ANZCTR search results

Working memory difficulties are commonly experienced by individuals with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. These difficulties have been shown to negatively influence patients’ psychosocial functioning. Any technique that may enhance working memory would therefore be very useful. Recent research has suggested that brain stimulation, and in particular transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) techniques such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), may have a role to play in improving cognition. TES techniques have been shown to be a safe and non-invasive way of modulating brain activity, by applying a very weak electrical current (1-2mA) to the cortex via electrodes that are placed on the scalp. While tDCS has been shown to improve working memory in a number of conditions, to date there have been no tDCS or tACS studies looking at the enhancement of working memory in schizophrenia. The current study will investigate whether working memory can be improved using tDCS and tACS in healthy participants and patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Further, the study aims to establish the most effective stimulation parameters for optimal working memory enhancement. Twenty healthy controls and 20 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will attend 3 sessions at The Alfred hospital, each session involving a different type of TES (1mA tACS, 2ma tDCS, or sham stimulation). Participants' performance on a working memory task will be assessed following application of the stimulation, and brain activity will be monitored throughout the tasks using electroencephalography (EEG).

Background IC/PBS requires effective treatment options. Objective Is BTXA effective for the treatment of IC/PBS? Design, Setting and Participants: 2003-2009, 55 severe, refractory female subjects from 3 referral centres invited. UTI, malignancy, steroid use excluded. Intervention Double blind design, random allocation to treatment with hydrodistension and bladder wall injection of normal saline, or else hydrodistension with injection of BTXA. Outcome measures and statistical Analysis O’Leary Sant (OLS) problem (PI) and Symptom (SI), UIIQ, compared between BTXA and controls. Repeated measures ANOVA tested whether BTXA subjects performed better than control subjects (group effect) for changes from baseline to 3 months (time effect) by assessing significance of group by time interaction. Multivariate modelling analyzed effect over time of other possible confounders. Measurements made beyond 3 months, but no further randomized comparisons possible, as majority subjects then chose active BTXA injection. Withdrawal; 4 subjects completed questionnaires too poorly, 1 withdrawn pre treatment with bladder cancer, leaving 50. Results and limitations: In both groups, the OLS, bladder diary, UIIQ scores showed improvement over 3 months. But no difference detected during initial analysis between the BTXA and control subjects for any outcome measure except OLS PI, where improvement noted at 3 months (P=0.04). 12 had UTI treated during the study. This significantly confounded, with greater improvement seen in the control group treated for UTI. Multivariate modelling accounted for effect of UTI showing improvement in the total OLS score (P=0.02), the OLS SI for the BTXA (P=0.008) group, pain (Q4 of OLS PI) (P=0.015) for the BTXA group at 3 months. 24% request continuing periodic BTXA treatment. Conclusions BTXA treatment improves OLS score at 3 months when compared to hydrodistension and saline injection alone, for a minority women. Consideration of the significant confounding effect of UTI, strengthened this improvement.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether certain visual conditions affect elderly fallers ability to balance when standing. We will see if changes to balance have any relationship to symptons of dizziness, anxiety and/or fear of falling.

The purpose of this project is to explore the efficacy of a clinician-guided education course for symptoms of anxiety and depression in International Chinese-speaking tertiary students (aged 18+), administered over the internet in a randomised controlled trial. A secondary purpose is to determine the acceptability of the education protocol and materials to International Chinese-speaking tertiary students with symptoms of anxiety and depression. A tertiary purpose of this project is to explore the efficacy of a self-guided version of the course, with participants from the Waitlist Control Group.

The current study aims to conduct a randomised controlled trial over 3 months (with the possibility of a 6 month follow up) that compares the impact of the following two internet-delivered interventions on alcohol consumption: 1. Online alcohol intervention: includes open access to the OnTrack alcohol intervention 2. Online alcohol intervention with text messaging: includes open access to the OnTrack alcohol intervention plus the addition of text messages reminding participants to log on to the program and stay on track The study has three major research aims: Aim I: to investigate the impact of text messaging as a supplementary support for online treatments. * determine to what extent the addition of text messaging impacts participants’ engagement in the program * does the addition of text-messaging impact the effectiveness of the program * are drop-out rates lower in the text messaging condition than in the control condition Aim II: to determine the average dose of treatment required for improvement * investigate the effectiveness of the intervention in relation to the amount of time spent utilising it Aim III: to learn more about people who prematurely discontinue online treatments * gain a better understanding of why individuals drop-out through follow-up interviews * identify to what extent these individuals are still utilising the skills and techniques they acquired within the intervention after drop-out It is predicted that the web-based alcohol intervention with text messaging will result in lower attrition rates, greater engagement with the program and greater utility of skills than the treatment alone condition. Further, it is predicted that the addition of text messages will improve the effectiveness of the program by reducing self-reported alcohol intake. We also hope to determine whether the intervention improves quality of life; and general well-being and if it is considered useful, relevant, satisfying and easy to use.

The purpose of this project is to explore the efficacy of a clinician-guided education course for symptoms of anxiety and depression in tertiary students (aged 18+), administered over the internet in a randomised controlled trial. A secondary purpose is to determine the acceptability of the education protocol and materials to tertiary students with symptoms of anxiety and depression. A tertiary purpose of this project is to explore the efficacy of a self-guided version of the course, with participants from the Waitlist Control Group.

This trial will compare the sedative medicine propofol with the newer sedative dexmedetomidine. The comparison will take place in a group of patients having replacement of their hips or knees with mechanical joints. The study will look at patients undergoing this surgery under a spinal block, where the body is made numb from the waist downwards. Typically these patients have some sort of sedation to make them more comfortable and less aware of noise or movement in the operating theatre. The most commonly used infusion, propofol has some side effects including reduced breathing efforts, which sometimes requires the anaesthetist to intervene and support the airway or even convert the sedation to a full anaesthetic. A newer sedative medicine, dexmedetomidine appears to have fewer of these effects. It may be that it is a better option for this sort of sedation. Some mild side effects such as changes in pulse rate have been associated with dexmedetomidine but these do not appear to be severe enough to prevent its usefulness in this setting. Patients will be randomized to receive either propofol or dexmedetomidine. They will receive their normal regional (eg “spinal” ) anaesthetic. The researchers will be measuring: Patient satisfaction with the sedation experience (within one week of surgery); Need for airway support; and haemodynamic values intraoperatively.

Queensland Health Medical Imaging survey data has highlighted only 39% of all radiologist (medical) diagnostic reports are available within 24 hours. The absence of a radiologist report or radiographer comments within clinically relevant timeframes represent ongoing potential risks to patients through missed diagnosis. There is increasing evidence that a radiographer (allied health) commenting system that highlights and describes acute abnormalities, improves service delivery, aids in improving a quality diagnosis, and above all else improves patient care in trauma settings (such as Emergency Departments). Radiographer commenting is not intended to replace the role of radiologist reports, but assist multidisciplinary clinical teams and radiologist when viewing and interpreting x-rays. Importantly, radiographer performance in this regard can be improved as a result of targeted education in image interpretation. A radiographer commenting system is not currently used in Queensland Health, despite evidence of its benefit and adoption elsewhere (such as the UK, NHS). Targeted education for image interpretation is a priority for radiographers within Queensland Health. To date there has been no study comparing education delivery methods of an image interpretation program for radiographers. The purpose of this project is to assess the comparative merits of two education delivery methods as a tool for improving the ability of radiographers to detect and comment on, abnormalities visualised on trauma radiographs. This critical evidence will inform the rollout of targeted training for radiographers within Queensland Health and is likely to influence clinical education in national and international healthcare settings.

Subjects were required to take two capsules each time, three times daily (with four hours interval) for a period of eight weeks. Each capsule contained 500 mg of a mixture of granules of either herbal medicine (Koda Internationals Pty Ltd, Lane Cove, N.S W. Australia) or placebo ingredient (rice starch from Sigma Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). The capsules were prepared by a TGA approved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified manufacturer (GMP Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd Girraween, N.S.W. Australia). The two types of capsules were identical in weight and appearance.

1. The overall aim is to provide nutritional intervention as part of the multi-disciplinary management of A-T patients attending the national clinic. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of standard nutritional advice and standardised supplements for improving intakes and outcomes in A-T. 3. To implement a randomised controlled age-matched cross-over trial design to evaluate the efficacy of a conjunctive anti-oxidant therapy using whole food ingredients to limit or reduce oxidative stress and improve outcomes in A-T.