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In a randomized trial, children with uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who were taking a stable dose of methotrexate were significantly less likely to have treatment failure but more likely to have adverse events with adalimumab than with placebo. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Children with JIA are at risk for inflammation of the uvea (uveitis). Uveitis develops in approximately 12 to 38% of patients with JIA within 7 years after the onset of arthritis. 1 , 2 Despite current screening and therapeutic options, visual impairment in both eyes may develop in up to 15% of children with JIA-associated uveitis, and they may be certified as legally blind. 3 , 4 Experimental models of autoimmune uveitis have shown that tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis, 5 findings that have been borne . . .

Background Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) often struggle with recruitment and many need extensions which leads to delayed implementation of effective interventions. Recruitment to complex intervention trials have similar difficulties. Alongside this, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact upon trial recruitment. Research has shown that many other recruitment issues can be anticipated, for example overestimating target population prevalence; however, a range of factors may play a role. The aim of this study is to investigate facilitators and barriers to recruitment from the perspective of the recruiter. Methods Fracture in the Elderly Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation – phase III (FEMuR III) was a RCT of a complex intervention post-surgery for hip fracture in patients over 60 years old. A process evaluation was undertaken, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven recruiters between November 2022 and March 2023 to identify barriers and facilitators to recruitment. A thematic analysis was undertaken in NVIVO (Version 12) using a critical realist perspective. Results The trial took place mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the unique impact of this on reported barriers is considered. A key finding included recruiter reluctance to approach patients that they felt would not benefit from the trial due to other factors (e.g. comorbidities or complex living situations). A possible barrier to recruiting carers appeared to be that family members did not relate to the label of ‘carer’ and so did not take part. Facilitators included recruiters approaching patients with other clinical or research staff. This approach, which included tailored initial information on the trial, reduced participant stress by increasing patient familiarity with recruiting staff and allowing staff time to develop relationships with patients. Conclusion This paper identifies barriers and facilitators of recruitment to FEMuR III with six broad themes for both barriers and facilitators identified in the qualitative data synthesis. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was the main, but not sole, barrier to recruitment. Key findings concern reluctance to approach some eligible patients, the label of ‘carer’, the involvement of clinical staff and patient preference for trial group. Strategies to identify and overcome recruitment problems are highlighted and should be implemented and evaluated in further RCTs of complex interventions. Trial registration ISRCTN28376407. November 23, 2018.

ObjectiveTo determine whether an enhanced community rehabilitation intervention (the Fracture in the Elderly Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation (FEMuR) intervention) was more effective than usual National Health Service care, following surgical repair of hip fracture, in terms of the recovery of activities of daily living (ADLs).DesignDefinitive, pragmatic, multisite, parallel-group, two-armed, superiority randomised controlled trial with 1:1 allocation ratio.SettingParticipant recruitment in 13 hospitals across England and Wales, with the FEMuR intervention delivered in the community.ParticipantsPatients aged over 60 years, with mental capacity, recovering from surgical treatment for hip fracture and living in their own home prior to fracture.InterventionsUsual rehabilitation care (control) was compared with usual rehabilitation care plus the FEMuR intervention, which comprised a patient-held workbook and goal-setting diary to improve self-efficacy, and six additional therapy sessions delivered in-person in the community, or remotely during COVID-19 restrictions (intervention), to increase the practice of exercise and ADL.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome was the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Falls Self-Efficacy-International scale, hip pain intensity, fear of falling, grip strength and Short Physical Performance Battery. Outcomes were collected by research assistants in participants’ homes, whenever possible, but had to be collected remotely during COVID-19 restrictions.ResultsIn total, 205 participants were randomised (n=104 experimental; n=101 control). Trial processes were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 20 deaths, 34 withdrawals and three lost to follow-up. At 52 weeks, there was no significant difference in NEADL score between the FEMuR intervention and control groups. Joint modelling analysis testing for difference in longitudinal outcome adjusted for missing values also found no significant difference with a mean difference of 0.1 (95% CI −1.1, 1.3). There were no significant between-group differences in secondary outcomes. Sensitivity analyses, examining the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, produced similar results. A median of 4.5 extra rehabilitation sessions were delivered to the FEMuR intervention group, with a median of two sessions delivered in-person. Instrumental variable regression did not find any effect of the amount of rehabilitation on the main outcome. There were 53 unrelated serious adverse events (SAEs) including 11 deaths in the control group: 41 SAEs including nine deaths in the FEMuR intervention group.ConclusionsThe FEMuR intervention was not more effective than usual rehabilitation care. The trial was severely impacted by COVID-19. Possible reasons for lack of effect included limited intervention fidelity (fewer sessions than planned and remote delivery), lack of usual levels of support from health professionals and families, and change in recovery beliefs and behaviours during the pandemic.Trial registration numberISRCTN28376407.

IntroductionChronic stable angina is common and disabling. Cardiac rehabilitation is routinely offered to people following myocardial infarction or revascularisation procedures and has the potential to help people with chronic stable angina. However, there is insufficient evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness for its routine use in this patient group. The objectives of this study are to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ‘Activate Your Heart’ cardiac rehabilitation programme for people with chronic stable angina compared with usual care.Methods and analysisACTIVATE is a multicentre, parallel-group, two-arm, superiority, pragmatic randomised controlled trial, with recruitment from primary and secondary care centres in England and Wales and a target sample size of 518 (1:1 allocation; allocation sequence by minimisation programme with built-in random element). The study uses secure web-based allocation concealment. The two treatments will be optimal usual care (control) and optimal usual care plus the ‘Activate Your Heart’ web-based cardiac rehabilitation programme (intervention). Outcome assessment and statistical analysis will be performed blinded; participants will be unblinded. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months’ follow-up. Primary outcome will be the UK version of Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ-UK), physical limitations domain at 12 months’ follow-up. Secondary outcomes will be the remaining two domains of SAQ-UK, dyspnoea, anxiety and depression, health utility, self-efficacy, physical activity and the incremental shuttle walk test. All safety events will be recorded, and serious adverse events assessed to determine whether they are related to the intervention and expected. Concurrent economic evaluation will be cost–utility analysis from health service perspective. An embedded process evaluation will determine the mechanisms and processes that explain the implementation and impacts of the cardiac rehabilitation programme.Ethics and disseminationNorth of Scotland National Health Service Research Ethics Committee approval, reference 21/NS/0115. Participants will provide written informed consent. Results will be disseminated by peer-reviewed publication.Trial registration numberISRCTN10054455.

Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis and chronic anterior uveitis in children may result in permanent sight loss. Currently, the only licensed and approved treatment for JIA-uveitis is adalimumab. However, even in patients where adalimumab may be initially effective, therapeutic response may subside for example, due to neutralising drug antibodies. Further treatment options are necessary to prevent sight loss in children with uveitis. Interleukin 17 is elevated in uveitis. Inhibition of interleukin 17 ameliorates inflammation in mouse models of uveitis. Secukinumab, an antibody which neutralizes interleukin 17 A, has been shown to be partially effective in adult uveitis. The objective of the Bayesian consensus meeting was to quantify prior expert opinion about the potential utility of secukinumab in treatment of uveitis in JIA. Methods Nine international experts in paediatric rheumatology, paediatric ophthalmology and/or paediatric uveitis took part in a structured Bayesian prior elicitation meeting. Results The final consensus was that adalimumab is expected to yield a higher response rate than secukinumab (mean 0.67 vs. 0.55). The uncertainty in the response rate on secukinumab is somewhat larger than for adalimumab. The equivalent sample size for the prior distribution of adalimumab is 15.7 and 13.1 for secukinumab. The decisions based on the combined evidence would still be driven by the trial data, yet substantial enhancement of the power of the study can be expected by adding information from the equivalent of almost 30 patients. Conclusions The Bayesian analysis adds substantial enhancement of the power of the study and supports a head-to-head trial of adalimumab and secukinumab for JIA-associated uveitis and chronic anterior uveitis. Trial registration ISRCTN 12,427,150 Registration date 14/02/2023. EudraCT 2022-003068-26 Registration date 07/09/2022.

IntroductionExcessive bleeding after childbirth (postpartum haemorrhage, PPH) affects 5% of births and causes 75 000 maternal deaths worldwide annually. It is the leading cause of direct maternal deaths globally and continues to be a major cause of mortality in the UK. Oxytocin is the standard first-line treatment for atonic PPH. The PPH rate is increasing, and this may be partially related to the overuse of oxytocics in labour. Laboratory studies on myometrium suggest that repeated use of oxytocics leads to the saturation of oxytocin receptors and reduced therapeutic efficacy of oxytocin. Carboprost (a prostaglandin analogue) is usually reserved for second-line management of atonic PPH. A systematic review comparing the efficacy of carboprost and conventional uterotonics for PPH prophylaxis found that carboprost was associated with less blood loss, but around 15% of women experienced side effects. The study’s aim is to compare intramuscular carboprost with intravenous oxytocin for the initial treatment of PPH. In addition, to assess the cost-effectiveness of both treatments, participants’ views on the two treatments and the consent process.Methods and analysisCOPE is a double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial that aims to recruit 2000 women (1:1 allocation, stratified by mode of birth) across 20 hospitals in the UK. Due to the emergency nature of PPH, COPE uses a research without prior consent (RWPC) model. Randomisation and treatment will occur if eligibility criteria are met once bleeding starts. Postnatal consent will be sought for disclosure of identifiable data and continued follow-up. Clinical efficacy outcomes will be collected at 24 and 48 hours or at hospital discharge, if sooner. Questionnaires will also be collected at 24 hours and 4 weeks postrandomisation. Cost-effectiveness will be based on the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year, calculated from the perspective of the NHS and personal social services.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Coventry and Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee (REC) (18/WM/0227) and the Health Research Authority. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration numberISRCTN16416766.

IntroductionProximal femoral (hip) fracture is common, serious and costly. Rehabilitation may improve functional recovery but evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are lacking. An enhanced rehabilitation intervention was previously developed and a feasibility study tested the methods used for this randomised controlled trial (RCT). The objectives are to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the enhanced rehabilitation programme following surgical repair of proximal femoral fracture in older people compared with usual care.Methods and analysisProtocol for phase III, parallel-group, two-armed, superiority, pragmatic RCT with 1:1 allocation ratio; allocation sequence by minimisation programme with a built-in random element; secure web-based allocation concealment. The two treatments will be usual care (control) and usual care plus an enhanced rehabilitation programme (intervention). The enhanced rehabilitation will consist of a patient-held information workbook, goal setting diary and up to six additional therapy sessions. Outcome assessment and statistical analysis will be performed blind; patient and carer participants will be unblinded. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 17 and 52 weeks’ follow-up. Primary outcome at 52 weeks will be the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale. Secondary outcomes will measure anxiety and depression, health utility, cognitive status, hip pain intensity, falls self-efficacy, fear of falling, grip strength and physical function. Carer strain, anxiety and depression will be measured in carers. All safety events will be recorded, and serious adverse events will be assessed to determine whether they are related to the intervention and expected. Concurrent economic evaluation will be a cost-utility analysis from a health service and personal social care perspective. An embedded process evaluation will determine the mechanisms and processes that explain the implementation and impacts of the enhanced rehabilitation programme.Ethics and disseminationNational Health Service research ethics approval reference 18/NE/0300. Results will be disseminated by peer-reviewed publication.Trial registration numberISRCTN28376407; Pre-results registered on 23 November 2018.

Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Children with JIA are at risk of intraocular inflammation (uveitis). In the initial stages of mild-moderate inflammation uveitis is asymptomatic. Most children with mild-moderate uveitis are managed on topical steroid drops with or without systemic methotrexate (MTX). When children with moderate-severe uveitis are refractory to MTX, monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis factor agents have been trialled, interim analysis data showed positive results. However, several children with severe recalcitrant disease or non-responsive to anti-tumour necrosis factor agents remain and are at greater risk of significant ocular complications and visual loss. Further evidence of alternative therapies is needed with evidence of a potential role of anti-interleukin-6 agents in the management of severe refractory uveitis. Methods The trial will be conducted following a two-stage Simon design. The trial will register at least 22 patients aged 2 to 18 years with active JIA-associated uveitis, who have taken MTX for at least 12 weeks and have failed an anti-TNF agent. It will take place in 7 centres across the UK. All participants will be treated for 6 months, with follow up of 9 months from registration. Participants will receive a stable dose of MTX and those weighing ≥30 kg will be dosed with 162 mg of Tocilizumab every 2 weeks and participants weighing < 30 kg dosed with 162 mg of Tocilizumab every 3 weeks. Primary outcome is treatment response at 12 weeks. Adverse events will be collected up to 30 calendar days following treatment cessation. Discussion This is a novel adaptive design study of subcutaneous IL-6 inhibition in anti-TNF refractory JIA associated uveitis which will be able to determine if further research should be conducted. This is the first trial to look at ophthalmology outcomes in the efficacy of Tocilizumab in uveitis. This is the first paediatric clinical trial to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab with MTX in JIA associated uveitis. Trials registration The Trial is registered on the ISRCTN registry ( ISRCTN95363507 ) on the 10/06/2015 and EU Clinical Trials Register on the 03/07/2015 (EudraCT Number: 2015–001323-23 ).

Learning theorists posit two reinforcement learning systems: model-free and model-based. Model-based learning incorporates knowledge about structure and contingencies in the world to assign candidate actions with an expected value. Model-free learning is ignorant of the world's structure; instead, actions hold a value based on prior reinforcement, with this value updated by expectancy violation in the form of a reward prediction error. Because they use such different learning mechanisms, it has been previously assumed that model-based and model-free learning are computationally dissociated in the brain. However, recent fMRI evidence suggests that the brain may compute reward prediction errors to both model-free and model-based estimates of value, signalling the possibility that these systems interact. Because of its poor temporal resolution, fMRI risks confounding reward prediction errors with other feedback-related neural activity. In the present study, EEG was used to show the presence of both model-based and model-free reward prediction errors and their place in a temporal sequence of events including state prediction errors and action value updates. This demonstration of model-based prediction errors questions a long-held assumption that model-free and model-based learning are dissociated in the brain. •A reinforcement learning task was employed which permitted both model-free and model-based learning.•A computational model was used to generate prediction error estimates for the two learning variants.•Regression of model estimates against scalp voltage revealed both model-free and model-based prediction error activity.•Traditional formal models of reinforcement learning may not accurately describe activity in the brain.

Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Children with JIA are at risk of inflammation of the uvea in the eye (uveitis). Overall, 20% to 25% of paediatric uveitis is associated with JIA. Major risk factors for development of uveitis in JIA are oligoarticular pattern of arthritis, an age at onset of arthritis of less than seven years of age, and antinuclear antibody positivity. In the initial stages of mild to moderate inflammation the uveitis is asymptomatic. This has led to current practice of screening all children with JIA for uveitis. Approximately 12% to 38% of patients with JIA develop uveitis in seven years following onset of arthritis. In 30% to 50% of children with JIA-associated uveitis structural complications are present at diagnosis. Furthermore about 50% to 75% of those with severe uveitis will eventually develop visual impairment secondary to ocular complications such as cataract and glaucoma. Defining the severity of inflammation and structural complications in uveitis patients is now possible following Standardised Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) guidelines, and modified to incorporate the consensus of end point and outcome criteria into the design of randomised trials. Despite current screening and therapeutic options (pre-biologics) 10% to 15% of children with JIA-associated uveitis may develop bilateral visual impairment and certified legally blind. To date, there remains no controlled trial evidence of benefits of biologic therapy. Methods/design This study will randomise 154 patients aged 2 to 18 years with active JIA-associated uveitis (despite methotrexate (MTX) treatment for at least 12 weeks). All participants will be treated for 18 months, with follow up of 3 years from randomisation (continuing on MTX throughout). All participants will receive a stable dose of MTX and in addition either adalimumab (20 mg/0.8 ml for patients <30 kg or 40 mg/0.8 ml for patients weighing 30 kg or more, subcutaneous (s/c) injection every 2 weeks based on body weight), or placebo (0.8 ml as appropriate according to body weight) s/c injection every 2 weeks. Discussion This is the first randomised controlled trial that will assess the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness of adalimumab in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis associated uveitis. Trial registration ISRCTN10065623