ANZCTR search results

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a cognitive activity program, specifically designed for people with mild AD and their companions can reduce or slow further cognitive decline and improve quality of life for people with AD. It will also investigate the benefits of this type of program to the companion.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioural disorder of childhood with negative adult outcomes. The disorder is characterised by problems of attention, impulsivity (e.g., acting without thinking) and hyperactivity (e.g., being constantly on the go). The disorder appears to be strongly genetic with the most likely situation being one in which many genes each contribute a small amount of risk for the disorder. ADHD is also associated with a range of cognitive problems (i.e., problems of concentrating, planning etc). This project takes an imaging genetics approach, using functional MRI to understand the functional effects for brain and cognition of a genetic risk factor for ADHD- the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) - which we have previously shown to influence attention. It is also well-established that not all children with ADHD achieve equal benefit from stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate (MPH), either in terms of behavioural, cognitive or academic outcomes. We will therefore examine the interaction of DAT1 genotype and MPH treatment on the neural correlates of spatial attention using fMRI. This project will help to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms of ADHD.

There are various agents used as injectable bulking agents for the the treatment of faecal incontinence. They are usually injected into the submucosa of the anus or at the site of sphincter defect . The aim of this randomised control trial is to compare the effectiveness of two of those agents, namely PTQ (Uroplasty BV, Geleen, The Netherlands), a silicone based implant, and Durasphere (Carbon Medical Technologies, St. Paul, MN), a pyrolytic carbon. As yet the two treaments have not been directly compared. The effectiveness of each technique will be assessed with pre- and post-proceedure incontinence scores (Wexner) and quality of life scoring (SF36) The results of the trial will indicate which of the two agents is more effective in the treatment of faecal incontinence.

The main objective of the study is to determine whether use of a phosphate binder (lanthanum carbonate) in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3b and 4 will reduce the risk and burden of cardiovascular disease. Patients with CKD 3b and 4 have a substantially higher incidence of cardiovascular disease contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Phosphate imbalance is a putative non-traditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this population (association studies) and lowering of serum phosphate levels with a phosphate binder may be associated with reduced morbidity and mortality. The use of lanthanum carbonate to reduce phosphate and calcium-phosphate product may improve arterial compliance and attenuate the development and/or progression of vascular calcification, reduce the incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism, and potentially reduce the rate of CKD progression.

One of the ways to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to to the liver is by surgery to remove the tumours. Because surgery alone may not prevent the cancer from returning, chemotherapy may be given. The standard timing of the chemotherapy is to give all of the drugs after liver surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether giving chemotherapy both before and after surgery is better at keeping the cancer from returning than giving all of the chemotherapy after surgery only.

Current cross sectional studies indicate that adolescents with CP perform on average significantly less PA, at a lower intensity, than typically developing adolescents, for all time periods of the week, including during structured physical activity classes (van den Berg-Emons et al. 1995; Bjornson et al. 2007; Maher et al. 2007). A study by Bjornson (2007) indicates that youth with cerebral palsy record on average 2000 steps less per day than youth who are developing typically (Bjornson et al. 2007). Due to these factors the promotion of PA in children and adolescents with CP has become a public health priority (Hogan et al. 2000). To date, there have been no studies evaluating the efficacy of a community based intervention for the promotion of physical activity in adolescents with cerebral palsy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel, stage matched; community based intervention for; increasing habitual physical activity (HPA) counts (measured by the ActiGraph); increasing time spent in moderate intensity physical activity and; decreasing time spent sedentary in adolescents with cerebral palsy. The second aim of this study is to evaluate whether the novel stage matched, community based intervention increases; perceived quality of life; physical capacity; participation in life situations and self efficacy in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Finally this study aims to qualitatively evaluate the participants and parents/guardians perceived effectiveness and acceptability of a stage matched, community based intervention. In order to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention, the intervention will be compared to a health behaviour intervention comprising of oral health, sun safety and sleep. Participants enrolled in the intervention will be told that they are participating in a program that aims to investigate their thoughts and feelings regarding four health behaviours; physical activity, sun safety, oral health and sleep. All of the activities and discussions undertaken in the intervention will be introduced and facilitated based on this premise. This technique was chosen in order to facilitate discussion regarding physical activity without pushing the participant to discuss directly, or commit to, change. Parents will be informed that this type of discussion can lead to behaviour change.

The aim of this project is to evaluate the impact of a school-based health-related fitness intervention (Fit 4 Fun) on the fitness and activity levels, and attitudes towards phsyical fitness, of Stage 3 primary school students. The study will assess changes over 10 weeks and the feasibility and efficacy of the program for use in primary schools will be assessed.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a disease of the bone marrow characterized by anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia (low red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts). MDS patients with thrombocytopenia who fail standard therapies require regular platelet transfusions which are expensive and inconvenient, and are a risk for further serious bleeding complications. The new treatment of MDS using azacitidine has shown to increase the survival rate of MDS patients including to improve platelet production over time. However, in the early cycles of treatment with azacitidine, the low platelet counts tend to exacerbate before they provide any clinical benefit. Eltrombopag is a drug designed to activate the thrombopoietin receptor. Eltrombopag has been able to increase platelet counts in healthy volunteers and in patients with chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP), a disease where patients destroy their own platelets very rapidly and thus develop thrombocytopenia. Eltrombopag is administered orally and is Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic ITP who failed to respond to standard treatment. This study is a single arm pilot study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Eltrombopag in the treatment of low platelet counts in adult subjects with MDS treated using azacitidine This study also incorporates a correlative laboratory component designed to determined the mechanism of action of 5-azacitidine +/- Eltrombopag and to determine a baseline profile which may predict those most responsive. These studies will incorporate gene methylation and expression, and immunoprofiling.

Elinogrel is under development for the treatment of patients with chronic coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndromes. Patients treated for these conditions are likley to be on a statin therapy such as atorvastatin in addition to other anticoagulants such as elinogrel. Hence the need to investigate the potential drug-drug interaction between elinogrel and atorvastatin.