ANZCTR search results

To determine whether the administration of large or small volumes of fluid to patients underoing major elective abdominal surgery influences lenght of stay and outcome

The study will determine whether participating in 12 months social dancing can reduce the incidence of falls and improve physiological performance and cognitive tasks that are associated with greater risk of falling. A cluster randomised controlled trial of 28 self care retirement villages is proposed. Villages will be eligible to take part in the study if they: have at least 60 independent residents; have a common facility area for dancing; do not currently offer dance classes; and provide written consent to the study. Agreeing villages will be randomised 1:1 to intervention or control group. Participants in the 14 control sites will receive no intervention for 12 months, except mailing of educational materials on healthy ageing. They will be offered the same dance program free of charge at the end of the study. In the intervention sites a twice-weekly one-hour ballroom dancing (7 sites) or folk dancing (7 sites) class will be offered. Dance instructors will receive workshops to standardise program delivery across sites. Recruitment will be staggered over a 12 month period. Eligible participants will undergo a 1 hr baseline assessment session, which will comprise a structured interview, psychological and physiological tests. The same measurements will be repeated at 12 month follow-up. A falls diary will be collected each month by mail from all participants. Participants with missing diaries will be contacted by phone. To monitor changes in activity levels, participants will be asked to complete a self-report physical activity questionnaire at 6 months. To assess the intensity level of the dance class, participants will be asked to wear accelerometers periodically. The cost effectiveness of this intervention will also be evaluated at 3 months and 12 months.

Despite many decades of effective and safe use the mechanisms by which anaesthetics induce unconsciousness remain unresolved. While our knowledge of the molecular and cellular targets of anaesthetic action has increased substantially in the last couple of decades our knowledge regarding their effects on measured brain activity has progressed at a slower rate. The aim of this study is, for the first time, to use a high resolution method of brain imaging to better quantify the effects anaesthetic agents have on brain activity. Specifically we will quantify the effects of two volatile anaesthetic agents, nitrous oxide and xenon, on brain activity recorded using a high resolution brain imaging technique known as magnetoencephalography. These agents are chosen because of their reported differing effects on brain activity, their reported similar molecular targets of action and the fact that they are safe to administer in a research imaging environment.

This study will investigate the means and mechanisms by which self reflection and introspection mediate adaptive behaviours and complex decision making during simulated anaesthesthetic critical incidents. It will also explore whether simulation can be used effectively by experienced specialist anaesthetists to self identify gaps in skills and knowledge, increase awareness of personally preferred decision making methods and strategies aimed at optimising clinician welfare.

This project aims to evaluate a range of eHealth (i.e. healthcare using the internet; e.g. websites, apps) tools that have been designed to raise awareness of the link between brain and heart health and to help people make positive lifestyle changes.

Ten participants will be recruited from Austin health into this pilot randomised controlled trial to investigate if negative pressure wound therapy increases healing rates in people with post operative foot wounds in the home care setting.

Following fetal death in the second trimester of pregnancy, labour is usually induced to deliver the fetus. This induction process is usually conducted with the synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue misoprostol. This prostaglandin, although not licensed for use in pregnancy, is now in common prescribed for labour induction in the second trimester with a large accumulated experience both within Australia and internationally. Since 1996, misoprostol has been used at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) as the principal agent for second trimester pregnancy induction with a non-viable fetus. The sequential combination of the antiprogesterone agent mifepristone and the prostaglanding misoprostol is an established and effective method for second trimester pregnancy termination. Prior studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in the duration of abortion with misoprostol when mifepristone priming is used. Three senior clinicians at KEMH, including the co-investigator Professor Jan Dickinson, have Authorised Prescriber status for use of mifepristone for pregnancy termination and following fetal death. Since January 2008 the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol has been used at KEMH in approximately 500 cases of first and second trimester pregnancy termination of pregnancy, predominantly for circumstances of severe fetal abnormality. Interestingly, there is very limited published data on the use of mifepristone in combination with misoprostol for induction of mid trimester fetal demise, Currently at KEMH misoprostol alone is the most frequent method used for delivery in the presence of a deceased fetus. This is most likely due to the restricted access to mifepristone and the absence of high quality comparative data of its efficacy. In this study we plan to compare the administration of mifepristone prior to misoprostol for induction after fetal death at 14-28 weeks gestation with the use of misoprostol alone (the current KEMH standard protocol). The primary aim of this research protocol will be to compare the induction commencement to delivery interval between these two regimes. Secondary aims of this study will be to assess the incidence of maternal side-effects for each of the two regimens, post partum blood loss, placental retention rates and the need for subsequent curettage for retained placental tissue. We will also review the women’s satisfaction with the two treatment regimens. The amount of progesterone and estrogen circulating in the blood of the women prior to induction will also be assayed, given that mifepristone works by blocking the effect of progesterone. It may be that the efficacy of mifepristone is related to the concentration of progesterone in the setting of fetal loss.

Charles Sturt University is carrying out a research project on foot circulation in 2012-13. This is to determine if angina patch medication can help people with poor circulation to their feet. There is evidence to suggest that this patch treatment may be useful for many people by improving circulation to their feet and possibly also reducing pain and nerve damage associated with ischemia and diabetes. Reduced circulation to feet can be associated with problems such as foot ulcers, infection and amputations. The study involves about 100 volunteers who use a small dose patch on one foot and are monitored for the effects of this over 6 months of use. The effects on the circulation, the nerve function, wound healing and on foot pain in both feet will be checked. This study has the approval of the Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee. The study subjects are participating with the knowledge and approval of their general medical practitioners. This study should provide answers to the questions of who can benefit from this treatment and the ideal ways to use this patch medication to improve circulation to feet. The study will be helping the growth of understanding in this important area. This is likely to lead to improved prevention and treatment options.

This study will investigate the effect of prolonged dietary fat intake on fatty acid taste receptor expression (GPR120, GPR40 and CD36), fatty acid taste sensitivity and corresponding satiety responses.

We are studying the drug candidate, PF329, as a potential new medicine to treat pain, that is less easily abused than other pain medications. In early research studies, combinations of PF329 and the compound nafamostat showed the potential to provide protection from people taking too many pills at once. This study is intended to test the effects of various doses of nafamostat mesilate on the way the human body uses the drug PF329.