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Equitable Treatment Of Severe Osteoarthritis In Australia: A Population-based Assessment Of Burden And Barriers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$317,580.00
Summary
Severe hip and knee osteoarthritis is a growing public health problem for Australia, as reflected in the rising demand for joint replacement surgery. However, while severe osteoarthritis is common, how the condition affects a person’s quality of life and ability to maintain their lifestyle is poorly understood. This project will investigate the impact of severe osteoarthritis on the lives of Australians and whether people with the condition have fair and timely access to joint replacement.
The consequences of osteoarthritis in Australia: Work productivity loss and health service utilisation. This project will determine the burden of osteoarthritis in Australia. Although osteoarthritis is one of the most common and costly conditions affecting the developed world, little is known about the number of Australians living with hip or knee osteoarthritis, the population need for health services or the impact of the condition on the workforce. Directly addressing Australia's National Ac ....The consequences of osteoarthritis in Australia: Work productivity loss and health service utilisation. This project will determine the burden of osteoarthritis in Australia. Although osteoarthritis is one of the most common and costly conditions affecting the developed world, little is known about the number of Australians living with hip or knee osteoarthritis, the population need for health services or the impact of the condition on the workforce. Directly addressing Australia's National Action Plan for Arthritis, this research will be used by health policy makers in planning future resources to appropriately meet the needs of people with osteoarthritis. This work is of national importance because osteoarthritis is the single largest cause of workplace disability and a major contributor to lost productivity. Read moreRead less
The Role Of Tenascin-C In Bone And Joint Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$215,773.00
Summary
Many diseases of bones (e.g.osteoporosis) and joints (e.g. arthritis) result from the abnormal function of cells in these tissues. Factors regulating cell function are, therefore, important in maintaining a healthy skeleton, as well as in the skeleton's response to disease. Tenascin-C is a protein produced by bone and joint cells. The role of tenascin-C in the function of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) will be investigated. We will investigate whether ten ....Many diseases of bones (e.g.osteoporosis) and joints (e.g. arthritis) result from the abnormal function of cells in these tissues. Factors regulating cell function are, therefore, important in maintaining a healthy skeleton, as well as in the skeleton's response to disease. Tenascin-C is a protein produced by bone and joint cells. The role of tenascin-C in the function of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) will be investigated. We will investigate whether tenascin-C is required for the bone loss that occurs in female mice when oestrogen is not present. We will also determine the role played by tenascin-C in development and recovery from arthritis. This study will contribute to the understanding of how bone and joint cells function in health and disease.Read moreRead less
Effect of modification of structural and cellular properties of the arterial wall on functional stiffness of large arteries. The Australian population is ageing, becoming more obese and showing earlier onset of age-related conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and inflammatory disorders. All these conditions are associated with possible increase arterial stiffness. Inflammatory disorders in Australia affect one in six people, increasing to one in five in the next decade. An equa ....Effect of modification of structural and cellular properties of the arterial wall on functional stiffness of large arteries. The Australian population is ageing, becoming more obese and showing earlier onset of age-related conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and inflammatory disorders. All these conditions are associated with possible increase arterial stiffness. Inflammatory disorders in Australia affect one in six people, increasing to one in five in the next decade. An equal proportion is affected by cardiovascular disease. This combined effect poses a massive burden on the national health budget. This project aims to investigate basic mechanism leading to degeneration of function of larger arteries and therapies to reverse the process and reduce cardiovascular risk in the community.Read moreRead less
Dietary N-3 Fats And Outcomes In Early-onset Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,693.00
Summary
There is considerable evidence that positive health benefits flow from increasing the dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. Benefits are seen in rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory disorders and heart disease. Previous studies of rheumatoid arthritis and dietary omega-3 fats had a common design which probably reduced the magnitude of the beneficial dietary effects. Therefore, a 'second generation' study is needed which addresses these common design issues in order to establish opt ....There is considerable evidence that positive health benefits flow from increasing the dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. Benefits are seen in rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory disorders and heart disease. Previous studies of rheumatoid arthritis and dietary omega-3 fats had a common design which probably reduced the magnitude of the beneficial dietary effects. Therefore, a 'second generation' study is needed which addresses these common design issues in order to establish optimal conditions for the use of dietary omega-3 fats in therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. The current proposal will address the previous design shortcomings by changing the background diet, measuring functional disability and joint damage as well as symptoms, starting treatment in early disease before joint damage has occurred, and by regulating concurrent drug use. The study will also evaluate a novel blood test that indicates the effect of advice to increase dietary omega-3 fats upon omega-3 nutritional status. If this nutritional index correlates with more favourable outcomes, a base will have been established for guiding treatment with omega-3 fats in routine clinical situations. This study is important because dietary treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: (a) offers sufferers with rheumatoid arthritis a more active role in the life long management of their disease. (b) has no on-going cost to the government health budget, and in fact, has the potential to decrease treatment costs in rheumatoid arthritis considerably (c) has wider applicability, e.g. for prevention and treatment of other inflammatory conditions and heart disease (d) needs to be tested with modern treatment protocols that involve multiple therapies started early in the course of rheumatoid arthritis, before irreversible impairment and disability has occurred (e) requires a nutritional index to guide treatment (f) must be evidence based.Read moreRead less
An Evaluation Of Bone Density Screening In Premenopausal Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,046.00
Summary
Fractures due to osteoporosis are a major public health problem. Bone density is one of the major predictors of these osteoporotic fractures and is the result of the amount of bone gained in early life (i.e peak bone mass) and subsequent bone loss. Cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and inadequate calcium intake are widely regarded as risk factors for osteoporosis (as well as for other common diseases). Despite this information being widely available and actively promoted, the prevalence of ....Fractures due to osteoporosis are a major public health problem. Bone density is one of the major predictors of these osteoporotic fractures and is the result of the amount of bone gained in early life (i.e peak bone mass) and subsequent bone loss. Cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and inadequate calcium intake are widely regarded as risk factors for osteoporosis (as well as for other common diseases). Despite this information being widely available and actively promoted, the prevalence of these risk factors in the population remains unacceptably high suggesting that education alone at the public health level is not sufficient to modify these behaviours. In women (mean age 33) taking part in a study of the determinants of bone mass in children, we recently reported substantial change in these behaviours at 12 months follow-up when women received an information leaflet and individualised bone density information. These women were highly selected and it is unclear if this response is representative of all women. The aims of this study are, therefore, to test hypotheses in a random electoral roll sample of 400 women aged 25-44 from metropolitan Hobart relating to the effect of different types of educational programs and low initial bone mass on both lifestyle changes and changes in bone density over two years. This study will lead to accurate information about how best to target osteoporosis prevention programs in the younger age groups. Furthermore, as risk factors for cardiovascular and other diseases are often similar to those for osteoporosis, it is likely to provide insights into the prevention of these diseases and, as a result, have much greater potential for decreasing disease in the community.Read moreRead less