A 12-week program of daily home-based mindfulness meditation combined with progressive muscle relaxation, practiced for at least half an hour, significantly improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced quality of life in hemodialysis patients with sarcopenia and sleep disorders. Twenty-five patients in the intervention group showed better scores on sleep, anxiety, and depression measures compared to 24 controls receiving standard care. The approach is simple and unrestricted, but the study had a small sample and short follow-up.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction involving recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Conventional treatments are often unsatisfactory. This trial hypothesizes that a single low dose of esketamine, which has rapid antidepressant effects, may alleviate IBS symptoms. The study is a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 92 patients per group across three severity levels. The primary outcome is the IBS Severity Scoring System measured at baseline and up to six weeks after colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, stool form, anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms. The protocol is approved and registered.