ANZCTR search results

Avena sativa (oats), in its various forms and extracts, has been traditionally known for its physical and psychological fortifying properties. Proposed beneficial effects include: reduced risk of heart disease, raised energy levels, increased ability to cope with stress, reduced anxiety and depression, and increased physical and cognitive performance. The mechanism of effect is currently unknown. However, it has been suggested that green oat extract has a clinically significant inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), effects which may improve cerebral vasodilation. As enhancement of cerebral blood flow by vasoactive nutrients has been hypothesised to improve cognitive function, this may be the mechanism by which oat extract could improve cognitive performance and stress response. The aim of this study is to examine the short-term dose-response effects of Neuravena® on cognitive performance, on the ability to cope with stressful cognitive tasks and on psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, stress) and whether these effects are mediated by changes in cerebral blood flow.

The Percutaneous Single Port Access Paragastric Implant Placement Procedure is a novel approach to the treatment of morbid obesity. The saline-filled Paragastric Implant is placed in a minimally invasive fashion into the abdominal cavity in the space adjacent the stomach, thereby reducing the ability of the stomach to expand and reducing oral intake. The Paragastric Implant volume can be adjusted by the addition or removal of sterile saline through a subcutaneous port. This trial is a single-arm, prospective, multi-center study designed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Vibrynt Paragastric Implant System in the treatment of morbid obesity. The primary end point of this study will be the six-month efficacy rate, as measured by the average percent excess weight loss for patients treated with the Vibrynt Paragastric Implant System. Patients will be followed for three years for long term safety and efficacy evaluations.

The clinical trial would compare heroin use in a group of patients randomly allocated to receive unsupervised dosing with buprenorphine-naloxone to a group of patients remaining on wait list for a 12 week period (when this group would then be offered substitution treatment). The study will also assess adverse events that may be related to providing unsupervised dosing with buprenorphine-naloxone.

This project is part of a research program examining the efficacy of Internet based education and treatment programs for people with common mental disorders. This project compares the effectiveness of clinician-assisted Internet-based education for GAD vs. waitlist control at reducing the severity of symptoms of GAD. We expect that people who participate in the education program will report more benefit than participants in the waitlist control group.

This project is part of a research program examining the efficacy of Internet based education and treatment programs for people with social phobia and other commmon mental disorders. This project compares the effectiveness of different types of reminders and support at encouraging people with social phobia to complete the 6 lessons in the Program. We expect that people who receive telephone reminders (in addition to weekly emails and fortnightly smss) will complete a similar number of lessons and report similar benefit from the program as participants who do not receive the weekly phone call (but who do receive the email and sms reminders and receive access to the online forum moderated by a clinical psychologist).

The aim of the study is to test how effective an after-school physical activity and healthy eating program and a health education program are in the treatment of overweight and obesity in adolescents. To test these programs, the following two groups will be involved in the study: 1. A physical activity and healthy eating program; and 2. A state-of-the-art information-based health education program.

This study is a follow up study to a randomised control trial of a self-management program for people with bipolar disorder. We would like to see if participants receiving the program when delivered by mental health professionals in community settings (public or private) achieve similar outcomes to those involved in the first trial.

A global study to assess the safety and effectiveness of a potential new drug in comparison to the standard practice of dosing with warfarin in those patients diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of a 16 week progressive resistance training program (12 week supervised program and a 4 week home-based program) on female adults with Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, this study will focus on the measures of lower limb proprioception and strength, blood glucose levels and adherence to these programs.

Upper Abdominal Surgery (UAS) is a common surgical procedure, with average hospitalisation of 11.4 days. Breathing problems are a major contributor to longer periods of hospitalisation following UAS, and account for nearly 25% of deaths within 6 days of surgery. The incidence of such breathing problems following UAS is as high as 53%. There is a need for evidence-based approaches to reduce these rates, with potential benefits including reduced hospitalisation and healthcare costs, improved quality of care, and improved patient outcomes and quality of life. Research suggests that postoperative physiotherapy should be targeted towards high-risk patients, and is effective in reducing the incidence of breathing complications compared to no postoperative physiotherapy. However, potential benefits of additional preoperative physiotherapy for patients undergoing elective UAS have not been established. A randomised trial will be undertaken comparing current practice (postoperative physiotherapy only) to a program incorporating a preoperative physiotherapy session combined with postoperative physiotherapy. It is proposed that a single, preoperative physiotherapy session in the Pre Admission Clinic (PAC) setting would improve the quality of physiotherapy care for these patients. The aims of this preoperative session would be to: (a) Reduce the incidence of breathing problems; (b) Reduce patient anxiety during the first postoperative physiotherapy session; (c) Decrease the physiotherapist’s overall patient contact time, thus improving efficiency of the physiotherapy service. The study will investigate 4 questions: (a) Does preoperative physiotherapy reduce the incidence of breathing problems compared with standard management? (b) Does the timing of physiotherapy intervention (preoperative and postoperative vs. postoperative only) affect patient anxiety during the first postoperative physiotherapy session? (c) Does preoperative physiotherapy reduce overall physiotherapy contact time compared with standard management? (d) Should preoperative physiotherapy only be provided to patients at high risk of postoperative breathing problems?