ANZCTR search results

To ascertain whether the addition of intravenous magnesium sulphate for treatment of acute asthma exacerbations where standard treatment has failed to resolve the attack will improve outcomes and reduce the need for admission to hospital

Compared with the general population, dialysis patients have a 100-fold increased risk of dying from heart disease which has remained unchanged over the last decade. The main factor which predicts this risk in dialysis patients is abnormal heart muscle structure and function. Excess body fluid and high blood pressure are critical risk factors leading to these heart abnormalities. Current tests to identify dialysis patients at high risk are quite inaccurate and optimum blood pressure/fluid targets remain undefined. There is an urgent need for a blood test that accurately detects the early stages of heart injury to enable effective treatments. NT-proBNP is a heart hormone released during heart stress and early studies suggest it can predict which dialysis patients do poorly. The aim of our research is to develop a monitoring guideline based on regular testing of NT-proBNP to identify high-risk dialysis patients early. This would enable treatment before a serious medical complication occurs, potentially improving patient outcomes on dialysis. We will achieve this by testing NT-proBNP monthly in a group of 150 dialysis patients for 2-years, and correlating changes in the hormone levels with changes in patient symptoms, their health, body fluid state, and heart structure and function.

The aim of this study is to ascertain whether a standard clinical dose of 320 mg or a 640 mg dose of a specific extract of Bacopa Monnieri [KeenMind (Registered Trademark) - CDRI 08] would acutely affect cognition, mood, anxiety and stress at an earlier timepoint than previous Bacopa Monnieri supplementation studies. This study will investigate the cognitive and stress effects of a two doses of bacopa compared to placebo. Participants will be required to consume one of three treatments on each testing day, and will consume the other treatments on the other two days of testing. There will be a seven day washout period and the process will be repeated again. (1) Bacopa – 320mg (2) Bacopa – 640mg (3) Placebo

This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the methods and procedures used in order to guide a larger open-label randomised trial. In addition, this pilot study will examine the primary outcome measures and the ability to recruit 50 participants in a 6-month period. This study will also involve a cost analysis to compare the cost attributed to both groups. The study aims to measure and compare clinical outcomes for two clinical management strategies for the treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis, these are a) prolonged IV treatment and b) early commencement of oral antibiotic therapy (following a brief initial treatment with IV antibiotics); and to compare the quality of life of participants receiving prolonged treatment with an oral antibiotic strategy and those receiving prolonged treatment with an intravenous antibiotic strategy. Data regarding the infection (presence or absence and infection severity), the wound size and the participant’s quality of life will be collected at various time-points. There will also be three follow up visit at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks post cessation of antibiotic treatment, which will evaluate the infection (presence or absence and infection severity grade) and the wound size. Whilst an additional plain X-ray will be performed at 4 weeks post cessation of treatment in order to determine if the infection has resolved. The tentative hypothesis for the pilot study is that a treatment strategy of predominantly oral antibiotics with high oral bioavailability and expected high bone concentration will have a success rate equivalent to that of a strategy of six weeks of intravenous antibiotics, but a lower rate of major complications, a lower cost and a better quality of life. Although this pilot study will not formally test these hypotheses it will enable the researchers to assess the ability of these hypotheses to be formally tested in a future definitive randomised controlled trial.

This study tests the short and medium term efficacy of the online Wellbeing Course with consumers with symptoms of anxiety, when administered by staff from the MHA, NSW.

The project is designed to test a) whether dexamphetamine can be used safely to treat adults with obesity, b) whether dexamphetamine is effective for treating obesity over a six month period

There is a body of evidence supporting the presence of oxidative stress states in bipolar disorder. With high levels of oxidative stress comes mitochondrial dysfunction. There is accumulating evidence that demonstrates that those with mitochondrial disease have a higher prevalence of bipolar disorder. The aim of this trial is to develop novel therapies for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder targeting the pathways of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This 20 weeks, double blind ranodmised, placebo controlled trial will investigate a combination treatment to enhance mitochondrial function, as well as exploring N-acetyl cysteine alone. The study will include 16 weeks of treatment with a post-discontinuation visit 4 weeks later. Participants will be randomly and sequentially allocated to one of the three treatment arms, in addition to any usual treatment they may be taking. The primary outcomes will be changes in symptoms based on the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes include changes in HAMA, YMRS, BDRS, PGI, CGI and blood biomarkers.We will also be collecting blood samples at baseline, and week 16 from consenting participants to investigate blood markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial function.

In this study we aim to look at the best treatment for children presentling to the emergency department with an acute episode of asthma. Specifically, we are interested in children who have moderate severity of their symptoms on arrival. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a decreased need for hospital admission in these children when they atre treated with inhaled ipratropium bromide (IIB), inhaled salbutamol (IS) and oral steroid , compared with patients treated with Inhaled salbutamol and oral steroid alone

To examine whether 14 week administration of CDRI 08 (a special extract of bacopa) improves a range of neurophysiology, intelligence, cognitive, mood, genetic, sleep, and behavioural measures in children aged 6-14 years with symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity relative to placebo.

Regulation of the factors that control food intake, the funtion of the stomach and small intestine and release of gut hormones is complex, and our understanding of this feild is far from complete. There is increasing evidence that nutrient stimuli in the gut, especially in the small intestine, induce changes in gut motor and hormonal functions that play a central role of energy intake and blood glucose. In particular high-protien diets have been found to be very effective for weight loss and for improving blood glucose in obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. This study aims to investigate the effects of the amino acids, L-glutamate and L-glutamine, on gut motility, gut horone release, blood glucose control and energy intake. We hypothesise that L-glutamate and L-glutamine as building blocks of proteins, may substantially contribute to the beneficial effects of whole protein on gut functions and energy intake regulation. This has not yet been evaluated in detail and will be important in order to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of dietary protein on eating control.