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Chloramphenicol is the commonest ophthalmic antibiotic ointment used by non-ophthalmologists in current practice. It is prescribed by general practitioners and emergency physicians in all cases of corneal abrasions, regardless of severity or mechanism of injury. However, there has been no evidence to determine whether chloramphenicol is the optimum therapeutic agent to treat corneal abrasions. It is uncertain whether the therapeutic effect of chloramphenicol is the antimicrobial agent (decreasing microbial infiltration) or the lubricating ointment (preventing micro-abrasions and speeding corneal re-epithelialization). Further, given the widespread use of chloramphenicol as a first line therapy for uninfected injuries, a serious risk and a major concern is the development of chloramphenicol resistant bacterial species. Thus the purpose of this study is to explore whether a simple lubricating ointment is a viable alternative to chloramphenicol ointment in the treatment of corneal abrasions. If proven correct, this study could potentially revolutionize the treatment of corneal abrasions, significantly decreasing the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria while providing a cheaper alternative for both patient and hospital. We aim to conduct a double-blinded randomized control trial comparing chloramphenicol to a lubricating ointment with no antimicrobial properties. Both ointments will be prepared within the Pharmacy Department of Westmead Hospital (unblinded member). The labels for both ointments will be masked and each ointment will be placed in individually numbered envelopes. When a patient with a corneal abrasion presents to the emergency department at Westmead Hospital a detailed ocular examination would be undertaken. If the patient meets our inclusion criteria and informed consent is obtained, the medical officer treating the patient would be provided with a numbered envelope dictated by a randomized matrix and the masked ointment dispensed. The patient would be discharged home with an information leaflet and instructions for use of the ointment. After 2 days, the patient will be asked to represent to the emergency department for follow-up by a specialist trained by the Department of Ophthalmology to detect signs of infection, side effects to treatment and appropriate corneal re-epithelialization and healing. If any signs of infection are noted, the patient will be referred to the Westmead Eye Clinic to be seen by an ophthalmologist on the same day. The results from this study will be entered into a database and analysed by statisticians with the intension of publishing our findings in international peer-reviewed journals.

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a unilateral application of bronchoscopic thermal vapour ablation for improvement in function and demonstrate reduction of lung volume in patients diagnosed with heterogeneous upper lobe emphysema.

The home and family food environment are among the most influential factors in shaping children’s dietary habits. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a telephone based intervention in supporting parents of children aged 3-5 years to modify their home and family food environment to increase their child’s fruit and vegetable consumption.

Traditionally, therapists treat clients in the same room. However, many people do not have direct access to such services. Recent advances in computer technology have made it possible to see and hear someone who is not in the same room. This form of contact is called videoconferencing. Hence, the purpose of this research is to study how successful treatment is via this medium.

Exposure to asbestos can cause diseases of the lung such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and other lung cancers. Many of the changes in the lung following exposure to asbestos fibres are probably caused by ongoing inflammation and oxidation. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug that has been used for many years in patients with other lung disease. The drug seems to have beneficial effects on symptoms in patients with lung disease. Due to its anti-oxidant proerties we hypothesised that NAC would help to prevent oxidant and inflammatory changes in the lungs of people that have been exposed to asbestos. The aim of this study, therefore, is to investigate if NAC can prevent lung inflammation in people who have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of asbestos related lung disease.

The study is a randomised controlled trial (with a wait- list control group) of the six month, group-based go for your Life diabetes prevention program, the Healthy Living Course. Outcome variables included the degree to which participation in the program led to changes in modifiable risk factors including behaviour (physical exercise, dietary intake), diabetes knowledge, body weight, glucose metabolism (measured using an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism, cognitive variables (self efficacy, motivation), and mood (depression, anxiety, and positive affect). Volunteers (N=307) with pre-diabetes were assigned to an intervention or wait control group in the ratio of approximately 2:1. Biochemical, anthropometric, behavioural, cognitive and mood variables were tested at baseline and then again either at the end of the intervention or the wait period.

Currently, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in men and the seventh most common cancer diagnosed in women.Advanced melanoma has a very poor prognosis.For a vast majority of subjects with malignant melanoma, there are no effective therapies.Therefore, the development of effective therapies for this subject population remains a priority in oncology.In a limited study in melanomas, increased cyclin D1 protein expression, as was observed in 33% cases.P276-00 is a novel potent small molecule flavone derived Cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) Cdk 4-D1, Cdk1-B and Cdk9-T inhibitor.P276-00 demonstrated significant and selective antiproliferative effect against melanoma cell lines.

To observe on eye performance of three marketed contact lenses.

Despite the recognised association between salt intake and blood pressure, there have been no studies documenting salt consumption in patients with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that the majority of patients with type 2 diabetes may not comply with the recommended guidelines for sodium intake.

The long-term presence of physical and psychosocial symptoms following breast cancer treatment is well established. However, Queensland is a geographically dispersed state, where many women with breast cancer live in rural and remote areas with limited support resources. Queensland-based research highlights that these women are more likely to have more extensive surgeries, and experience poorer quality of life and higher unmet needs. Exercise is one strategy with a large evidence base supporting its effectiveness in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life (QoL) among women following breast cancer. However, the majority of studies have been conducted overseas, and with women in urban areas. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of a telephone-delivered exercise-based rehabilitation support program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer living in regional, rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia. Feasibility and effect size data from the pilot study will be used to refine the intervention and to inform a subsequent application for a fully powered randomized controlled trial. This study forms an arm of a larger study that is currently being undertaken (ACTRN12606000233527) with an urban sample of women who have received breast cancer treatment via Brisbane-based hospitals (Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Mater Hospital and Wesley Hospital).