ANZCTR search results

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of an online intervention in improving the sun protective behaviour of Australian adults. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above and live in metropolitan, regional or coastal areas of Queensland, Australia. Trial details: Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of three groups: the intervention group, the information only group, or the control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive the online intervention which focuses on encouraging supportive sun protective attitudes and beliefs, fostering perceptions of normative support for sun protection behaviour and increasing perceptions of control/self-efficacy over using sun protection. It will be delivered during one online session lasting between 20 and 25 minutes. Participants in the information only group will be asked to view a short online DVD and three fact sheets relating to sun-protective behaviour which are currently available from Cancer Council Queensland’s website. Data on intentions to sun protect and sun protection behaviour will be collected via questionnaire immediately prior to the intervention (Time 1), immediately following the intervention (Time 2) and at one week (Time 3) and four weeks (Time 4) post-intervention. The control group will not be asked to do anything beyond completing the 3 questionnaires. The study will provide valuable information about the effectiveness of the intervention in improving the sun protective behaviour of Australian adults – a population which has the highest incident rates of skin cancer in the world (Queensland).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Vitamin C in patients with cancer pain. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above and have pain related to cancer or its treatment, for which you are receiving regular daily opioids (painkillers). Trial details All participants in this trial will take two 1 gram tablets of vitamin C daily for 3 consecutive days in addition to your normal pain medications. You will be asked to complete some forms regarding pain medication use and pain relief over this 3 day period. This will enable us to determine whether there is any benefit in pain relief and/or your need to take extra or breakthrough pain medications.

Laparoscopic appendicectomy is one of the most commonly performed urgent abdominal operations. Current practices of Irrigation or Suction-only are largely determined by individual surgeon’s bias based on intra-operative findings. To date, there is only one randomized, controlled trial comparing irrigation with suction only in children and none in adults. There is some retrospective data in children and adults. All of the existing data suggests “no difference” between these operative methods; in fact, some retrospective data suggest higher intra-abdominal abscess rates in irrigation groups, however there has never been a randomized trial in adults. There remains clinical equipoise and current practice is widely varied. Our hypothesis is that there is no difference between the two surgical methods and we aim to demonstrate that it doesn't matter to the patient which method is used.

People with knee osteoarthritis (OA) often have leg muscle weakness and difficulty moving and walking. Impaired muscular performance is a major determinant of daily function and disability. However, it is not known if loss of muscle mass and strength in knee OA occurs as an indirect result of reduced limb use, or if muscle itself is a direct target of the degenerative processes active in OA. Given that personal mobility is an essential factor for healthy independent living of those who suffer from this chronic degenerative condition, research into the preservation of muscle mass is essential for developing successful therapy to restore and maintain effective limb use. In this study we aim to determine the effect of muscle inflammation on muscle function and impaired walking pattern relative to OA joint degeneration.

Obesity is a major health issue that is currently affecting millions of Australians, in addition to having a high economic cost both in this country and around the world. Some individuals are more susceptible to obesity than others; one factor may be variance in the taste system due to genetic and environmental factors such as diet. The present study aims to identify and investigate the mechanisms linking individual differences in taste with obesity. The mechanisms thought to be in play relate to our sense of taste, including taste receptors and their responsiveness to fatty acids, satiety levels resulting from consuming high fat foods, and food preferences. It is predicted that for susceptible individuals, consuming a high fat diet will negatively influence their responsiveness to fatty acids, increase their preference for high fat foods and decrease their hormonal and perceived satiety levels following food consumption. Each of these mechanisms has the potential to lead to an increase in dietary fat consumption, and BMI. Previous research has indicated that within pairs of BMI discordant monozygotic twins, the twin with the higher BMI has significantly lower taste responses to fatty acids, indicating that their diet may be related to their fatty acid taste sensitivity. This study aims to include 100 twin pairs (half monozygotic and half dizygotic) recruited from the Australian Twin Registry. These participants will be over 18 years of age. Twin pairs will be randomized into one of two weight maintenance diets (high- or low-fat). Participants will consume this allocated diet for eight weeks, with weekly diet diaries being assessed for compliance, in addition to weekly satiety questionnaires. Prior to baseline testing, participants will complete a four-day diet diary, the Cancer Council of Victoria food frequency questionnaire, the restrained eaters questionnaire, and a like-dislike questionnaire. Further testing will occur at baseline, week four and week eight. Each testing session will include a 24-hour dietary recall, taste function assessment, a fat-ranking task using custards, saliva samples, papillae density testing, preference testing for seven regular and low fat foods, anthropometry and a fungiform papillae biopsy. During baseline testing, participants will also be tested for PROP sensitivity, which is a heritable trait. Results will be compared at each time point to determine the effect of a high- or low-fat diet on fatty acid taste responses and satiety.

The ApolipoproteinE-e4 allele is the most consistent genetic risk factor associated with sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). ApolipoproteinE has an important influence on beta-amyloid clearance and recent studies have shown that while there are no differences in beta-amyloid production between healthy controls and sporadic AD patients, in the latter beta-amyloid clearance is reduced by 30%. Novel therapeutic approaches targeting beta-amyloid clearance are being tested. A single oral administration of bexarotene, an FDA approved anti-cancer drug, to a mouse model of AD resulted in enhanced clearance of soluble beta-amyloid in an ApoE-dependent manner and a >50% reduction of beta-amyloid plaque area within just 72 hours. In vivo imaging of beta-amyloid pathology by positron emission tomography (PET) is facilitating research into causes, diagnosis and treatment of major dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where beta-amyloid plays a role. This project aims to use brain amyloid imaging NAV4694 PET scans, for the in vivo assessment of the effect of bexarotene treatment on beta-amyloid burden and its relation to cognition in very early AD and mild AD patients.

The study aims to measure blood levels of Chrome and Cobalt in patients with an ASR Hip replacement in situ and to see if these patients have visual disturbances

The aim of this current study is to establish whether a web-based CBT intervention is effective in treating amphetamine use and its associated harms. Of particular interest is the potential role that contingency management may have on treatment success. Another aim of this research is to identify predictors of treatment outcome for amphetamine users (self-efficacy and impulsivity). It is hypothesised that i) participants who undertake the Internet-delivered CBT intervention in combination with contingency management (monetary incentives for remaining in treatment) will show greater reductions in their use of amphetamines as well as reductions in harms associated with use, higher rates of abstinence and will remain in treatment longer in comparison to the waitlist control group, ii) treatment retention and outcomes will be influenced by self-efficacy and an impulsive temperament.

Introduction: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing results in abnormal left ventricular (LV) electrical and mechanical activation and is associated with adverse effects on left ventricular systolic function. The comparative effects of right ventricular outflow tract septal (RVOTS) pacing on cardiac structural remodeling are unknown. Our aim is to therefore examine the long-term effects of septal RVOT versus RVA pacing on ventricular and atrial structure and function using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Methods/Design: A multicenter randomised controlled trial in which 180 patients with an indication for ventricular pacing using a permanent pacemakers (PPM) will be randomized to pacing either from the RVA or RVOT septum. All patients will have a baseline CMR, Echocardiogram, 6-minute walk test, quality of life scoring e.g. SF36, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Score (MLWHF) and blood tests such as NT pro-BNP, HsCRP and biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis e.g. MMP-9, TIMP-1. The tests will be repeated at 12 months, 24 months and 36 months. The following clinical outcomes will be used: Primary Endpoint: Investigate the effect of apical and septal right ventricular site pacing on left ventricular structural change and ejection fraction using cardiac MRI. Secondary Endpoint: Clinical Parameters: New York Heart Association Functional class, Quality of life assessed by a subjective validated patient scoring algorithm (SF36/ MLWHF), 6 min walk test. Biologic Parameters: N-terminal pro-hormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), High sensitivity C reactive Protein (HsCRP), Biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis e.g. MMP-9, TIMP-1. Combined clinical end point: New-onset atrial tachyarrhythmia, new onset heart failure, heart failure related hospitalizations. CRT-P, CRT-D or AICD upgrade. The Effect of cardiac remodeling on its hemodynamics. Lead-related complications such as lead dislodgement, myocardial perforation, lead Will integrity failure The impact of ventricular pacing site to right ventricular and atrial remodeling. Conclusion: The results of the study will provide new information about the potential benefits in mechanical function and consequent clinical endpoint(s) of septal versus apical pacing.

The primary purpose of this pilot study aims to determine the effectiveness of treating this particular viral eye infection (adenoviral conjunctivitis) with a one-time in-office irrigation of the eye with 5% povidone-iodine. We aim to determine whether this treatment reduced the period of infection as well as improving patient’s symptoms'.