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Psoriasis is a common, non-infectious inflammatory disease characterised by distinctive erythematous scaling plaques of varying sizes usually on the scalp, elbows, knees and other surfaces of the skin. There is no satisfactory or effective cure for psoriasis. Both oral and topical treatment modalities are only partially effective and can induce irritation and/or serious side-effects. Current treatment options are only effective in reducing psoriasis symptoms temporarily. About 70% of subjects are said to prefer topical therapy to manage psoriasis. Myrtaceous essential oils have been found to provide anti-inflammatory effects on human skin. A safe, relatively inexpensive, alternative topical treatment is required to minimise treatment failures and relapses associated with psoriasis. The present study compared the efficacy and safety of topical kunzea oil (twice daily) with 5% Liquor Carbonis Detergens (LCD) and 3% salicylic acid containing formulations (twice daily) for the management mild to moderate psoriasis (study duration 8 weeks). The study recruited patients from single site (GP surgery, Talbot Rd, Launceston).

The aim of the study is to determine if transcutaneous electrical stimulation can reduce the severity of persistent faecal incontinence in a group of children with spina bifida previously unsuccessfully treated with retrograde continence enema. Faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida is currently treated by retrograde continence enema. Transcutaneous electrical therapy will be proposed as an alternative therapy to children with spina bifida aged 8-18 who have failed retrograde continence enema treatment. We have not tested transcutaneous electrical stimulation on children with spina bifida. There has been one study using transcutaneous electrical stimulation to treat faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida but there were no quantitative outcome measures that could be used to predict the number of patients needed in a randomized control trial. A baseline period will be followed with a therapy (stimulation) period. Outcomes measurements will be compared before and after stimulation. Outcomes are severity of faecal incontinence, quality of life and colonic transit time.

Existing data indicate that obesity affects individuals as early as the first two years of life and that overweight in infancy strongly predicts overweight in pre-school years and onwards. Thus, starting prevention during infancy appears essential. Despite this, preventive strategies targeting parents with children under the age of two are still in minority. The present research project primarily aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief, preventive Triple P parenting program (Baby Healthy Living) for parents with 4 to 18 months old children who may be at risk for overweight. The main goal of this intervention is to promote positive feeding practices and empower parents in setting healthy habits in infancy. The study targets families in more vulnerable situations (e.g., single parenthood, lower socio-economic status) who are at increased risk of having overweight or obese children. The intervention may benefit those families the most. If proven effective, such an intervention could make a significant difference in reducing risk factors associated with the early onset of childhood obesity.

This study is designed to test whether the Acute Care Index of Function tool, a measure of global function used by Physiotherapists, has adequate reliability between therapists to be useful as an outcome measure in critically ill patients. This tool has been found to be reliable and valid in acute neurological patients but has not yet been tested in a heterogeneous critically ill population. This study will also test the validity of the ACIF by comparing it to the ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) which has been found to have adequate reliability and validity in critically ill patients.

Taking 10,000 steps a day is promoted by The Centres of Disease Control and Prevention, and The American College of Sports Medicine to equate to a healthy level of physical activity (Pate et al, 1995). Through the use of wearable activity monitors, this study will objectively quantify the limitation in physical activity that hip labral tear patients subjectively report. The study aims to determine whether hip arthroscopic surgery improves physical activity, pain, and quality of life. Satisfaction with surgery will also be assessed and provide further insight into the efficacy of arthroscopic hip surgery.

This project's hypotheses are that early access to vocational rehabilitation services for in-patients in NSW spinal units will increase return to work rates and have a positive impact on general health and well being of the participants. This study will also have other components to complement the quantitative aspect namely a qualitative sub-evaluation (investigating the perspective of the participants and rehabilitation staff), a process sub-evaluation (with reference to the implementation of the intervention), and a cost sub-evaluation.

This study will let us explore the safety of a closed loop for the management system that is designed for unmonitored home use. It is possible that if the system is stressed, that hypoglycaemia can still happen. For example during and after exercise, or if the glucose sensor is over reading. We will simulate these possibilites while participants are in a hospital system and are closely monitored. This will help us learn and improve the system, and educate participants in the future, when the device is used in the community.

Asthma is a high impact, chronic inflammatory airway disease where modulation holds the promise of long term clinical benefits. Different types of cells have been involved in asthma such as eosinophils, neutrophils and a mixture of both eosinophils and neutrophils. The main purpose of this study is to see if treatment with conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar 13) will help people with eosinophilic asthma. It is hypothesised that Prevenar 13 will attenuate eosinophilic airway inflammation and improve health status.

The aim of the study is to investigate whether an intervention to reduce sitting time in the high school setting will result in less sitting time for adolescents aged 12-14 years and to assess whether a reduction in sedentary time has a positive effect on student cognition. Schools will be randomised to either a control or intervention after baseline data is collected. The six-month intervention will introduce a number of strategies to encourage adolescents to sit less or stand more during the school day by breaking up or reducing sitting time.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by a partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy acts as a positive airway splint, delivering a fixed positive airway pressure to the upper airway via a tube and mask. CPAP compliance is strongly influenced by the patient’s mask system. As masks are worn every night the comfort, seal, stability and ease of use of a CPAP mask is highly important. ResMed teams are constantly designing potential new products. At times it is desirable for internal staff members to volunteer to trial prototypes of masks, frames, headgears and accessories because: employees may wish to assess a design to experience how it works and feels, and determine ways to improve it; there may be a need to gain initial feedback on whether an idea is worth pursuing; design team wishes to narrow down options before proceeding to a user trial on OSA patients.