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Multiple myeloma is a common blood cancer that affects mainly elderly people with a current trend to affect younger patients from both sexes as well. This disease mainly affects the bones and causes in late stages a permanent bone damage and fractures. This bone damage becomes worse and irreversible if there is a delay in diagnosis or treatment of myeloma occurs. To date, in Australia and worldwide convential x-rays are used to diagnose bone disease commonly associated with myeloma (about 80% of cases). However this technique is insensitive in prediction or detection of bone damage. It can be replaced by more sensitive techniques like whole body MRI, which we know little about it in conjunction with diagnosing bone disease in myeloma patients. Fortunately enough the MRI scan is now available at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH). More recently another nuclear scan technique called Sestamibi bone scan, also available at the LGH, developed to detect bone disease in cancer and may have a promising role in myeloma disease. Currently, there is no data available to compare both above techniques in early detection and diagnosis of bone disease associated with myeloma blood cancer. This trial offers a comparison between these methods in addition to other myeloma markers for early detection of bone disease. Furthermore establishing a reliable sensitive method compared to current standards for early detection of bone disease will enable clinicians to commence the appropriate treatment to prevent a devastating consequence of myeloma with bone fractures that disable many patients, who are suffering from this dreadful cancer.

Luminal restoration of the prostatic urethra involves implanting the NeoTract Anchor System, which is designed to hold back the lobes of the prostate, and open the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body) to relieve symptoms associated with urinary obstruction. This study is a prospective, open-label feasibility study enrolling up to 70 participants. Safety and feasibility are the primary endpoints while patient questionnaires and therapeutic effectiveness is assessed as a secondary endpoint. Follow-up visits are at 24 hours, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter for the 7 year duration

This research project seeks to ascertain the impact of differential functional rehabilitation on the short-term outcome of Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI), a surgical technique established for the treatment of articular cartilage defects in the knee. It aims to test the hypothesis that MACI patients who undergo accelerated functional rehabilitation exhibit superior subjective, functional, biomechanical and radiographic outcomes, compared to patients who follow a conservative course of rehabilitation following MACI surgery.

The primary aim of this 3-site multicentre randomised controlled trial was to establish whether physical activity (PA) can decrease the rate of cognitive decline amongst patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The main hypothesis was that participants with mild to moderate AD who were randomised to a program of PA will experience significantly less cognitive decline by the end of the intervention than participants with mild to moderate AD randomised to usual care. Previously, some of the researchers involved in this study successfully developed a PA program for participants with mild cognitive impairment (FABS) and tested this program in a pilot study with patients with mild to moderate AD.

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate test-retest reliability of psychometric assessments and feasibility plus community acceptance of teacher-administered omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in a remote community school. Baseline psychometric assessments will be conducted in July, second baseline assessments 9 weeks later and then 9 weeks of supplementation followed by final assessments.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee is a common cause of pain and disability for many people. The symptoms may be progressive and may ultimately require joint replacement surgery. However, we know that some non-surgical treatment options in particular, exercise and weight loss, can alleviate the symptoms and possibly delay the progression of the disease but we don’t know to what extent this can occur. There are no studies that report whether the effect is ever sufficient to influence a patient’s need for surgery. In this study we will identify patients with non-urgent hip or knee arthritis and invite them to participate in an intensive 6 week exercise and weight loss program at Frankston hospital. We will score their priority for surgery (using the MAPT tool which is validated for use in OA), record their self rated need for surgery and measure their body weight, pain, muscle strength, physical function and quality of life before and after the 6 week program. Data regarding priority for surgery, self rated need for surgery, and body weight will be collected at 3 and 12 months. We will also investigate any association between a number of patient related factors and the outcomes obtained. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an intensive program of exercise and weight loss for persons with hip or knee arthritis awaiting consideration of joint replacement surgery, on the pain and disability associated with hip or knee arthritis and priority for surgery.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a common condition with high prevalence in Australia, being most pronounced during spring and early summer when pollen counts are highest. There is no proven cure for hay fever. Many hay fever sufferers seek alternative therapies such as acupuncture. We propose to undertake a rigorous study, using well-established clinical trial methodology, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of hay fever.

I am aiming to minimise the low blood pressure and worsening of heart function caused by anaesthetic drugs during this procedure (TOE Cardioversion) by combining 2 different anaesthetic drugs.

This is a nine-month randomised controlled study to evaluate the effects of vitamin D 150,000 IU per three months on risk of falling, serum vitamin D levels, mobility function and muscle strength in women aged 70 years and over at a community setting.

MA22460 study (extension of protocol MA21573) will look at the long-term effects of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Approximately 1200 patients are expected to participate in the extension study.