ANZCTR search results

This research aims to explore the relationships between mood, fatigue and physical activity through the use of a novel mobile application (ecological momentary assessment (mEMA)). mEMA is a survey method that allows data collection of participants’ behaviours, mood and perceptual experiences in real-time (momentary) and in real-life environments (ecological). Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis will be recruited from within the CNARTS catchment. This will be a intensive longitudinal observation design. Consenting participants will be met at home or during a routine clinical appointment to assist with download of the mobile app (free to participants) and instruction on correct use of this application. The application will prompt users to answer a set of pre-set questions relating to mood, fatigue at five times each day for seven days. Participants will also be asked to wear a accelerometer for the same seven day period. Accelerometers are highly valid and an objective measure of physical activity levels. The overarching research aims are to explore in real-time how fatigue levels fluctuate throughout the day, and to investigate the associations between mood and physical activity levels and fatigue in people with ESKD receiving peritoneal dialysis. The secondary aim is to explore the feasibility of using EMA in this population

The primary objective is to investigate what modifiable physical factors contribute to physical functioning in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). This 12 month longitudinal cohort study will assess physical activity levels / sedentary behaviour, muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness as predictors of physical function at three time points (baseline, six months and twelve months) in PD patients. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness have all been demonstrated as modifiable physical factors that can be positively modified through exercise based interventions. However, to best inform exercise prescription, understanding of the modifiable physical factors that contribute to physical function is required. This research project will be the first to determine the specific modifiable (physical activity and physical impairment) predictors of physical functioning in patients receiving PD. This project could significantly expand knowledge in this field, inform clinical practice and surveillance testing to improve early risk detection, and lead to future PD-specific exercise based interventions targeting physical functioning, improved quality of life and clinical outcomes.

One of the core strategies of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is to protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce. To ensure this safety, various operational procedures are implemented for fire-fighting scenarios. One of these instances is the physiological and cognitive recovery of firefighters from a hot or hazardous event. Therefore, the aim of this research is to assess the effect of various recovery strategies on the performance of physical, perceptual and cognitive tasks following stressful fire-fighting tasks in the heat. . Collectively, this project will further both academic and industry knowledge of the optimum recovery procedures required for a variety of fire-fighting scenarios to optimise health for our states’ emergency services.

During general anaesthesia muscle relaxant drugs are administered to make airway management and surgery easier. Muscle relaxants are usually reversed with neostigmine at the end of the operation. A newer drug, sugammadex, reverses muscle relaxants more rapidly than neostigmine, but is not clear whether sugammadex results in fewer postoperative complications than neostigmine. We are planning a large multi-centre randomised controlled trial to investigate whether sugammadex is associated with fewer postoperative lung complications than neostigmine. The current study is a pilot study that will determine if the larger trial is feasible. We will measure feasibility outcomes (e.g. recruitment rates) and pilot the main trial outcomes (e.g. postoperative pulmonary complications)

NSW Health’s Active Ageing portfolio, managed by the NSW Office of Preventive Health (OPH), provides a suite of evidence-based programs for older adults. These programs aim to increase healthy lifestyle behaviours and decrease the risk of chronic disease and falls in the older population. The Active Ageing portfolio has recently been revised to place more focus on physical activity and healthy eating. As part of this work, OPH has designed a new program Healthy and Active for Life (HAL), which targets adults aged over 60 years. The proposed research will assess the impacts of the HAL face-to-face, with a digital version of the HAL program, as well as a control condition. Participants will be randomly allocated to each arm.

Effective medical therapies for the treatment of endometriosis related pelvic pain are limited and are often associated with side-effects. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a food supplement that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory action. Polydatin (PLD) is also a food supplement that has antioxidant and pain inhibiting activities. There have been some small studies performed to assess if the combination of PEA/PLD is helpful for persistent pain associated with endometriosis. The results suggest it might have benefit, but further studies are required. Multiple studies that assessed PEA/PLD for pain relief in various other pain conditions have not reported any significant side effects. The aim of this study is to determine if treatment with PEA/PLD improves endometriosis associated pain. Women who are booked for surgical treatment of possible endometriosis will be offered participation in this study. Participation will not change their surgeon’s care plan. The participants will be randomised to either receive 8 weeks of PEA/PLD treatment or placebo prior to their surgery. The endometriosis will then be confirmed or excluded during the surgery. Lesions of endometriosis, endometrium, pelvic fluid and blood will be collected where possible to assess inflammatory markers. Participants will also complete a survey including pain and quality of life assessments. This survey will be completed at recruitment, after 8 weeks of treatment (pre surgery) and at 6 months (4 months after surgery). We will assess the change in pain scores and quality of life scores between the 2 groups to see if PEA/PLD is beneficial.

People with chronic psychotic disorders experience functional disability, poor physical health and incomplete recovery that can be poorly responsive to first line treatments. Research has clearly demonstrated mental and physical health improvements from exercise, however predominantly utilising aerobic protocols. There is scant evidence regarding resistance training in people with psychotic disorders, even though preliminary evidence suggests safety and preference for this type of training. We will recruit participants with chronic psychotic disorders from three mental health rehabilitation units and randomise participants to resistance training, or control (aerobic- moderate intensity interval training), three supervised sessions per week for 8 weeks in a randomised controlled trial in which outcome assessors will be blind to condition allocation. The primary aim of this study will be to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of resistance training (recruitment, retention and participation). Secondary aims will include a comparison of various mental and physical health outcomes between exercise types pre and post the intervention. We hypothesise that resistance training will be feasible and acceptable to people with psychotic disorders.

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) in SARS-CoV-2 S protein has been identified as the component required for coronaviruses to enter the human cells using the human receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The investigational vaccine, RBD SARS-CoV-2 HBsAg VLP vaccine, is a subunit vaccine where the RBD antigen is conjugated to the hepatitis B surface antigen to allow the stimulation of the immune system to produce anti-RBD (CoV2 Receptor binding domain) antibodies. The study will be conducted in two stages: phase I and phase II. Phase I will include healthy adults aged 18 - 45 years and evaluate the safety and immunogenicity outcomes following administration of different formulations of the vaccine when compared with placebo. Phase II will include a separate group of healthy adults participants aged 18 - 79 years and evaluate the safety and immunogenicity outcomes following dosing of different formulations of vaccine and different dose strengths 28 days apart when compared with placebo.

Plaque psoriasis is a multifaceted immunological condition primarily resulting from a dysfunctional immune response with T-cells at the center of immunogenesis. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are an adult who has been diagnosed with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and your treating physician has prescribed you Tildrakizumab. Your treating physician will have prescribed two loading doses of Tildrakizumab 4 weeks apart. Study details: This is an observational study that uses high quality photography and investigator assessments to determine changes to plaque psoriasis over a period of 64 weeks (Study visits will be conducted at week 0,4,8,16,28,40,52 and 64.). The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Tildrakizumab in the resolution/treatment of psoriasis.

Collaborative depression care in chronic disease populations is established in the USA and UK, however this model of care is not widely implemented in Australia, and the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is unknown within our healthcare system. This quality improvement initiative, embedded within an implementation-science trial, aims to evaluate whether standardised depression screening performed by site-specific nurse coordinators, improves the uptake of collaborative depression care in Australian coronary heart disease populations, with concomitant reductions in depressive symptoms and major adverse cardiac events, with cost-utility.