Publications by authors named "C Velardo"
Biocompatible materials fabricated from natural protein polymers are an attractive alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. They offer a green, sustainable fabrication method while also opening new applications in biomedical sciences. Available from several sources in the wild and on domestic farms, silk is a widely used biopolymer and one of the strongest natural materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Blood pressure (BP) control following stroke is important but currently sub-optimal. This trial aimed to determine whether self-monitoring of hypertension with telemonitoring and a treatment escalation protocol, results in lower BP than usual care in people with previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Methods: Unblinded randomised controlled trial, comparing a BP telemonitoring-based intervention with control (usual care) for hypertension management in 12 primary care practices in England.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to test the effectiveness of sending text messages to promote medication adherence in adults with type 2 diabetes, informing a future large-scale trial in the UK.
- Conducted across multiple primary care centers, 209 participants were randomly assigned to receive text messages or usual care, with a goal to retain over 80% of participants for follow-up at 6 months.
- A total of 12,734 messages were sent, with a high recruitment rate of 60-80 participants monthly, and baseline health data was available for most participants, setting the stage for the measurement of outcomes after 6 months.
Article Synopsis
- Inadequate management of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy is linked to increased maternal deaths, highlighting the need for better hypertension management.
- A clinical trial involving 2,441 pregnant individuals at higher risk for preeclampsia assessed whether self-monitoring of blood pressure (BP) with telemonitoring improved early detection of hypertension.
- Results showed no significant difference in the time to first recorded hypertension between those using self-monitoring and those receiving usual care, indicating that self-monitoring did not provide additional benefits in this context.
Importance: Inadequate management of elevated blood pressure is a significant contributing factor to maternal deaths. The role of blood pressure self-monitoring in pregnancy in improving clinical outcomes for the pregnant individual and infant is unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of blood pressure self-monitoring, compared with usual care alone, on blood pressure control and other related maternal and infant outcomes, in individuals with pregnancy hypertension.