This article briefly introduces the management of clinical trials of investigational new drugs, hospital-made preparations, post-marketing drugs and other types of clinical trials. The WHO International Clinical Trial Register Platform (WHO ICTRP), Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) and Chinese Clinical Trial Registration and Publishing Collaboration (ChiCTRPC) are also described. People conducting trials are advised to apply the basic philosophy of evidence-based medicine in their implementation, which is considered to be one of the guarantees of the validity of clinical trials.
Objective To explore and solve the key technologies of the three dimensional (3D) visual ization reconstruction of functional fascicular groups inside long segmented peri pheral nerve. Methods A 20 cm ulnar nerve from upper arm of fresh adult dead body was embedded by OCT with four pieces of woman’s hair which was used as locating material, then the samples were serially horizontally sl iced into 400 sl ices with 15 μm thickness and 0.5 mm interval. All sl iceswere stained with acetylcholinesterase (AchE) histochemical staining. After that, the 2D panorama images of the same sl ice were obtained with Olympus stereomicroscope and MSHOT MD90 micro figure image device before and after AchE staining. Using the layer processing technique of Photoshop image processing software, the recomposition images including complete 4 location pots were obtained, based on which the algorithm of optimized least square support vector machine (Optimized LS-SVM) and space transformation method was used to fulfill automatic registration. Finally, with artificial assistant outline obtaining, the 3D visual ization reconstruction model of functional fascicular groups of 20 cm ulnar nerve was made using Amira 4.1, and the effects of reverse reduction and the suitabil ity of 3D reconstruction software were evaluated. Results The two-time imaging technique based on the layer process of Photoshop image processing software had the advantages: the image outline had high goodness of fit; the locating pots of merging image was accurate; and the whole procedure was simple and fast. The algorithm of Optimized LS-SVM had high degree of accuracy, and the error rate was only 8.250%. The 3D reconstruction could display the changes of the chiastopic fusion of different nerve functional fascicular groups directly. It could extract alone, merge and combine arbitrarily, and revolve at any angles. Furthermore, the reverse reduction on arbitrarily level dissection of the 3D model was very accurately. Conclusion Based on the two-time imaging technique and computer image layer processing technology, the compute algorithm of auto-registration can be developed and appl ied to 3D visual ization reconstruction of long segmented peripheral nerve. The technological processes is fast, and the reconstruction effect is good.
Coronary angiography (CAG) as a typical imaging modality for the diagnosis of coronary diseases hasbeen widely employed in clinical practices. For CAG-based computer-aided diagnosis systems, accurate vessel segmentation plays a fundamental role. However, patients with bradycardia usually have a pacemaker which frequently interferes the vessel segmentation. In this case, the segmentation of vessels will be hard. To mitigate interferences of pacemakers and then extract main vessels more effectively in CAG images, we propose an approach. At first, a pseudo CAG (pCAG) image is generated through a part of a CAG sequence, in which the pacemaker exists. Then, a local feature descriptor is employed to register the relative location of pacemaker between the pCAG image and the target CAG image. Finally, combining the registration result and segmentation results of main vessels and pacemaker, interferences of pacemaker are removed and the segmentation of main vessels is improved. The proposed method is evaluated based on 11 CAG images with pacemakers acquired in clinical practices. An optimization ratio of the Dice coefficient is 12.04%, which demonstrates that our method can remove overlapping pacemakers and achieve the improvement of main vessel segmentation in CAG images.Our method can further become a helpful component in a CAG-based computer-aided diagnosis system, improving its diagnosis accuracy and efficiency.
Objective To evaluate the quality of the registration information for trials sponsored by China registered in the WHO International Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ICTRP) primary registries or other registries that meet the requirements of the International Committee Medical Journal Editor (ICMJE). Methods We assessed the registration information for trials registered in the 9 WHO primary registries and one other registry that met the requirements of ICJME as of 15 October 2008. We analyzed the trial registration data set in each registry and assessed the registration quality against the WHO Trial Registration Data Set (TRDS). We also evaluated the quality of the information in the Source(s) of Monetary or Material Support section, using a specially prepared scale. Results The entries in four registries met the 20 items of the WHO TRDS. These were the Chinese Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCR), Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (NZCTR), Clinical Trials Registry – India (CTRI), and Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (SLCTR). Registration quality varied among the different registries. For example, using the Scale of TRDS, the NZCTR scoreda median of 19 points, ChiCTR (median = 18 points), ISRCTN.org (median = 17 points), and Clinical trials.org (median = 12 points). The data on monetary or material support for ChiCTR and ISRCTN.org were relatively complete and the score on our Scale for the Completeness of Funding Registration Quality ranged from ChiCTR (median = 7 points), ISRCTN.org (median = 6 points), NZCTR (median = 3 points) to clinicaltrials.gov (median = 2 points). Conclusion Further improvements are needed in both the quantity and quality of trial registration. This could be achieved by full completion of the 20 items of the WHO TRDS. Future research should assess ways to ensure the quality and scope of research registration and the role of mandatory registration of funded research.
ObjectiveTo investigate the domestic and abroad hypertension-related clinical trial registration and to analyze the registration of hypertension-related clinical researches in China.MethodsUsing hypertension as the keyword, we searched ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) from January 2008 to December 2018. We analyzed the collected data on the distribution of registered clinical researches, annual trends, sample sizes, trial progress, research types, study designs, blind methods, clinical stages, the number of participating institutions, the leading institutions, etc.ResultsThe total number of registered hypertension-related clinical trails was 4 991 all over the world, and 551 items were conducted in China. Most of the sample sizes of Chinese hypertension-related clinical trials were 100 to 999. The main types of trials were interventional studies (393 items, 71.32%), followed by observational studies (126 items, 22.87%). Randomized parallel control studies (300 items, 76.34%) were the key component of interventional studies, while cohort studies (61 items, 48.41%) were the chief component of observational studies. The main stages of clinical trials were stage Ⅲ (80 items) and stage Ⅳ (122 items). There were 369 domestic single-center clinical trials (66.97%), 89 domestic multi-center clinical trials (16.15%), and 93 international multi-center clinical trials (16.88%). Among the 93 international multi-center trials of hypertension, only 25 were led by China.ConclusionsThe number of Chinese hypertension-related clinical trial registrations increased year by year and then decreased slightly, but the amount of registrations is limited. The quantity and scale of multicenter clinical studies were not as good as America. China should strengthen the awareness of clinical research registration, strengthen the publicity and supervision of the registration of clinical researches by the department of science and management, improve the number of clinical trial registrations, make Chinese clinical researches more transparent, and strive to lead more international multi-center clinical trials.
Objective To establishadatabase to fully investigate current situation of antiepileptic drugs among pregnant women with epilepsy in West China. Analyzing the epidemiological characteristics and correlated influence factors of anti-epileptic drugs use among women with epilepsy in this area to promote management quality for women with epilepsy. Methods Adigital registration system was established with JAVA andastandard registration procedure was formulated. Standard registration was implemented in different levels of hospital of West China with regular follow-up. Results Registration system about antiepileptic drugs among pregnant women with epilepsy in West China was successfully established, which wasadigital registration within local area network. Information about registration centre and pregnant women with epilepsy was collected in the West China registration network. And elementary database was successfully established. Conclusion This is the first extensive and standard pregnancy register of antiepileptic drugs in China which meet the need of not only patient information management but also the development of academic subject.
Objective To explore the certification management of specialty nurses in China based on the existent problems to provide evidence for practice and decision making for management of the specialty nurses. Methods The modified Delphi technique was applied in this study from July to December 2017. A structured consultation questionnaire based on expert interview and literature review was designed, and modified after preliminary experiment. Then the questionnaires were delivered to 32 nurse experts to complete 3 rounds of Delphi process, which reached consensus gradually. Results The response rates of three round consultations were 96.9% (31/32), 100.0% (31/31), and 96.8% (30/31), respectively. The suggestion rates were 25.8% (8/31), 16.1% (5/31), 0% (0/31), respectively. The familiar coefficient, adjustment coefficient and authority coefficient was 0.82, 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. The experts had the agreement finally for all of the 16 items in the consultation questionnaire, and they formed an expert opinion draft on specialty nurse certification and registration. Conclusion It’s crucial and essential to establish a certification and registration system in China and renew the credentials regularly to promote the management and construction of specialty nurse team.
Objective To analyze the current research status, characteristics and development trends of traditional medicine-related clinical trials registration, and to provide ideas and directions for further development of traditional medicine clinical trials. Methods The International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR) database was searched by computer from inception to June 30, 2024, with unlimited trial registration status, to collect all the clinical trials on traditional medicine, and analyze the basic information of the trials, the diseases studied and the interventions. Results A total of 4 349 clinical trials related to traditional medicine were included, with the number of registrations peaking in the second half of 2020, and showing a steady upward trend after 2023. The trial sponsors of the study covered 9 countries and a total of 34 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in China, led by Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang provinces, accounting for 69.72% of the total. The financial support for the studies was dominated by local government funds in various provinces and cities, accounting for 29.66%. Disease types studied were mainly circulatory system diseases, musculoskeletal system or connective tissue diseases, and tumor diseases, accounting for 29.91% of the total. A total of 3 751 (86.3%) clinical trials were interventional studies, of which randomized parallel control was predominant, and 213 large-sample studies with a sample size of more than 1 000 cases were included. A total of 20 types of interventions were involved, of which 1 114 (29.86%) clinical trials utilized oral prescription of herbal medicine interventions. Conclusion Clinical trial enrollment in traditional medicine has increased overall, but with significant geographic unevenness. Oral herbal soup/granule intervention studies are the mainstream hotspots. It is recommended to strengthen international cooperation, enrich the types of interventions, refine the trial design, and raise the awareness of researchers about the registration of high-quality traditional medicine clinical trials.
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics and reporting quality of the registered health Qigong-related clinical trials, and to analyze the progress and shortcomings of health Qigong-related clinical trials.MethodsChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) and ClinicalTrials.gov were electronically searched to collect the health Qigong-related clinical trials from inception to October 15st, 2020. Characteristics of trials were analyzed in the aspects of basic information, funding source, study content and more. The quality of registration was evaluated by WHO Trial Registration Data Set (TRDS).ResultsA total of 121 registered clinical trials were included. The annual registration quantity has been increasing with a peak (33.06%) reached in 2020. Among the registered trials, Baduanjin exercise- related studies accounted for the highest proportion (65.29%). The quantity of studies registered in Shanghai accounted for the most (29.75%). The largest contribution of registered trials was from Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (5.79%). 50.83% funds in trials were originated from universities and hospitals. Type 2 diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most studied diseases in the registered trials. 90.08% trials were designed as randomised parallel control studies, and the sample sizes of trials were concentrated between 30 and 100 (71.07%), and the age of the subjects was distributed over 40 years old (46.15%). The average quality of registration completion of the two registries was 87.44%.ConclusionsAt present, the general trend of health Qigong clinical research is positive. However, these trials contain unbalanced attributes such as the research type of health Qigong, distribution of registration area and organization, allocation of funds, and age composition of subjects. The design of clinical trials and registration details are needed to be improved.
ObjectiveTo review the characteristics of registered industry-sponsored clinical trials of pediatric drugs and vaccines in China and to provide references for promoting the development of new pediatric drugs. MethodsWe searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry for completed registered industry-sponsored clinical trials of pediatric drugs and vaccines from the database inception to September 11, 2022. Data including the date the trial was first posted, product type (drug or vaccine), sample size, and other information to describe the general characteristics of pediatric clinical trials were collected. The studies were divided into 2 phases based on the trial posted date, 2005―2010 and 2011―2022, reflecting the enactment of pediatric drug clinical trial policies in recent years. The quality of trial registration and the main characteristics of interventional trials in the 2 phases were then compared. Exploring the results attached to industry and non-industry sponsored clinical trials. ResultsData for 145 trials were collected, and the largest proportion (63.4%) involved vaccines. Randomized control trial (RCT) was the study type with the highest percentage (68.3%). The average report completion rate for registered interventional trials was 81.0%. Compared with 2005―2010, the percentage of average report completions, pediatric drug clinical studies, multicenter, RCTs, and double-blinded registered trials increased in 2011―2022. The proportion of positive outcomes in pediatric clinical trials sponsored by industries was higher than those sponsored by non-industry. ConclusionThe majority of completed pediatric clinical trials sponsored by industries are for vaccines, in line with the promotion of pediatric policies. The quality of trial registration has improved, but not significantly, and some characteristics of trial design have changed. The proportion of positive outcomes in pediatric clinical trials sponsored by industries is higher. And further promotion of pediatric clinical trials is needed.