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The effects of the exercise programme in the pulmonary rehabilitation has been thoroughly evaluated on people who are in their stable stage of COPD and the training has been proven to be very beneficial to this population (Lacasse et al.2003, (Nicki et al., 2006), (Carter & Nicotra, 1996; Mink, 1997). Benefits of exercise training include improved sense of well-being, increase in muscle metabolic capacity, reduction in lactic acid and increase in cross section of muscle fibres (Nicki et al., 2006). However, there are no trial investigating the possibility of implementing the exercise programme for patients who have been admitted for acute exacerbation of COPD. The primary aims of study is to investigate the safety and feasibility of implementing an exercise programme for patients with acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and also aim to establish the optimal intensity of exercise for in-patient exercise programme An estimated number of 30 participants will be recruited and assessed on the 1st or 2nd day following admission with the intention of commencing intervention from 2nd day of admission up to day of discharge. Out of the three groups, one will be the control group that received standard care and the other two will participate in a twice-daily 15 minutes exercise sessions during the trial duration in addition of standard physiotherapy treatment that the control group will be receiving. The two exercise groups will be exercising at either 40% or 70% maximal output intensity.

Aboriginal people smoke at much higher rates than non-Aboriginal people and smoking is an important contributor to increased disease, hospital admissions and deaths in Aboriginal populations. Quit smoking programs in Australia have not had the same impact on Aboriginal smokers as on non-Aboriginal smokers and Aboriginal people are twice as likely to smoke as non-Aboriginal people. It is important that improved techniques for assisting Aboriginal people to quit be developed and implemented as part of comprehensive strategies to improve Aboriginal health. A range of strategies have been used to encourage Aboriginal people to quit smoking however there have been few good quality studies that show what approaches work best. More evidence of strategies that could work more widely in Aboriginal primary health care settings is needed if good policy is to be developed and implemented. This trial will be based in two major Aboriginal health services in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and run over three years. Participants who agree to participate will be randomly allocated to either a program following current Australian recommended primary care smoking cessation strategies or a more intensive supported quit smoking intervention.

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and the effect on the body of a drug called PF0713. PF0713 is being developed for commencement and maintenance of anaesthesia and sedation. The hypothesis is that PF0713 will produce anaesthetic effects and be well tolerated.

Some colonic polyps are not seen during colonoscopy, and new therapies are frequently tested to decrease the 'miss-rate' of around 15-20 %. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that using an antispasmodic drug (hyoscine butylbromide - also known as buscopan), given as a single intravenous dose during colonoscopy, that polyp detection rates may be improved. The study population will be all patients (who agree to participate)booked in for routine colonoscopy for any indication at a university hospital centre.

Venous disease is the most common cause of leg ulcers. The refractory nature of venous ulcers affects the quality of life and work productivity of those persons afflicted. This, in combination with the high costs of long-term therapy, makes venous ulcers a major health problem in developed countries. Management of venous leg ulcers is based on understanding pathophysiologic abnormalities. In recent years, identifying prognostic factors for healing and developing novel therapeutic approaches for venous ulcers have offered valuable tools for the management of patients with this disorder. Compression increases ulcer healing rates compared with no compression. Multi-layered systems are more effective than single-layered systems. High compression is more effective than low compression but there are no clear differences in the effectiveness of different types of high compression(1). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of graduated three layer straight tubular bandaging when compared to 4 layer compression bandaging in healing venous ulcers in patients with chronic venous ulceration.

The aim of this project is to evaluate the potential for supplementation with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids to relieve depressive symptoms and improve health status in cardiac patients suffering from depression. The study will explore potential mechanisms mediating these benefits, with a particular focus on the role of serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and changes in cerebral blood flow. It is anticipated that depressive symptoms will be greatest in people who have reduced cerebral blood flow and a particular form of serotonin transporter gene. However, it is expected that omega-3 supplementation will increase serotonin receptor expression and cerebral blood flow, thereby improving depressive symptoms, but that these improvements will be less in people who carry the 5HTT-S gene. It is also expected that omega-3 supplementation will improve peripheral blood vessel function, which will be associated with improvements in depressive symptoms and angina scores.

The Tension Free Vaginal Tape Procedure (TVT) is the most commonly used procedure for women with stress incontinence worldwide. The cough-test (involving asking the patient to cough during TVT placement until no further leakage is seen) was originally described as being integral to the TVT procedure to improve outcomes and reduce post-operative voiding difficulties. Many gynaecologists now perform TVT insertion without the cough-test claiming similar outcomes, The proposed study is the first randomised trial comparing the differences in post-operative outcome between the TVT performed with an intra-operative cough-test and the same procedure without a cough test

This is a study to assess the efficacy and safety of using one single mesh to treat both bladder prolapse and stress urinary incontinence as one operation. We hope the cure of stress urinary incontinence(SUI) will be comparable to other meshes used to treat SUI alone.

Lack of physical activity (PA) is a major cause of ill health and disability, and increasing physical activity is one of the national health priority areas. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that 6.7% of the total disease burden in Australia is due to insufficient physical activity, and two of the three higher ranked causes are also related to PA: Overweight 8.6% and high blood pressure 7.3% of disease burden respectively. PA is protective against cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, several cancers, and diabetes, and forms part of the treatment plan for many diseases including depression. General practitioners are aware of the benefits of exercise but do not currently have effective ways to get patients motivated and active, and generally do not make use of allied health staff in this area. If this project successfully demonstrates a PA intervention that is acceptable to GPs and patients it could have wide spread public health benefits.

A two arm randomised-controlled trial to test a novel therapy (Peanut Oral Immunotherapy with a Probiotic adjunct) against placebo. The findings of this study will provide much needed evidence on whether OIT combined with a probiotic adjunct can induce tolerance in children with peanut allergy.