ANZCTR search results

Patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy may require a central venous catheter (CVC) to enable effective delivery of the cytotoxic treatment. This is usually because of either difficult peripheral venous access or prolonged infusional chemotherapy schedules. This study is a randomised clinical trial comparing two types of CVC, the peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) and the subcutaneously implanted port catheter (PORT catheter). The primary end point is CVC related complications. Background The last three decades have seen an increase in the use of chronic indwelling central venous catheter devices (CVC) in the setting of cancer treatment. CVCs enable effective delivery of chemotherapy into the venous system, and are particularly useful when peripheral venous access is otherwise difficult or when prolonged infusions of chemotherapy are required. The CVC also facilitates outpatient based therapy.

Most cases of oesophageal and gastric cancer are locally advanced or metastatic at presentation. Chemotherapy prolongs survival and improves quality of life in such patients, but standard chemotherapy for this disease has not been defined. Doxetaxel is a taxane with promising single agent activity in oesophago-gastric cancer. Combination chemotherapy regimens based on docetaxel may therefore have significant activity with a more favourable toxicity profile. This randomised phase II study explores the activity and toxicity of two novel docetaxel based regimens; weekly docetaxel, cisplatin and infused 5-FU (wTCF) and weekly docetaxel plus capecitabine (wTX) in patients with metastatic oesophago-gastric cancer. Based on the results achieved in this study, the AGITG would aim to test the best regimen in a future phase III study comparing it with ECF or another accepted standard regimen.

The purpose of the study is to determin the safety, efficacy and potential modes of action of BSP-201 in adults with osteoarthritis of the knees and/or hips. It will be a randomised, double-blind (both subjects and investigators are blinded), placebo-controlled, parallel study.

Capecitabine (Xeloda) is an oral chemotherapy agent that has shown to be effective in breast and gastrointestinal cancers. Patients receiving Xeloda tend to experience less severe side effects such as diarrhoea, mouth sores, nausea , hair loss and reduced white blood counts. Hand and foot syndrome (HFS) is a common complication for patients receiving Xeloda. Although it is not a life-threatening complication, it can be disabling in severe cases and affects the treatment course due to the need for dose interuption or reducation. Some previous research has suggested that the addition of Pydidoxine (vitamin B) to the chemotherapy may reduce the incidence and severity of HFS. The study is a double blind study comparing the administration of oral 200mg pryidoxine with an oral placebo for 24 weeks. Neither the patient of the Doctor will know what treatment (active drug or placebo) the patient will be allocated.

To investigate whether aggressive physiotherapy achieves a better functional outcome than regular physiotherapy after operations for wrist fractures. The subjects are blinded. The Physiotherapist is not blinded. The surgeon is also blinded however this fact is not as much of a cornerstone to the study as the blinding status of the patients and the physiotherapist.

This study is designed to examine the feasibility of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in acute tetraplegia. This pilot study will examine how well CPAP is tolerated and if treatment is feasible prior to the commencement of any randomised, controlled trial of therapy.

Assessing the impact of exercise (one hour, 3 times weekly on dialysis) using a bicycle ergometer for 3 months, on arterial stiffness (and therefore cardiovascular health) in patients on haemodialysis. Using pulse wave velocity (non invasive applanation tonometry) to measure the changes in degree of arterial siffness

This is a non-randomized cohort study. The purpose of this trial is to compare the side effect profile and their effects on patients treated with 3 different techniques of delivery of curative radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.We will collect a series of patient-based urinary, bowel, and sexual function scores using validated assessment tools before treatment, 6 weeks and then at intervals after treatment and correlate the results of that with objective, quantitative measurement of patients’ bladder and bowel function using physiologic laboratory tools. This will help us to determine comparative functional effects and understand whether there is a mechanical / physiological explanation for patients’ side effects.

This is a prospective randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial comparing vaginal prostaglandins E2 gel with an oral synthetic prostaglandin E2 analogue (misoprostol) in the induction of labour at term. Both agents are thought to be equally effective in inducing labour. The main outcomes assessed in this study will be the rate of caesarean section, the number of women who remain undelivered after 24 hours, and uterine hyperstimulation with associated changes in the fetal heart rate. Women, caregivers and outcome assessors (MILO trial) are blinded. For the timing of induction component, it is not possible for women or caregivers to be blinded.

Many small babies <30 weeks gestational age have a very immature respiratory system and require respiratory support for a limited period of time until they mature and can breath by themselves. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is one such method by which support can be given to these immature babies to allow them to breath without being put on a ventilator or breathing machine. When these babies have matured a little the CPAP is weaned in order to allow the babies to breath without support. This trial will look at 3 methods of weaning CPAP to see which method is most efficient in allowing the babies to breath on their own. The trial has started at Westmead Hospital and we hope to include other Hospitals to increase our numbers in the trial.