ANZCTR search results

It is well known that the chance of live birth in assisted reproduction treatment decreases with increasing female age, and drops markedly after 40 years of age, however, some woman younger than this is an ‘unexpected poor responder’ during their IVF cycle. Tesarik reported in 2005 that the ability of human oocytes to form normal embryos is related to the concentration of different hormones in follicular fluid (Mendoza et al., 1999, 2002). Among the hormones studied, growth hormone (GH) showed the most consistent relationship with different parameters of embryo quality, and higher concentrations of GH in follicular fluid were associated with rapid embryo cell division, good embryo morphology and a high embryo implantation potential (Mendoza et al., 1999, 2002).He also reports a decrease in follicular fluid GH concentration in women aged 40 years as compared with young women. Studies evaluating the benefits of co-treatment with recombinant human Growth Hormone (r-hGH) during controlled ovarian stimulation for human assisted reproduction treatment have reported controversial findings. A Cochrane review (Harper et al. 2008) and updated as part of a review of the management of poor responders (Kyrou et al. 2008), suggest that there exists some evidence for the use of GH in the management of IVF cycles of poor responders. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of GH treatment as an adjunct to stimulation with the maximal dose of Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH) stimulation in the unexpected poor responding IVF patient, ie patients requiring maximal dose of stimulation despite being under 41 years of age.

This is a clinical research study to trial a new laser treatment with the aim of slowing or partially reversing the progression Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a disease which affects the retina and can ultimately lead to central vision blindness. Curently there is no treatment available for Early AMD. The study device is a laser which has been specially developed to treat retinal diseases and in this setting it is hoped it will target cells involved in the disease process and exhibit a wound healing effect which may lead to a delay or halt in the progression of AMD. The results of the laser will be monitored by asessing clinical markers and measuring visual functions.

To test the benefit of using electroacupuncture for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Specifically test if electroacupuncture has a benefit in delayed chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, which is defined as after the first 24hours post chemotherapy. Even with our new antiemetic drugs and protocols patient’s still experience nausea and vomiting and is identified as one of the major concerns for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The trial will address areas that need to be investigated as identified by Ezzo et al 2005 in a Cochrane Collaborative Review. These include obtaining data on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture with modern antiemetics, utilising more than one acupuncture point and getting data on delayed nausea and vomiting.

This is a pilot study to assess the fesaibility of a larger study aimed at answering the clinical question: 'In pregnant women with asymptomatic candidiasis does treatment reduce the incidence of preterm birth?'

Our hypothesis is that with the combination of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Ranibizumab patient would need fewer intravitreal injections. This would be of benefit to the patients in terms of reduced exposure to Ranibizumab as well as importantly a reduced risk of adverse events from the intravitreal injection procedure. In addition, there would be a benefit to the community with a in terms of reduced cost.

Single event Multilevel surgery, usually called SEMLS is a program that involves more than one operation on bones and or muscles carried out at the same time. The surgery is to correct problems that stop you being able to stand up straight and walk properly. The benefit of having the operations all at one time is that you only need to come into hospital once and be put to sleep once. No one has ever proved that the surgery is successful or measured exactly what differences the surgery makes. this is the aim of this study. To do this we are dividing the children who are going to have surgery into two groups. The timing of the surgery is not that important so one group will have surgery now and the other in a year's time. We will monitor both groups over this year allowing us to compare progress in both groups.

The primary purpose of this study is to see how much and how fast vitamin D is absorbed into the skin when combined with the penetration enhancer tocopheryl phosphate mix (TPM) and to then compare it to vitamin D alone.

This trial is investigating opioid dose-sparing, analgesic efficacy and quality of post-operative pain relief provided by multimodal analgesic regimens based on patient controlled epidural pethidine together with placebo, cyclo-oxygenase 2 enzyme (COX-2) inhibitors, paracetamol or COX-2 inhibitors and paracetamol in combination, in women receiving regional anaestheisa for elective caesarean section.