CRCT Of A Multidisciplinary, Team Building Intervention To Manage Fever, Sugar And Swallowing (FeSS) In Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,450.00
Summary
The latest acute stroke guidelines and recommendations from Ausralia's National Stroke Unit Program endorse a prompt and evidence-based treatment for fever, blood sugar and swallowing in acute stroke. This Clustered Randomised Control Trial (CRCT) will develop and rigorously evaluate a standardised, multidisciplinary team-building intervention for the management of fever, blood sugar and swallowing in patients following acute stroke. The intervention comprises: an evidence-based clinical treatme ....The latest acute stroke guidelines and recommendations from Ausralia's National Stroke Unit Program endorse a prompt and evidence-based treatment for fever, blood sugar and swallowing in acute stroke. This Clustered Randomised Control Trial (CRCT) will develop and rigorously evaluate a standardised, multidisciplinary team-building intervention for the management of fever, blood sugar and swallowing in patients following acute stroke. The intervention comprises: an evidence-based clinical treatment pathway (the FeSS Pathway) and facility-based support consisting of multidisciplinary, team building workshops, a standardised, interactive education program and engagement of local staff through support and feedback. Stroke Units allocated to the control group will receive only the FeSS Pathway with no facility-based support. Expected patient outcomes comprise decreased: disability on discharge, length of stay, 90-day disability, 90-day dependency, 90-day death and disability and higher 90-day health status for those patients allocated to receive care at intervention Stroke Units. Further, medical record audits will be undertaken to measure the integrity of the FeSS Pathway uptake. By conducting a CRCT, we will generate Level 2 evidence for the effectiveness of a standardised, multidisciplinary team-building intervention for the management of fever, blood sugar and swallowing in patients following acute stroke. Thus, this trial is highly significant both within Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Optimizing Implanted Cell Survival Using A Tissue Engineering Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,175.00
Summary
Cell therapy and tissue engineering involve the insertion of specific cells into damaged tissues or into a bioraector in a patient's body to generate new replacement tissues. This project seeks to improve two factors associated with inserting cells : 1. The innate survival characteristics of the cells being inserted, and 2. The blood vessel supply at the site of insertion. These techniques will greatly improve the survival of inserted cells.
On the mechanism of boiling instability in microchannels. This project will enable designers to create highly efficient miniaturised devices based on the boiling of fluids such as water or organics. These devices include micro-power generation systems, coolers for computer chips and solar collectors, and micro-chemical process systems. Such devices provide environmental, safety and economic benefits.
A Population Based Study Of The Use Of Acute Hospital Services By Elderly People Living In Residential Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$127,000.00
Summary
This project will be the first population based Australian study to describe the pattern of utilisation of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. It will provide much needed information on which to base health policy decisions relating to the acute care needs of the most frail elderly members of our community. Within a context of an ageing demographic profile of the Australian population, it is essential that the dynamic interplay between acute care services and th ....This project will be the first population based Australian study to describe the pattern of utilisation of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care. It will provide much needed information on which to base health policy decisions relating to the acute care needs of the most frail elderly members of our community. Within a context of an ageing demographic profile of the Australian population, it is essential that the dynamic interplay between acute care services and the residential aged-care sector be elucidated, both for current service provision and for better prediction of future service requirements. This study will make use of existing linked health data sources in WA to achieve the following aims: 1. To provide health service planners with information about the rates, patterns, causes, outcomes and costs of acute emergency department and in-patient hospital services for elderly persons living in residential care in Perth, Western Australia. 2. To develop a population model to determine future acute hospital requirements for elderly persons living in residential care. 3. To estimate the potential impact of alternate modes of integration of acute and long-term care on the utilisation of acute hospital services by hostel and nursing home residents.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Apolipoprotein E In High Density Lipoprotein Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$151,208.00
Summary
Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death and disability in Australia. A high level of blood cholesterol increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. This increase in coronary risk is caused by the cholesterol that is carried in low density lipoproteins (LDL). However, not all cholesterol is bad. A proportion of the cholesterol in blood is carried high density lipoproteins (HDL), which are powerful protectors against heart disease. People with high blood levels of HDL have a s ....Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death and disability in Australia. A high level of blood cholesterol increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. This increase in coronary risk is caused by the cholesterol that is carried in low density lipoproteins (LDL). However, not all cholesterol is bad. A proportion of the cholesterol in blood is carried high density lipoproteins (HDL), which are powerful protectors against heart disease. People with high blood levels of HDL have a significantly reduced risk of developing heart disease. HDL consist of several different types of particles that contain lipids (or fats) and proteins. Not all HDL protect equally against coronary heart disease. Our ability to determine which HDL are the most cardioprotective is limited because it is difficult to separate the different types of particles from each other. One thing we do know is that the cardioprotective properties and metabolism of HDL are influenced by the proteins they contain. A considerable amount is known about the effects of the two main HDL proteins on the metabolism and cardioprotective properties of HDL. However, HDL contain several other proteins which are also important in this regard. This project is concerned with one of those other proteins called apolipoprotein E. The evidence that apolipoprotein E protects against heart disease is indisputable. Despite this, almost nothing is known about its role in HDL metabolism. This is because it is difficult to isolate large amounts of apolipoprotein E-containing HDL from plasma. In order to overcome these problems I have developed a novel method for preparing HDL which contain apolipoprotein E. These preparations are comparable to the apoE-containing HDL in human plasma. They will be used in this project to study the influence of apolipoprotein E on HDL metabolism.Read moreRead less
Heat Transfer Characteristics of Biological Tissues with Nanoparticles. Heat transfer of laser-irradiated nanoparticles in biological tissues requires a basic knowledge of the unique strong resonance absorption properties and a fundamental understanding of the thermal and chemical conversions as a consequence of these heated nanoparticles. This project aims to investigate the extent of the non-equilibrium heating effects of heated nanoparticles on the destruction of biological tissues. Comprehen ....Heat Transfer Characteristics of Biological Tissues with Nanoparticles. Heat transfer of laser-irradiated nanoparticles in biological tissues requires a basic knowledge of the unique strong resonance absorption properties and a fundamental understanding of the thermal and chemical conversions as a consequence of these heated nanoparticles. This project aims to investigate the extent of the non-equilibrium heating effects of heated nanoparticles on the destruction of biological tissues. Comprehensive experimental studies and computational modelling to be performed are expected to significantly enhance the understanding of laser-induced heating phenomena of embedded nanoparticles in biological tissues and the prediction of the level of destruction that can be experienced by these heated nanoparticles.Read moreRead less