ANZCTR search results

This study aims to explore the effects of rhythmic music as an external cue for walking in people with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Music cued exercise has been shown to be effective in improving walking in people with Parkinson's disease and stroke. People with other degenerative neurological disorders may also benefit from this approach. Twenty people (10 PSP / 10 AD) will undergo measures of walking using a pressure sensitive carpet at Latrobe University before and after an intervention which will consist of 8 home visit sessions of systematically progressed exercises synchronised to rhythmic music conducted by experienced physiotherapists.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia, affecting 1 in 4 adults worldwide, and at least 240,000 Australians. Prevalence rises with age from approximately 1% of the whole population to 5% in those over 65 years. People with AF are up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than the general population. Almost one in every three strokes is AF-related, and AF-related strokes are likely to be more severe, with a whole of life cost of each stroke estimated at $103,566. However, strokes in AF can be effectively prevented using oral anticoagulants. Unfortunately in Australia oral anticoagulant prescription is only about 60% even in those patients with known AF who are therefore at high risk for stroke. This gap has been difficult to close despite having therapeutic management guidelines. Many people in the general population are unaware that they have AF, with first diagnosis being made when they are admitted to hospital with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack. The diagnosis of unknown AF can be easily made using a 30 second ECG rhythm strip obtained with a TGA approved smartphone ECG (iECG). Using this device, unknown AF can be identified and treated, thus reducing the number of strokes due to AF. We have previously shown that community screening for AF to prevent stroke is likely to be cost-effective, but the magnitude of the benefit in terms of numbers of strokes prevented, is determined by the proportion of the population screened. This study therefore explores screening for AF in primary care, by performing iECG screening during annual influenza vaccination currently administered to over 70% of patients aged 65 or over in general practice. Screening will also take place during annual chronic care assessments such as Diabetes Cycle of Care and Health Assessment for People Aged 75 and Older. This opportunistic method of screening, through its reach, could approximate systematic population screening for AF. Screening will be performed in 10 practices across NSW to gauge and efficacy and cost effectiveness of community-based AF screening. In addition to the handheld iECG device, this study will also implement the electronic decision support software called HealthTracker-CVD. A special AF module has been designed as part of this software to automatically calculate the stroke risk score for patients with AF, and provide individualised advice on evidence-based management of AF. An automated tool such as this available to both general practitioners and practice nurses is ideal to facilitate closing the gap in oral anticoagulant prescription for stroke prevention in patients with diagnosed AF.

The aim of this study is to determine if intervention for speech problems in preschool-aged children is effective when delivered by parents and a speech pathologist. Specifically, this study will determine if “multiple oppositions” intervention, an approach established as effective when delivered intensively by a speech pathologist, is still effective when modified and delivered by parents in conjunction with a speech pathologist, with children who have a speech sound disorder.

Arm/hand dysfunction after stroke is a common (85% of stroke survivors), disabling and persistent problem which contributes to poor well-being and quality of life and is rated as a top ten research priority in stroke by both survivors and their carers. Neuroplasticity is the term used to describe the ability of our brain to change, make new connections and re-wire itself in response to internal and external demands and stimuli. Evidence suggests that aerobic exercise can facilitate neuroplasticity by increasing the number of and connections between brain cells, increasing the release of various neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) and nerve growth factors, and stimulating the formation of new blood vessels necessary for neuronal growth. Due to the positive effects of aerobic exercise on neuroplasticity, it has been suggested that it could be utilised to improve the efficacy of rehabilitation programs by ‘priming’ the brain prior to the delivery of therapy. Our study explores the feasibility of using Aerobic Exercise and Consecutive Task-specific Training (AExaCTT) to investigate whether the addition of aerobic exercise enhances the efficacy of task-specific training to improve arm/hand motor function after stroke.

This study seeks to elucidate the benefits of NAC augmentation (2-4 grams/day) compared to placebo in the treatment of OCD, in a 24-week, multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. It is hypothesized that NAC will be superior over placebo for improving OCD symptoms as measured by a reduction in Y-BOCS scores from baseline against each subsequent time point (W4, W8, W12, W16, W20 and W24). Additional benefits are anticipated for relieving anxiety as well as improving mood, functioning and overall quality of life.

This is a first-in-human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single ascending dose (Parts A and B) and repeated (Part C) intravenous infusions of CSL324 or placebo (saline) in healthy subjects. Subjects will have blood collected at various time points for safety laboratory evaluations, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) sampling, and will be assessed for 3 months after infusion to assess immunogenicity and longer term safety. Skin test(s) will be used to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of CSL324 in response to an inflammatory stimulus (Parts A and B). Cerebrospinal fluid will be collected by lumbar puncture from subjects in the highest dose group in Part A after the last infusion of CSL324 or placebo, to determine whether CSL324 distributes into the cerebrospinal fluid. Subjects in Part B will also receive multiple subcutaneous doses of filgrastim to stimulate an increase in circulating neutrophils and provide additional PD data.

This study aims to compare the efficiency of two common procedures for the removal of colorectal polyps. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if: - You are aged 18 years or above, - Are undergoing elective colonoscopy, - And have at least one colorectal polyp of size 9mm or less. Study details: Participants in this study will be randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Participants in one group will undergo conventional cold snare polypectomy. This involves inserting the polyp removal device (i.e. the snare) into the colonoscope channel for removing your polyp. Then removing the snare out of the colonoscope channel prior to retrieving your polyp. Participants in the other group will undergo snare-within-the-scope-channel (SWITCH) cold snare polypectomy. This involves leaving the polyp removal device (i.e. the snare) in the scope channel prior to and after removing your polyp, and during retrieval of your polyp. Participants will not know which group they are in until after the study is completed. Procedure time will be measured in all participants and compared across groups. This will enable us to determine which of the two procedures is more efficient.

This study aims to provide proof of principle for the use of pre-surgery breast MRI to guide radiation oncologists in determining radiotherapy treatment volumes. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a female aged 18 years or more and have an early stage breast cancer and are scheduled to undergo breast conserving surgery at Liverpool Hospital, NSW. Study details The study will involve participants completing MRI scans in the supine and prone positions and as per their routine care, will also undergo routine radiotherapy planning CT scans. These scans will be performed before surgery, after surgery and before radiotherapy for patients that are also receiving chemotherapy treatment. These images will be used to compare treatment volumes used to determine where the radiation is delivered generated based on the MRI information and based on the standard of care the CT information. Standard practice will be used for treatment, that is treatment volumes will be based on CT with no change in standard practice. It is hoped that this study will provide a proof of principle that pre-surgery MRI can be used to guide radiation oncologists in determining radiotherapy treatment volumes.

We propose to assess the impact of Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) on glycaemic control in 29 sedentary, overweight/ obese participants. Each participant will complete two experimental conditions in a randomised, cross-over design at the Baker IDI clinical research suite, Level 4 of the Alfred Centre, involving (i) 7 hours of uninterupted sitting together with the consumption of water 90 minutes after a standardised breakfast and lunch meal and (ii) 7 hours of uninterupted sitting together with the consumption of a SSB 90 minutes after a standardised breakfast and lunch meal. Glycaemic control will be measured directly through blood samples every 30 minutes and the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to collect data for a 22 hour period from the morning of each trial condition until the following morning. Resting blood pressure will be taken every 60 minutes throughout both interventions using an automated blood pressure monitor. Endothelial function will be recorded at baseline (0 time), 3 hours (just prior to lunch) and at 6 hours (just after the final blood sample.

This research project is being conducted to look at the adhesion, Pharmacokinetics (PK, how the human body processes a substance), safety and tolerability of formulations of Corplex ('Trademarked') Donepezil TDS (Transdermal Delivery System) when applied to healthy volunteers for seven days. It is anticipated that Corplex ('Trademarked') Donepezil TDS could be a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.