ANZCTR search results

Aim: To determine the interobserver variability of ultrasound of the spinal cord performed on infants by clinicians. Hypothesis: We hypothesise that clinician performed ultrasound reliably and reproducibly identifies the end of the spinal cord in newborn infants. If reliable, the use of spinal ultrasound would enhance the safety of infants undergoing lumbar puncture by ensuring that the location of puncture occurs below the end of the spinal cord thus eliminating the risk of cord injury.

Intermittent fasting diets have been shown to reduce body weight, fat mass, lower skeletal muscle insulin resistance and improve overall metabolic health. However, the specific mechanisms are far from being fully understood and the impact of intermittent fasting on lean body mass remains unknown. The present study assesses the effect of intermittent fasting regimens and continuous energy restriction on skeletal muscle mass and muscle protein synthesis rates in vivo in humans. We hypothesize that 1.) alternate day fasting and continuous energy restriction will reduce rates of muscle protein synthesis compared with a control diet and 2) time restricted eating will not lower muscle protein synthesis when compared with a control diet.

Aim:the purpose of this study is to explore the different body types to see if there is a relationship with body type and the temperature and moisture build up around the buttock area skin during a critical illness. As a secondary outcome the study will also explore whether certain body types are more likely to develop skin injuries known as pressure injuries (PI) when compared to the other body types during a critical illness. Participants: All patients with a critical illness admitted to the ICU who meet the inclusion criteria will be screened for eligibility. Recruitment will be stratified according to body shape. Methods: Quantitative method. Prospective, observation, exploratory study design. Expected outcomes: This type of study has never been done before. This study will build on the known science about the skin and critical illness and it will provide new information on factors which can contribute to PI development for patients in the ICU.

This study will compare the costs of two routinely used skin treatments (Mepitel film and Strata XRT gel) during radiation therapy in breast cancer patients. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are a woman aged 18 and above, have been diagnosed with breast cancer, have undergone mastectomy and are scheduled to receive radiation therapy. Study details: Participants in this study are randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Participants in one group will have Mepitel film applied by a radiation oncology nurse before radiation therapy and reviewed at regular intervals throughout treatment period, with the film being replaced when necessary. Participants in the other group will apply Strata XRT gel themselves to the treatment area twice daily from the day of radiation therapy until two weeks after radiation therapy is completed. Cost and effectiveness of each treatment will be assessed by evaluating the cost of the skin care and the time taken by nursing staff per patient. Skin reactions will be assessed by clinicians, graded according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0 and novel CPMCCW Chest Toxicity Scale. Participants will be followed-up at a minimum of once a week during treatment (minimum 5 visits), at one-week and two-weeks post-treatment, then weekly until skin reactions resolve (if applicable) and a final review 6 weeks after completion of RT. It is hoped that this information will improve current skin care practices and minimise or prevent skin reactions caused by radiation therapy.

The TACTICS study will implement a multimodal package, which combines advanced CT imaging with modern post processing methods optimised for stroke, with access to EVT in hub hospitals with the resources to provide the required service and follow-up. This will be combined with a support package of systems improvement resources focused around acute stroke reperfusion pathways and protocols.

Chronic low back pain (LBP), that is LBP that has persisted for longer than 3 months, is a growing health burden. One factor that contributes to the burden of low back pain is that the improvements in symptoms that effective treatments provide are not sustained over time. Effective treatments for LBP are becoming increasing complex. There is need to develop and test interventions aimed at maintaining the initial improvements from complex interventions. One way to maintain improvements from complex interventions is by implementing booster interventions. The aim of a booster session is to maintain improvements in symptoms by reinforcing the training components of the intervention. The RESOLVE will provide platform to test the feasibility of a booster intervention. The RESOLVE trial assesses the effectiveness of two complex treatment programs that combine central nervous system-directed and traditional interventions to promote recovery in participants with chronic LBP (the protocol is described elsewhere). One method to sustain any benefits achieved as a result of such a complex treatment intervention, such as in the RESOLVE trial, is to include a booster session.

From about the sixteenth week of pregnancy, breasts begin to produce the first milk, colostrum. Traditionally, antenatal colostrum expression (ACE) was performed as a means of preparing the breasts for breastfeeding after birth. More recently, ACE is performed to collect a supply of colostrum antenatally. Colostrum can be collected using a syringe, and safely stored in a freezer. The colostrum can then be defrosted and given to the baby. The stored colostrum can be used to treat hypoglycaemia in the infant after birth, or if breastfeeding issues occur. The use of ACE is controversial, as very few RCTs have been conducted in this area, with none in healthy women, and most using a small sample size . Some midwives and lactation consultants report advising healthy women to use hand expression during pregnancy, despite limited evidence to support the practice. Conversely, others do not encourage ACE due to a lack of evidence, or due to hospital policy. This study will investigate effects of ACE (from 37 wks gestation) on long term breastfeeding rates and also determine the feasibility of teaching pregnant women ACE using an online instructional video. If successful, this project will provide the platform for much needed research to determine the efficacy of teaching ACE in the general population, using an easy method that can readily be incorporated into routine antenatal practice.

The sense of taste has a significant role for identification of nutrients in foods, thereby initiating a variety of physiological and psychological responses to the nutrients, including satiety. The aim of the present study is to assess if carbohydrate taste sensitivity has an effect on carbohydrate intake-mediated satiety and to determine if the fibre content of a common food (riceberry rice vs jasmine rice in the form of beverages) can influence satiety.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Venetoclax (a new drug), when combined with chemotherapy, improves response to treatment. Who is it for? You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you are aged 18 years or over, have been diagnosed with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia Study Details Eligible participants will receive venetoclax in combination with low-dose cytarabine. Treatment (each cycle is 28 days) will be given until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. Participants will be required to have blood samples taken at the beginning of each cycle along with a medical exam in order for researchers to monitor whether the treatment is safe and whether it is effectively treating the leukemia. It is hoped that the findings of this trial will establish the benefits of venetoclax in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of leukemia patients early in the course of their disease.

Many people with cancer experience chronic nausea that has a significant impact on their quality of life. Nausea (and vomiting) unrelated to anti-cancer treatment remains an important and under-researched health problem. To address this, a series of high quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed to try and improve the evidence base. This is study 4 in the series which will compare the effect of anti-nausea medication: oral olanzapine and oral haloperidol, on management of nausea in cancer patients. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 and above, have been diagnosed with cancer, experiencing nausea. Study details: Participants in this study are randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive Olanzapine (Zyprexa) once per day for three days. And participants in the second group will receive Haloperidol (Serenace) once per day for three days. Cost and effectiveness: Cost of each treatment will be assessed by collecting participant data at baseline, on exit, then weekly to an extended 7 day follow up period or death, whichever is sooner. Resource data to be collected will include health service utilisation and prognosis. Effectiveness of each treatment will be assessed by the use of the numerical rating scale. This research will provide new evidence to guide clinician choices of medications to better control nausea in patients with cancer.