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The 2017 ‘Closing the Gap’ report suggests that Indigenous health gains are off target, with the Federal government emphasising the need for verifiable data that can be compared across the nation to provide a clearer picture of progress. Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) are preventable, yet prevalence in some Indigenous Australian communities is one of the highest recorded globally. The ‘End RHD’ Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) (NHMRC 1080401) is developing a roadmap for how RHD can be eliminated as a public health problem in Australia. Robust data are critical to support the CRE’s policy recommendations to jurisdictional and federal governments. In particular, there is a need for: 1. Definitive baseline data and targets for evaluating progress towards goals; currently data on ARF/RHD burden are fragmented and methods under-developed nationally 2. Disease progression data: little is known outside of the Northern Territory (NT); there are no conclusive national data to determine whether current strategies are working. 3. Detailed population-wide studies of hospital utilisation and costs in acute rheumatic fever (ARF)/RHD to enable comprehensive economic evaluation. 4. Data on technical and health system challenges need to be documented at regional and national levels to optimise the interventions and strategies to control ARF/RHD in Australia. Linked administrative data from RHD registers, hospital admissions and deaths are used to build a cohort of ARF/RHD cases around Australia. This data will be augmented by data from additional datasets relating to specific sub-studies. For example, the ANZSCTS ED data, Perinatal datasets. The study aims to align existing datasets to track progress of implemented RHD elimination strategies in Australia. This includes determining the RHD baseline burden and assessing the impact of existing health interventions and strategies on ARF and RHD rates.

The overarching aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an online memory intervention program for older adults with memory concerns – the Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) program. Face-to-face memory groups that teach strategies for managing memory issues in daily life are known to improve memory and functional independence of older adults. Demonstrated participant benefits include improved strategy knowledge and use, memory ability, and memory contentment. Although we know that memory interventions for older adults are effective, widespread translation to practice has been hampered by issues with sustainability of service delivery as well as accessibility; many older adults who would benefit from memory interventions are unable to attend face-to-face courses due to mobility issues or distance. The OPTIMiSE project is significant in addressing these issues, providing a translatable format for disseminating research knowledge regarding effective memory strategies for older adults. This aims to provide participants with increased self­-efficacy regarding memory and increased functional independence. The specific aims of the project are: • To develop an online memory intervention program – Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) – for older adults with memory concerns. • To evaluate whether OPTIMiSE is acceptable to older adults with memory concerns. • To evaluate whether it is feasible to run OPTIMiSE on a larger scale. • To evaluate whether OPTIMiSE achieves similar outcomes to face­-to-­face groups.

The study aims to determine if a combination of following a Mediterranean style of diet and walking-based exercise, slows the decline in brain function (cognition) that is commonly associated with older age. A study we recently conducted is the only clinical trial to investigate the effect of a combined Mediterranean diet and exercise lifestyle intervention on cognition in older people. This small (pilot) study showed improved memory and thinking in a sub-group of older participants adhering to a combination of Mediterranean diet and daily walking for 6 months. We are now extending the pilot trial, into a 2-year, definitive clinical trial involving over 364 participants, across 28 sites in Victoria and South Australia. Translating this knowledge into a lifestyle program for behaviour change for the prevention of dementia could be physically, socially and economically significant. This study will investigate the effects of diet and exercise on memory, attention and other mental functions. We will also investigate: mood, stress, fitness and wellbeing. While memory and other brain functions have been shown to normally decline over the lifespan, poorer diet and lack of exercise has been linked with a faster decline in brain functions. This research is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a combined Mediterranean diet and walking intervention (MedWalk), on cognitive decline in an older population, living independently without cognitive impairment. The study will examine participants’ memory and attention, heart and artery health, mood and wellbeing, and biological markers in blood and faeces following a 24-month lifestyle intervention.

This project will involve conducting a national, web-based survey of Australian adults with asthma about their health and their treatment, to describe the frequency and burden of symptoms, risk factors, treatments being taken, and use of healthcare services”.

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 100 adults who are currently experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee will be randomly assigned to receive capsules containing either a curcumin extract (1000mg a day) or placebo for 8 weeks. We will assess changes in knee pain and quality of life via validated self-report measures (to be completed at various time points throughout the study). We will also evaluate pre and post changes in functional/physical performance via several performance-based tests.

This project aims to implement and evaluate the HOW-R-U? telephone peer support program to address social isolation, loneliness and depressive feelings in a COVID-19 affected cohort served by Northern Health. This project will provide supportive telephone calls in the time after being diagnosed with COVID-19, or working and living with those with COVID-19, which we hypothesise will help improve these feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression.

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 120 adults who are currently experiencing unsatisfactory sleep will be randomly assigned to receive tablets containing either a high-dose saffron extract (28mg a day), low-dose saffron extract (14mg a day), or placebo for 28 days.. We will assess change in sleep quality, quality of life, and mood via several validated self-report measures (to be completed at various time points throughout the study). We will also examine changes in evening salivary concentrations of cortisol and melatonin.

The purpose of this trial is to investigate the dose-related effects of intraduodenal administration of the bitter agonist, quinine, a non-nutritive (calorie-free) compound, on gastric emptying, gut and gluco-regulatory hormone, postprandial blood glucose and gastrointestinal symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes. The relationship between outcomes and the ability to detect bitter in the oral cavity will also be investigated. We have found previously that specific dietary nutrients, when given into the small intestine in small amounts (and so not contributing significantly to overall energy intake) have the unique ability to substantially stimulate gastrointestinal functions leading to marked improvements in postprandial blood glucose. There has been an increasing interest in the effects of bitter compounds, some of which also occur in the diet, including thio-urea compounds in certain vegetables or fruit, or quinine in tonic water, with reported effects on gut functions.

General Objective To introduce uniform use of vaginal antiseptic wash immediately prior to Caesarean section and to determine the best antiseptic wash material in reducing post-operative infections or complications. Specific Aims 1. To determine the number of post-CS infections among women that will undergo pre-operative vaginal cleansing with either 1% povidone iodine or chlorohexidine or no toileting (control) during elective CS 2. To determine the number of post-CS infections among women that will undergo pre-operative vaginal cleansing with 1% povidone iodine or chlorohexidine or no toileting (control) during emergency CS 3. To compare the rate of infections among the three groups that receiving either 1% povidone iodine or chlorohexidine or no toileting for vaginal irrigation prior to any kind of CS 4. To identify the best antiseptic wash and methods for vaginal irrigation prior to CS for developing a uniform guideline through locally generated evidence 5. To determine the factors that may influence the outcomes such as post-CS infections or related complications

Artificial sweeteners, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are used worldwide. A significant proportion of the Australian adult population consume NNS especially those on weight loss diets and by diabetics to control their glycaemia. However, no study till date has evaluated the impact of NNS consumption in diabetic population. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of 12 week NNS consumption on blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.