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The effects of obesity in COPD are poorly understood, and this is an important area for future research. The mechanisms, consequences and optimal management approaches to this problem are largely unknown. Indeed, current clinical practice assumes that obesity is detrimental in COPD, with obese patients being encouraged to reduce their weight, via calorie reduction and restriction of energy dense foods. However, considering the evidence that obesity may be protective, it is important to understand the effect of weight reduction on inflammation, muscle mass and other significant clinical outcomes in obese COPD subjects. This important area of research is necessary for the development of nutritional guidelines, which currently do not exist in this area. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of weight reduction, involving dietary fat restriction, on inflammation, body composition, markers of COPD, metabolic and cardiovascular disease markers, quality of life and physical performance in obese COPD patients. We hypothesise that in COPD patients, weight reduction, involving dietary fat restriction coupled with resistance training will reduce inflammation, maintain muscle mass and improve clinical outcomes.

This study will evaluate the efficacy of 20,000 IU/week cholecalciferol supplementation relative to placebo in reducing the frequency of clinically-verified acute respiratory tract infections in a cohort of young adults in Tasmania.

Meniere's Disease is characterized by unpredictable attacks of debilitating vertigo, interspersed with periods of quiescence. It affects around 50,000 Australians. Several studies have provided supportive evidence that a viral infection of the inner ear may be the cause of the disease, but few studies have trialled antivirals as a preventative treatment. This trial will involve a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of preventing the vertigo attacks in Meniere's Disease with antiviral drugs.

This study aims to assess whether a mobile bearing hip replacement will reduce the incidence of groin pain compared to that experienced with a unipolar hip replacement without an increased risk of dislocation. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you have been diagnosed with metastatic disease that has spread to the proximal femur – thigh bone – which requires surgical replacement of the femoral head. Trial Details In this study, you will receive either a Unipolar hip replacement which is a hip replacement that replaces only the femoral side, or a Mobile bearing hip replacement which is a hip replacement that replaces the femoral side and lines the acetabulum, the socket of the pelvis. Following either of these interventions, you will then be assessed through the use of questionnaires and x-rays. Metastatic bone disease may affect only the proximal femoral side of the hip joint. Conventional surgical treatment consists of a unipolar hip replacement because the acetabulum is not affected and total hip replacement in this situation has been associated with an increased risk of hip dislocation. Unipolar hip replacements have a much lower risk of dislocation but the articulating surface consists of a metallic head against articular cartilage of the acetabulum. This always results in degradation of the articular surface of the acetabulum and pain. A new device, the ADMX3 mobile bearing hip system (Stryker, NJ, USA) is derived from a dual mobility cup concept which has a proven track record of decreased dislocation and increased implant stability. Instead of the metallic head grinding into the acetabular cartilage, this system is a two-piece component with an acetabular cup that replaces the articular surface into which a polyethylene insert is added into which the metallic head of the proximal femur is inserted. This results in articulation both between the head and insert and the insert and the acetabular cup, not against articular cartilage. This system also has a notch in the anterior portion of the cup which reduces the risk of cup and iliopsoas tendon impingement which is also a source of groin pain post hip replacement. Theoretically it should therefore reduce pain and not increase the risk of dislocation but it is not known if it will improve the incidence or severity of post-operative groin pain that is associated with a unipolar or bipolar hip replacement.

The objective is to investigate whether there are differences between insomnia sufferers who have a specific type of insomnia (hyperarousal insomnia) and those who suffer from general insomnia but do not have elements of hyperarousal. As a result, this study will use a brain imaging technique called Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in order to attempt to find differences in brain neurochemistry between these two different types of insomnia sufferers.

To discover and profile the biological mechanisms within Insomnia. This will be achieved by sampling a large number of sufferers and examining them overnight through a clinical sleep study.

A research study into how muscle bulk, strength and physical performance predict clinical outcomes in patients on dialysis. If the hypothesis proves to be correct, then these simple tests could be used when people are on dialysis or considering commencing dialysis. The results could highlight patients at increased risk of suffering medical complications during dialysis treatments.

This study will assist in providing knowledge about the amount of salt being administered to patients admitted to the intensive care unit, who require support from a breathing machine. This information, along with the patients’ daily salt balance will provide the basis for further studies looking at interventions aimed at reducing the amount of salt administered during a patients stay in Intensive care and any influence salt balance may play in clinically important patient outcomes

Having an operation is very safe for most patients and we wish to do research to improve patient care. To ensure the safe delivery of oxygen and anaesthesia gases to the child, the anaesthetist will insert a tube into the child’s mouth. Then the child’s lungs can be inflated and deflated by these gases. There are two tubes which can be used for this purpose. Both look very similar, except one has an inflatable balloon on the end. Both devices do the same thing and have been independently shown to be safe for use in children. However, a direct comparison between the two tubes is lacking in the paediatric population on how easily the lungs can be inflated. Therefore, the first aim of this study is to show if there are differences in inflating the child’s lungs. The second aim is to show there are no differences in the potential injury to the child’s throat from either tube type.

Satifactory treatment and parental support for pain relief, and nausea and vomiting. This has not been benchmarked for children undergoing surgery for fractures of the lower arm detal trauma, nail bed injury, face cuts and appendicectomy within our hospital. We are undertaking a telephone survey of parents and children who have had the above procedures to improve our service and patient care.