ANZCTR search results

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.

Medical evidence suggests that the right ventricular (RV) apex and right atrial (RA) appendage may be suboptimal lead locations for providing chronically effective pacing therapy. Over recent years alternate pacing sites, or ‘selective sites’, have been proposed and evaluated. These are sites other than the traditional Atrial Appendage and RV Apex pacing. Such sites are suggested to reduce ventricular dysfunction, atrial arrhythmias, and influence morbidity resulting from asynchronous Left Ventricular (LV) activation associated with traditional RV apex pacing. The Medtronic SelectSecure Deflectable Catheter Delivered Lead System was developed to assist physicians implanting a pacing lead in an RV or RA selective site such as the RVOT or the ventricular septum, the Bachman bundle area or the atrial septum. PASSES is a prospective, randomised, multicenter clinical trial to assess the ease of implant in targeting alternate pacing sites with a catheter delivered lead compared with the stylet lead. The chronic aspect of the study will enable analysis of the long-term lead performance and will provide a first estimation of economic benefits for pacing with a new therapy and tool. This study compares the novel approach of new therapy of pacing selective sites with new tools to the traditional pacing therapy and tools. During the follow-up period information will be collected on lead performance (electrical and clinical data), adverse events, health care utilization, and progression of HF and AF. This is expected to provide information on the long-term lead performance, and the clinical and economic benefits for implanting alternate sites with the SelectSecure lead.

This study will evaluate the efficacy of adding the drug, nitroglycerin, to first line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are 18 years or above and have a confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer. Radiotherapy should have been completed at least one week before commencing treatment in this study. Trial details Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Both groups undergo 6 x 3 week treatment cycles of standard chemotherapy determined by their doctor. In addition, participants in group one will receive nitroglycerin administered as a 25mg patch for 12 hours each day for 2 days before, the day of, and for two days after each chemotherapy injection. Participants will undergo regular visits to the hospital and undergo CT scans prior to treatment, every six weeks during chemotherapy, and every two months after chemotherapy until the lung cancer has progressed. This will help determine which treatment is more effective in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival.

Research has shown that people with Type II Diabetes are at increased risk of developing depression, and the combination of both disorders increases the likelihood of the development of diabetes related complications. Diabetes related complications often means increased need for medical interventions, increased hospitalizations and generally poorer health outcomes for patients. This research projects aims to evaluate interventions for depression in patients with Diabetes type II. Minimal intervention (self help resources and regular monitoring) single focused intervention (depression alone treatment) and integrated treatment (depression intervention and diabetes education) will be compared. Participants in the depression focussed or integrated treatments will attend small group sessions for 90 minutes each week over eight weeks. Outcomes (depressive symptoms, self care beahviours and HbA1c) will be measured post treatment, three and six months.