ANZCTR search results

In patients in intensive care with severe infections, those who do not develop a fever during the first 24 hours are more likely to die. This study aims to find out whether this is also the case in patients with infections in the absence of functioning white blood cells ('neutropenic sepsis'). We will look at a database of patients who were in intensive care in Australia and New Zealand between 2000 and 2013, to see whether there is a link between peak fever during the first 24 hours and survival among patients with very low white blood cell counts, compared with those with normal white blood cell counts. This study will inform the development of future clinical trials to decide whether the common medical practice of reducing fever during severe infections is harmful or not.

The study is investigating the effects of writing according to self-compassionate prompts, and how this may influence women's emotion and outlook regarding post cancer bodily changes. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or more, have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and have completed active non-hormonal cancer treatment for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation). However, women who may be still receiving follow up care and / or longer term hormonal treatments are also eligible. You will need to be able to undertake a writing activity and also answer on-line questionnaires. Trial details Participants in this trial are randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Participants in group 1 will be required to complete a paper-based questionnaire before completing a writing exercise. Instructions will be provided for the writing exercise with the use of a set of prompts designed to encourage a compassionate orientation to the self. After completing the writing exercise, participants will need to complete another questionnaire rating their feelings and outlook. Participants in group 2 will also complete a paper-based questionnaire before completing a writing exercise. Participants will receive instructions for unstructured writing regarding body image after treatment. After completing the writing exercise, participants will need to complete another questionnaire rating their feelings and outlook. The questionnaires and writing exercises for both groups will be sent by mail with a reply paid envelope. The questionnaires and writing exercise will take approximately 45 minutes (with the writing exercise alone requiring 20 minutes).

We propose to test if simultaneous engagement in activity that is multi-dimensional and synergetic in nature, such as dance, can prevent cognitive declines in old age. Dance is a complex sensorimotor activity combined with cognitive, social and affective dimensions. We offer to compare the executive functioning, working memory and processing speed of 126 older adults (aged 60 years and older), with or without mild cognitive declines, who will be randomised to participate in either 9 months, 2 weekly sessions of 1) ballroom dancing or 2) group walking program, as a functional uni-dimensional accessible and most popular form of exercise. Second we will compare changes in fitness levels between the groups and whether cognitive benefits can be attributed to improve in fitness. Last, the experience and the satisfaction from the two programs will be evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Aims of the project The aims of this research project are to: Collect information to monitor the health and progress of in study participants who have been treated with either the Depuy ASR Trademark XL Acetabular Hip System or DePuy ASR Trademark Hip Resurfacing Systems. This is a global research project, coordinated by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston Massachusetts USA, to be conducted at multiple sites worldwide. The International Musculoskeletal Research Institute Inc. (IMRI) is the contracted research Organisation to conduct this study in Australia at number of sites including the site of SPORTSMED SA. MGH has a contract with Depuy Orthopaedics to undertake the study as a global research project

A number of small studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for OCD by stimulating an area of the frontal lobe called the DLPFC. On the whole, the results of these studies have not been encouraging. The current project aims to compare the clinical efficacy of rTMS for OCD at two promising novel treatment targets: right sided premotor cortex versus bilateral supplementary motor area. Participation in the trial involves having two MRI brain scans and four weeks of inpatient rTMS treatment in Melbourne, Australia.

Several systematic reviews have indicated that additional exercise therapy and repetitive task training have a significant effect on functional outcome after stroke. Guidelines therefore conclude that patients in a rehabilitation setting should have the opportunity to get an increase of intensity of therapy. A new method to meet these recommendations could be to involve caregivers (partner, family, friends) in exercise training. Previous studies suggest that this form of exercises done with a caregiver can lead to a better functional outcome for the patient and less strain for the caregiver. This feasibility study will test the proof of concept of caregiver mediated exercises when combined with innovative ICT techniques (CARE4STROKE package) aimed at improving gait, ADL independency and allowing early discharge to patients own home setting after stroke. We hypothesize that patients allocated to the CARE4STROKE programme will show better outcomes in terms of gait, gait-related activities and ADL with a reduced length of stay (LOS) when compared to usual care alone. In addition we hypothesize that this programme leads to increased levels of self-efficacy for patient and caregiver and a reduced caregiver burden. This study is related to the CARE4STROKE trial registered on NTR with ID: NTR3739.

The purpose of the study is to further improve outcomes in CF by developing a better understanding of the reasons for the decline in health status and lung function during adolescence, which is one of the key challenges facing clinicians. We hope to do this by looking at such things as the 1) pathology involved in CF lung disease, 2) long term risks of emerging organisms, 3)potential effects of early therapeutic interventions, such as P. aeruginosa eradication, 4) metagenomic profile identifying bacteria in respiratory samples, 5) psychosocial factors, and 6) relationship between early life events and outcomes between 9 - 17 years of age.

This is a Phase II Extension study to examine the safety, tolerability and effect of 52 weeks treatment with PBT2 in patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The primary objectives are to examine the safety and tolerability and the effect of PBT2 on the amount of amyloid in patients brains after 52 weeks of treatment when measured by a particular type of brain scan, PiB-Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The effects of PBT2 on brain volume, brain metabolic activity, blood biomarkers of AD and cognition plus functional abilities will also be investigated.

Trial Objectives To demonstrate that a standardised and prescribed intensive speech therapy regimen for aphasia is more effective and cost saving than non-standardised usual care training methods in the very early post-stroke recovery period. Primary Hypothesis: Very early aphasia therapy will result in greater improvement in communication at 12 weeks post-stroke, as measured by the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised; Aphasia Quotient (WAB-R (AQ)). Secondary Hypotheses: 1. VERSE aphasia therapy will result in a greater improvement in communication than UC-Plus aphasia therapy at 12 and 26 weeks post stroke, as measured by the WAB-R (AQ). 2. VERSE aphasia therapy and UC-Plus will each result in greater improvements in communication than U C alone, as measured by the WAB-R(AQ), at 12 weeks and 26 weeks post stroke. 3. VERSE aphasia therapy will result in greater improvements in connected speech than UC-Plus, as measured by Discourse Analysis, at 12 weeks and 26 weeks post stroke. 4. VERSE aphasia therapy and UC-Plus will each result in greater improvements in connected speech than UC alone, as measured by Discourse Analysis, at 12 weeks and 26 weeks post stroke. 5. Very early aphasia therapy (UC-Plus and VERSE) will result in better quality of life at 12 and 26 weeks post stroke than UC control. 6. Very early aphasia therapy (UC-Plus and VERSE) will be more cost-effective than UC at 12 and 26 weeks post stroke.

The study is evaluating the feasibility and toxicity of the refined bladder adaptive radiotherapy (BART) protocol. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or older, have histologically confirmed muscle invasive bladder cancer (any pathology), stage T2-3b N0 M0, considered suitable for definitive radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy, an ECOG performance status score of 2 or less, have a life expectancy greater than 5 years, and available for follow-up. Trial details Participants in this study will be administered Bladder adaptive radiotherapy (BART). BART is a specialized technique that utilizes computed tomography (CT) scans to visualize the bladder, and therefore allow optimal matching of a radiotherapy treatment plan on a daily basis. Adaptive radiotherapy is particularly useful in the treatment of bladder cancer, given the significant daily variability in the location and size of the bladder. The technique of daily optimization of treatment plans allows smaller volumes to be treated and therefore less toxicity to surrounding normal organs (such as small & large bowel). The dosage amount and frequency of radiotherapy administered in this trial will not differ from standard ‘non-adaptive’ treatment that you would otherwise receive if you declined participation in the trial. These parameters will be determined by your Radiation Oncologist. In the large majority of cases, radiotherapy will be given as 5 treatments per week (daily from Monday to Friday), as part of a 4-7 week treatment course. The duration of radiotherapy treatment will be determined by your Radiation Oncologist, but will generally range from 4-7 weeks. Follow-up review will be conducted by treating Radiation Oncology team at 4-6 weeks after completion of radiotherapy, and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-treatment.