ANZCTR search results

The antioxidants acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and a-lipoic acid (ALA) are shown to be involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Recently, a study performed in the mouse model and in smaller human studies showed a clear benefit of using the combination of the three antioxidants on embryo development as well as implantation potential and foetal growth. We therefore want to study the possible advantage of using a medium containing these three known antioxidants compared with the standard medium currently being used in our IVF laboratories. Mainly we want to investigate whether the combination of these three antioxidants may favour embryo development in human IVF.

Poor inhaler technique has been a major problem in managing respiratory illness for decades ; it compromises disease control and is associated with an increase in the economic burden of disease management. When inhaler technique education is delivered to general practitioners (GPs), it can improve attitudes and facilitate implementation of inhaler education into practice. The primary purpose of this study is to assess what level of education is minimally required to master inhaler technique in general practitioners and we hypothesize that inhaler technique mastery is not an intuitive skill.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common problem in people with diabetes and may result in unsteadiness when walking. A new wearable device has been developed to improve walking in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy by providing a vibration stimulus to the legs. The objective of this study to assess the effects of this device on walking patterns.

The prevalence of 12-month mental disorders highest in young people but service use is low, particularly among young men. Apprenticeships are a common pathway for young people making the transition from adolescent to adulthood, and offer a prime location for intervention. We have worked with young apprentices to adapt an existing app to better suit their needs and are aiming to conduct a pilot trial of this modified app to explore the acceptability, utility, and preliminary efficacy of this modified version. This involves recruiting approximately 60 apprentices who will sign-up and complete assessment online, download the app, use it for 30-days, and complete a second online set of questionnaires.

Prototype CPAP masks will be evaluated for usability (comfort, seal and stability) by participants for a 7 night period. During the process of product development, multiple user trials are conducted in order to improve CPAP masks. The purpose of this study is to identify usability issues and improve them in order to develop CPAP masks which are comfortable and easy to use.

This project will involve a FMS program that will be implemented with the parents of children enrolled at the UNSW Early Years Childcare Centres. FUN MOVES will be a randomised controlled trial in preschool aged children to be conducted over a 12-week period with fundamental motor skill testing to be completed at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks. Parents of children in the control group will be offered the videos free of charge at the end of the study. Therefore, initially the control groups will be allocated as wait list for the program. The primary outcome measure will be FMS measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development 2 (TGMD-2). Secondary outcome measures include both perceived and actual physical activity (PA) levels and anthropometric data (BMI).

Antibiotics are crucial in the fight against serious infections. There is increasing resistance of bacteria to old antibiotics and new antibiotics are not readily being released for use. To fight antibiotic resistance, we need to use older antibiotics more effectively. To do this we need to study them more intensively in our sickest patients. Microsampling is a general technique for reducing blood collection volumes. It is not readily used in bedside practise. It is not well researched in clinical practise. The researchers aim to study antibiotics in children admitted to the intensive care unit at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital that are receiving commonly prescribed antibiotics. They aim to study the blood levels to build up a picture of the effectiveness of current dosing regimens. This will be done with a combination of standard blood volume sampling (0.5mls -2mls) and micro blood sampling (~0.02ml). This will assess weather micro sampling is able to be utilised in this way and give meaningful results. Similar pilot studies have been undertaken in adults and it seems this is possible. The overall aim is to improve the understanding of antibiotic therapy in sick children and make future studies easier.

About 1 in 3 stroke survivors experience an emergency presentation or unplanned readmission within 90 days of discharge from hospital. Unplanned readmissions are associated with poorer quality of life, depression and poorer functional status. In addition to the impact of hospitalisation on survivors and their families, there is a substantial economic impact. While the factors precipitating an unplanned readmission are complex, common precipitating factors include: poorer mental health, poorer functional status, and infections. These factors are related to poor preparation of survivors and their carers for the transition from hospital to home; and a lack of ongoing support to assist with self-managing the sequelae of stroke. Methods: Randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of an innovative dischagre support program comprising (a) standardised goal setting prior to hospital discharge plus (b) integrated e-health self-management support, to reduce unplanned presentations/ readmissions among survivors of stroke within 90 days. Significance: This will be the first adequately powered and rigorous trial of an e-health intervention to improve discharge care and support. Findings will be important nationally and internationally, for all adults discharged from hospital with a newly-acquired disability, not just survivors of stroke.

We conducted a randomised, controlled pilot trial of individualised yoga, compared to group-format fitness, to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of these interventions on symptoms of burnout and traumatic stress on junior doctors at a Sydney metropolitan hospital.

Dementia is a major global health problem for ageing adults with Down syndrome. Almost all adults with Down syndrome are prone to develop dementia as early as 40 years of age. Dementia in adults with Down syndrome causes progressive loss of cognitive skills impacting daily functioning, thus escalating caregiving responsibilities for their informal caregivers. This study examines whether home-based occupational therapy interventions can optimise functioning in daily activities for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia and reduce caregiving strain for their informal caregivers. Three participants with a diagnosis of both Down syndrome and dementia and their informal caregivers living in their own homes with their informal caregivers, or living in close proximity to informal caregivers who provide daily care and support will be invited to take part in this study. The study will have three phases (A-B-A)[ (A =baseline phase with no intervention), (B=intervention phase) and (A=follow-up phase with no intervention)]. Occupational therapy interventions will be client-centred and tailored to meet meaningful goals of the participants. These interventions will be provided by a qualified occupational therapist with previous clinical experience in neurological rehabilitation.