ANZCTR search results

Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CEMRI) of the breast is the most accurate imaging test to show the size and extent of breast cancer. A new technique, Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) is also capable of showing areas of abnormal blood flow in the breast that are associated with breast cancer, similar to the way in which contrast enhanced breast MRI works. Due to limited availability and cost, CEMRI is not routinely used to assess all breast cancers in Australia; rather its use is reserved to answer specific questions. Whilst approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), CESM is not routinely used for breast cancer assessment as its role in planning treatment is not yet clear. This study aims to see whether this new technique is as effective as CEMRI in showing the full extent of cancer in the breast - a finding that has been suggested in other studies of CESM. We hope that proof of this will allow more accurate assessment of women with potential cancerous areas in their breasts without the need for CEMRI, which is not suitable for everyone and not widely available due to cost and limited access to MRI machines.

This project will consist of a case series trial of an intervention for chronic pain. The intervention, based on behavioural principles, has previously been successfully applied to treat major depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic fibromyalgia pain. This project aims to extend the existing research by applying the treatment to a small number of individuals with chronic neck pain. It is expected that there will be a clinically significant decrease in pain anxiety, depression, and pain intensity, and increases in activity levels, rate of reinforcement, and quality of life at post-treatment, and at 3 month and 6 month follow-up.

The study is designed to examine the lifestyle and health risk factors of participants in an older age group, living in retirement setting. Those most at risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) will then be given curcumin /placebo to examine its abiltity to reduce or slow the risk of developing the AD.

The primary aim of the study is to examine if a telephone based intervention designed to increase confidence and motivation (i.e. Motivational Interviewing) increases physical activity in people living in the community following a hip fracture. Secondary aims relate to the effect of this intervention on confidence, quality of life, mental health and mobility.

This project explores the viability to augment existing Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) treatment with Imagery Re-scripting (IR). Due to the aversive nature of ERP treatment, the authors postulate that the mastery of IR can help participants to foster confidence and improve adherence to in-vivo exposure exercises. Using a case-series methodology, four participants will take part in a 10-session, weekly therapy format. The IR-ERP treatment is hypothesized to bring about clinical improvements in terms of OCD symptoms, treatment adherence and general well-being such as depressive, anxiety, stress and self-efficacy.

The trial's main purpose is to test the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in patients who have painful gluteal tendonopathies. The trial aims to see if PRP use in patients who have gluteal tendonopathies reduces pain and improves functional levels at 12 weeks follow-up, compared to cortisone injection. No data exist on the use of PRP in gluteal tendonopathies. A small, uncontrolled study carried out by the investigators showed promising results. Therefore we want to study the use of PRP injections in patients with gluteal tendonopathy prospectively, in a double-blind randomised, controlled trial.

This study will examine the relationship between anxiety and asthma. Children and their parents will complete assessments about their illness, anxiety and two experimental tasks as part of an assessment for treatment. Children and their parents will then be randomized to an eight session cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) targeting anxiety amongst children with asthma and their parents. Following treatment, children will again complete the same assessments as prior to intervention. This project will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of CBT developed specifically for dealing with anxiety in children with asthma.

Patients with lifestyle limiting intermittent claudication will be offered, in addition to best medical therapy, participation in a 12-week supervised exercise program consisting of two 1 hour sessions per week. The exercise prescription will be based on current evidence of treadmill walking to near maximal pain. They will also undergo two key assessments at baseline (day 0) and at day 90. This will consist of measurement of walking performance (PFWD and 6MWD), body composition (DEXA), resting energy expenditure (calorimetry), endothelial function (FMD and EndoPAT), monocytes and subpopulations (flow cytometry), levels of apoptosis, lactadherin mRNA and protein expression and microRNA-92a expression in ischemic and non-ischemic muscles of the symptomatic leg.

With advanced ageing, physical and cognitive functions decline and these age-related changes increase the risk of falls. Above the age of 65 years, about one third of individuals experience at least one fall every year with about half of those who fall in this period do so multiple times. As stepping and specific cognitive functions are risk factors for falls in older people, this study aims at improving these functions to reduce risk. In this randomised controlled trial, participants will use low-cost computer game technology to play a range of games that combine stepping and specific cognitive functions. Earlier studies have shown that this intervention type and mode of delivery is feasible and safe. In this phase III trial, participants will be recommended to perform the exergames three or more times per week for 20 minutes for a period of three months. At the end of the trial, physical and cognitive functions associated with fall risk will be assessed. Falls will also be recorded over a period of six months. Using this novel approach of delivery, we hypothesize that playing exergames can improve both physical and cognitive functioning and reduce the risk of falls.

This is a single-centre study using a QIMR3D7Pf innoculum challenge to assess the infectivity of this recently collected isolate. The study will be a first in human study conducted in 2 participants. A sentinel volunteer will be dosed 24 h ahead of the remaining volunteer.