ANZCTR search results

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of compression garments on performance and vertical stiffness during single-leg-hopping to exhaustion. The alternate hypothesis was that compression garments would lead to a change in the duration of single-leg hopping and leg mechanical characteristics.

We hypothesize that giving oral probiotics to pregnant women during later part of pregnancy (>23weeks) will reduce GBS colonization at 35-37 weeks. This will thereby reduce the need of intrapartum antibiotics for women and infection blood tests for the babies. We also hypothesize that this will have additional beneficial effects on obstetric (GDM, preeclampsia, maternal infections), perinatal (premature rupture of membranes, preterm births) and neonatal outcomes (including reduction in neonatal sepsis).

Diagnosing neonatal infection, whether early or late , can be challenging as there is no one ‘gold standard’ test (Srinivansan and Harris, 2012). Failure to diagnose infection in the newborn infant in a timely manner can lead to higher death and illness rates (Carcillo, 2006). Continued surveillance to monitor changes in the infants condition is also paramount to distinguish between infants with an infection and non-infected infants. One way, which may help in the diagnosis of infection in the newborn premature infant is by measuring the body temperature and the skin temperature of the foot, on a continuous basis.All babies who are born at or before 32 weeks gestation are eligible for the study. If you have given consent for your baby to be part of this study your baby will have temperature measured by a small probe, which is placed on the sole of the foot, a small thermometer which is incorporated into the gastric tube ( all infants born and admitted to the neonatal unit will have one of these placed). This tube is mainly used for two things, to vent the stomach to prevent build up of gas and to feed baby when ready. Your baby will also have a temperature which is measured under the arm. We will collect information from your baby’s notes and observation charts. Information which will be recorded and used in the study will be gender, antenatal history, birth score , gestational age, birth weight, temperature, blood test results and type of environment your baby is nursed in.

Electromagnetic Millimetre Wave Therapy (EMT), originally developed in Russia, has shown promise in pain relief therapy in several randomised controlled trials conducted in the USA and Europe in the last 15 years. EMT was shown to be effective in reducing painful conditions, including joint pain, headache, postoperative pain, and neuropathic pain. Aims of this study In this study, we want to find out: 1. The effect of EMT on pain relief 2. The effect of EMT on pain related quality of life 3. The duration of pain relief by EMT 4. The tolerability of EMT The proposed study will be a preliminary investigation of the effectiveness of EMT in pain relief. Data will inform the proposal for a larger cohort study. Patients, presenting with chronic pain and attending the NIIM clinic, will be approached to participate. Pain levels and locations will be variable, in this pilot phase. Consenting patients will be treated with EMT therapy for 15 minutes. Subjective pain levels, and the impact on the quality of life will be assessed at baseline, shortly after EMT treatment, and at regular intervals for three days after the clinical session, using validated pain scales.

It is known that some patients can develop significant reflux following sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity, but due to a lack of prospective evaluation the factors underlying the risk for reflux are unknown. In this study, patients before undergoing sleeve gastrectomy will undertake a validated reflux score, have and endoscopy and High Resolution Impedance Manometry and 24 hour Impedance pH testing. 6 months post operatively they will repeat the reflux questionnaire, the manometry and pH testing.

This study will collect data related to the management of women and men with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer who are treated in routine clinical practice. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a patient of any age and any level of fitness with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, of any hormone receptor status, either recurrent or de novo metastatic disease, who has either been diagnosed with metastatic disease within the last 3-6 months or who has progressed on 1st line therapy in the last 3-6 months. Study details For all patients enrolled in this study, data will be collected on the types of anti-HER2 therapies and chemotherapies used, how long treatment is given for, reasons for any changes in treatment, the impact of anti-HER2 therapies on heart function, and how often certain parts of the body, including the brain, are affected by HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. No personal/identifying data will be collected. This study will help to improve our knowledge of the way that HER2+ metastatic breast cancer behaves, what types of treatment are effective, and the risks and benefits of these treatments within usual clinical practice conditions, with the aim of guiding future research of this disease and improving the outcomes for anyone affected by HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. All collected data will be compiled in a registry, which will be managed by BioGrid Australia. BioGrid Australia is a non-profit company that was set up to help with data collection and analyses for medical research.

Neck pain is a common health disorder in adults. This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of home based training in patients with chronic neck pain. Home training will include exercises designed to advance coordination and control of the neck. A secondary aim will be to evaluate the differences between training with a laser beam feedback, to a virtual reality gaming scenario. It is hypothesised that both types of training will advance patients’ performance, and possibly the VR may have some advantages. Ultimately this methodology could have important implications for future use in remote e-health.

The study will trial a common nasal decongestant to determine its effect on OSA severity in people with tetraplegia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate an internet based treatment for pathological gambling. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups; an internet based treatment based on cognitive behavioural strategies, an internet based treatment based on motivational and supportive techniques, and a waitlist control. The two treatment groups consists of one weekly session, for six weeks duration. Participants in the waitlist control group were offered treatment on completion of the six week wait period. Measures were taken pre treatment, mid treatment/ wait, and post treatment/ wait, as well as some weekly measures throughout treatment.

The current approach in the management of osteoarthritis is primarily palliative and is aimed at alleviating symptoms. By contrast, current literature is increasingly advocating the identification of prognostic indicators, such as muscle weakness, mal­alignment and depression that may be amenable to treatment. That is, to provide a more holistic approach to the management of osteoarthritis as well as to facilitate an improvement in an individual’s joint pain and function rather than treating every patient with a “one size fits all” approach. With this is mind, the primary aim of this pilot study is to establish whether a “stepped up”, adaptive treatment protocol can increase frequency of disease remission and improve long­term functional outcomes such as pain and stiffness among persons with medial tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis. Participants in this pilot study will be randomized into either a control or treatment group. The treatment group will follow a diet and exercise program for 18 weeks. Reassessment of their Patient Acceptable Symptom Score (PASS) occurs at 20­week and participants who fail to reach the threshold level for disease remission based on disease symptoms and an individual’s perceived functionality will then enter into the Adaptive Treatment Protocol phase. Participants will receive additional treatment for muscle weakness, mal­alignment or depression. The control group will be provided with educational pamphlets about knee OA, largely focused on diet, exercise and weight loss. Final follow-up and assessment of disease remission will take place at 32­week. The purpose of this protocol is to develop a clinical algorithm for individualised patient treatment.