ANZCTR search results

Full ethical approval to proceed with the project has been given by all Institutions described above.

To determine how a new implant design of EPT1647 works in the body and to review any side effects that may occur.

To compare two commercially available platforms for assessment of HIV drug resistance to determine which provides superior virological results. We hypothesise that one test will be significantly superior to the other.

The study will address two important questions. We anticipate that the results of this study will assist us with the clinical management of Victorian Respiratory Support Service patients with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. In addition, we are leading the planning of a multi-centre RCT of non-invasive ventilation treatment in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. Data from the current project will assist with the design of that application (for submission next year to the NHMRC) in terms of sample size estimations, feasibility and the provision of pilot data.

Abnormal tracking of the patella during knee joint movement, associated with imbalance of the pull of the inner quadriceps muscle (VM) and the outer quadriceps muscles (VL), has been proposed as a primary factor in anterior knee pain. Botulinum toxin (BTXA) can be used to reduce the relative overactivity in the VL muscle in addition to an exercise programme to strengthen the VM muscle in subjects with chronic anterior knee pain who had failed conservative management. We hypothesise that the combination of these therapies (BTXA and specific exercise for VM muscle control) has the potential to facilitate restoration of normal patello-femoral joint mechanics, particularly by restoring timing of onset of the VM muscle compared with VL, and consequently to reduce anterior knee pain and associated disability.

Lateral epicondylitis is a disabling condition that is associated with pain over the outside of the elbow joint and weakness during gripping activities. It is due to and abnormal repair response to repetitive microtrauma, most commonly involving the attachment of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) tendon to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow.This pilot study is investigating the use of botulinum toxin injection to induce selective weakness of the ECRB muscle in order to provide an environment where normal healing of microscopic tears can take place, resulting in relief of pain and decreased disability.

The bacteria pneumococcus (also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae) is the most common cause of pneumonia in the community, and a major cause of illness and death in people with low immunity; it can particularly be a problem after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, which results in impaired immunity. Patients who receive grafts from an unrelated donor are particularly at risk. This infection can be prevented by vaccination. In fact, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia recommend that all people with impaired immunity, including those who have had an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, should be vaccinated. The vaccine that has been used for many years is called the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine or PPV for short. This vaccine has been available for a long time in Australia, but unfortunately it is known to be less effective in people with impaired immune systems. The PPV vaccine had the same problem in young children, and so a new vaccine was developed for children. This new pneumococcal vaccine is called conjugate pneumococcal vaccine, or PCV-7, and has been available since the end of 2000 but only used in children, as it was developed for children and has not been extensively tested in adults. This vaccine uses different technology, and is much more effective in young children than the old vaccine. Clinical trials of PCV-7 have largely been limited to children under 5 years of age and have shown it protects 93.9% of children under 2 years of age against serious pneumococcal infections. This new vaccine is routinely used in Australian children now, and is quite safe. Our study aims to compare two versus three doses of this new vaccine (PCV-7), followed by the old vaccine (PPV) to further boost immunity, in people who are going to have an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Patients who have not previously received pneumococcal vaccine will be randomly allocated to receive either two or three doses of PCV-7, followed by PPV. PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET. STUDY TITLE: The immunogenicity of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients We will also ask a group of patients who had a allogeneic bone marrow transplant over 12 months ago, who return for PPV vaccination as part of their routine care, if we can test their blood, as well as take a nose and throat swab, before and after vaccination. The immune response in this group will be tested as a comparison to the two schedules of the new vaccine. In this study, we will compare their immune response (as measured by antibodies in the blood) to two and three doses of the new vaccines, and to PPV alone. We will also look at whether immunity is improved by boosting with the old vaccine at the end. If the new vaccine offers better protection, this has implications for the development and use of the new pneumococcal vaccines for patients who have had allogeneic bone marrow transplants.