Abstract
Background: Behavioural medicine is characterised by findings for the effectiveness and efficacy of complex behaviour change interventions. Comparatively, scant attention has been paid to key intervention components or mechanisms of action. Evaluating relationships between process variables (fidelity) and intervention effects is central to addressing this imbalance. Accordingly, in the current study, we sought to explore the magnitude and direction of effect between fidelity predictors (dietitian adherence and competence) and intervention effects (patient nutritional status) during the intervention phase of a real-world, stepped-wedge evaluation of ‘EAT: Eating As Treatment’. Methods: The EAT clinical trial was conducted within five major Australian hospitals located in Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia between 2013 and 2016. EAT is a dietitian-delivered health behaviour change intervention designed to reduce malnutrition in head and neck cance
Abstract
Background & aims: Vascular function, blood pressure and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of major chronic diseases, including both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study investigated the effects of food anthocyanins on microvascular function, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults with MCI. Methods and results: Thirty-one participants with MCI [19 female, 12 male, mean age 75.3 (SD 6.9) years and body mass index 26.1 (SD 3.3) kg/m ], participated in a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618001184268). Participants consumed 250 mL fruit juice daily for 8 weeks, allocated into three groups: a) high dose anthocyanins (201 mg); b) low dose anthocyanins (47 mg); c) control. Microvascular function (Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging combined with a post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia test), 24h ABP and serum inflammatory
Abstract
Background: People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) face a range of mental health challenges during the adjustment process post-injury, but access to treatment can be difficult, particularly for those who live in regional and remote regions. eHealth provides the potential to improve access to evidence-based psychological therapy for people with a severe TBI. The aim of the current study is to assess the efficacy of a psychological intervention delivered via video consulting to reduce psychological distress in people with TBI. Methods: This paper outlines the protocol for a multi-center, three-arm, parallel, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an evidence-based manualized psychological intervention, ACT-Adjust. ACT-Adjust provides nine sessions for adults with a moderate to severe TBI experiencing clinical levels of psychological distress. Fifty-six participants referred from Brain Injury Rehabilitation Units across New South Wales (NSW) and the NSW icare s
Abstract
Background & aims: Postprandial metabolic imbalances are important indicators of later developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the effects of food anthocyanins on vascular and microvascular function, and CVD associated biomarkers following a high fat high energy (HFHE) meal challenge in overweight older adults. Methods: Sixteen subjects (13 female, 3 male, mean age 65.9 SD 6.0 and body mass index 30.6 kg/m SD 3.9) participated in a crossover, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial (registered under Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, identifier no. ACTRN12620000437965). Participants consumed a HFHE meal with a 250 mL dose of either intervention (anthocyanins-rich Queen Garnet Plum) or control (apricot) juice. Blood samples and blood pressure measures were collected at baseline, 2 h and 4 h following the HFHE meal. Vascular and microvascular function were evaluated at baseline and 2 h after the HFHE meal. Results: Participa
Australia is following the UK and US in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines.
Given the enormity of the program, and its wide ranging implications, let’s dig a little into what vaccines are being fast tracked, and how it will roll out. Half of the world’s population are unable to access basic healthcare.
According to a Department of Health spokesperson, ‘The Government has secured access to COVID-19 vaccines through advanced purchase agreements with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Pfizer’.
They added, ‘Additional COVID-19 vaccine candidates are being evaluated in early stage clinical trials in Australia, including one developed by Flinders University and Adelaide company Vaxine, and four being developed by international companies (SpyBiotech/Serum Institute of India, Novavax, Clover Biopharmaceuticals and Symvivo)’.