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The aim of this study is to assess the potential role of autologous tenocytes therapy in the healing process of tennis elbow.

Primary Hypothesis: That wheeze detection technology and acoustic transmission methods can detect changes in sound transmission that are reflective of changes in airflow obstruction in asthma. Aims: To characterise wheeze detection technology and acoustic transmission methods in patients with asthma in a variety of clinical situations and to correlate these with conventional clinical and spirometric assessment.

This study aims to evaluate two approaches to reducing falls in people who have had a stroke, have a high risk of falls and are returning home.

The rib cage, spine and muscles of the chest wall play an important role in breathing. Pulmonary rehabilitation exercise programs have been shown to improve pulmonary function and quality of life in people suffering from emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis. This trial tests a new treatment aimed at improving the outcomes of an existing pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program. Massage and joint mobilisation will be applied to the joints and muscles of the chest wall in people undertaking a standardised pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program in an attempt to increase the improvement in lung function normally associated with such programs.

Null hypothesis: That PCV7, given alone or followed by a dose of PPV, does not confer any additional benefit to that offered by PPV alone for the same serotypes of S. pneumoniae in hospitalised elderly adults. Study short description The bacteria pneumococcus is the most common cause of pneumonia, and a major cause of illness in elderly Australians. It can be prevented by vaccination. The NHMRC of Australia recommends that all adults > 65 years be immunised with the pneumococcal vaccine, which has been available for a long time in Australia. It is least effective in those at greatest risk, the elderly. A new vaccine was developed for children, but has not been extensively tested in adults. This vaccine is much more effective in children than the old vaccine, and is now routinely used in children. Our study aims to compare the old vaccine with this new vaccine in hospitalized, sick elderly patients.

The primary purpose of this study is to test the impact of a community-based program aimed at promoting healthy eating and physical activity on changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) in primary school students. The hypothesis is that a community development/health promoting schools approach will reduce the levels of overweight and obesity in this group.

The management of severe acute asthma with inhaled medications has been well researched and documented. First line medicines are inhaled salbutamol (Ventolin) and steroid medication (eg Prednisilone). Extra medicines such as ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) give a small benefit causing better lung function and reducing hospital admissions. In moderate acute asthma the benefit of extra medicines like ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) is less well established. Most studies have shown little benefit, if any, from ipratropium bromide administered by either nebuliser or metered dose inhaler (puffer). Despite this, the current practice in most Australian paediatric hospitals including Princess Margaret Hospital is to add ipratropium bromide (via a puffer) to inhaled salbutamol (also by a puffer) in the management of moderate acute asthma. We think that any marginal effect obtained by giving ipratropium bromide over and above optimal doses of salbutamol and prednisolone will not change hospital admission rates. In addition this medication adds cost to the management of asthma and has side effects including unpleasant taste and causing cough which can reduce patient cooperation. This study will compare admission rates between two groups of children with moderate acute asthma. Both groups will receive normal established treatment as per the current Emergency Department protocol. One group would also receive ipratropium bromide by puffer. We predict there will be no benefit in using ipratropium bromide in moderate asthma when looking at admission rates. This would be an opportunity to change asthma protocols for children with moderate asthma thereby reducing medication costs and improving patient cooperation.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the blood for which there is still no cure. A standard treatment for myeloma is high dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell infusion (ASCT). It is thought that the better the response achieved by ASCT, the longer a patient will remain stable. Thalidomide has been shown to have potent anti-myeloma activity and this trial will test that if it is added to a treatment regimen, a longer time of disease stability will be achieved. Information on the tolerability of thalidomide will be collected and also if it makes a difference in overall survival.

Dry powder mannitol has the potential to be prescribed as a treatment for bronchiectasis because of its demonstrated ability to enhance mucociliary clearance. However, some bronchiectatic patients demonstrate airway narrowing after inhaling mannitol. If pre-medicating these patients with either sodium cromoglycate or eformoterol can be shown to protect them from developing significant airway narrowing after inhaling mannitol, this patient population may be able to access a potential new treatment for their disease.

As a result of age-related changes, chronic medical conditions, the side-effects of medication or a combination of these, many older people decide or are required to give up driving. Driving is a highly valued role and skill, associated with freedom, independence and convenience. Because of this, the transition to driving cessation can be traumatic and associated with depression, social isolation and compromised well-being. Despite the frequent reporting of poor outcomes for older people after driving cessation, limited attention has been given to developing and evaluating methods to help older people prepare for and cope with this transition. This study will evaluate the effect of a group intervention on older people's episodes away from home, use of alternative transport modes, life satisfaction, depression, and self-rated performance of and satisfaction with up to five lifestyle goals related to transport. This study will contribute to evidence for the effectiveness of a group intervention versus usual practice (which is to say, no intervention) to help older people maintain their well-being and stay engaged in valued roles, activities and the community after retiring from driving. It will also contribute to the theoretical underpinnings of adjustment after undergoing the transition to retired driver.