ANZCTR search results

The drawbacks of current therapies and the lack of an approved as needed (PRN) treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) that improves exercise ability and quality of life, form the basis for development of RT234 (inhaled vardenafil). The current study will identify the effective dose(s) of RT234 to acutely improve pulmonary vascular haemodynamics when delivered in a dose escalation manner in subjects with World Health Organisation (WHO) Group 1 PAH undergoing right heart catheterisation (RHC). In addition, this study will also provide valuable efficacy and safety insights into the interactions between RT234 and background disease-specific PAH therapy on pulmonary haemodynamics and right heart function.

Hardstyle kettlebell training has emerged in recent years as a novel training method which claims to improve all measures of health-related physical fitness. It is proposed that kettlebell training might serve as an ideal cost-effective prophylactic to promote healthy ageing in sedentary adults. This project seeks to establish the efficacy of a pragmatic hardstyle kettlebell training program on measures of grip strength, health-related physical fitness and mental health in sedentary older adults. It is hypothesised that clinically meaningful changes in health-related physical fitness and mental health will be observed. Results will help inform further investigation comparing the effectiveness of hardstyle kettlebell training with other community-based group exercise programs for older adults.

This randomised trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two different sit-stand recommendations on changes in pain in office workers with lower back pain (LBP). Who is it for? The study is for office workers aged over 18 years, who have a sit-stand desk or workstation and have LBP. Workers with medical conditions that limit standing will be ineligible. Study details Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (Recommendation A or B) for 3 months. Participants in group recommendation A will be prescribed a fixed recommendation of alternating sitting and standing at a 2:1 ratio of 30 minutes sitting followed by 15 minutes of standing by a health professional. Participants in group recommendation B will be prescribed a more flexible recommendation which involves developing a sitting and standing ratio for that person. Participants will be assessed on immediate (at 2 weeks) and short-term (3 months) effects on their LBP and sitting and standing patterns. Acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, pain-related disability, and a range of work-related measures (e.g. productivity) will be assessed after 3 months. If either recommendation is found to be effective, acceptable, and feasible, it could be readily incorporated into protocols for ergonomists and workplaces to use when installing sit-stand desks.

We hypothesise that introducing a well-designed mindfulness app will reduce staff stress. A multi-site, two-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted at two Queensland hospital EDs. Participants will be encouraged to practice daily, 10 minutes of app (Headspace app®) guided mindfulness-meditation during the four weeks intervention period. The simple intervention has the potential to reduce hospital ED staff stress and improve staff wellbeing. Ultimately it could also improve the bottom-line of operating budgets in Queensland hospitals and most importantly, improve patient care.

We hypothesize that a combination oxidised regenerated cellulose, collagen and silver dressing (Promogran Prisma ™) will be safe to use with an observed reduction in post-operative infection, increased wound healing and decreased frequency of dressing changes for lower limb minor amputation wounds. A positive outcome will result in a change of clinical practice.

HeMo device consists of a stretchy fabric cuff worn on the lower leg. It fits snugly but is elastic and so does not apply any pressure on your leg. When you move your foot or leg, sensors in the cuff can detect changes in the way your blood is flowing. We hope to validate a device that will provide non-invasive diagnostic information more efficiently and easier than the current standard interventions.

Introduction Unstable functional re-entrant circuits known as rotors have been consistently observed in atrial fibrillation, and are mechanistically believed critical to the maintenance of the arrhythmia. Recently, using a Poisson renewal theory-based quantitative framework, we have demonstrated that rotor formation (lambda-f) and destruction rates (lambda-d) can be accurately measured using in vivo electrophysiologic data. RENEWAL-AF measures the electrical, structural heart changes associated with differences in lambda-d and lambda-f.

Study Overview: This is a phase 1b, exploratory study to evaluate the effect of IV milrinone on exercise hemodynamics. This is a double blinded, placebo-controlled investigator led trial. The study cohort will comprise of 8 patients (6 active, 2 placebo). Subjects who are successfully screened will be enrolled into trial. After baseline evaluation on day 1, subjects will be randomly allocated. After the baseline rest and exercise haemodynamic evaluation, subjects will be randomised to receive either active (milrinone) or placebo (saline) infusion. At the conclusion of the infusion, rest and exercise measures will be repeated. Exercise will be conducted at individual matched workloads and durations1. The primary objective was to compare the between-group changes in exercise hemodynamics after administration of placebo versus milrinone. Parameters to be evaluated are described in the prior sections.

To date, a total of sixteen Australian public hospitals have published their uptake of the Acute Surgical Unit (ASU) model, while another two have documented successful persistence with Traditional models. However, for the great majority of public hospitals in Australia, the emergency general surgery (EGS) model in use remains unknown. In 2010, General Surgery Australia’s ‘12 Point Plan for Emergency General Surgery’ recommended separation of emergency and elective activity. However, these were non-binding recommendations and explicitly expected variation in EGS models. Departments remain free to choose their preferred system and no national registry or automated reporting of structure exists. This lack of information regarding EGS models in the large majority of Australian hospitals is problematic. A national survey could be used to guide other hospitals considering commencing an ASU, or by health bodies to inform future policy. We aimed therefore to survey the structure of EGS care of adults in all Australian medium to major public hospitals, with particular regard to the chronological and geographical spread of EGS models, the impact of trauma care and other variables on choice of EGS model, reasons for or against commencing an ASU model, staff satisfaction, registrar operative exposure and safe working hours.

This trial aims to assess if the addition of a post-operative lidocaine infusion results in an earlier return of bowel function in adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery. This will be determined by the time to first passage of wind or the passage of bowel motion and the tolerance of solid diet. Patients will be randomised and allocated to either placebo or lidocaine infusion. The allocation will be blinded and the patient and all researchers involved will be blinded throughout the duration of the study. The differences in the return of gastrointestinal function post-operatively between the two groups will then be assessed to determine if lidocaine has an effect on bowel function. Delay in the return of bowel function after bowel surgery can manifest as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention and absence of passing wind or bowel motions. These symptoms are important as they are the most frequent cause of delayed recovery and prolonged hospital stay. The only time commitment required for patients involved in this study would be to record when they first pass wind, pass a bowel motion, and tolerted a solid meal. The safety of patients involved in the study would be ensured by following the protocol already in place at Austin Health for post-operative lidocaine infusion.