Early Origins Study Of Cystic Fibrosis-related Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,188.00
Summary
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes recurrent lung infections and early death. Some patients also develop diabetes which causes a more rapid decline. Many young children with CF have “pre-diabetes” but guidelines do not recommend screening high glucose in this group. In order to intervene early, this study aims to determine if “pre-diabetes” in very young children with Cystic Fibrosis causes poorer growth, lung function or an increase in bacterial infections to.
A Prospective Randomised Trial Comparing Nasogastric With Intravenous Hydration In Children With Bronchiolitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$886,817.00
Summary
This project aims to compare the two methods currently being used of providing fluid to young children who have a viral infection of the lungs called bronchiolitis. The methods of giving fluids are through a tube placed though the nose, down the food pipe, into the stomach (nasogastric tube), or through a drip in the child's vein (intravenous). We hope to show that one of these methods is better than the other and allows children to be sent home from hospital earlier, and cost less.
ProbioticTreatment Of Diarrhoeal Disease And Malnutrition In Top End Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,036.00
Summary
Aboriginal children in the Top End of Australia have high rates of hospital admission for diarrhoea and malnutrition. We have discovered that underlying small intestinal damage in these children is an important contributor to the high complication rates and longer lengths of stay in hospital compared to non-Aboriginal children. This research proposes to continue our work on small intestinal damage by using two non-invasive tests of gut function, namely a sugar absorption test and novel breath te ....Aboriginal children in the Top End of Australia have high rates of hospital admission for diarrhoea and malnutrition. We have discovered that underlying small intestinal damage in these children is an important contributor to the high complication rates and longer lengths of stay in hospital compared to non-Aboriginal children. This research proposes to continue our work on small intestinal damage by using two non-invasive tests of gut function, namely a sugar absorption test and novel breath test. The sugar permeability test involves the children drinking a solution of the two sugars lactulose and rhamnose, and measuring their absorption into the blood 90 minutes later using a sophisticated measuring instrument called HPLC, which can measure minuscule amounts of sugars and is set up at Royal Darwin Hospital. The breath test involves children drinking another sugar solution with a special non-radioactive marker called a stable isotope of carbon, and measuring changes in the amount of this marker in carbon dioxide from the breath at timed periods after drinking the sugar solution. The breath is analysed in Adelaide using another sophisticated instrument. These tests are being used to measure abnormal sugar absorption due to intestinal damage, which is particularly common in Aboriginal children during the weaning period of 4-18 months. Our hypothesis is that treatment with 'healthy germs' (probiotics) like those in certain yoghourts will colonise the gut, stimulate immunity and reduce the presence of 'nasty germs' (pathogenic bacteria) in the intestines of Aboriginal children which contribute to the need for their hospitalisation with diarrhoea and malnutrition. If this hypothesis is correct, then this research will provide the best kind of evidence for reducing the need for hospital treatment by treating all cases of diarrhoea with these probiotics and possibly even decreasing the gut damage of children in the weaning period by including probiotics in their dietsRead moreRead less
International Neonatal Immunotherapy Study (INIS): A Randomised Trial Of Intravenous Immunoglobulin For Neonatal Sepsis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,151,250.00
Summary
There is promising evidence that treatment of serious infection in babies with a product naturally occuring in blood, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), may reduce deaths by 40% and reduce brain damage in survivors. This would reduce the social, emotional and financial burden of disability on families, health services and society. In financial terms alone, caring for a severely disabled child costs an extra $50,000 per year. However, more evidence is needed before IVIG can be introduced as routi ....There is promising evidence that treatment of serious infection in babies with a product naturally occuring in blood, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), may reduce deaths by 40% and reduce brain damage in survivors. This would reduce the social, emotional and financial burden of disability on families, health services and society. In financial terms alone, caring for a severely disabled child costs an extra $50,000 per year. However, more evidence is needed before IVIG can be introduced as routine treatment for serious infection in the newborn. The International Neonatal Immunotherapy Study (INIS) is a randomised trial to study the potential benefits of IVIG in 5,000 newborn babies in 150 centres world wide. 26 centres are in Australia and New Zealand, whose expected contribution of 1,500 babies will be vital to the success of the study. INIS is supported by the Commonwealth Government and Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who will oversee the supply and distribution of IVIG, and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, who will coordinate the study. Infants will have a detailed specialist assessment at 2 years of age and a parent questionnaire will be completed, to assess their development. An economic evaluation will be performed to estimate the long-term savings to Australian Health Services and families associated with the IVIG therapy. The IVIG product to be used in Australia is Intragam P, manufactured by CSL, who have an unrivalled safety record. CSL has been making IVIG since 1989 and no transmission of HIV or hepatitis viruses has ever been reported. CSL estimate the risk of transmission of these viruses by IVIG is under 1 in 10 million treatments. INIS will provide reliable evidence about IVIG, a treatment with minimum known risk that may benefit thousands of Australian children and millions more worldwide.Read moreRead less
Is There Cytomegalovirus In Mothers Breastmilk And Does It Cause Infection In Very Premature Babies?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,970.00
Summary
The hypothesis behind this study is that some very premature infants become infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) from their mother's breast milk. This proposal is for a study of 200 CMV antibody positive mothers who are expressing breast milk for their very premature infants. We believe this is likely to be about 50% of all mothers. It has been well established that some full term infants are infected with CMV from their mother's breastmilk. The question now is do very premature infants with poor ....The hypothesis behind this study is that some very premature infants become infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) from their mother's breast milk. This proposal is for a study of 200 CMV antibody positive mothers who are expressing breast milk for their very premature infants. We believe this is likely to be about 50% of all mothers. It has been well established that some full term infants are infected with CMV from their mother's breastmilk. The question now is do very premature infants with poor immunity develop serious infections from cytomegalovirus. This project has the overall aim of determining what proportion of very premature infants become ill with CMV excreted in their mother's breast milk, and then determining the nature and severity of those illnesses. It will also define how many mothers of premature infants are excreting CMV in their breast milk, the time this starts after birth, the viral load transmitted to the infant, the age after birth when the infants first become infected, the proportion who become ill with the infection, the details of the diseases and whether freezing breast milk kills the CMV.Read moreRead less