Clinical trials

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by more than 20 different species of the protozoan parasite Leishmania. CL usually begins with a papule at the site of the sandfly bite, which enlarges to form a nodule that progresses to an ulceration, or a scaly or warty plaque, over a period of 1 to 3 months. The exact incidence of CL is not known. An estimated 1.2 million cases/year in approximately 100 countries worldwide suffer from different forms of CL. More than 90% of CL cases occur in the Americas and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Colombia, Iraq, Pakistan, and Syria report more than 80% of new CL cases worldwide. Since 2010, the World Health Organization has insisted on the need to work on products that become alternatives for the treatment of LC, especially in products that can be applied topically because with them the probability of systemic toxicity is lower, increasing patient safety. Currently, it is recommended to apply local treatments for patients with localized LC, either with pentavalent antimonials administered intralesionally or with thermotherapy. Among the options for topical treatment are natural products that have been, are and will be of utmost importance as sources of medicinal agents. In addition to natural products that have found direct medicinal applications as pharmaceutical entities, many others can serve as chemical models or templates for the design, synthesis and semi-synthesis of novel substances for the treatment of human diseases. Arnica montana L. is a plant with anti-emollient, healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antineuralgic properties; it is included in the Colombian vademecum of medicinal plants. In a randomized phase Ib/II clinical trial conducted in patients with localized LC in Colombia, 100% (per protocol analysis) and 92% (intention-to-treat analysis) efficacy was demonstrated, with no adverse effects other than those expected such as erythema, burning, pain or itching. By demonstrating that arnica tincture is effective and safe, and that A. montana flower extracts in different preparations (topical solutions, tinctures, liniments, ointments or gels) are approved by the European Medicines Agency and are included in the vademecum of Colombian plants issued by the Ministry of Social Protection of Colombia in 2008, the present study aims to establish the safety and efficacy of arnica tincture as an alternative for the topical treatment of localized LC compared to a currently available local therapeutic alternative: intralesional pentavalent antimonials.

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether the functional food Benemix® helps treat constipation in adults and whether it is safe to use. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does Benemix® help improve bowel movement frequency and consistency in adults with constipation? What medical problems, if any, do participants experience while taking Benemix®? Adults with constipation will take Benemix® every day for 15 days. During the second week, participants will have either an in-person clinic visit or a telemedicine appointment for checkups and tests. Participants will also receive follow-up phone calls to record: * daily treatment adherence * signs and symptoms * the number of bowel movements each day.

The aim of this study is to learn whether a program that combines yoga, meditation, and mindful eating can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve mindfulness in university students. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Does participating in yoga, meditation, and mindful eating sessions lower students' levels of stress, anxiety, and depression? * Does the program improve students' mindfulness and general well-being? What will happen in the study: Participants will: * Attend weekly sessions of yoga, meditation, and mindful eating for 32 hours total. * Practice physical postures (Asanas), breathing exercises (Pranayama), relaxation, and meditation. * Receive short lessons about mindful nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits. * Complete questionnaires before and after the program to measure stress, anxiety, depression, and mindfulness.

This study aims to compare two different ways doctors hold a face mask to help the participant breathe during general anesthesia. The investigators are evaluating which method, the "C-E" or the "V-E" technique, works best. If the participant chooses to take part, on the day of surgery, after anesthesia has been administered and the participant is asleep, the doctor will use one of these two mask-holding techniques to assist breathing for a short period. The investigators will measure how effectively the participant is breathing, check carbon dioxide levels, and record the doctors' assessment of how easy and comfortable each technique was for them. This study will not alter any other aspect of the surgery or recovery.

Minor ailments are common, self-limited conditions unrelated to the patient's underlying health problems or adverse effects of their current medications. Minor ailment services are pharmacist-led interventions that provide patients with the most appropriate recommendation when unsure about the medication for a specific minor ailment. It involves advice on nonprescription drugs, non-pharmacological measures, or referral to another health care practitioner. In Colombia, evaluating and implementing this service could optimize nonprescription drugs use and improve minor ailment management in primary health care settings.

This study will evaluate the effect of an educational intervention of spirituality in nursing professionals acting in critical care contexts to favor spiritual self-care, compared with the conventional care group. The educational intervention adopts Pamela Reed's theory of the transcendence of the self as a theoretical reference, which facilitates the understanding of the phenomenon of spirituality by adopting an integral approach focused on personal growth. To determine the effect of the intervention, the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) developed by Reed will be applied.

Objective: Determine the effect of the postoperative trendelenburg position on the recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) in patients undergoing surgery. Materials and Methods: An open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in three hospitals in Medellín. Patients with CSH were enrolled and assigned to the trendelenburg position (30° leg elevation and 10° head tilt) or a flat bed for 24 hours postoperatively. CSH recurrence was measured at 3 months, along with functional outcome (modified Rankin scale), adverse events, and comfort (Likert scale).

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether treating pain after surgery with ketamine is more effective when administered intravenously as a continuous infusion or through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. This study focuses on adult volunteers following major orthopedic surgery. We have two main questions to address: * Is a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine as effective as ketamine administered through a PCA pump for managing pain after major orthopedic surgery. * Does a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine result in lower opioid requirements compared to ketamine delivered through a PCA pump for pain management after major orthopedic surgery? Participants will be divided into two groups. One group will receive ketamine via continuous infusion, while the other will receive it through a PCA pump. Both groups will also receive a placebo (a substance that looks like the drug but contains no active ingredients), ensuring that neither group knows whether they are receiving ketamine through the PCA pump (which always contains a painkiller) or as a continuous infusion. Participants will be assigned to one of the two groups and will receive their assigned treatment for 48 hours while hospitalized. Researchers will visit participants during their first three days in the hospital to assess their pain levels and monitor for any side effects.