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Barrett’s oesophagus (BE) involves changes in the lining of the oesophagus and is a precursor for a type of oesophageal cancer. Obesity is a cause of BE and research suggests that certain hormones produced by fat tissue may be the mechanism through which obesity leads to cancer of the oesophagus. Exercise training may be an effective intervention in reducing oesophageal cancer risk given the strong links between BE, obesity and metabolic disturbances. There is some trial evidence that moderate-intensity exercise can improve obesity related hormone levels in overweight people without BE, but to date, no such evidence exists for patients with BE. By randomising patients with BE to either an exercise regimen or a stretching regimen, we aim to determine whether 24 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise will lead to changes in levels of certain hormones associated with oesophageal cancer development.

Trial has been completed with all data collected and analysed The main aim of the study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of multimodal manipulative therapy for shoulder pain, and to demonstrate the utility of care offered by this therapeutic procedure. To demonstrate the effectiveness of multimodal manipulative therapy for chronic shoulder pain sufferers. To demonstrate that multimodal manipulative therapy is an effective therapeutic option offering short term symptomatic improvement which is maintained over a medium period of time (>than 4 months).

Study rationale: Bone marrow oedema has recently been recognized to be a key correlate of knee pain. There is no known treatment for this problem but it is very common in those over 50 (30% of a random sample of 50-80 year olds in Hobart) (Zhai, 2006). There are no randomized trials but there is some observational evidence suggesting bisphosphonates modify this process. Firstly, they are much less common in population samples using bisphosphonates (OR 0.1) (Carbone 2004) and an open label study with IV ibandronate led to rapid resolution of hip bone marrow oedema (Ringe 2004) when natural history studies in the knee do not suggest resolution. Zoledronic acid is an attractive candidate for the treatment of this condition dues to its one off administration and potential for long term efficacy

Liver transplantation is established as the most effective therapy for patients who have end stage liver failure. Criteria to measure therapeutic success from a medical perspective are well established. Recently more attention has been focused upon quality of life issues - including societal reintegration, community engagement and employment, and their relationship to medical outcomes. At Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital there have been 223 patients who have received a liver transplant since 1994. This study will include all liver transplant who have received a liver transplant between 1994 and 2008. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between specific psychosocial factors and the patient’s return to employment following liver transplant. The psychosocial factors to be addressed have been categorised into three groups, ‘interpersonal’ ( e.g. family and social support, strengths), ‘intrapersonal’ (e.g. motivation level, self esteem, evidence of depression ) and ‘environmental’ (e.g. income, housing, education). Patients will be asked questions in relation to these factors; the analysis will determine the degree of relationship between the factors and the incidence of return to work following transplantation. Hypotheses: Patients who have positive psychosocial influences will be more likely to return to employment post transplant. We plan to interview all patients who have had a liver transplant. Outcome measures include: Questionnaire covering demographic data, pre and post transplant employment details, income and educational levels. The questionnaire will also address psychosocial factors, which may influence return to work.

Falls are a significant cause of injury and death in the population aged over 65 years. Following a fall, people often report they have become fearful that they will fall again and restrict their activities in order to try to reduce their perceived risk. As a result, a previously active person may become housebound or restrict outdoor activities to essential chores, such as General Practitioner visits. Such behaviour does not necessarily reduce the risk of another serious fall and can lead to the person becoming depressed, frailer and having a much higher likelihood of being admitted to residential care. Recent research has shown that exercise is an effective way to reduce participants’ risk of falls and also to keep people on their feet and doing the activities which they enjoy. There is uncertainty about the exact nature that the exercise component should take. Many programmes use a combination of balance and strength-based exercises to train for better balance. However new research has suggested that training on variable surfaces may be a better way to develop balance skills and reduce the risk of falls. To test this idea, this study will assign participants to two different exercise groups. Participants will attend weekly one hour sessions of the exercise group to which they have been randomly assigned for eight weeks. Measurements of balance, level of falls risk, fear of falling and actual number of falls experienced will be taken prior to commencing the programme and at the end of the eight week course. Researchers will then be able to examine whether the novel exercise regimen is more effective than the traditional form of exercises for reducing falls and fear of falls, and improving balance capacity. Treatment of falls-related injuries such as a broken hip is costly not only to the health service but also to the affected person, so any preventative strategy that enables at-risk individuals to develop higher levels of balance within an eight week period will be welcomed by clients, clinicians and service providers alike.

Effect and effect mechanism of neuromagnetic treatment for pain of knee osteoarthritis. Application of neuromagnetic devices for decreasing pain and increasing function of participants suffering from mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.

It is not clear whether children with asthma should be advised to avoid feather pillow and quilts in case feather bedding makes asthma symptoms worse. Some exploratory studies have suggested feather bedding might actually be better for children with asthma. The trial was designed to assess whether a new feather pillow and quilt was associated with a reduction in asthma severity among house dust mite sensitised children with asthma over a one year period compared to the use of non-feather bedding

Women requiring hormonal contraception who have consented to enter the study will complete a menstrual attitude questionnaire and undergo physical and gynaecological examination and routine haematological and biochemical tests before being randomly assigned to continuous ring or pill use. Women will maintain menstrual diaries for the 12 month study duration. If a bleeding/spotting episode excedes 4 days they will stop their method for 4 days and restart on the fifth day. Women will be contacted monthly to ensure compliance and will be seen at 2 months, 6 months and 12 months from randomisation for follow up At each visit the women will complete an acceptability questionnaire and a menstrual attitudes questionnaire at the final visit.

Continuous passive motion (CPM) machines, which move the leg up and down, are often used for patients who have had knee replacement surgery to improve knee movement. Studies have shown CPM does not improve knee movement or function if used routinely for all patients who have had knee replacement surgery. In this study we want to find out whether or not CPM is beneficial for patients who are slow to regain knee movement after knee replacement surgery, compared to standard physiotherapy treatment without CPM. Our standard practice at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is to use CPM only for those patients who are slow to regain knee movement after knee replacement surgery but no studies have investigated the use of CPM in this setting.

The effectiveness of psychological treatments for depression in People with epilepsy (PWE) is currently unknown, although there are some encouraging results to suggest that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might have a useful role (Ramarantnam, Baker, & Goldstein, 2008). This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a CBT intervention to improve Quality of Life (QoL) and mood in people with epilepsy. This study will be the first to help us to assess the effectiveness of CBT interventions in an Australian sample to improve quality of life and mood in PWE. In addition, it will help us to develop an understanding of two important additional questions: do particular sub-groups benefit more than others from CBT and what are the mechanisms of treatment change? The costs of depression in epilepsy are high both for the individuals concerned, in terms of quality of life and seizure activity, but also for society due to greater economic and health care costs in those with untreated depression and epilepsy (Cramer, Blum, Fanning, & Reed, 2004). Neurologists report that they tend not to screen for depression due to lack of available resources for its treatment (Gilliam et al., 2004), and so the development of an effective and available local service may increase the overall rates of detection and treatment in this group.