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Being overweight causes increased risk for type 2 diabetes. We have shown that participation in regular interval sprinting reduces diabetic risk in young adult females. However, no examination of older women appears to have been carried out. Thus, we hypothesize that 8 weeks of interval sprinting will significantly reduce insulin resistance in middle-aged women, Twenty overweight women will be assigned to a 8 week interval sprinting exercise group and 20 to a control group. All women will be screened for entry to the study. Exercise will involve 3 x 20 minute sessions of interval sprinting for 8 weeks. Fitness (sub max test), body composition (DEXA), metabolic status (GTT, insulin), autonomic state (heart rate variability, baroreceptor sensitivity), cardiovascular (blood pressure, arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, cardiac output, stroke volume), and blood markers (insulin, natriuretic peptides, cytokines) will be assessed before and after the 8 week intervention.

This research project is being conducted to look at how safe and well tolerated a new drug called DV-928 is when different amounts are given to healthy volunteers. The pharmacokinetics of DV-928 will also be studied; this is done by measuring the amount of DV-928 in the blood at different times throughout the initial 2 days following administration, allowing us to evaluate how DV-928 is handled by the body (for example how quickly it gets into the blood stream).

This study tests an intervention to improve overweight patients' health literacy for weight loss and assist them to attend community-based weight management lifestyle modification programs. Study hypotheses: 1. Compared to practice nurses in control practices, those in intervention practices will demonstrate greater improvement in their self-reported behaviour and confidence in assessing obese patients with low health literacy and providing advice and referral to them for weight loss. 2. Compared to similar patients attending control practices, obese patients with low health literacy attending intervention practices are, at six months, more likely to report: *having received assessment, advice and referral for weight management *having attended/used community-based weight management lifestyle modification programs referred to. 3. Compared to similar patients attending control practices, obese patients with low health literacy attending intervention practices are, at 12 months, more likely to have improved their health literacy related to weight management.

Dry eye disease is a common condition, affecting up to 30% of adults. Common symptoms of dry eye disease include eye irritation (e.g., burning, grittiness, scratchiness, wateriness) and/or fluctuations in vision. Currently, the main form of treatment for dry eye disease is the use of artificial tears (lubrication drops), which can assist in reducing these symptoms by supplementing the deficient tear fluid. However, as artificial tears fail to address the underlying cause of dry eye disease, for many patients they are inadequate in completely relieving symptoms. New and enhanced therapeutic treatments are therefore needed. Inflammation plays an important role in the development of dry eye disease. There is growing scientific evidence that dietary supplementation with omega-3 essential fatty acids, may be of benefit in reducing inflammation throughout the body, including in the eye. A well recognised source of omega-3s is fish oil, which has undergone some preliminary investigations in relation to treating dry eye disease, however further research is needed to substantiate these findings. The aim of this ‘proof-of-concept’, single site clinical trial is to evaluate the benefit of phospholipid form omega-3 supplements for the treatment of dry eye disease, and whether this form of omega-3 provides any benefit over triglyceride omega-3s. The effects of both forms of omega-3 supplements will be compared with a control group, who will consume an olive oil supplement.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) are chronic, debilitating disorders that frequently co-occur. There is a critical need to intervene early to prevent the long-term problems associated with this comorbidity. However, there are currently no empirically validated treatments available for adolescents. This pilot study aims to examine an innovative exposure-based treatment for traumatic stress and substance use among adolescents (COPE-A). Ten adolescents (aged 12-17yrs) with comorbid traumatic stress and substance use (and their primary caregivers) will be recruited and offered the 16-session COPE-A intervention. Participants will undergo interviews at baseline and post-treatment. Measures of therapeutic compliance, treatment acceptability and feasibility, and treatment outcome will be analysed.

Successful treatment of anaphylaxis in the community relies on early and correct use of epinephrine autoinjectors. Community pharmacists supply these devices with and without prescription and have a crucial role teaching patients how to use them. Supply of epinephrine autoinjectors in Australia increased 70-fold in the past decade. New EpiPen and Anapen autoinjectors were launched in Australia in 2011 and 2012, with the potential to cause confusion. However there is no information about how pharmacists demonstrate epinephrine autoinjectors to patients. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess real-world community pharmacist demonstrations of EpiPen and Anapen. We also sought to identify consultation-based predictors of accurate demonstration.

This study is evaluating the effect of a bowel cancer screening initiative facilitated through General Practice in Port Macquarie compared to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Initiative. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 40 years or above, have no history of inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer, and visit a participating general practice in the Port Macquarie area during the study period. Study details Participants in this study will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and complete a bowel cancer screening kit called a Faecal Occult Blood test. This kit detects hidden blood in the stool which may be present due to polyps in the bowel. Polyps are the precursors for bowel cancer and can usually be easily removed preventing bowel cancer. The test kit can be conducted in the privacy of your own home and your GP will manage any follow ups or further tests you may require. Screening is really important to prevent bowel cancer. How long does the study go for? We are looking to recruit participants for a period of 6 months. If you agree to take part in the study, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and a bowel cancer screening kit (an FOBt). If your screening kit comes back negative, there are no further tests we require and you will be asked to complete another questionnaire. If your test comes back positive for blood in your stool, your GP may ask you to have a further test called a colonoscopy. How long it takes for this test to be completed depends on waiting lists with specialists. After the colonoscopy you will be asked to complete a final questionnaire. This then marks the end of your participation in the study.

Psoriasis is a common, non-infectious inflammatory disease characterised by distinctive erythematous scaling plaques of varying sizes usually on the scalp, elbows, knees and other surfaces of the skin. There is no satisfactory or effective cure for psoriasis. Both oral and topical treatment modalities are only partially effective and can induce irritation and/or serious side-effects. Current treatment options are only effective in reducing psoriasis symptoms temporarily. About 70% of subjects are said to prefer topical therapy to manage psoriasis. Myrtaceous essential oils have been found to provide anti-inflammatory effects on human skin. A safe, relatively inexpensive, alternative topical treatment is required to minimise treatment failures and relapses associated with psoriasis. The present study compared the efficacy and safety of topical kunzea oil (twice daily) with 5% Liquor Carbonis Detergens (LCD) and 3% salicylic acid containing formulations (twice daily) for the management mild to moderate psoriasis (study duration 8 weeks). The study recruited patients from single site (GP surgery, Talbot Rd, Launceston).

The aim of the study is to determine if transcutaneous electrical stimulation can reduce the severity of persistent faecal incontinence in a group of children with spina bifida previously unsuccessfully treated with retrograde continence enema. Faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida is currently treated by retrograde continence enema. Transcutaneous electrical therapy will be proposed as an alternative therapy to children with spina bifida aged 8-18 who have failed retrograde continence enema treatment. We have not tested transcutaneous electrical stimulation on children with spina bifida. There has been one study using transcutaneous electrical stimulation to treat faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida but there were no quantitative outcome measures that could be used to predict the number of patients needed in a randomized control trial. A baseline period will be followed with a therapy (stimulation) period. Outcomes measurements will be compared before and after stimulation. Outcomes are severity of faecal incontinence, quality of life and colonic transit time.

Existing data indicate that obesity affects individuals as early as the first two years of life and that overweight in infancy strongly predicts overweight in pre-school years and onwards. Thus, starting prevention during infancy appears essential. Despite this, preventive strategies targeting parents with children under the age of two are still in minority. The present research project primarily aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief, preventive Triple P parenting program (Baby Healthy Living) for parents with 4 to 18 months old children who may be at risk for overweight. The main goal of this intervention is to promote positive feeding practices and empower parents in setting healthy habits in infancy. The study targets families in more vulnerable situations (e.g., single parenthood, lower socio-economic status) who are at increased risk of having overweight or obese children. The intervention may benefit those families the most. If proven effective, such an intervention could make a significant difference in reducing risk factors associated with the early onset of childhood obesity.