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Fish oil supplementation containing DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to play an important role in the human nervous and vascular system. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with improved cognitive performance such as enhanced attentional skills and decreased reaction times. Recent studies suggest that there is improved cognitive performance in a population with ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease and metabolic disorders after omega-3 supplementation. Results are however controversial and seem to depend on the EPA/DHA ratio contained in the supplementation, the length of the supplementation period, the study design and the type of cognitive tasks utilized. In this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel study, a group of 60 healthy volunteers and a population of 60 adults with ADHD will be randomly distributed into three diet groups and will be given either an EPA-rich diet (EPA/DHA ratio 4.5:1), a DHA-rich diet (EPA/DHA ratio 1:4) or a placebo treatment. The supplementation period will be three or six months long. Cognitive performance, brain activity and vascular parameters will be assessed using modern techniques, such as computer-generated and computer-measured tasks, fMRI, Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) and Pulse Wave Velocity System (SphygmoCor). VEP will determine the speed of conduction of electrical responses through the brain and reflects the integrity/efficiency of neural tissues in response to visual stimuli. In every diet group a smaller group of participants (11-12 participants) will be randomly selected to perform part of their tasks while their brains are being scanned with an MRI scanner using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion weighting imaging (DWI) techniques.

Aims: To evaluate the effects of erythromycin on small intestinal transit and glucose absorption. Hypotheses: Erythromycin will prolong small intestinal transit and, thereby, improve absorption of glucose. Background: Delayed gastric emptying is common in the critically ill and leads to inadequate nutrient delivery. This is usually treated with administration of prokinetic drugs such as erythromycin. While this increases nutrient delivery, the effect on nutrient absorption is unknown. However, in healthy subjects erythromycin has been reported to slow small intestinal transit and thereby increase absorption of nutrient . Research Plan: 15 critically ill patients will be studied in a randomised controlled, double-blind, cross-over fashion on consecutive days. On each study day either intervention (erythromycin 200mg IV) or placebo will be administered from t=-20 to 0min. At t= 0 min a test ‘meal’ consisting of a representative nutrient liquid (1kcal/ml), and 3 grams of 3-O-methyl glucose (3-OMG) mixed with 20MBq 99Tc sulphur colloid will be administered at 2ml/min until t=30 min. Small intestinal transit time will be measured using scintigraphy. Glucose absorption will be measured using plasma concentrations of 3-OMG. Significance: If the hypotheses are proven it would support the use of erythromycin in this group. The alternate outcome (i.e. erythromycin accelerates transit and reduces nutrient absorption) would challenge current feeding protocols common to most Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Studies have shown that high protein diets containing lean cuts of meat can improve body composition. Lean pork as part of a high protein diet has not been studied. Data from our previous trial demonstrated that regularly eating lean fresh pork was not detrimental to cardiovascular health and in fact improved indices of body composition. These improvements were evident after only 3 months of eating pork (compared with habitual diets) and were achieved without restricting energy intake and while total protein intake (from all dietary sources) remained the same for both groups throughout the intervention. These data indicate that the changes in body composition seen are unlikely to be solely a protein related effect however we are unable to say if the changes in body composition were specific to pork or to pork protein or whether consumption of other high protein meat diets may have had the same benefit. Therefore the aim of the current project is to conduct a 3 month dietary intervention trial to compare the effect on body composition of regular consumption of lean pork with that of two other commonly consumed meats in the Australian diet, namely chicken and beef. We aim to demonstrate that regular consumption of pork is no worse, and possibly better, than the main alternative meat options in terms of improving indices of body composition.

A dearth of facts and abundance of opinions surround the optimal treatment of plantar heel pain. Despite its prevalence, financial burden and impact on the health-related quality of life, the Clinical Practice Guidelines for plantar heel pain proposed by the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association do not recommend one treatment over another. In addition, two systematic reviews have found few interventions that are supported by good evidence. An alternative treatment for plantar heel pain is dry needling, which involves stimulation of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) using a fine filament needle. Dry needling is increasingly used by physical therapists for the treatment of low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and posterior thigh pain and is thought to improve muscle activation patterns, improve joint range of motion and alleviate pain. However, there have been no published randomised controlled trials that have examined the efficacy or effectiveness of dry needling for plantar heel pain. Hence, the aim of this trial is to investigate the effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for plantar heel pain.

There is evidence that engaging in physical activity improves the physical health of prostate cancer survivors. Despite this evidence, men who survive prostate cancer do not engage in recommended levels of physical activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential influence clinicians could have on increasing physical activity levels among prostate cancer survivors, by referring cancer survivors to a physical activity program, with expert involvement from exercise physiologists. The participants will be 220 survivors of prostate cancer, defined as men who have completed active treatment (hormone treatment exempt) for prostate cancer three-12 months prior. The study has been designed as a randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of an intervention (i.e., a clinician’s referral to a physical activity program) to generate a) behaviour change by increasing physical activity levels that is sustained over time and b) improve psychosocial and quality of life outcomes among prostate cancer survivors. The patients’ treating clinicians will be randomised to either the intervention arm or control arm of the trial. The intervention will involve clinicians referring participants to an Active Exercise Program, which comprises 12 weeks of small group sessions and individual home-based physical activity. Patients of clinicians assigned to the control arm will receive usual advice regarding physical activity, given the information and consent form, and invited to be involved in the study by the clinician. The main outcomes that will be measured in this trial are participation in physical activity, cancer-specific quality of life, anxiety relating to prostate cancer, depressed mood, and objective physical functioning. Measurements of these outcomes will be made using standard questionnaires. The questionnaires will be administered baseline (T1), on completion of the intervention (T2), and at six-(T3) and 12-months post-recruitment (T4). Objective physical functioning will be measures at baseline (T1) and on completion of intervention (T2). This study will inform the development of a physical activity program for prostate cancer survivors which could become available across Victorian YMCA facilities and ultimately across Australia.

It is well established that parents of primary school aged children substantially influence the food and physical activity home environment through behaviours, attitudes, feeding styles and role modelling. However, the contribution of fathers’ influence on children’s physical activity and eating behaviour is often overlooked.The Healthy Dads Healthy Kids (HDHK) project is based on research that shows the eating habits and exercise routine of fathers and father figures influence the ways in which the whole family approaches their health. The program was developed and successfully trialled at the University of Newcastle, with trial results showing that the major aims of HDHK were achieved. These were (i) to help overweight/obese fathers achieve a healthy weight, and (ii) to improve the activity and eating behaviours of their children (using fathers as the key agents of behaviour change). The intention of the current project is to research the effectivenss of the HDHK program in a community setting.

Being born too early is a leading cause of perinatal death and morbidity. This trial seeks to determine whether screening for and treating asymptomatic candidiasis in pregnancy reduces the risk of this serious health problem. The trial will discover whether a simple treatment in pregnancy can reduce preterm birth. If positive, the results will be relevant to the management of every pregnancy.

Anxiety disorders in children are prevalent, understudied, and underreported phenomena. Despite well-documented efficacy of treatments for child anxiety, research into the prevention of these disorders remains comparatively limited. An inhibited temperament style has been identified as an early life predictor of the anxiety disorders. Behavioural Inhibition (BI) is defined in terms of reactions of withdrawal, wariness, avoidance and shyness in novel, unfamiliar situations. The findings from our research suggests that inhibited children are significantly more likely than uninhibited children to have an anxiety disorder at baseline and also more likely to develop an anxiety disorder over time. Other factors, such as parenting style, maternal anxiety and interpretation bias also increase the risk for anxiety in this population. In this study we will examine the efficacy of an intervention program aimed at reducing anxiety and risk for future anxiety in BI preschool children by focusing on BI and family environment risk factors.

Studies have also shown that children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have much higher rates of problems with behaviour and cognition (learning, understanding, attention, memory etc) which can affect their health and quality of life. In particular, youth who have more problems with behaviours such as aggression and conduct (called ‘externalising’ behaviours) have been shown to have much higher rates of poorer mental health outcomes and poor long-term diabetes control. It is known that despite having regular insulin injections, individuals with T1DM can have large swings in blood glucose levels (from very high to very low or vice versa) over the course of a day. These high and low levels of glucose not only give rise to uncomfortable symptoms, but have also been shown to result in an increase in externalising behaviours and impaired mental functioning. ‘Intensive insulin therapy’ regimens involve either multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) using an insulin pump. These regimens aim to better mimic the work of the pancreas and therefore to reduce the large swings in glucose found in T1DM. A previous study that followed up 32 youth who commenced use of CSII showed significant improvements in their scores of behaviour & cognition after 6-8 wks. Improvements in behaviour have persisted to 2 years in those using CSII. Of note however, there was no control group in this pilot study and so results can not be generalised. If however, similar results were found when comparing CSII and MDI, then CSII would offer additional health and wellbeing benefits for youth with T1DM. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to assess whether, in a group of youth already using MDI, commencement and continued use of CSII results in improvements in indices of behaviour and cognition, and if so, whether these changes are as a result of improved glucose profiles. The study will run at both the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (VIC) and the Children’s Hospital Westmead, (NSW). Children and adolescents aged 9-16 years who are on the waiting list to commence CSII (i.e willing to use CSII and assessed by the diabetes team as capable of doing so) will be invited to participate. Assessments performed will include standardised behaviour questionnaires and cognitive tests (supervised and scored by a trained psychologist) as well as 6 days of continuous glucose monitoring (using a probe inserted under the skin which continuously records glucose measurements) and HbA1c (a standard monitoring test of glucose control). Following baseline assessments, 110 youth will be randomly assigned to either continue MDI or to commence and continue CSII. All participants will then have standard diabetes care until assessments are repeated at the end of a 4month period. Differences between outcomes in the 2 study groups at 4 months will be compared. Between group difference in scores of externalising behaviour at 4 months is the primary outcome of interest. Differences in scores of mood, cognition and markers of glucose control at 4 months are secondary outcomes of interest. Since all participants will be recruited from the CSII waiting list, at the end of the 4 month study period, those randomised to continue MDI will be commenced on CSII.

Cognitive brain training, which involves repeated exercise on a range of cognitive problems, may help improve cognitive function and slow age-related mental decline. Previous studies of brain training have mainly focused on clinical populations, and so its effectiveness in healthy, working age individuals is not known. We therefore propose to measure the effectiveness of brain training across a wide range of outcomes with scientific, business and health relevance, including cognition, psychological wellbeing and workplace productivity.