ANZCTR search results

Oxytocin is a natural hormone which plays a critical role in social behavior such as bonding, cooperativeness, trust, emotion recognition and face processing. Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by profound impairments in social behavior, communication and presence of repetitive behaviors. This study aims to assess the efficacy of oxytocin treatment in ameliorating social impairments in young children with autism. In particular, we aim to assess whether oxytocin treatment can improve the capacity for social interaction, face processing and reduce the occurrence of repetitive behaviors.

It is well established that obesity can lead to impaired vascular function. This not only leads to cardiovascular health consequences but may also impact on cognitive function by impairing the delivery of blood flow to the brain. We have recently demonstrated an acute, dose dependent improvement of flow mediated dilatation (FMD) with resveratrol supplementation (ACTRN12609000023257). However, the effects of chronic supplementation are still unknown. FMD is a non-invasive means of assessing blood vessel function. We will now determine whether regular daily consumption of resveratrol for 6 weeks can lead to a sustained improvement in FMD which may result in a decrease in resting BP and enhance cognitive performance. This could be particularly advantageous in potentially improving long term cardiovascular and mental health. The investigation will be undertaken in obese subjects as they are more likely to have impaired FMD without other established risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The study seeks to test the efficacy of a variety of strategies to encourage the use of a telephone coaching service to encourage healthy eating, physical activity and weight loss among adults in the community. It is hypothesized that telephone, emailed and mailed information about the service will be more effective then no information about the service. The use of the telephone service as well as any changes in physical activity, healthy eating or weight status will be assessed by telephone interview 3 months following baseline data collection.

Each year CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences perform a number of research projects involving human participants. The present study will be investigating genetic differences in taste perception and how they are associated with genetic factors, susceptibility to chronic disease and dietary intake.

This study will evaluate the influence of diet on taste sensitivity and taste receptor gene expression in healthy subjects

Electro convulsive therapy (ECT) remains the only established treatment for the large percentage of patients with depression who fail to respond to standard therapies. It is commonly used (with 10 to 15% of inpatients with depression receiving ECT) but has substantial problems including the occurrence of cognitive side effects that are often highly distressing for patients. ECT is associated with both short term and long term cognitive side effects. The short term effects include anterograde and retrograde memory loss and post treatment disorientation which can be distressing, dangerous and significantly slow treatment progress. In the longer term, ECT can affect autobiographical memory which can be very distressing to patients. The development of a new treatment with similar efficacy but which minimises these side effects would have great clinical value. A highly promising possibility is magnetic seizure therapy (MST). MST involves replacing the electrical stimulation used in ECT with a magnetic stimulus. This appears to be able to produce similar clinical effects but without the disabling cognitive side effects related to ECT. However, substantive trials using the newest MST equipment are required. Due to the rarity of the equipment available so far, these studies are only being undertaken in a handful of places internationally and no research with MST has occurred. Building on a pilot study conducted by the applicants, we propose to undertake a substantive head-to-head trial of MST versus ECT. There will be a total of 60 patients in the study undertaking a treatment course of between 9 and 15 treatments. Baseline and endpoint assessments will be undertaking to investigate efficacy, these will include clinical assessments, cognitive assessments and neurophysiological assessment If MST proves to be as efficacious as ECT, but with fewer side effects, we anticipate that it could be rapidly adopted in clinical practice. All of the facilities are available for the provision of MST in every substantive mental health service in the country (in current ECT suites / facilities); all that would be required would be the replacement of the ECT machine with MST equipment for seizure induction. Fewer cognitive side effects will enhance patient outcomes and improve treatment acceptability and hence access. In addition, a reduced duration of post treatment disorientation will shorten the period of post treatment observation required enhancing capacity for convulsive therapy to be provided on an outpatient basis, lessening demand on inpatient psychiatric services.

The aim of this project is to undertake an evaluation of a consumer-oriented pamphlet for the self management of low back pain within a primary care context. The project will determine whether providing the pamphlet to individuals who visit a community pharmacy to purchase pain-relieving medications for low back pain is effective (with and without additional education from the pharmacist) compared to not providing the pamphlet. Effectiveness is defined as improving consumer beliefs about low back pain and minimising fear avoidance behaviours related to low back pain. when appropriate, messages are targeted towards best-practice self management of spinal pain. Where additional support is required, a recommendation to seek evidence-based guidance from a health professional is encouraged. Primary hypothesis: Providing this low back pain educational pamphlet to consumers who visit a community pharmacy to purchase pain-relieving medications for LBP improves beliefs about LBP and minimises fear avoidance behaviours compared to usual care.

This project aims to assess the usefulness of telehealth technology for speech and language assessment. The specific aims are: a) to compare the quality of visual and auditory information during an in-person assessment versus assessment via two telehealth methods (custom-built telehealth equipment, and internet-based videoconferencing). b) To compare the cost and feasibility of these three methods. c) To compare the patient, caregiver and therapist's preference for these three methods. Two groups of children will be recruited from the existing speech pathology caseload at the Royal Children's Hospital: 20 pre-school aged children (3 - 5 years) with a history of cancer, and 20 primary school-aged children (6 - 12 years) with a history of cancer. Both groups of children will complete a speech and language screening assessment under 3 conditions (in-person, and via custom-built telehealth and internet-based videoconferencing). All conditions will be simulated at the Royal Children's Hospital. Data collected will include the number of requests for repetition, number of breaks in visual and auditory signal, and total time to complete the assessment. At the end of each assessment the patient, caregiver and therapist will rate the assessment against a standard checklist. After all 3 assessments the patient, caregiver and therapist will rate their preference. A cost and feasibility analysis will be performed based on the participant accessing the different options while living at their residential address.

Thiamin or benfotiamine supplementation has been shown to have positive effects on CVD risk factors in animals with experimental diabetes and a few studies of humans with diabetes. This study is designed to see if thiamin has benefts in those with glucose intolerance.

A study of proteins involved in the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis of the knee The study involves inviting people with a diagnosis of arthritis of the knee to participate in the study. The treatment for their arthritis will not be altered in any way. Participants will be asked to attend a single appointment, which will take about 2 hours and the following will occur: Questions about their health and specifically their arthritis and about any medications they are taking. This will be followed by a physical examination by the doctor (including weight, height, abdominal and waist circumference, BP) Questionnaires about pain, and difficulties/disability caused by the arthritis and associated pain. The knee joint will be examined by a doctor and undergo an ultrasound examination of the knee. The fluid in the knee will be withdrawn through a needle.