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Strategies for reducing infection are vital in caring for the premature neonate, and include, the use of a topical antiseptic for skin cleansing prior to any invasive procedure that compromises the skin barrier. There is currently little research addressing the issue of what antiseptic solution is best and safest for use in this vulnerable neonatal population. Consequently a wide range of solutions are utilised within the NICU setting

The ACE (Anaesthesia Cognitive Evaluation) Study is a prospective descriptive comparison of the prevalence of MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) and the incidence of POCD (Post Operative Cognitive Dysfunction) in patients undergoing THR (Total Hip Replacement) for OA (Osteoarthritis) and a control group of patients who have OA (Osteoarthritis) that is managed medically.

Disability in older adults is multi-factorial, and in part related to age-related changes in exercise capacity, including muscle strength, power, and endurance. To address these multiple areas, more than one kind of exercise may be needed to optimize function. Therefore, we are testing the efficacy of a combined program of strength, power and cardiovascular fitness training on functional independence, health status, psycholgocial health and physical performance over one year.

This is a prospective, randomised study to ascertain if plaster slab immobilisation of the arm is equally acceptable to parents and patients as collar and cuff immobilisation for undisplaced supracondylar fractures (breaks) of the upper arm near the elbow. All children aged 18 months to less than 11 years, presenting to the Emergency Department who sustain this type of break of the upper arm, will be enrolled into the study and randomised to receive one of two methods of immobilisation. Parents will be asked to keep a daily diary of analgesia use, child complaints or perceived problems with the mode of immobilisation. Followup will be 2 weeks post ED presentation, at which time the slab/collar will be removed and the supracondylar fracture xrayed and reassessed. At this time a parent/patient satisfaction questionnaire will be completed. If significant tenderness and discomfort remain the arm will be immobilised again and reviewed again in 2 weeks in ED.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the commonest cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (CKD Stage 5). Reasons for the greater incidence of CVD in this group include traditional CVD risk factors of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes but more importantly also include non-traditional risk factors such as calcium and phosphate imbalance. The latter is thought most likely to contribute to vascular calcification, especially for those on dialysis, and this in turn leads to arterial stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy, the two commonest cardiovascular complications. Arterial stiffness and calcification have been found to be independent predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD. Pharmacological management to control calcium and phosphate imbalance can reduce vascular calcification and CVD by reducing serum phosphate and PTH. Unfortunately the majority of phosphate binders are calcium based and may contribute to raised serum calcium and worsening calcification. Newer phosphate binders, such as lanthanum carbonate, are non-calcium based and may prove to reduce CVD as well as controlling phosphate balance. We aim to perform a prospective, randomised study assessing the impact of lanthanum carbonate on cardiovascular and bone mineral parameters. This will be a single-centre study involving subjects with CKD Stage 5 on haemodialysis. Arterial stiffness (by pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity) and vascular calcification (using CT scans through superficial femoral artery and aorta) will be followed as well as serum markers of calcium, phosphate and PTH. Differences in these end-points will be compared between participants taking lanthanum and calcium carbonate. The study will be conducted over an 18 month period and we aim to recruit about 50 patients (25 randomised to lanthanum carbonate and 25 to calcium carbonate).

Australians are experiencing an increased prevalence of chronic diseases which require sustained self-management of medicines and long term monitoring by health professionals. The proposed study will determine the psychosocial influences affecting self-management of medicines by consumers with co-existing chronic diseases, specifically diabetes, kidney disease and hypertension. The aims of the study are to develop and test the effectiveness of a medicine self-management training package (MESMI). Null hypothesis: Compared to patients receiving standard care, patients who receive the intervention will show no change in blood pressure

This trial aims to determine the effiacy and toxicity of a standard treatment approach to locally advanced NSCLC in NSW and to examine potential predictors of treatment tolerability.

A preliminary study to evaluate the acute effect (2 hours) of a commonly used treatment for anaemia in renal failure on cardiac function (strength) in patients with cardiac failure.The potential benefits are based on a recent study(unpublished) that observed an effect of intravenous epoetin alpha on heart and large blood vessel (aorta) function.Patient and echocardiographer blinded to treatment/placebo order.

Radiation and chemotherapy both work in people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This study will determine if giving them together improves the results for people with this disease that seems to be confined to the bladder, but who are felt to be suitable candidates for bladder preserving treatment.

This project is a comparative study investigating the effects of Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) treatment on Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is defined as any condition that results in a decrease in the amount of circulating thyroid hormones in the body. NET is a therapeutic procedure developed by Chiropractors as an adjunct to standard Chiropractic techniques. The development and structure of this technique ties in with the biopsychosocial model of health care, which represents a holistic approach to patient management. General aims: -To determine the effect of Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) in the treatment and management of primary hypothyroidism. Specific Aims: - To determine the emotional/ psychological/ social/ hormonal profile of a group of primary overt hypothyroid participants. - To determine if the emotional/psychological/ social/hormonal profile of a group of primary overt hypothyroid participants changes with NET treatment. - To determine if primary overt hypothyroidism can be affected by NET treatment in the short term (2 months) and the medium term (6 months) Interpretation of Results and Discussion Accumulated data will be statistically analysed using T-tests, longitudinal analysis with an alpha value of 0.05