There are about 10460 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Australia. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of topical p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)-rich Corymbia Citriodora oil (Citriodiol®) in children with impetigo. Citriodiol® is already known to be effective as an insect repellent and is safe in its topical application. The investigators have also found in our laboratory that it is bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria responsible for causing impetigo. Parents are always searching for a natural alternative to antibiotics (the current gold standard treatment for impetigo), and the investigators believe Citriodiol® could provide this possible alternative.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether fish oil supplementation is effective in the treatment of abnormal fat metabolism in subjects with elevated cholesterolaemia.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition which refers to the narrowing of the small blood vessels that supplies blood and oxygen to the heart. It is a common cause of chest-pain related symptoms and as a result of a 'heart attack'. In most cases, to assess the severity of the disease is to use coronary angiography, which is a medical imaging technique that uses contrast (a dye) and x-ray to show the blood-flow supply of the coronary arteries. The optimal treatment for patients with symptomatic coronary disease is aggressive medical therapy. Current guidelines recommend patients with symptomatic CAD and severe disease on angiography undergo revascularisation therapy, which aims to restore blood flow to blocked arteries. This can be done by either percutaneous coronary intervention (feeding a small balloon or other device on a thin tube through blood vessels to the point of blockage and then inflate the balloon to open the artery), or coronary artery bypass grafting (open-heart surgery)2. For many symptomatic patients who have only moderate disease on angiography, further functional testing is required to assess the extent of the blockage. This can be achieved by placing a pressure wire to the artery of interest, to determine the likelihood that the blockage impedes oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, known as the Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)3. FFR is commonly performed at the Alfred hospital in the assessment of such patients. During an FFR procedure, further information regarding the health of the small arteries of the heart can be obtained with the calculation of the index of micro-vascular resistance (IMR), Giving oxygen to patients with CAD is a common clinical practice, especially to all patients in the catheterisation laboratory whose had a 'heart attack' and often administered concurrently with light sedation during elective procedures. Recently, however, the safety of routine supplemental oxygen in patients with CAD has been questioned5. A research study analysed the outcomes of three small randomised studies on oxygen in patients who experienced a 'heart attack', while suggestive of harm, the findings of the study remain inconclusive. There may also be deleterious effects of supplemental oxygen, on more stable patients with CAD, who are not experiencing a 'heart attack'. Supplemental oxygen administered in the catheterisation laboratory to patients with stable CAD, has been shown to significantly reduce coronary artery blood flow and increase its resistance6-8. It has also been shown to reduce cardiac output and effect the relaxation phase of the heart cycle. Based on this data it is hypothesised that supplemental oxygen may affect FFR in patients with moderate CAD. The investigators therefore propose to undertake a study of the effects of supplemental oxygen on FFR in patients with moderate CAD. The patients enrolled into the study will be scheduled for an elective normal contrast diagnostic or interventional procedure as part of their clinically-indicated care. Once a moderate blockage of the artery has been identified, FFR and IMR will be measured. During the first phase of the FFR study, the patient will breathe room air and have a blood test to measure their oxygen level (blood gas). There is a 3 minute washout period, followed by the second phase, whereby the patient will be given 100% oxygen for 10 minutes and have another blood gas measured. The study will be conducted at Alfred Hospital with a total enrollment of 18 subjects. The estimated time to complete enrollment is 6-10 months. Data collected on each patient will include demographics, medical history, vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, height, and weight), usage of cardiovascular medications, pathology results and procedural records. Any adverse events or serious adverse events related to the study procedure will also be recorded.
There is strong evidence that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This elevated risk is independent of classical risk factors such as smoking, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and hypertension. The risk of CHD is increased 1½-2 fold in those with minor depression and 3-4½ fold in subjects with MDD. Put simply, the relative risk of developing CHD is proportional to the severity of the depression. While the mechanism of increased cardiac risk attributable to MDD is not known disturbances in autonomic function most likely do play a part. In untreated patients with MDD (with no underlying CHD) the investigators have identified that a marked sympathetic nervous activation and diminished heart rate variability (HRV) occurs in a proportion (approximately one third) of patients. Diminished HRV has been linked to increased incidence rates of acute cardiac events in conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and myocardial infarction. Importantly, whether treating depression actually improves the risk of: (1) CHD development or (2) recurrence of cardiac events in patients with existing CHD remains unknown. The investigators, and others, have provided a growing body of evidence linking elevated sympathetic activity and exaggerated sympathetic responses to stress to early stages of end organ dysfunction and markers of disease development. Of particular note, in addition to possible effects on HRV is the association of chronic sympathetic nervous activation to: (a) abnormal blood pressure regulation and (b) the development of insulin resistance. The investigators therefore plan to examine the cardiovascular effects of two different antidepressant medications, agomelatine and escitalopram, in patients with MDD. In addition, the investigators plan to investigate the effects these two medications have on sympathetic nervous system activity, blood pressure, HRV, endothelial function, metabolic and psychological effects. Findings from this study will assist us to identify of biological correlates of sympathetic nervous activation which will enable us to: (1) identify those at potentially increased cardiac risk, and (2) potentially implement additional therapeutic strategies in order to reduce cardiac risk. Indeed, it is not known whether antidepressant treatment alone would be sufficient to reverse any adverse effects of sympathetic nervous activation. This study aims to answer this important clinical question.
Patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are at risk of brain related complications despite the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Such complications are termed HIV neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and comprise a spectrum from asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), through mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to severe HIV dementia (HAD). Prior to HAART approximately 30% of patients with advanced HIV disease had cognitive impairment; with HAART the incidence of HAND has decreased but its prevalence increased. The reasons for the ongoing development of cognitive impairment in HAART treated patients are not clear. They might relate to virus induced brain injury prior to starting HAART, the onset of a separate neurological process, toxicity related to HAART, or ongoing viral infection in the brain. It is clear that the ability of different antiretroviral drugs to penetrate the brain varies but what is not established is whether these differences between drugs lead to different neurological outcomes. The investigators propose to study HIV infected patients stable on HAART for 12 months; subdividing the groups according to the brain penetrance of their drug combination. Patients would undergo neuropsychological assessment and MRI brain scan at the start of the study and after 12 months. At study initiation a lumbar puncture would be performed so that drugs levels could be measured in CSF. Differences in neuropsychological tests and MRI would be sought between treatment groups to establish whether HAART with better CNS penetration is associated with better outcome and fewer MRI changes.
The ongoing success of transplantation is largely due to the development of drugs to stop the patient's body from rejecting the new organ. In addition to steroids, two main types of drug are used to suppress the immune system following heart transplantation: calcineurin inhibitors (Ciclosporin-A or Tacrolimus) and mycophenolate. However, different patients respond in different ways to these drugs, with the same dose leading to different levels of the drug in the blood. This varies due to genetic and other factors such as age, kidney function and the use of other drugs. Therefore, the levels of immunosuppressive drugs in the blood are routinely measured and the dose adjusted accordingly. However, some patients still experience episodes of rejection despite apparently acceptable levels. In this study, the investigators will measure levels of the drugs (in the blood, in a type of white blood cell called T-cells and in the heart muscle) and the effectiveness of the drugs on T-cells. The investigators will compare these levels with patient genetic factors and the amount of rejection measured on heart biopsies. This will enable us to better understand how the blood and tissue levels of these drugs change with genetic and other factors in order to optimise immunosuppressive therapy and further improve outcomes from heart transplantation.
Hypothesis: A single dose of prophylactic antibiotics is as effective as a three dose regime in preventing post-operative complications in paediatric patients with simple appendicitis. This project will compare patients 16 years and under with simple appendicitis (appendicitis that is not perforated or gangrenous). Patients will be randomly divided into two groups; - Group one will receive a single pre-operative dose of antibiotics (metronidazole 12.5mg/kg up to 500mg and cefazolin 25mg/kg up to 1g) and two 'doses' of normal saline (placebo) eight and sixteen hours after the initial dose, respectively. - Group two will receive one pre-operative dose of antibiotics (metronidazole 12.5mg/kg up to 500mg and cefazolin 25mg/kg up to 1g) and two post-operative doses, eight and sixteen hours after the first dose, respectively. Group allocation will be concealed from the patient and their guardian, the treating surgical team and outcome assessors (triple blinded). A process to rapidly reveal group allocation if required will be in place. The aim of the study is to determine if a single dose of antibiotics is as effective as three doses in preventing post-operative infection. This will be assessed by comparing: - Duration of hospital stay from operation until discharge, based on a standardised discharge criteria. - Development of wound infection or requirement of antibiotics in the six weeks post-operation - Need for re-admission. Information will be collected prospectively from each patient's hospital notes and from a follow-up phone call six weeks after the operation.
Most Implanon users experience a reduction in the frequency and volume of menstrual bleeding, but a substantial minority experience unpredictable and frequent and/or prolonged episodes of bleeding. This is a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised study with an additional randomised non-blinded arm. Two hundred women between the ages of 18-45 years, who are Implanon users with prolonged or frequent breakthrough bleeding (WHO definition) will be recruited and randomised into 4 equal-sized treatment groups of 50 women assigned to Marvelon 7 days or 21 days, NuvaRing 21 days or placebo. Recruited subjects will maintain a daily menstrual diary chart for a minimum of 90 days prior to randomisation, and will be enrolled into the treatment phase provided that they have met one of the World Health Organization criteria for prolonged or frequent bleeding Following the initial 90 day record, eligible women will begin designated treatment on day 1 of the next episode of bleeding or spotting. Analysis of the subsequent menstrual pattern will begin from day 1 of that bleeding/spotting episode and will continue through 90 days.
This project aims to assess two different techniques used to position the knee replacement implant during surgery. The patients will be randomised to receive either the following: 1. The established Navigation System (gold standard) 2. The new Prophecy Technique (validated by the Navigation System) The study hypothesis is there will be no difference between the gold standard Navigation system and the Prophecy technique in relation to the placement of the knee implant.
1. Background / Scientific Rationale The VEW (Vomiting, Eating, and Weight Loss) Questionnaire has been developed as a method for the assessment of post bariatric surgery patients, as well as a research tool into the eating behaviour of these patients. Objective VEW Questionnaire Premise If used optimally the VEW score is a valuable tool for patients who have had Laparoscopic Gastric Band Surgery (LAGB). The VEW score will be able to assist clinicians treating patients with a LAGB, specifically the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB), by providing them a tool to enhance patient outcomes. By using the information gained from the VEW questionnaire we can assess many areas of the eating behavior, and adjustment outcomes in patients with Gastric Bands. Hypotheses: - The VEW questionnaire aids in the assessment of the need for gastric band adjustment (up or down in volume) - Comparison of patient factors in those who have had a 1. good outcome (increased weight loss) 2. bad outcomes (vomiting, low weight loss, maladaption), from a gastric band fluid addition - In patients who have had a bad outcome, which factors are more predictive? - Fewer Complications associated with Gastric Band Adjustments - Obstruction - Need for urgent deflation - Pain on eating - Lowering incidence of inappropriate fills - Lower incidence of maladaption - Eating behavior can predict long term outcomes o By comparison of factors in the different quartiles of weight loss (particularly top 25% cf. bottom 25%) - Maintenance of weight loss after 12 months is best achieved by use of behavior modification via improved food tolerances and better eating behavior than by increasing restriction of the band by further adjustments. 12 months is chosen as an arbitrary time where the majority of expected weight loss (45% of expected 50-55% 0f EWL) has been achieved. It is also a time frame by which patients have learnt to use the band appropriately, and the gastric band has had time to be adjusted into its optimal range. - The VEW questionnaire can help predict poor outcomes from a SAGB adjustment. - By analyzing the factors in patients who have returned both acutely (days) or at subsequent visits (weeks) and had fluid removed from their bands. These factors would include pain, vomiting, length of meals, maladaption score, fluid added, etc.