ANZCTR search results

To cross-validate two new peripheral aberrometers: the EyeMapper and the Hartmann-Shack (HS) Scanner with dilated and undilated pupils.

This study aims ot assess the effectiveness of ketamine as an pain reliever when administered into the nasal passages in doses that do not produce sedation or anaesthesia in a group of adult emergency department patients coming to hospital with moderate to severe pain. We hypothesise that ketamine will reduce pain effectively without significant sedation at the proposed dose. A positive result may allow ketamine to be considered as an alternative pain reliever for acute pain in the emergency department that could be adminsitered through the nose and reduce the need for insertion of intravenous catheters in some patients suffering from moderate to severe pain.

Chiropractic care is currently being provided by chiropractic Interns, under supervision, to residents of Palmerston Farm a therapeutic community, with this service having been provided to date for over 4 years. This study will measure the outcomes of this service in terms of students’ perception of the service and residents’ satisfaction with care and treatment outcomes. All eligible participants (interns and residents of Palmerston Farm) will be provided an Information Sheet concerning the project and will be required to provide written informed consent prior to participation in the study. Volunteers for the treatment part of the study will undergo a standard case history and physical examination, including a relevant orthopaedic evaluation and consent to procedures. Patients that do not demonstrate any contradictions to chiropractic care (manual and manipulative therapy) will then enter the study and undergo chiropractic care, as required. Treatment will consist of conservative care such as manual and manipulative therapy, soft tissue therapy, exercise prescription and rehabilitation programmes, applied based on the presentation of the patient. Treatment will be provided on a weekly basis to those residents (patients) that volunteer for the study, over a 6-week period. Hence, each participating patient will typically receive 6 treatments over a 6-week period. Participants in the control group will anonymously complete PSQ and R-36 forms. Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of each participant course of treatment, or after six visits whichever is sooner, using the stated outcome measures; PSQ and RAND-36. Data will be collected from the participating chiropractic Interns at the end of their outreach programme at Palmerston Farm; using a modified SPSLE. The questionnaires used for this data collection will be provided online using the so called 'SurveyMonkey' tool. No identifiable risks or problems are anticipated to arise as a result of the implementation of this study, beyond the usual issues that may be encountered when offering this care in the context of a substance misuse recovery facility.

This randomised, double-blind and standardised clinical trials investigated the clinical effectiveness of pulsed Nd:YAG Laser induction of pulpal analgesia compared with 5% EMLA The current study strengthens other reports of the clinical effectiveness of Nd:YAG Laser induction of pulpal analgesia in a carefully planned and standardised, blinded controlling manner. Further studies are however needed to define the optimal Laser parameters, the reversibility of the analgesic effect and the follow-up induced changes on tooth morphology and the pulp for Laser-induced pulpal analgesia. Of particular significance is that Laser-induced pulpal analgesia is effective, minimally invasiveness and therefore, has significant implications world-wide particularly in underdeveloped countries. anaesthetic cream.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability amongst adolescents and young adults. The incidence of TBI in Australia is 300 per 100,000, of which 20% are classified moderate to severe. The prevalence of TBI in the community is high because of the survival rate and the demographic groups at most risk are adolescents and young adults. Although a minority of people who sustain a moderate to severe TBI can expect to make a full recovery, over 75% of victims never return to full independence and function. In contrast to the vast literature on neuropsychological impairments following TBI, surprisingly little information is known about the effect of the brain injury on gait. My recent systematic review found the key biomechanical abnormalities of gait were yet to be determined. Further, the key physical impairments contributing to mobility limitations have not been established. Several studies have suggested balance may be primarily responsible. Although balance, spasticity, contracture, muscle weakness and inco-ordination may all contribute to mobility limitations, my research has identified that balance and strength deficits are most prevalent, but the primary cause of mobility limitations was muscle weakness. Physiotherapy is routinely provided to treat the physical impairments that contribute to mobility limitations in order to optimize rehabilitation outcomes for people with TBI. Balance training and muscle strengthening programs are widely used. Strong evidence exists indicating balance training improves balance disorders and strength training improves muscle weakness in neurological populations, yet little evidence exists supporting the impact of either intervention on mobility limitations. Further, a recent international symposium on research priorities for TBI highlighted the urgent need for rehabilitative therapy research as virtually no level 1 evidence exists. The primary aim of this research program is to investigate whether ballistic strength training is more effective than usual carer for improving mobility following TBI. The research program constitutes a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing ballistic strength training and usual care for improving mobility following TBI.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, and is independently associated with kidney function decline. Dietary sodium intake has been implicated in several traditional and novel risk factors driving both CVD and CKD progression. Despite evidence implicating dietary sodium in the pathogenesis of CVD in CKD, sodium intake in CKD patients remains high and evidence suggests that sodium restriction is not adequately emphasized for CKD patients. Part of the reason for this may be high-quality intervention trials of sodium restriction in CKD patients are lacking. Most evidence has been extrapolated from studies in non-CKD populations. However, as sodium handling is influenced by kidney function; it is highly likely that the CKD population is more susceptible to adverse effects of high dietary sodium. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of reducing sodium intake on blood pressure, progression of renal failure and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with moderate CKD.

The aim of this study is to compare the health status and functional outcomes of patients who weightbear at two weeks compared to those who weightbear at six weeks after surgery for an ankle fracture. Is the health status and functional outcomes for patients who weight bear 2 weeks after surgery for an ankle fracture the same as those who weight bear at 6 weeks after surgery for an ankle fracture?

This study aims to examine the effect of vibration therapy on markers of bone turnover in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a woman of any age who is currently taking an Aromatase Inhibitor drug for the treatment of breast cancer. Trial details. Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. One group will undergo whole body vibration therapy. This involves standing on a gently vibrating platform for 20 minutes, three times per week over a period of 12 weeks. The other group will be assigned to no treatment for the 12 week trial period. After this time participants in this group will be offered the vibration treatment. Participants will give blood and urine samples at baseline and at 12 weeks to examine markers of bone metabolism. They will also complete some tests of physical function and questionnaires about fatigue, pain and physical activity levels at these time points. It is thought that vibration training will decrease the breakdown of bone compared to no training.

The purpose of this study is to understand how oestrogen controls the use of fat in the liver. The hypothesis is that oestrogen is required to prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver. The mechanism may be direct or mediated by other hormones such as growth hormone, which is regulated by oestrogen. We wish to study the effects of oestrogen compounds called Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulators (tamoxifen) and a drug that prevents oestrogen production (letrozole) on the secretion of growth hormone from the special gland in brain and how they control the liver production and burning of fat in men and women. We wish to compare these effects with that of natural oestrogen itself in women.

With the cessation of manufacture of MBDV in 2005, alternative JE vaccines were developed, including the VCDV approved by the TGA in Jan 2009. This vaccine was selected by the Australian Defence Force to continue its program of JE vaccination of members on 'short-notice-to-move'. Prior to this study there were no published reports of tolerability and immunogenicity of VCDV in previous MBDV vaccinees. Military volunteers who had previously received MBDV and were due for boosting were invited to take part in the study (the alternative was to have a single booster dose of MBDV from remaining stocks). The full primary course of two doses of VCDV 28 days apart was provided to each participant (shown by the manufacturer to be effective at inducing immunogenicity), and blood was drawn prior to each dose for PRNT50 assays of immunogenicity. This was done in order to determine whether a single dose of VCDV was effective as a 'booster' dose, as measured at 28 days. The aim of the study was to determine tolerability of the vaccine in this population, and to determine whether a single dose of VCDV would be adequate to boost immunogenicity in this population.