ANZCTR search results

When a neonate requires intubating it needs to occur quickly. Successful intubation can be challenging in small infants. It entails visualization of the glottis followed by insertion of the endotracheal tube through the cords, in a timely manner with minimal compromise to the infant. The current method is to use a laryngoscope to allow direct vision of the vocal cords. Direct vision requires a line of sight along the laryngoscope blade with a light source to view the vocal cords. In the neonate achieving a good view can be a challenge. The videolaryngoscope enables an excellent view of the glottis and its use has been widely studied in adults and paediatric surgical patients. Although many neonatal intensive care units (NICU’s) have integrated the use of this tool into standard care, there is limited evidence for its’ use in neonates. Intubation is a specialised skill and takes time to learn. The more attempts and longer it takes to intubate can potentially impact on an infant due to hypoxia or local trauma. We need to expand our knowledge of the safety of this instrument in acute neonatal care, value in the usefulness of the tool and determine its potential for teaching. If the videolaryngoscope is superior to the standard method, then its use may become even more widely implemented.

The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of a 6 month lifestyle intervention, based on a diet and exercise program, on cognitive function, mood general health and well-being. The intervention will be conducted in those aged 60-90 years who live independently in age care accommodation. We have published data showing that it is possible to improve mood and cognitive parameters in younger individuals with as little as 10 days adherence to a Mediterranean diet. The six month intervention period represents maintenance over a longer period of time important for longer term adoption of a change of lifestyle.

The study is to investigate the safety and tolerability of propagermanium on patients exhibiting proteinuria and who are already taking standard irbesartan therapy.

We are undertaking a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of a twice daily protein preload (20 g whey preload mixed with 5 g guar), taken before breakfast and dinner, to test the hypothesis that glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) will be reduced by at least 0.5% compared to baseline at 12 weeks, in patients with type 2 diabetes who have relatively good glycaemic control (HbA1c less than or equal to 7.9%) on diet or metformin therapy alone. We will also test the secondary hypothesis that the whey preload (i) will induce slowing of gastric emptying, stimulation of incretin hormones and insulin, and reduce appetite and glycaemia after a standardised meal, and that these effects are sustained over 12 weeks; (ii) will induce greater reduction in HbA1c in subjects with more rapid gastric emptying at baseline; (iii) is not associated with weight gain, due to “compensation” for the increased protein load; and (iv) will reduce HbA1c independently of changes in insulin resistance, weight, or body composition.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Laughter Yoga on patients with kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis. The hypothesis was that laughter would have an affect on psychological variables such as happiness.

Brown Fat, unlike ordinary 'white fat', functions like generators, burning fat to produce heat and dissipate energy. Brown fat protects animals against cold and from developing obesity. In humans, it was previously believed that brown fat disappears after infancy. However, research including our own has shown that brown fat is present in most if not all adult humans and is located mainly around the neck. Brown fat activity in humans is detected by a PET scan based on uptake of glucose that is tagged with a small amount of radioactivity. This is a widely used diagnostic method in medicine. Brown fat is more abundant in lean than in obese individuals. Stimulating its activity may be a simple way of controlling body weight in humans. Apart from the cold exposure, very little is known about what regulates brown fat in humans. Our research aims to identify factors that regulates brown fat in humans. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone produced from the adrenal glands. In animals, it was found that aldosterone suppresses the activity of brown fat. In this study, we will study in humans whether aldosterone suppresses brown fat activity and removal of aldosterone-producing tumor by surgery reactivates brown fat activity, and whether the changes in brown fat activity is associated with changes in energy expenditures.

The aim of this project is to extend our recent work and examine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of modifying the physical environmental and policy factors, and to assesses the potential psycho-social variables that might influence change in school playground physical activity levels among primary school children. A secondary outcome is to assess the association between bullying and its effect on playground physical activity levels.

The RCT compares three treatments: (i) Delayed Program Access – undertakes usual diabetes care for 3 months Post-Baseline, followed by access to the full OnTrack Diabetes program, (ii) Immediate Program – receives full access to the self-guided program from Baseline onwards, and (iii) Immediate Program plus Therapist Support. Measures are administered at Baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months Post-Baseline. Outcomes are glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and diabetes-specific distress, depression, anxiety, diabetes self-care, self-efficacy and adherence, and quality of life. Exposure data in terms of program uptake, use, time on each page, and program completion as well as implementation feasibility, will be conducted. It is predicted that OnTrack Diabetes will improve adherenec to diabetes self-care behaviours and FIT will enhance this effect. This is the first known trial of an automated, self-guided, web-based support program that uses a holistic approach in targeting both Type 2 diabetes self-management and dysphoria. Findings will inform the feasibility of implementing such a program on an ongoing basis, including in rural and regional locations.

There are increasing concerns regarding the treatment efficacy of azithromycin 1g single dose for the treatment of rectal chlamydia infections with treatment failure rates up to 21% being reported. There is no evidence available from randomised controlled trials directly comparing doxycycline with azithromycin for the treatment of rectal chlamydia with a recent meta-analysis reporting an efficacy of approximately 85% for azithromycin compared with 99% for doxycycline - however, these efficacy estimates are based on poor quality evidence. The purpose of this study is to provide the world first evidence on the treatment efficacy of the two recommended treatments for rectal chlamydia - azithromycin 1g single dose versus 7 days of doxycycline (100mg twice a day)

It remains unclear whether obesity itself or its accompanying co-morbidities are causative in the development of the favourable substrate for atrial fibrillation. The exact mechanisms remain the subject of current research. There is preliminary data suggesting a reversal of this substrate following interventional weight loss strategies. Intensive weight reduction strategies may play a role in reversing the adverse electromechanical substrate and thus complementing concurrent therapies, pharmacotherapy or catheter-based. In this observational clinical study, we propose to evaluate the effects of weight loss on the substrate predisposing to AF (clinically collected maps) and arrhythmia burden (during routine follow up).