ANZCTR search results

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects many adults and is likely to become more common as the population ages. Much of the research to-date has focussed on identifying treatment strategies to reduce physical problems such as knee pain and dysfunction. However, we also know that many individuals with knee OA report psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, treatment of knee OA should focus not only on the physical impairments, but psychological and emotional ones as well. By addressing both of these, we hope to improve the overall burden of the disease on affected individuals. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment that combines physical components through strengthening and walking exercises with psychological components through discussion of symptoms and their effects.

Actinic keratosis are scaly patches on sun-exposed skin, especially the face, scalp and backs of hands. They are usually grey to dark pink in colour and if left unattended, may develop into skin cancer. 5-Fluorouracil is a man-made drug that is currently in widespread use in the non-transplant population as a topical therapy for actinic keratoses. The purpose of this study is to look at how effective 5-Fluorouracil is at reducing the number of actinic keratoses in renal transplant patients. 5-Fluorouracil has been widely tested in the non-transplant population. It is recognised as being a successful therapeutic agent with two randomised controlled trials finding that patients had a 70-78% reduction in lesions following treatment. It is applied topically over a three week period to the area affected by actinic keratoses. This study will help to provide more information on 5-Fluorouracil. This information will be used to determine the safety and efficacy (the ability of the drug to produce an effect) of this drug in renal transplant patients that suffer from pre-cancerous skin lesions. This study drug is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Act for use in the general population and has been used for many years in renal transplant patients. The side effects are well known.

Shoulder pain is a common and debilitating symptom for a large number of people following a stroke. The cause of shoulder pain is usually related to several factors, including trauma, inflammation and positioning. In cases when shoulder pain is unable to be prevented, current treatment options include arm supports, physiotherapy techniques, and simple analgesic medication. It is commonly observed that shoulder pain persists or is inadequately controlled by these interventions. This research aims to study the effect of an injection that numbs the nerve (Suprascapular Nerve) that supplies pain fibres to the shoulder. The technique has previously been proven safe and effective in the treatment of shoulder pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative shoulder conditions.

The aim of this study is to examine the independent and combined effects of Pioglitazone and Omacor (fish oil) on VLDL transport in metabolic syndrome subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD, which afflicts 20-30% of our population, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is related to a higher prevalence of insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidaemia, key characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. Eligible participants will be randomised to one of 4 groups: Pioglitazone alone, Omacor alone, combined Pioglitazone and Omacor, or usual care, that is, no additional treatment or placebo.

In this study, we aim to show whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is beneficial for patients with sudden onset of hearing loss (with or without a ringing in the ears) where no cause can be found for the hearing loss.

Thus study aims to investigate new methods of treating a specific cause of hip pain, where the top of the thigh bone hits against the pelvic bone. Existing keyhole surgery techniques will be combined with a new computer-assisted method to determine if the surgery can be improved. Patients will be assessed before and after their operation to measure activity, pain and quality of life.

The aims of the study are to determine the effect of various systemic antibiotic prophylaxis regimes on patient-centred outcomes and perceptions, postsurgical complications in patients undergoing standard oral implant therapy. The hypothesis is that the use of both peri-operative and/or post-operative systemic antibiotics does not provide additional benefits, in terms of decreasing postsurgical complications. 336 medically healthy adults who are consecutively admitted to 7 study centres for standard oral implant therapy will be randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups (3 test and 1 control groups). Pre-operative antibiotics of 2 g amoxicillin 1 hour prior to standard implant placement will be prescribed to test group 1 (positive control), post-operative antibiotics of 2 g amoxicillin following implant placement for test group 2, and pre-operative antibiotics of 2 g amoxicillin 1 hour prior to standard implant placement and 500 mg thrice daily on days 2 through 3 after standard implant placement for test group 3. The control group will be given a placebo tablet of 2g 1 hour prior to standard implant placement without any antibiotics. Subjects will be examined clinically by blinded examiners at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks from implant installation for post-operative complications. In addition, Visual analogue scores (VAS) on pain, swelling, bruising and bleeding will be obtained from the patients from day 1 through day 7 and 14. The present study will answer an important clinical question with regards to the recommendation of antibiotic usage to prevent post-operative complications (suppuration) with oral implant placement and to recommend a protocol of pre-, peri- or post-operative administration of antibiotics, if required.

The reduction in quality of life and illness burden experienced by people with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) is exacerbated by the condition of ‘uraemic neuropathy’. Uraemic neuropathy affects between 60 and 100% of people with ESKD and can lead to loss of function as well as discomfort or pain. It is progressive with no specific cures or methods of retarding progression other than transplantation. The FINESSE study will compare the effect of haemodiafiltration and standard haemodialysis with high-flux membranes on the development and progression of uraemic neuropathy.

This study investigates possible effects of epidural pethidine and norpethidine on the initiation and establishment of lactation and brestfeeding behaviour of the infant.

The ENVIS-ion trial will examine whether low dose aspirin is effective in delaying the onset of declining abilities of thinking and memory in healthy older adults. Participants in the ENVIS-ion trial will be recruited from men and women who have agreed and consented to participate in the clinical trial of low dose aspirin (the ASPREE Trial ISRCTN83772183). The main features of the ENVIS-ion trial are additional measurement of brain and retinal structures by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and retinal photography in each participant before starting on the study drug and after treatment with aspirin or placebo for 3 years. As a part of the ASPREE study, mental functions are assessed every year by questionnaires administered by a trained researcher. For ENVIS-ion, participants will have extra questionnaires to further test their mental abilities. MRI of brain structure will detect markers of early worsening of thinking and memory abilities. Blood vessels of the retina share many features with vessels of the brain. We will compare whether aspirin lessens changes over time of features shown with brain MRI and retinal photography and compare these with the questionnaire measurements of mental function.