JMIR Research Protocols

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are often progressive conditions that can reduce quality of life and life expectancy and require long-term caregiving. As patients age, caregivers face increasing demands, often resulting in significant caregiver burden. Treatment and care are complex, and a coordinated, family-centered approach is indicated. The current care situation for individuals with NMDs and their families in Switzerland is poorly understood, and there is no standardized NMD care management available.

Computed tomography (CT)–guided online stereotactic adaptive radiotherapy (CT-STAR) allows for ablative radiation doses to be delivered to selected patients with borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) or unresectable pancreatic cancer. However, the use of CT-STAR to deliver an ablative dose to the pancreas while minimizing gastrointestinal (GI) side effects to reduce acute and late toxicity rates compared to historic controls has yet to be prospectively evaluated.

Despite the availability of treatment options, help-seeking rates among individuals with gambling problems remain low. To reach a broader population of those affected by disordered gambling, online and self-guided interventions have been developed. Personalized normative feedback (PNF) is one of the most widely used strategies for preventing gambling issues among young adults. However, most studies on PNF efficacy focus solely on its impact on the intensity and severity of gambling behavior, without exploring its potential to increase intention to change and help-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies assessing the efficacy of PNF in addressing emerging online gambling-like behaviors, such as betting within video games or excessive financial trading of high-risk assets (eg, cryptocurrencies), which have been linked to gambling disorder.

Cataract remains the leading cause of reversible blindness worldwide, particularly in older adults, in whom capsular weakness during phacoemulsification may preclude posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. In such scenarios, alternative fixation methods such as scleral-sutured and iris-claw lenses are preferred. However, direct comparative evidence regarding their safety, stability, and postoperative visual outcomes during primary cataract surgery is limited.

To identify the key prognostic factors in patients with primary and secondary thyroid lymphoma, focusing on clinical, histopathological, biological, and genetic components, as these factors remain unclear.The key prognostic factors in patients with primary and secondary thyroid lymphoma remain unclear, particularly regarding clinical, histopathological, biological, and genetic components.

Ventricular shunts divert cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with hydrocephalus, which can be lifesaving. Untreated shunt failure may lead to increased intracranial pressure and neurological injury. The process of diagnosing shunt malfunction can be complex, and historically, there has not been a simple method for noninvasive and quantitative measurement of CSF flow through shunts. The demonstration of successful clinical application of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) to noninvasively quantify shunt flow is relatively new and will benefit from standardization across varying types of magnetic resonance (MR) hardware to facilitate implementation at multiple medical sites. PC-MRI CSF flow measurement through ventricular shunts has not yet been compared across different types of MR hardware (ie, differing field strengths, radiofrequency coils, slew rates, gradient strengths, models, and manufacturers).

Transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. Evidence shows that HIV self-testing increases awareness of HIV status, preventing transmission. Culturally appropriate strategies are needed to provide HIV self-tests (HIVSTs) to transgender women.

Virtual health care, originally as telephone-based telehealth, has been used for more than 45 years; however, the literature shows limited understanding of the competencies required for safe virtual care practice in nursing and other health-related fields. This has led to a widening education-practice gap.

Urinary calculi (UC), affecting 1%‐13% globally, pose a significant health burden due to high recurrence rates (up to 50% within 10 years) and substantial health care costs. Adequate fluid intake is a cornerstone of prevention; yet, its adherence remains poor due to forgetfulness, lifestyle barriers, and limited patient education. Existing mobile health interventions for UC prevention often lack medical oversight and clinical validation. WeChat-based digital therapeutic intervention may have a positive effect on fluid adherence in this patient group.

Excessive sugar consumption is a public health concern. Allulose, a low-calorie sugar with similar functional properties to sucrose, offers potential metabolic benefits. Animal and limited human studies suggest it may stimulate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, improve glucose regulation, and support weight management. However, evidence to substantiate these effects in humans remains scarce.

The aging trend of people living with HIV or AIDS in China is increasing day by day. Frailty is a common condition among older adults living with HIV or AIDS and represents a significant cause of poor prognosis, including falls, decreased quality of life, increased mortality, and potentially prolonged hospital stays. Consequently, early frailty screening in this population holds important clinical significance.

Diabetic dyslipidemia (DD), characterized by a classical triad of abnormal lipid profiles among the diabetic population, presents a major public health concern in South Africa, particularly among Black South Africans. The increasing prevalence of DD significantly contributes to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. With the incidence of diabetes rising from 4.5% in 2010 to 12.7% in 2021, urgent preventive measures and effective treatments are crucial to tackle the risk of premature mortality.