WOMBAT Newsletter
    June - July 2010


Welcome to the June - July 2010 issue.

In this issue:

wombat wrap-up

Since its inception in 2005, The WOMBAT Collaboration has made a significant contribution to the quality and quantity of Australian maternal and perinatal trials. The Collaboration was formed after a group of Australian perinatal researchers and practitioners were awarded an NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) enabling grant to enhance the national health and medical research effort.

The specific aim of the WOMBAT Collaboration has been to promote and support high quality randomised clinical trials in the maternal and perinatal area, in order to improve the health and wellbeing of women and their children. It has achieved this by:

  1. identifying national research areas/gaps and encouraging appropriate clinical and methodological trials

  2. providing high level support to researchers undertaking multicentre trials at national and regional levels

  3. providing education and training

Since September 2005, 230 maternal and perinatal trials have been completed or are still in progress. 
Many of these trials are multicentered (75) and include:
  • PPROMPT - Immediate delivery vs expectant care in women with preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes close to term – A randomised clinical trial (currently recruiting)
     
  • INIS – International Neonatal Immunotherapy Study  (accrual complete – full publication pending) 
     
  • Bubbles for babies - Randomised controlled trial of headbox oxygen versus CPAP for neonatal respiratory distress in non-tertiary hospitals (study complete – full publication)

WOMBAT Highlights

Many of the completed trials have a full publication of their results within 1-2 years.  WOMBAT Collaboration researchers also regularly presented trial findings at the annual PSANZ Congress and also liaised with the IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Maternal Perinatal Australasian Clinical Trials) network. 

After ethics committee approval is granted, trial registration is encouraged and trials are now mostly registered on the ANZCTR (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry). The ANZCTR is an online register of clinical trials being undertaken in Australia and New Zealand (http://www.anzctr.org.au)

The Collaboration’s Advisory Group, led by Professor Caroline Crowther, has been made up of many maternal and perinatal research leaders.  This group has developed and conducted a number of educational workshops around Australia, including:

  1. Developing a Trial Protocol was the most frequently requested workshop and the Trial Protocol Workbook is freely available on the WOMBAT website. This workshop had more than 200 trialists attend and was conducted in all capital cities and in regional centres. The workshop has been instrumental in encouraging new researchers to develop their own RCT (randomised controlled trial).
Hala Phipps attended a WOMBAT protocol development workshop in September 2007. She needed to come up with an idea for a study to explore the association between occipito-posterior positioning (OP) of a baby during the second stage of labour on delivery outcomes and methods for improving delivery outcomes. Hala said “The WOMBAT workshop facilitators invited me to present my Protocol as a work in progress at the IMPACT workshop the following day. This presentation generated much discussion and inspired myself and colleagues, to seriously consider undertaking a randomised controlled trial.” The trial (POP-OUT study) has now been registered with the ANZCTR.
  1. Establishing an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (held in Melbourne and Sydney)
  2. Recruitment Workshop (Melbourne)
  3.  Women's and babies’ health and wellbeing - improving outcomes (Perth)
  4.  Collaborative workshops such as Evidence Based Health Care & Statistics for Clinical Research: an Introductory Course with the Mater Hospital, (Brisbane).


While our funding will cease at the end of 2010, we will continue to develop and maintain the trials and research gaps components of the database, which will  remain a valuable resource for maternal and perinatal trialists into the future.
WOMBAT would like to thank the NHMRC for the support and funding provided over the past 5 years.

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

This is an interesting read, which aims to increase public awareness and understanding of clinical research.

Promoting public awareness of randomised clinical trials using the media: the 'Get Randomised' campaign

[ Download Article in Pdf ]

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Milgrom J, Newnham C, Anderson PJ, Doyle LW, Gemmill AW, Lee K, Hunt RW, Bear M, Inder T. Early sensitivity training for parents of preterm infants: impact on the developing brain. Pediatr Res. 2010;7(3):330-335
Moses RG, Luebcke M, Davis WS, Coleman KJ, Tapsell LC, Petocz P, Brand-Miller JC. The effect of a low glycemic index diet during pregnancy on obstetric outcomes. The International Association for the Study of Obesity. [Abstract] Obesity reviews 7 (Suppl. 2)2006:118-352

Wen LM, Baur LA, Simpson JM, Rissel C. Mothers' awareness of their weight status and concern about their children being overweight: findings from first-time mothers in south-west Sydney. Aust NZ J Public Health 2010;34:293-7
Wen LM, Flood VM, Simpson JM, Rissel C, Baur LA. Dietary behaviours during pregnancy: findings from first-time mothers in southwest Sydney, Australia. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2010 Feb 3;7:13
Wen LM, Baur LA, Rissel C, Alpenstein G, Simpson JM. Intention to breastfeed and awareness of health recommendations: finding from first-time mothers in southwest Sydney, Australia. Int Breastfeed J. 2009 Oct 16;4:9

ALL TRIALS REQUIRING COLLABORATING CENTRES

A*STEROID: Australasian Antenatal Study to Evaluate the Role Of Intramuscular Dexamethasone versus betamethasone prior to preterm birth to increase survival free of neurosensory disability: a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email pat.ashwood@adelaide.edu.au   

APTS: Australian Placental Transfusion Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email lsebastian@ctc.usyd.edu.au  

A study of Aminophylline for infants less than 12 months of age with bronchiolitis, requiring admission to intensive care
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email carmel.delzoppo@rch.org.au

BOOST II: Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email boost2@ctc.usyd.edu.au

Cervical occlusion in women with cervical insufficiency
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email deemccormack@hotmail.com or visit the trial homepage: www.cervicalocclusion.com   

DETECT: Ductal Echocardiographic Targeting and Early Closure Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email mkluckow@med.usyd.edu.au  

Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler to time second and subsequent transfusions for women with red cell alloimmunisation: a randomised trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email Jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au  

GAS Study: A multi-site randomised controlled trial comparing bupivacaine (regional) anaesthesia versus sevoflurane (general) anaesthesia for effects on neurodevelopmental outcome and apnoea in infants scheduled for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia repair
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email suzette.sheppard@mcri.edu.au  

IDEAL: Investigation of dietary advice and lifestyle for women with borderline gestational diabetes
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ideal@adelaide.edu.au

MANGO – Midwives @ New Group practice Options: A randomised controlled trial of case load midwifery
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email Sally.Tracy@SESIAHS.health.nsw.gov.au

PPROMT Trial: Preterm Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes Close to Term Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ppromt@med.usyd.edu.au  

PROGRESS Trial: Progesterone after previous preterm birth for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email progress@adelaide.edu.au

TWINS: Timing of Birth at Term – a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.health.adelaide.edu.au/og/research/mpctu.html or email twins@adelaide.edu.au

TRIALS WITH THE COORDINATING BASE OVERSEAS

CHIPS Trial: Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.utoronto.ca/cmicr/chips/  or contact Jennifer Menzies at chips@cw.bc.ca   

PLUTO: Percutaneous Shunting for lower-urinary tract obstruction
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or visit
http://www.pluto.bham.ac.uk or email Prof Mark Kilby at m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

TBS: Twin Birth Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or www.utoronto.ca/miru/tbs
or email tbs@sw.ca

TIPPS: Thrombophilia In Pregnancy Prophylaxis Study: a muticentre, multinational randomised controlled trial of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin in high-risk pregnant thrombophilic women
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.healthypregnancy.ca  or email amclement@ohri.ca

The WOMAN (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial) Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage: An International Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. ISRCTRN76912190
thewomantrial@Lshtm.ac.uk  or http://www.trialscoordinatingcentre.lshtm.ac.uk/
 

COCHRANE NEWS

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) has moved from a quarterly publication, to a new monthly publication. If you have any questions or are interested in doing a review, please contact:

For Neonatal Australasian Satellite of the Cochrane Review Group - Jann Foster, 0414.502724, (jann.foster@sydney.edu.au); Glenda Hawley, (glenda.hawley@mater.org.au)

For Pregnancy and Childbirth Australasian Satellite of the Cochrane Review Group - Dr Ning Pan (ning.pan@adelaide.edu.au), Glenda Hawley (glenda.hawley@mater.org.au)

Here are the details of the new Australian submissions for publication in The Cochrane Library, Issue 6 and 7, 2010

Neonatal  Group

New Full Reviews 

Flow-cycled versus time-cycled synchronized ventilation for neonates (Schulzke SM, Pillow J, Ewald B, Patole SK)

Review Updates

Multinutrient fortification of human breast milk for preterm infants following hospital discharge (McCormick FM, Henderson G, Fahey T, McGuire W)

Prophylactic intravenous indomethacin for preventing mortality and morbidity in preterm infants (Fowlie PW, Davis PG, McGuire W)

The effect of inotropes on morbidity and mortality in preterm infants with low systemic or organ blood flow (Osborn DA, Paradisis M, Evans NJ) 

Pregnancy and Childbirth Group   

New Full Reviews 

Antithrombotic therapy for improving maternal or infant health outcomes in women considered at risk of placental dysfunction (Dodd JM, McLeod A, Windrim RC, Kingdom J) 

Maternal position during caesarean section for preventing maternal and neonatal complications (Cluver C, Novikova N, Hofmeyr GJ, Hall DR) 

Techniques of intrauterine fetal transfusion for women with red-cell isoimmunisation for improving health outcomes (Dodd JM, Windrim RC, van Kamp IL)

Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour (Begley CM, Gyte GML, Murphy DJ, Devane D, McDonald SJ, McGuire W) 

Interventions for clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy (Reid SM, Middleton P, Crossich MC, Crowther CA) 

Screening and subsequent management for gestational diabetes for improving maternal and infant health (Tieu J, Middleton P, McPhee AJ, Crowther CA)

Tranexamic acid for preventing postpartum haemorrhage (Novikova N, Hofmeyr GJ)

Updated Reviews

Anti-D administration after childbirth for preventing Rhesus alloimmunisation (Crowther CA, Middleton P)

Hospitalisation and bed rest for multiple pregnancy (Crowther CA, Han S)

Magnesium maintenance therapy for preventing preterm birth after threatened preterm labour (Han S, Crowther CA, Moore V)
 

CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO MATERNAL AND PERINATAL HEALTH

2010 CONFERENCES IN AUSTRALIA

International Congress of Reproductive Immunology
15 – 19 August, 2010
Cairns, QLD
For more information: http://www.icri2010.org/

Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) Annual Scientific Meeting
3-4 September, 2010
Sydney, NSW
For more information: http://www.adips.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage

International Society of Obstetric Medicine (ISOM)
1-3 October, 2010
Melbourne, Vic
For more information: http://www.isom2010.org

XVII International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy
3-6 October, 2010
Melbourne, Vic
For more information: http://isshp2010-melbourne.org/index.php

ISA (International Stillbirth Alliance) and ISPID (International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death) Joint Conference - Precious lives: global collaboration in stillbirth and infant death
8-10 October, 2010
Sydney, NSW
For more information: www.isaispid2010.com


2010 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
5th Normal Birth Conference 2010
The biannual normal birth research conference will now be held annually. Every other year it will be held at Grange over Sands in the UK, as usual, and in the alternate years it will be held in other countries.
20-23 July, 2010
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
For more information: http://www.acnm.org/documents/2010NormalLabourBirthConferenceCallforAbstracts.pdf

Women’s Hospitals Australasia (WHA) 2010 Clinical Forum and Clinical Meeting
22 - 23 July
Auckland, NZ
For more information: www.wcha.asn.au

New Zealand College of Midwives – 11th Biennial National Conference: Strengthening Midwifery…Strengthening Families
3-5 September, 2010
Rotorua, New Zealand
For more information:
http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,250,html

Canadian Association of Midwives’ Annual Conference: The Place of Birth
6-8 October, 2010
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
For more information: http://www.canadianmidwives.org/

IFPA (International Federation of Placenta Associations) 2010- Placenta Fetus and Placenta: A perfect harmony
19-22 October, 2010
Santiago, Chile.
For more information: www.ifpaconference.org 

7th International Conference of Neonatal Nursing 2010
24-27 October, 2010
Durban, South Africa
For more information: http://www.coinnurses.org/coinn_conf/2010_int_neonatal.htm 

16th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology
28-31 October, 2010
Venice, Italy
For more information: http://www.ispog2010.com

2011 CONFERENCES

Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) 2011
15th Annual Congress
10-13 April, 2010
Hobart, Tasmania
For more information: http://psanz2011.eventplanners.com.au/

International Confederation of Midwives 29th Triennial Congress
19-23 June, 2011
Durban, South Africa
For more information: http://www.midwives2011.org 
*CALLING FOR ABSTRACTS*

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information on WOMBAT initiatives, please contact:

Philippa Middleton: philippa.middleton@adelaide.edu.au

The WOMBAT Collaboration is funded through a NHMRC enabling grant.

If you would prefer to stop receiving WOMBAT newsletter, please send your email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to unsubscribe@wombatcollaboration.net.