Trends in Clinical Research 2025

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1672

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre (HCPA), affiliated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
Interests: microbiome; molecular microbiology; metagenomics; omics; biostatistics; next-generation sequencing; clinical research; bioinformatics; biotechnology; system biology; grand challenges
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Interests: risk-assessment; pesticides; metabolic disorders; neurotoxicology; mixtures; animal studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
Interests: drug design of central nervous system agents; neuropeptides and peptidomimetics; prodrugs for CNS delivery; CNS-selective estrogen therapy; neuroprotection; proteomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Trends in Clinical Research" is a curated collection of pioneering research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful perspectives that highlight the dynamic and rapidly advancing field of clinical research each year. The scope encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to clinical methodologies, patient-centered research, digital health innovations, regulatory advancements, and the integration of artificial intelligence in clinical settings. The articles included in this Special Issue investigate emerging trends, innovative methodologies, and groundbreaking discoveries poised to shape the future of clinical research. We will examine the implications of these advancements for scientific inquiry, clinical practice, and healthcare policy. This inaugural Special Issue will highlight contributions from 2025, serving as a cornerstone for continued dialogue and exploration within the field. We invite researchers and practitioners to read and contribute to this vital collection. Moving forward, we plan to update this Special Issue annually, ensuring that scholars have access to the latest and most impactful insights in clinical research.

Dr. Pabulo H. Rampelotto
Dr. Anca Oana Docea
Prof. Dr. Katalin Prokai-Tatrai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • biomedical research
  • digital health
  • evidence-based medicine
  • health policy
  • new therapies
  • new drugs
  • patient-centered research
  • personalized medicine
  • translational medicine

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 916 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nefopam on Postoperative Analgesia in Operating Room-Extubated Patients Undergoing Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
by Min Suk Chae, Jin-Oh Jeong, Kyung Kwan Lee, Wonwoo Jeong, Young Wook Moon and Ji Young Min
Life 2025, 15(4), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040662 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 18
Abstract
In patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with immediate postoperative extubation in the operating room (OR), rapid recovery of consciousness and spontaneous ventilation are essential, requiring effective analgesia without compromising respiratory function. This study evaluated whether intraoperative nefopam administration improves early postoperative [...] Read more.
In patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with immediate postoperative extubation in the operating room (OR), rapid recovery of consciousness and spontaneous ventilation are essential, requiring effective analgesia without compromising respiratory function. This study evaluated whether intraoperative nefopam administration improves early postoperative pain control and reduces opioid consumption in this physiologically distinct population. A retrospective cohort of 376 adult LDLT recipients who met the criteria for OR extubation was analyzed. After propensity score matching, 182 patients who received intraoperative nefopam were compared with 182 matched controls. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), and total fentanyl consumption and opioid-related complications were recorded over the first 24 h postoperatively. Nefopam administration was associated with significantly lower VAS scores during the first 12 h after surgery (p < 0.001) and reduced 24 h fentanyl consumption (53.2 ± 20.8 mL vs. 58.6 ± 27.5 mL, p = 0.035). No serious adverse effects related to nefopam were observed. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between the groups. These findings indicate that nefopam offers effective early analgesia and an opioid-sparing effect in LDLT recipients undergoing OR extubation, suggesting its clinical utility as a component of multimodal analgesia in this high-risk group. Although the reduction in opioid use did not translate into a decreased incidence of opioid-related complications, the favorable safety profile and analgesic efficacy of nefopam support further investigation through prospective trials to define its role in enhanced recovery protocols for OR-extubated LDLT recipients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Clinical Research 2025)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1180 KiB  
Article
Effect of Intraoperative Nefopam on Postoperative Analgesia in Living Liver Donors Undergoing Laparoscopic Hepatectomy with Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: A Propensity Score-Matched Study
by Min Suk Chae, Jin-Oh Jeong, Kyung Kwan Lee, Wonwoo Jeong, Young Wook Moon and Ji Young Min
Life 2025, 15(4), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040590 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 108
Abstract
Laparoscopic surgery reduces tissue trauma and accelerates recovery, but postoperative pain remains a concern. Opioids are effective but have adverse effects, highlighting the need for multimodal analgesia. Nefopam, a non-opioid analgesic, provides pain relief without respiratory depression or dependence. This study aims to [...] Read more.
Laparoscopic surgery reduces tissue trauma and accelerates recovery, but postoperative pain remains a concern. Opioids are effective but have adverse effects, highlighting the need for multimodal analgesia. Nefopam, a non-opioid analgesic, provides pain relief without respiratory depression or dependence. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of intravenous nefopam combined with a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in living liver donors undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy. This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 452 adult living donors who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy with a TAP block between August 2013 and August 2018 at a single tertiary medical center. After propensity score matching, 296 patients were included, with 148 in the nefopam group and 148 in the non-nefopam group. The primary outcomes assessed were pain scores using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively, opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and nefopam-related adverse effects. Nefopam significantly reduced NRS at 1, 4, and 8 h postoperatively (p < 0.001) and decreased fentanyl use in the post-anesthesia care unit (26.0 ± 32.2 μg vs. 60.5 ± 37.9 μg, p < 0.001) and total intravenous patient-controlled analgesia volume (p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and severe opioid-related complications did not differ between groups. Nefopam-related side effects were mild and self-limiting. Nefopam combined with a TAP block effectively reduces postoperative pain and opioid consumption in living liver donors, supporting its role in multimodal analgesia. Further research is needed to explore its broader applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Clinical Research 2025)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 526 KiB  
Review
Methylphenidate in Borderline Personality Disorder: Assessing Its Therapeutic Potential and Limitations
by Simone Pardossi, Alessandro Cuomo, Despoina Koukouna, Mario Pinzi, Bernardo Firenzuoli and Andrea Fagiolini
Life 2025, 15(3), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15030380 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 719
Abstract
Impulsivity is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic feature that spans multiple psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. In BPD, impulsive behaviors manifest as substance misuse, risky sexual activity, self-injury, and other maladaptive patterns. This review article [...] Read more.
Impulsivity is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic feature that spans multiple psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. In BPD, impulsive behaviors manifest as substance misuse, risky sexual activity, self-injury, and other maladaptive patterns. This review article updates the clinical and preclinical literature to explore the biological and psychological bases of impulsivity in BPD and considers whether methylphenidate (MPH) can be used as a treatment in this context. Although no medication is specifically approved for BPD, limited evidence from patients with comorbid BPD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) indicates that MPH may reduce impulsivity and improve key symptoms. In addition, real-world data indicate that MPH may be associated with better outcomes and a lower risk of suicidal behaviors in patients with BPD. Nevertheless, such evidence remains scant, particularly among those with a primary diagnosis of BPD without a diagnosis of ADHD. Larger, methodologically rigorous studies are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of MPH in targeting impulsivity within this population. An improved understanding of dopaminergic mechanisms may eventually shed light on MPH’s therapeutic role in BPD, although current data remain preliminary. Overall, recognizing impulsivity as a core symptom rather than focusing exclusively on diagnostic boundaries may facilitate more tailored and effective interventions for BPD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Clinical Research 2025)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop