ANZCTR search results

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chemotherapy treatment regime for the treatment of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a female aged 18-45 years and have been diagnosed with persistent gestational trophoblastic disease. Trial details Participants in this trial will undergo a standard 14 day methotrexate chemotherapy cycle. In addition they will also take gefitinib tablets. The first 3 participants will take gefitinib on day 1 of chemotherapy only. If this is well tolerated, the next 3 participants will take gefitinib on days 1, 2 and 3 of chemotherapy, and the last 6 participants will take it on days 1-7. Gefitinib is a drug which is already used in the treatment of lung cancer, but has never previously been used to treat GTD. Participants will be accessed regularly during treatment to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of treatment.

To determine the effictiveness of forearm strengthening exercises in controlling pain and improving function in painful osteoarthritis of the small joints of the hand

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of head posture on the collapsibility of the airway during aesthesia and sleep in subjects with and without obstructive sleep apnoea. It is hypothesized that the airway will be more collapsible in the flexed (chin tucked) position than in the neutral or extended position during sleep and anaesthesia.

The purpose of this research is to examine how different fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) concentrates can influence platelet activity and improve platelet function in males and females. There is evidence in the published literature that response to fish oil supplementation is influenced by a gender-specific manner. Moreover, fish oil supplements contain different concentration ratios of the active ingredients, EPA and DHA. This research project will determine how gender influences fish oil supplementation so that males and females can receive maximum benefit against cardiovascular disease risk.

We propose to undertake a prospective clinical trial assessing qualities of the short stem cementless femoral prosthesis Nanos by Smith & Nephew Pty Ltd. We will undertake a 10 year follow up, which will consist of bone mineral density (“DEXA”) scanning, Roentgenstereometric Analysis (“RSA”), conventional radiographs and functional assessment. Functional analysis will be undertaken by using EuroQuol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire (“EQ5D”) and the Oxford hip score (“OHS”). Follow up time points will include the preoperative visit, the inpatient stay, 6 weeks, 3 months, 12 months and 2 years, 5 years and 10 years post surgery reviews.

In Australia, the population is ageing due to lower birth rates and increased life expectancy. The implication of this changing demographic means that the age group with the greatest needs will be the elderly. Research in this area includes studies assessing the efficacy of fish oils and multivitamins to improve memory and cognitive function in the elderly. Research is also focussing on the potential neuroprotective effects of these supplements to protect the elderly from more insidious cognitive decline, such as Alzeimer’s disease. The primary aim of the current study is to investigate whether supplementing diets with fish oils and multivitmains improve cognitive function in a healthy cohort of women and men aged 50 to 70 years of age. This research could potentially have significant bearing on the cognitive health of the elderly as well as the predicted economic burden in decades to come. Based on previous research, it is hypothesised that diets supplemented with a high dose of fish oil will improve cogntive performance namely spatial working memory performance and attentional processes. It is also anticipated that a high dose of fish oil compliemented with a multivitamin will provide additional benefits to cognitive performance as the multivitamins will limit oxidation of the Omega-3's once they have been ingested.

Participants attend Swinburne University Hawthorn for one practice visit where they go through the screening questions and provide informed consent. They also practice all cognitive and mood tasks that they will be doing on their subsequent testing sessions. They are then randomised to receive either the multivitamin treatment or placebo for 4 months. Participants come in for 3 testing sessions, the first one week later (V1), the second 2 months later (V2) and the third and final visit after 4 months (V3). At each testing session they complete congitive and mood assessments, together with blood flow, arterial stiffness, saliva cortisol, sleep quality and blood biomarker assessments. A subset of participants (40 males and 40 females) will also complete weekly cognitive and mood tests from home using mobile phones provided. Another subset of participants (40 males and 40 females) will also complete Steady State Probe Topography (SST) brainwave recording at Baseline, V2 and V3.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a treatment regimen of variable-dosing ranibizumab and regular subtenons triamcinalone (STTA) for exudative age related macular degeneration. Our aim is to reduce the number of intravitreal injections required with the same or better visual outcome as currently accepted treatment regimens.

This project will evaluate the efficacy of the Take a Breath Parent Program, which targets parents from three months following a traumatic event (their child's diagnosis of a serious childhood illness/injury). The overall aim is to assess if the Take a Breath Parent program leads to improvements in psychosocial distress for parents exhibiting early signs of posttraumatic stress. Specifically the trial will assess if participation results in: improvements in parental psychological flexibility, committed actions, valued living and quality of life and reductions in parental posttraumatic stress symptoms, experience of the illness/injury as distressing, and referrals to additional supports (e.g., mental health/counselling). Secondly improvements in child quality of life and child behaviour, family functioning and postive outcomes of the illness/injury will be assessed.

Disturbing numbers of children in Australia are overweight, bullied or have poor mental health – problems that are often inter-related. Recent decreases in outdoor play may be partly responsible. Outdoor play “pulls for” social interaction and physical activity; indoor play is often sedentary and solitary. Most young children love active outdoor play but parents and teachers fear injury. This project is a school-based intervention to increase outdoor play by: (1) adding 'loose part' materials to the playground and (2) helping adults change their views of risk associated with active play. We expect to demonstrate a significant effect on children’s activity levels, coping and social skills through strategies that are replicable in every school playground in the nation and to contribute to policy regarding play, health, and education.