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Binocular rivalry occurs when different stimuli are presented to the left and right eye simultaneously. Under these conditions the observer will consciously perceive only one of the two images at a time, with the respective dominance of the two images alternating every few seconds. A similar phenomenon is also observed in hearing. Previous studies have shown that the rate of alternation is affected by certain medications that affect the serotonin system. We will administer two such medications to healthy individuals to further investigate how the serotonin system is involved in perceptual rivalry. The main implications of this study relate to pure research and understanding the neural mechanisms underlying perception. There is currently no clinical aim for this study.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive disorder which affects muscle strength in boys and results in the loss of the ability to walk between 9 and 13 years of age. Along with muscle weakness the boys often also experience muscle tightness, particularly in their calf muscles. This in turn causes them to walk on their toes, which makes standing and walking balance more precarious. Boys with DMD undertake physiotherapy prescribed stretching programs and use night splinting to address this muscle tightness but commonly these are not sufficient to overcome the muscle shortening. Surgical lengthening has been shown to have a beneficial effect on ankle contracture in boys with DMD. This is very invasive and has not been shown to be associated with any improvement in strength or function. Below knee serial casting is used in some overseas centres as a treatment option for calf shortening. This project aims to assess the effectiveness of below knee serial casting on the length of calf muscles and walking ability in boys with DMD. We hope to assess whether short periods of serial casting will maintain calf muscle length, improve gait, and maintain or improve motor function. The boy’s gait, muscle length and motor function will be assessed before and after serial casting and then at 3 monthly intervals for a twelve month period.

This is a one year study to identify the effect of Zoledronate on marrow fat in patients who have suffered a minimal trauma fracture. Changes in marrow fat in femur and vertebrae will be quantified using CT and MRI images analised using an image analysis software (Tomovision).

ManUp is a physical activity and healthy eating project for men and is conducted in the Gladstone region. In this project we will use the Internet to help men to achieve their physical activity and healthy eating goals and challenges.

This study aims to determine whether vitamin B supplementation can reduce the incidence of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) in patients diagnosed with cancer. Who is it for? You can join this study if you have been recently diagnosed with cancer for which you have been prescribed chemotherapy treatment with the drug paclitaxel, vincristine or oxaliplatin. Trial details Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group will take 2 capsules of vitamin B complex daily 1 week before chemotherapy treatment for 9 months. The other group will be given 2 capsules of a placebo (sugar capsule) to take daily for 9 months. Patients will be assessed at three timepoints over the study duration to evaluate neuropathy, quality of life, pain, and levels of vitamin B in the blood.

This study is designed to compare the safety and efficacy of the investigational drug MT10109, a new formulation of Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Type A compared to Botox (Registered trademark). Subjects will have a single injection of MT10109 injected into the Extensor Digitorum Brevis (EDB) muscle of one foot and an equivalent dosage of Botox injected into the other foot.

This study aims to improve GPs' management of atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke.

The prevalence of Gestational Diabetes (GDM) in Australia is approximately 5%-8%, with up to one third of all parous women who develop type 2 diabetes having a previous history of GDM . Research to determine strategies to delay or prevent the development of or progression to diabetes is vital, particularly in population groups that are at higher risk, such as GDM, and obese women (BMI.>25). A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted at Mater Mothers Hospital suggested that a post partum intervention designed to increase physical activity in women with previous GDM may be feasible. A recent study in the United States recruited women with recent GDM into an RCT where the control group received usual care and the intervention group received a web based pedometer program. Dietary intervention has been proven to increase probability of weight loss, so a strategy of combining both a pedometer and nutrition based program may prove to be more successful in long term improvement in a healthy lifestyle to prevent type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to develop long term statergies for women who develop GDM during their pregnancy and are overweight (BMI > 25) to improve their lifestyle to possibly prevent Type 2 diabetes. This randomised controlled trial is a pedometer - based inervention to encourage physical activity , combined with nutrition coaching, and will possibly result in an increased weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity and increased physical activity when compared with standard care. This project aims to take another step towards the larger scale issue of providing adequate, evidence based follow up care for women who develop GDM in their pregnancies.

The aim of this study is to conduct a randomised controlled trial to compare two forms of manual therapy against each other and to a placebo in reducing symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness (imbalance and neck pain) in the longer term. Although these are standard treatments in physiotherapy practice they have not been fully evaluated. Outcome measures will be five self-report questionnaires, keeping a diary and measurements of neck range-of-motion, head repositioning and balance.

The hypothesis is that a woman can be guided by an interactive computer application to adequately recognise and record her natural fertility symptoms and that the application can use this knowledge to inform her about fertility awareness according to the Billings Method of natural family planning. Method: Women in the age bracket 18-38 will be recruited by advertising. Participants will download the application software to their PC and follow the guidance system to make thier fertility observations and receive feedback for the next 100 days. At the end of the 100 day period participants will submit their fertility data for analysis and subsequent interview. A pilot study involving about 30 participants will be initially undertaken.