ANZCTR search results

One of the most commonly reported side effects of chemotherapy is fatigue (tiredness). The impact of fatigue in cancer patients varies from mild (where there is no impact on daily living) to severe (which can interfere with every aspect of daily living). Recently, moderate to severe cancer patient fatigue experiences have been compared to that of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experiencing similar issues (i.e. problems of concentration and motivation, reduced physical activity, emotional health problems and pain). Clinical trials in a group of CFS patients showed a marked increase in 2 types of amino acids (basic building blocks of proteins), as they were excreted in the urine. This means that proteins in the body were being broken down too quickly. By breaking down the proteins too quickly, specific cell processes may be affected and less energy is available which means that you become tired quicker and maybe for longer periods of time. In another open clinical trial amino acid supplements were given to CFS patients and 75% patients showed a relief in the symptom of fatigue. Cancer patients, prior to chemotherapy treatment, are provided with basic education and information on how to manage fatigue. However, some patients experience fatigue at a moderate to severe level that needs to be treated by supportive drug therapy by your doctor (i.e. antidepressants for emotional distress & sleep disturbance, blood transfusions for anaemia). When specific causes of fatigue cannot be identified, then other non-medical therapies may be suggested (i.e. introduction of an exercise program). The aim of this study is to determine whether administering specific amino acid supplements to cancer patients who will be undergoing chemotherapy will reduce the symptom of fatigue.

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a multi-faceted curriculum-based fitness and lifestyle program among adolescent boys.

This study will assess the effects of an active and passive exercise programme for participants with idiopathic cervical dystonia. Participants will be randomly allocated into either the active or passive exercise group, and will receive 8 treatment sessions with a physiotherapist over 12 weeks. Participants in the active exercise group will also receive advice on controlling their dystonia. The primary outcome measure is the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) which includes assessment of active neck movements, neck control, pain and disability. Secondary outcome measures include active range of motion of all neck movements, quality of life and depression questionnaires. All measures will be conducted prior to commencement of treatment, half way through treatment, at the end of treatment and 1 month after the completion of treatment. The study aims to determine if active exercises are more beneficial in improving neck control, reducing pain, range of movement, quality of life, and than passive exercises. Participants will be given a home exercise programme to be continued throughout the study.

Prospective trial of selective ultrasound-guided obturator block to determine its efficacy in providing analgesia following total knee joint replacement.

Evidence shows that many people with bipolar disorder may have problems with concentration and memory after an acute episode of the illness. It was believed that this was caused by the medication used to treat bipolar disorder, however there is increasing evidence that it may be the disorder itself that leads to memory and cognitive impairments. In particular, new technology in psychiatry has allowed researchers to look at images of the brain of patients with bipolar disorder and compare these to people with no psychiatric illness. The results of these studies show that there are a range of changes in the brain that may account for memory and cognitive problems following episodes. These findings raise a number of questions about the response of the brain in bipolar disorder. The first of these is if there are significant changes in the brain over the year following the first acute episode of bipolar disorder. This has implications for how assertively clinicians treat the disorder and the cognitive problems associated with this phase of the illness. Secondly, some findings from new research on lithium’s effects on the brain suggest that lithium can prevent this neuronal damage and hence these cognitive and memory problems. While some evidence for lithium’s role in this neuro-protection has been established, no groups have yet demonstrated similar protective properties of other medications commonly used for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Neuroprotective effects of antipsychotic medicines are shown in schizophrenia, and are suggested in bipolar disorder by laboratory studies. One such drug is quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic which has become increasingly used for the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly when psychotic features dominate the clinical picture. The aim of this study is to; 1.) Investigate if cognitive and memory performance changes over the year following a first episode of bipolar disorder. 2.) Investigate whether quetiapine is more or less effective at preventing this deterioration than lithium. 3.) Investigate whether time to and quality of symptomatic recovery differs between lithium and quetiapine. 4.) Use neuroimaging technology to discover if there are structural changes in the brain and whether these are associated with cognitive and memory performance. To complete this study 66 patients will be recruited across three sites with the intention of 52 completing the protocol. Patients will be recruited following stabilisation of their first manic episode. At entry to the study, baseline assessments will be conducted on all participants including neuroimaging. Regular symptomatic scales will be used at regular intervals and neuroimaging and neuropsychological measures will be taken again at 3 and 12 months. Symptomatic and neuropsychological measures will be obtained from clinical interview and structured computer tasks. Neuroimaging will involve participants undergoing an MRI that take around 45 minutes on 3 occasions over a 12-month period. Prior to the start of the study all participants will have been stabilised on lithium and quetiapine combination therapy. At the commencement of the study these participants will be placed on either lithium monotherapy or quetiapine monotherapy. If participants suffer relapse or a new episode during the study period they will be considered drop-outs and other routine therapies will be adopted.

A comprehensive evidence based approach to transition care: 1. improves patient and carer ratings of the quality of the care transition at 3 months following admission to a residential transition care program, and 2. reduces unplanned days in hospital and residential aged care up to 12 months following study enrolment, when compared to usual care.

We plan to undertake an observational "follow-up" study of The MASTER Trial (Alfred EC approval 98/94). The MASTER Trial was conducted between 1995 and 2001. The study consisted of 915 high-risk patients (ASA III-IV) having major abdominal surgery. Many of these patients underwent cancer surgery. Half of the patients in The MASTER Trial received epidural analgesia. We aim to identify whether epidural analgesia protects the immune system during and early after surgery and thus reduces later cancer recurrence. Those We intend to follow uo all MASTER Trial patients who had surgery for cancer will be followed up to determine if their cancer has returned and when it returned. See attached Telephone interview and Protocol 4. AThere are no new interventions and all patients have previously provided informed consent to the original study but this did not include contact for future research. The study does not require any new interventions and will involve involve looking through the histories of patients enrolled in The MASTER Trial to determine whether their original surgery was for excision of cancer, therefore making them eligible for inclusion in this follow-up study. All eligible patients will then be screened by the Victorian Cancer Council’s (VCC) Database to identify patients who are no longer living. The VCC Database will also provide valuable information regarding cause of death. Information regarding deceased patients will prevent researchers from attempting to contact next of kin and causing unnecessary distress. All patients not listed as having died will be contacted by phone and asked to answer a brief questionnaire regarding their health.and also ringing some patients up. Patients who cannot be contacted by phone after 3 attempts will be sent a questionnaire. Researchers will approach GPs and / or next of kin of patients who we are unable to contact. In the event that researchers are unable to contact patients, GPs or next-of-kin, we will attempt to follow-up patients using a national death index, the Western Australian cancer registry and medical records. The primary endpoints are the recurrence of cancer within 5 years of initial surgery, and cancer-related deaths. Secondary endpoints are the type of cancer recurrence: local, regional or distal, and survival. Researchers will undertake a feasibility study of the Alfred’s 180 patients over an estimated 6 months, prior to following up patients at other centres.

To investigate the potential of freshly isolated non-cultured skin cell suspension in re-establishing colour in vitiligo lesions. Additionally, to explore literature claims that such treatment increases the rate of healing.

The aim of this research was to conduct a randomised placebo controlled trial of an asthma education intervention for GPs, addressing the needs of older people with asthma, to improve the outcomes in this group