ANZCTR search results

The trial aims to test the efficacy of d-cycloserine (DCS) to augment the effects of in-vivo exposure for children's fears. It is hypothesised that anxious children who receive in-vivo exposure for a specific fear will show reductions in that fear and that use of DCS will increase the rate and extent of fear reduction. Children will receive 5 individual sessions of graduated exposure for a key, specific fear and will take either DCS (50 mg) or placebo approx 60 minutes before exposure.

The purpose of the trial is to compare the efficacy of a green-lipped mussel (GLM) extract to a glucosamine sulphate preparation in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee(s) and to determine if gastrointestinal dysfunction (particularly altered gut flora) plays a role in the therapuetic outcomes. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is reported in OA patients and preliminary data has shown GLM significantly improves gut function. This comparative trial will investigate the gut flora in patients before and after supplementation to see if the nutaceuticals are therapeutically affecting gut flora and function as a mechanism of action of decreasing inflammation and improving pain and stiffness indices in OA patients.

The aim of the study is to establish the magnitude of variation in serial measurements of a cardiac hormone (NT-proBNP) that can be attributed to homeostatic fluctuations around a set-point (biological variation). Such information will be used to inform monitoring guidelines as to the magnitude of fluctuations that are not associated with adverse outcomes at the individual level and that can be safely ignored. The study also intends to establish the analytic performance of the most commonly used NT-proBNP assay (Roche Elecsys 2010) in the dialysis population.

In this within-subject crossover study conducted in healthy subjects, we investigate the effect of two diets with high and low insulin demand, as predicted by food insulin index (FII) of the component foods, on day-long profiles of blood glucose and insulin. Two diets will be consumed on two separate occasions and both diets will be matched for macronutrients, fiber and glycemic index. On each occasion, participants will consume breakfast meal, morning snack and lunch over 8-h testing period. Finger-prick blood sample will be collected every 30 min after starting eating the meal and assayed for glucose and insulin. We hypothesize that the diet with high insulin demand will produce significantly higher insulin profile compared with the diet with low insulin demand even though two diets have the same macronutrient compositions.

We want to know the best type of intravenous (drip) fluid to give children with diabetic ketoacidosis. There are several kinds of intravenous fluids commonly given to children with diabetic ketoacidosis. The commonest one is normal saline, which is salt dissolved in water. This is the one we use at the Women’s and Children’s hospital. Another fluid sometimes used is called Hartmann’s solution, which contains salt and another substance, lactate, to prevent the build up of acid (acidosis) in the blood that can be caused by too much salt. One difference between different fluids could be their effect on the recovery from acidosis. All children with diabetic ketoacidosis have acidosis when they are admitted. As they recover from this kind of acidosis, some develop another kind of acidosis, perhaps due to excessive salt. We want to know whether using Hartmann’s solution instead of normal saline will prevent this type of acidsosis, and perhaps speed their recovery.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease characterised by loss or damage of the cartilage surface of joints, resulting in pain and disability. Unitl recently, management of mild to moderate OA has been limited to symptomatic relief with analgesia or anti-inflammatory medications, viscosupplementation and exercise therapy, and in extreme cases joint replacement surgery. An emerging treatment for soft tissue healing and bone mineralisation is platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection. In addition to clotting functions, activated platelets have been found to contain growth factors, cytokines and protiens responsible for promotion of tissue regeneration and healing. Injection of PRP solution to joints during surgical procedures have demonstrated positive effects on healing, pain and function post-operatively. However, to our knowledge, there are limited ramdomised controlled studies evaluating the effect of a less invasive technique of intra-articular injection of PRP. Therefore, this double blinded study aims to assess the changes in pain, activity levels and lower extremity functional ability of patients with mild to moderate OA following intra-articular PRP injection compared to usual treatment of Hylan G-F 20 (SYNVISC).

Spectrum, a state-wide service for treating patients with severe borderline personality disorder, has been running body-orientated group therapies since 2006. In 2009 Spectrum partnered with the Women’s Circus in Footscray to develop an outpatients Body-Mind group therapy program. Clinical observations of patients who attended this group suggest a reduction in symptoms and an increase in involvement with their bodies, sensation, feelings and emotions. This is important as patients with borderline personality disorder often dissociate and avoid difficult emotions and sensations. We aim to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of this treatment in a small pilot research study. Patients with borderline personality disorder will be recruited from Area Mental Health Services to participate in a 10 week Body-Mind Group. These patients will continue to receive treatment as usual from their local mental health case manager while attending this group. During this group therapy, qualitative and quantitative data will be collected regarding symptom severity and group participation in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.

This proposal will examine the impact of aspirin on 15-epi-lipoxin A4 biosynthesis in severely ill patients for the first time. Low doses of aspirin have been clearly demonstrated to modulate this anti-inflammatory pathway. We will define the pharmacokinetics of low doses of aspirin in SIRS/sepsis patients providing critical information for future large-scale use of this agent in this population. Focusing on aspirin triggered lipoxins (ATL), we will explore the pharmacodynamics of low dose aspirin’s effects in SIRS/sepsis patients. This will extend previous measurements of beneficial impacts on nitric oxide, PMN apoptosis and TNF secretion by systematically analysing adaptive and innate immunological processes. The clinical trial is designed to be definitive and provide a clear answer on the basis with which to proceed to large-scale intervention trials.

The researchers wish to compare the outcomes of a longer duration(14weeks) to a shorter duration (7weeks) exercise rehabilitation following lung transplantation. Those who give informed consent will be randomised to longer or shorter programs and will be over 18years of age. All participants will undergo standard exercise program for 7 weeks, comprising thrice weekly supervised exercise in the physiotherapy department. The longer duration will receive a further 7 weeks of exercise training. Both groups will receive standard post transplant education sessions and maintain an exercise diary. Functional exercise capacity, lower limb strength training and quality of life measures will be obtained at baseline, 7 weeks, 14 weeks and 6 months. At present there is no data describibg the likely magnitude of differences in outcomes between longer and shorter rehabilitation programs.

A common aspect of obesity and ageing is that both are associated with reduced arterial compliance. Reduced arterial compliance is in turn associated with impaired cognitive function, particularly in people with metabolic syndrome. For instance, it has been demonstrated that an inverse relationship between ankle brachial index and cognition was exacerbated in people with the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, prospective studies have indicated that reduced arterial compliance is associated with a more rapid progression of cognitive decline. Therefore, effects on arterial compliance might provide a common link between the effects of these conditions on both CVD and impaired cognitive function and interventions which improve arterial compliance may improve both CVD risk and cognition in older adults with obesity. A preliminary study conducted in Manitoba showed that the consumption of1/2 cup of pulses for 8 weeks improved arterial function (arterial compliance and ankle-brachial index), body composition (BMI) and blood lipids in patients with peripheral artery disease. Given the aforementioned associations between improved arterial function and cognitive performance, it is possible that incorporating pulses into an ad libitum diet will improve cognitive function in overweight/obese adults. The aim of this research is to evaluate the health benefits of regular pulse consumption (100g per day) by: a) demonstrating that the incorporation of pulses into the diet can improve cerebral vasodilator responsiveness in older overweight/obese adults who are at risk of obesity- and age-related cognitive decline and, b) that improvements in cerebral vasodilator responsiveness are associated with improvements in cognitive and blood vessel function arising from reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammation.