clips to prevent delayed post-polypectomy bleeding in non-pedunculated colorectal lesions: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Delayed post-polypectomy bleeding (DPPB) remains a significant complication of endoscopic resection, contributing to morbidity and increased healthcare costs. Although prophylactic clipping is widely practised to mitigate this risk, evidence from recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) regarding its efficacy is inconsistent. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic clips following thermal resection. Methods and analysis We will conduct a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from…

← NewerOlder →

Back to the live front page