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Much cardiovascular disease could be prevented if GPs could encourage their patients to improve their diet, physical activity and smoking behaviour. Communication of risk to patients may change their behaviour but the effectiveness of individualised cardiovascular risk feedback in general practice is not yet known. This study aims determine whether feedback of their cardiovascular risk to patients in general practice can improve lifestyle behaviours associated with cardiovascular disease.

Early warning scores may be used to identify an individual’s deterioration by combining clinical parameters into a single score. Early warning scores compliment clinical decision making and assist in communication between health care professionals. The application of a Paediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) has the potential to identify the deteriorating child early and allow more time for intervention. This may make adverse outcomes less likely or reduce their severity. In this study new, age appropriate observation charts will be introduced into wards 4A and 4B at The Canberra Hospital. These charts will be used to calculate and record a paediatric early warning score for each child. High scores will automatically prompt the bedside nurse to call an appropriately qualified practitioner for timely review of the patient. This is expected to initiate earlier management.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate pulp agents and techniques used for management of deep decay in children's primary molar teeth. Previous investigations suggest that there should be no difference in outcomes among various techniques, provided that proper diagnosis and good coronal seal are achieved. However, differences in chemicals may lead to different pulp responses. The study will determine which materials are most suitable.

Skin changes such as lipohypertrophy and lipoatrophy affect around 20% of patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus during the course of their illness. There has been very liitle previous research in this area. Little is know about the psychological impact of these changes, the pathophysiology of the changes, or the best treatment. The aim of this study is 1) to investigate clinical, immunological and allergic factors that may be associated with these skin changes, 2) examine the histology of the skin (ie look at the structure of the skin under the microscope) and cells involved in lipodystrophic skin

It is well known that being physically active is important for maintaining good health. However, new evidence has emerged showing that being sedentary (sitting for prolonged periods) is associated with indicators of poor health, such as elevated blood glucose and blood fats. Importantly, it appears that the effects of sedentary behaviour are independent of a person’s physical activity level. This suggests that each should be looked upon as being separate behaviours, meaning that a person could engage in appropriate physical activity (30 minutes of daily activity), yet spend many hours for the rest of the day being sedentary, such as at an office desk. More recently, data from observational research (AusDiab) indicates people who break up their sitting time throughout the day with light-intensity activity (such as light walking) may have better blood glucose and blood fat levels than people who sit for prolonged periods without activity breaks. The implications of these findings are that lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease may need to also focus on reducing sedentary time through regular activity breaks, in addition to the promotion of regular physical activity. However, before such intervention strategies can be developed and tested, we need to understand the short-term effects of being sedentary (sitting) on blood glucose and blood fats within a well-designed experimental trial. Therefore, this study aims to examine the short-term effects of prolonged sitting with and without intermittent activity bouts. The study will provide information that will assist in the design, implementation and evaluation of strategies that target reducing sedentary behaviour in older, overweight adults.

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of heart failure. Many apparently well obese subjects have cardiac dysfunction that is detectable with specialized techniques, but which may contribute to the development of heart failure. There are several potential causes for this problem, but fibrosis (scarring) of the heart may be an important one. In this study, we plan to identify whether this can be treated with the aldosterone blocker, spironolactone.

A before and after study of scabies and strongyloidiasis prevalence in a remote Aboriginal community following the introduction of an ivermectin MDA delivered at months 0 and 12. The assessment of prevalence will be through a population census at months 0 and 12 with a cross sectional survey of treatment failure rates and acquisition rates at months 6 and 18. All residents in the remote Aboriginal community are eligible for enrolment. Each household in the community will be visited by the research team to explain the project and obtain informed consent. The population census includes screening for scabies and strongyloidiasis and collection of non-specific disease markers. Participants will then receive ivermectin if they are not pregnant, weight is 15kg or more and they have not been given ivermectin in the previous 7 days. Tretment regimens for those not eligible for ivermectin are: - Pregnant females will receive 5% permethrin cream only -weight >3.5kg and <6kg 5% permethrin only, if diagnosed with strongyloidiasis discuss with medical supervisor - weight >6 kg and <15 kg albendazole 200mg (6-10kg) or 400mg (>10kg)and 5% permethrin. - weight <3.5kg 10% crotamiton only Participants diagnosed with scabies or strongyloidiasis will receive a repeat treatment after 2-3 weeks.

This study looks at the safety and tolerability of the traditional chinese medicine formulation GOPAC in patients with advanced malignancy. Who is it for? You can join the study if you have cancer which has recurred or spread to distant sites and you are not currently receiving chemotherapy. Trial details: Participants will all receive GOPAC capsules for 6 weeks. Each week they will be monitored with questionnaires, blood tests and measurement of any toxic response. GOPAC is a traditional chinese herbal medicine formulation consisting of 5 herbs in a capsule formulation. It has few reported side effects.

The intent of the study is to determine the accuracy of currently accepted methods of measurement of degree of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. This would primarily benefit patients indirectly and may lead to improvement in the techniques used to measure the severity of liver cirrhosis in the future.

We have developed a unique non-invasive method to monitor oxygen levels of blood in large veins of the body and also the right side of the heart. Successful completion of this development will reduce serious complications in critically ill patients and generate cost savings for hospitals and the community by allowing valuable resources to be used more productively. This clinical trial will compare this novel device with the existing invasive technology.