ANZCTR search results

Since the inception of human organ transplantation, HCMV remains single most-important cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised transplant patients. This project is designed to develop immunotherapeutic strategies based on adoptve transfer of virus-specific killer T cells for the treatment of HCMV infection in transplant patients.

Published: Emergency Medicine Australasia (2007) 19, 51–58 ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the effectiveness of three corticosteroid regimens in children with mild to moderate croup. Methods: Double-blinded, randomized comparative trial with parallel design, conducted in the ED of a paediatric tertiary care hospital. Children aged 6 months to 6 years presenting to the ED with croup were eligible for inclusion if their Westley croup score was 2 or more. They were randomized to receive a single oral dose of either prednisolone 1 mg/kg, dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg or dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg. Primary outcome measures were the magnitude and rate of reduction in Westley croup score, rate of return for medical care with ongoing croup, and further treatment with steroids in the week following index presentation. Secondary outcome measures were the proportion of subjects requiring admission or salvage therapy, such as nebulized adrenaline, during index presentation. Results: A total of 99 children, aged 6–79 months, were enrolled (mean age: 1.7 years). Thirty-four patients were randomized to receive prednisolone 1 mg/kg, 34 to receive dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg, and 31 to receive dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg. Baseline characteristics of the three groups were similar. The parents of 86 patients (87%) were available for follow-up telephone interview at 1 week. There were no significant differences in primary or secondary outcome measures between the three treatment groups. Conclusions: Both prednisolone 1 mg/kg and low-dose dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg) were found not to differ in efficacy from the currently recommended 0.6 mg/kg dexamethasone. The use of these corticosteroid regimens in treating patients with mild to moderate croup is thus supported.

The primary aim was to determine whether a lower dose of GH is as effective as higher doses at increasing lean body mass and whether GH-related side-effects are reduced with a lower dose.

Acromegaly, GH deficiency and Cushing's syndrome all alter body protein. The aim was to compare protein metabolism in these 3 conditions to normal subjects, along with how protein metabolism changes following surgical removal of hormone-secreting tumour.

Long-term glucocorticoid use causes substantial morbidity from protein loss. The aim was to determine how protein metabolism was perturbed in long-term glucocorticoid users.

The aim of this study is to determine if short-term low dose glucocorticoids alters protein metabolism in a way that results in protein loss. This information will help in the development of therapies that reverse or prevent protein loss in patients requiring long-term glucocorticoids.