ANZCTR search results

Capsule endoscopy has the potential to be used as a fast and minimally invasive tool for the triage of patients presenting to hospital with bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study aims to determine the utility of capsule endoscopy in this setting by comparing its success in finding a diagnosis for the bleeding when compared to findings made at gastroscopy.

This proposal will provide solutions to a very significant practical clinical question in paediatric brain injury rehabilitation: Can stimulant medication improve disorders of attention and concentration, and other problems including regulation of behaviour and emotions, in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and thus facilitate rehabilitation? Few studies have investigated the usefulness of stimulant medication in children with TBI. It is well recognised that there is marked individual variation in response to stimulant medication. Positive effects from stimulants in this population (such as improved attention and concentration and better emotional and behavioural regulation) will allow children to benefit more from rehabilitation interventions and result in more cost-effective rehabilitation. N-of-1 trials (a type of drug trial in which the effect of the drug is examined within each individual patient rather than between groups of patients) will be used to examine the efficacy of stimulants in individual patients with Traumatic Brain Injury, so that the doctor, patient and family can make an objective assessment about the usefulness of this treatment for the patient. We will conduct n-of-1 trials of stimulants compared to placebo to test their efficacy for these symptoms in 42 children from 2 Australian states, preceded by an initial pilot in 10 children from Queensland. For responders, using treatment supported by the best possible evidence will facilitate patients recovery from TBI, make rehabilitation more cost-effective and greatly improve academic and life prospects and QOL for patients and families. AIMS The hypotheses we plan to test are: (1) Stimulant therapy with methylphenidate (MPH) or dexamphetamine compared to placebo will significantly improve attention and concentration, and executive dysfunction including disorders of behavioural and emotional regulation, in children with TBI. (2) n-of-1 trials are feasible in paediatric rehabilitation practice for children with TBI.

The objectives of the current study is to conduct three studies to assess the effects of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm), delivered in different food and drink products, on cognitive function, mood and cortisol. The products will vary across the three studies and will include Beverages (Study 1), Dairy products (Study 2), and food Bars (Study 3). This will be a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design involving a cohort of 20 healthy young adult volunteers in each study. On each study day participants will undergo a baseline (pre-treatment) assessment of cognitive performance, mood and cortisol reactivity. They will undergo similar assessment 1 hour and 3 hours after treatment administration. The procedure will be repeated at weekly intervals until all doses are complete. Each study will allow comprehensive conclusions regarding dose-dependent effects of Lemon balm (delivered in different foods) on: - Mood including: Alertness, Calmness, Contentment - Cognitive function including: Attention, Working memory, Secondary memory, and Executive function. - Physiological index of stress: Salivary cortisol

The study aimed to compare changes in various blood and urine markers of bone metabolism and inflammation in post-menopausal women drinking magnesium bicarbonate supplemented spring water or spring water without supplements. Additionally, the following other factors were investigated for change between treatment groups and general safety 1.venous blood pH 2.urine pH 3.blood pressure 4.serum lipids 5.serum biochemistry 6.haematology 7.urinalysis

Failure to attend appointments is a problem for health services. A high proportion of patients who do not attend (DNA) means that clinical and administrative staff are not efficiently employed, and results in longer waiting times for other patients that may increase the risk of further health problems. A recent audit of Eastern Health physiotherapy outpatient clinics found a DNA rate of 8.1%, representing more than 125 missed appointments per month. A review of the literature indicates providing reminders can be an effective method of reducing DNA rates for health services, and a couple of recent observational studies have provided preliminary evidence that sending patients reminders via the short message service (SMS) on mobile phones can be an effective way of reducing DNA rates. Therefore, the aim of this trial is to find out if sending SMS reminders to patients with appointments at physiotherapy outpatient clinics is an effective way of reducing DNA rates. Using a randomised controlled trial at 4 Eastern Health physiotherapy outpatient clinics, patients will be randomly allocated either to the group that will receive an SMS reminder or the group that receives usual care. The primary outcome is DNA rate, and secondary outcomes are cancellation rates and an initial estimation of costs in implementing the SMS reminder system.

Several randomized controlled trials have been conducted in preterm infants to determine whether inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) reduces the rates of death and/or chronic lung disease. The results of these studies appear contradictory. Some studies have shown a reduction in lung injury, one has shown a reduction in cerebral injury, and several others have shown no effect. The different patient characteristics and different trial characteristics within these trials may explain this difference. The purpose of this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis is to determine whether inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants receiving assisted ventilation improves survival without morbidity, specifically without chronic lung disease (CLD), cerebral injury, retinal injury, and improves survival without long-term disability. Secondly to determine whether the effects of inhaled nitric oxide differ according to the risk profile of the patient in terms of gestational age at birth, severity of illness, antenatal steroid use, postnatal age at the time of randomization, ventilation mode at randomization, administration of exogenous surfactant, inhaled nitric dosage and duration of nitric oxide administration.

We aim to conduct a randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of two oral regimens of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole compared to benzathine penicillin (BPG), for the treatment of skin sores (also known as impetigo) in Aboriginal children living in remote communities. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be a much more acceptable oral alternative compared to the uncomfortable and poorly received intramuscular benzathine penicillin which is the current standard of care.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a therapist assisted CD-ROM based intervention for children and adolescents with aggressive behaviour, and compare it to treatment as usual. The CD-ROM called “Face Your Problems” is already developed and in occasional use. The participants will be 60 children between the ages of 7 and 14 years who present to Mater Child and Youth Mental Health and Child and Youth Mental Health, Children's Health Service District, Queensland Health community clinics for the treatment of aggressive behaviours. Treatment will last between 10-13 sessions and consist of teaching strategies to reduce anger and come up with better solutions to problematic social situations.

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a new web-based treatment for cannabis use. The research hypothesis predicts that, relative to a placebo control group, individuals who receive the intervention will report greater reductions in their cannabis use, and in symptoms of cannabis abuse and dependence.

It is well established that parents of primary school aged children substantially influence the food and physical activity home environment through behaviours, attitudes, feeding styles and role modelling. However, the contribution of fathers’ influence on children’s physical activity and eating behaviour is often overlooked.The ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ (HDHK) program was designed to engage overweight fathers to role model and promote positive behaviours relating to physical activity and healthy eating. Major aims of HDHK were (i) to help overweight/obese fathers achieve a healthy weight, and (ii) to improve the activity and eating behaviours of their children (using fathers as the key agents of behaviour change).