ANZCTR search results

One major problem for those afflicted with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the breakdown of the gut wall lining due to inflammation. This breakdown is best described as an open wound allowing bacteria and toxic substances to enter the body through the gut which prolongs and worsens the existing inflammation. In severe IBD, these wounds may prevent immediate application of certain treatments and require steroids to permit wound healing. This route of therapy often comes with many unwanted side effects for the patient. There is currently very little known about how wound healing is initiated or how it progresses in the gut. Understanding of how the wound healing process is regulated may allow us to improve the treatment of IBD wounding and allow the design of new therapies to control the disease. This project examines the roles and interactions of HIF, a protein that regulates a cells response to lack of oxygen, and of a cell membrane linker protein, Beta1 integrin, which allows cells to interact and form the gut lining that protects the body from the intestinal contents. We will test the importance of this protein in the repair of intestinal wounds and the factors which drive its role in wound repair. To achieve this, we will use reductionist models of the intestine that mimic the wound healing process and animal models of IBD. These models will allow us to manipulate Beta1 integrin in the hope of understanding the role it plays in wound healing. We will then use the knowledge gained from these studies, to examine human tissue from IBD patients, in the hope of identifying a trend in how Beta1 integrin contributes to the severity of IBD disease

This study investigated the effect of Aromatherapy (3% lavender angustifolia mist) with or without hand massage (five minutes with aqua cream) on disruptive behaviour in people with dementia living in residential aged care facilities (RACF).

Malnutrition is a critical issue affecting the quality of life of patients with end-stage kidney failure on dialysis, and is associated with chronic inflammation, adverse patient outcomes and increased death. Nutritional support is highly important in this patient group, but often oral supplements are insufficient to correct the malnourished state. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) is intravenous nutrition supplementation which is given during dialysis treatments. IDPN has had some promising effects on appetite, food intake, body weight and other markers of nutritional health, but needs to be studied more closely particularly before patients develop severe malnutrition. This multidisciplinary, collaborative project aims to compare IDPN versus standard dietetic input (control group) in malnourished dialysis patients, and look at the effect on a comprehensive range of key markers of nutrition and patient quality of life. We aim to address this important clinical problem, to obtain evidence for new therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes.

This trial will examine the effect of a novel multipurpose contact lens solution on subjective response and the ocular surface. The hypotheses are these outcomes will be similar for control solutions.

This study aims to test the ability of a high protein / high soluble fibre drink to reduce the rise in blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabets following a high carbohydrate meal when taken 15 minutes before that meal.

The main aim of the study is to work out the safest dose of PENAO to give to patients. PENAO is an organoarsenic which means it is related to arsenic. There are other drugs in this class which are used to treat different forms of cancer. In this research study patients will be given a new drug, PENAO, for the first time. This drug has been previously safely tested in animals but has not been tested before in humans. Because of this, it is unknown what the most effective and safe dosage level should be. Secondly, the study aims to monitor patients to collect more information about how the drug is broken down by the body and do scans to observe whether the drug has an effect on tumours. To date, this drug has been shown to slow or stop the growth of many different types of tumours when grown in mice. PENAO is an experimental drug. This means that it is not an approved treatment for cancer in Australia or other parts of the world. This study drug was developed by a group of researchers at the University of NSW as an anti-cancer agent. This research and the clinical study are funded by the Cancer Institute of NSW.

Ageing is associated with a physiological reduction of appetite and energy intake, which has been called the “anorexia of ageing”. Dietary supplementation with liquid protein preparations is now used frequently to increase energy and protein intake in older adults in both institutionalized and community-dwelling populations. Although the latter would appear a logical approach, evidence for success of increased energy intake in older individuals is limited. There is consensus that nutrient stimuli in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the small intestine, play a major role in the regulation of appetite and energy intake via modulation of GI motility and hormone release. Increasing our knowledge of how protein affects GI motility and hormone release is of increasing relevance in healthy and undernourished older individuals. In addition to the effects of healthy ageing, there is evidence of differences between undernourished and well-nourished older people, which may potentially result from being undernourished and/or contribute to the undernourished state. Urgent investigation is warranted to determine the effects of oral protein intake, so that protein can be incorporated into their diet to assist in sparing muscle mass without reducing their appetite. The study aims to characterise in older individuals, the effect of undernutrition on energy intake, appetite, antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma concentrations of amino acids, hormones (i.e. CCK, PYY, ghrelin, GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and insulin) and glucose after intraduodenal protein infusion.

Ageing is associated with a physiological reduction of appetite and energy intake, which has been called the “anorexia of ageing”. Dietary supplementation with liquid protein preparations is now used frequently to increase energy and protein intake in older adults in both institutionalized and community-dwelling populations. Although the latter would appear a logical approach, evidence for success of increased energy intake in older individuals is limited. There is consensus that nutrient stimuli in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the small intestine, play a major role in the regulation of appetite and energy intake via modulation of GI motility and hormone release. Increasing our knowledge of how protein affects GI motility and hormone release is of increasing relevance in older individuals. Urgent investigation is warranted to determine the optimal load of protein that can be incorporated into their diet to assist in sparing muscle mass without reducing their appetite. The study aims to characterise in healthy older individuals, the effect of different intraduodenal protein loads on energy intake, appetite, antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma concentrations of amino acids, gut hormones and glucose, and to determine the relationship between the suppression of appetite and energy intake by protein with ‘small intestinal’ mechanisms.

Since alcohol consumption is linked to more than 60 different medical conditions and is the most common preventable risk factor associated with injuries in Australia, interventions that can reduce these harms are needed. This study is designed to determine whether a computer-based brief alcohol intervention reduces hazardous drinking among hospital outpatients. If effective, the intervention could be implemented nationally as part of routine service delivery.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease which when left untreated leads to long term joint damage, loss of function and a reduced life expectancy. There is evidence that by treating RA early with combination therapies the damage to the joints may be much less and function preserved. Following on from this observation, many rheumatologists think aiming for a specific end point to prevent progressive joint damage should be introduced. However, new TNF agents such as Adalimumab seem to protect against damage more than do conventional therapies even when signs and symptoms of arthritis are equally controlled. The explanation for this is unclear and needs to be explored further.