Clinical trial NCT06011785: Using Silica 12CH to Mitigate the Effects and Symptoms of Silicosis in Brazil
Official title: Using Silica 12CH to Mitigate the Effects and Symptoms of Silicosis in Brazil
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
Conditions: Silicosis
Lead sponsor: HOHM Foundation
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-08-25
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: The study design is a controlled non-blinded clinical study without randomization to test the effectiveness of an intervention among individuals with symptoms of Silicosis as a result of working as quartzite miners. The intervention to be studied is a homeopathic preparation of Silica 12CH on a sample of clients with Silicosis already receiving ongoing conventional medical care. The intervention is Silica 12CH given over one year: a single dose at intervals of three months (three times in the study period).

Participants will be recruited locally through the clinic where they already receive ongoing medical attention. The local secretary of health authorizes the release of the patient files. Potential participants will be given printed information about the study details along with information about how to participate and the associated deadlines for joining the study. Interested individuals will be given the informed consent form.
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: This clinical study aims to address a research and clinical treatment gap related to individuals with symptoms of Silicosis resulting from quartzite mining work. Silicosis represents a challenge in this specific population in Sao Thome das Letras, Minas Gerais. Silicosis is a severe disease and is considered incurable. Current conventional medicine only offers palliative care for those with Silicosis, highlighting the important and urgent need for research into complementary care approaches.

Detailed description: The study design is a simple clinical trial to assess the effect of the homeopathic medication Silica 12CH given alongside the conventional treatment of Silicosis, versus standard treatment alone for Silicosis.

The study design is a controlled non-blinded clinical study without randomization to test the effectiveness of a homeopathic intervention among individuals with symptoms of Silicosis as a result of working as quartzite miners. The intervention to be studied is a homeopathic preparation of Silica 12CH on a sample of clients with Silicosis already receiving ongoing conventional medical care. The intervention is Silica 12CH given over one year: a single dose at intervals of three months (three times in the study period).

Participants will be recruited locally through the clinic where they already receive ongoing medical attention. The local secretary of health authorizes the release of the patient files. Potential participants will be given printed information about the study details along with information about how to participate and the associated deadlines for joining the study. Interested individuals will be given the informed consent form.

Participants will freely elect to be in either the control or intervention group. Individuals in the control group follow the standard-care protocol without the homeopathic intervention. Individuals in the experimental group will receive the homeopathic intervention while also following the standard-care protocol. All individuals will be encouraged to continue with any concurrent conventional medical treatment for their Silicosis-related symptoms. Individuals in either group may freely leave the study at any time with no consequence. Additionally, participants may freely elect to be moved from the control group into the experimental group at the half-way point in the study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* To be eligible to participate, participants must meet the following criteria:

  * must be at least 18 years old
  * must have a clinical diagnosis of silicosis
  * must be receiving conventional medical care and/or monitoring for their condition

Exclusion Criteria:

* ● Individuals under the age of 18

  * individuals who are not receiving conventional medical care and/or monitoring for their condition
  * individuals too infirm to receive regular monitoring as required for the study
  * Interested participants without Silicosis
  * Individuals with Tuberculosis
  * Individuals defined as part of a vulnerable group

    * legal or clinically incapable persons
    * person in a state of temporary disability;
    * of a member of indigenous community

Primary outcomes:
measure: Changes in pulmonary health of individuals with Silicosis as assessed by symptoms '1' and '2' using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW validated) wellness measurement instrument. 0 = As good as it can be. 6 = As bad as it can be
timeFrame: One year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in pulmonary health of individuals with Silicosis as assessed by overall wellness scores using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW validated) wellness measurement instrument. 0 = As good as it can be. 6 = As bad as it can be.
timeFrame: One year
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: HOHM Foundation
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: HOHM Foundation
name: Alastair C Gray, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Souza TP, Watte G, Gusso AM, Souza R, Moreira JDS, Knorst MM. Silicosis prevalence and risk factors in semi-precious stone mining in Brazil. Am J Ind Med. 2017 Jun;60(6):529-536. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22719.
citation: Souza TP, van Tongeren M, Monteiro I. Respiratory health and silicosis in artisanal mine workers in southern Brazil. Am J Ind Med. 2021 Jun;64(6):511-518. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23242. Epub 2021 Mar 28.
citation: Carneiro AP, Braz NF, Algranti E, Bezerra OM, Araujo NP, Amaral Eng Hyg LS, Edme JL, Sobaszek A, Cherot-Kornobis N. Silica exposure and disease in semi-precious stone craftsmen, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Am J Ind Med. 2017 Mar;60(3):239-247. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22682.
citation: Goyal KK. Two cases of pulmonary TB treated with homeopathy. Homeopathy. 2002 Jan;91(1):43-6. doi: 10.1054/homp.2001.0009. No abstract available.
citation: Chand KS, Manchanda RK, Mittal R, Batra S, Banavaliker JN, De I. Homeopathic treatment in addition to standard care in multi drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial. Homeopathy. 2014 Apr;103(2):97-107. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.003.
citation: Hoeper MM, Welte T. Systemic inflammation, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension. Chest. 2007 Feb;131(2):634-5; author reply 635. doi: 10.1378/chest.06-2207. No abstract available.
citation: Boccolini PMM, de Lima Sirio Boclin K, de Sousa IMC, Boccolini CS. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in Brazil: results of the National Health Survey, 2019. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022 Aug 2;22(1):205. doi: 10.1186/s12906-022-03687-x.