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Prelim Study Of Association Between Nutritional Indices, Psychosocial Factors, Cytokines & Survival Advanced Cancer Pati
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$24,820.00
Summary
This preliminary project aims to evaluate associations between cancer cachexia, psychosocial factors and cytokine levels in blood. The final decline of most patients with advanced cancer is associated with the cancer cachexia syndrome, triggered in part by cytokine release. Measuring cytokines may enable identification of patients about to enter this final stage. Further, factors like mood and social support appear to alter cytokine levels. The associations established by this study may point to ....This preliminary project aims to evaluate associations between cancer cachexia, psychosocial factors and cytokine levels in blood. The final decline of most patients with advanced cancer is associated with the cancer cachexia syndrome, triggered in part by cytokine release. Measuring cytokines may enable identification of patients about to enter this final stage. Further, factors like mood and social support appear to alter cytokine levels. The associations established by this study may point to treatment options that can delay the terminal phase while improving quality of life.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Metabolic And Inflammatory Factors In Cognitive Decline And Cerebrovascular Pathology In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$945,987.00
Summary
Metabolic factors and measures of inflammation in the body have recently been shown to influence mental function and increase the risk of developing age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The influence metabolic factors and inflammation have on function of the ageing brain is likely to be determined by complex interplay between many factors, such as physical health, lifestyle, nutrition and our genes. By studying these factors and how they relate to one another in large groups of eld ....Metabolic factors and measures of inflammation in the body have recently been shown to influence mental function and increase the risk of developing age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. The influence metabolic factors and inflammation have on function of the ageing brain is likely to be determined by complex interplay between many factors, such as physical health, lifestyle, nutrition and our genes. By studying these factors and how they relate to one another in large groups of elderly individuals, we will be able to determine the role these factors play in brain ageing. In addition we will be able to determine an ‘at risk’ profile for elderly individuals for accelerated ageing effects. Identification of this profile is important as it will allow the development of interventions which may prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline in late life. We plan to study the impact of metabolic and inflammatory factors on brain ageing and in two groups of elderly individuals both of which are currently being studied in detail by our research team. By using these existing groups we will minimize the costs associated with our research, but maximize the research benefit and the benefit to society. Our groups include a large community sample of elderly individuals aged 70-90 years and a large group of elderly twins aged over 65 years. Our use of twins for the study is particularly important as it will help us separate genetic and environmental influences on the measures. We will measure multiple metabolic and inflammatory factors in the body and determine their relationship to detailed tests of cognitive function and to cerebrovascular pathology on brain magnetic resonance imaging. We will look at how these factors relate to one another and which factors are most strongly associated with accelerated ageing. We will be able to follow subjects in each group over a 2 year interval to see which factors most strongly predict change in cognitive function and cerebrovascular pathology over time. Our research is unique in its inclusion of multiple factors which may affect brain ageing, its ability to look in detail at the contribution of genetic influences on metabolic and inflammatory factors, and in our planned follow-up of these individuals.Read moreRead less
Determining The Synergistic Effects Of Complementary Medicines On Pro-inflammatory Cytokines,
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,412.00
Summary
Diseases like influenza, commonly called ‘the flu’, produce symptoms such as fever, headaches, lethargy and lack of appetite. What most people don’t realise is that it is not the influenza virus that produces these symptoms, but the body’s immune response to the influenza virus. This immune response comes about because the influenza virus stimulates cells to produce molecules called cytokines, and cytokines have many effects in the body, including causing fever and a lack of appetite. In severe ....Diseases like influenza, commonly called ‘the flu’, produce symptoms such as fever, headaches, lethargy and lack of appetite. What most people don’t realise is that it is not the influenza virus that produces these symptoms, but the body’s immune response to the influenza virus. This immune response comes about because the influenza virus stimulates cells to produce molecules called cytokines, and cytokines have many effects in the body, including causing fever and a lack of appetite. In severe infections like those caused by the influenza virus responsible for the pandemic of 1918, and during “bird ‘flu” (H5N1) infections, people die because the immune response becomes overwhelming. Cytokines produced during these sorts of responses are actually very harmful, even though in small amounts they help to kill the virus and cure the infection. Researchers working in this field have likened these severe responses to a “cytokine storm”. This project focusses on finding alternative therapies such as those used in Chinese medicine to prevent a cytokine storm happening, so that if an influenza pandemic occurs these treatments could be quickly made available to everyone. Examples are the Chinese herbs Angelica sinensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza. Recent laboratory studies in New York have shown that both of these herbs have potent cytokine effects, decreasing levels of an inflammatory cytokine known to be associated with death in both malaria and sepsis. Our study aims to closely examine the effects of these Chinese herbs, as well as other commercially available herbal extracts, and traditional combinations of herbs, to find synergies between them that could be used to treat severe influenza infections.Read moreRead less
Screening Agents Active Against The Late-stage Inflammatory Cytokines For Activity Against Influenza Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,409.00
Summary
Infection with a virulent influenza virus that the body has never encountered before, particularly H5N1, sends the immune system into overdrive, and causes a massive release of proteins (inflammatory cytokines), known as a cytokine storm, that in and of itself leads to death. The object of this research is to screen, in a mouse influenza model, agents known to prevent this occurring and antagonise it once it has occurred. This will be done with and without Tamiflu, a standard anti-influenza drug ....Infection with a virulent influenza virus that the body has never encountered before, particularly H5N1, sends the immune system into overdrive, and causes a massive release of proteins (inflammatory cytokines), known as a cytokine storm, that in and of itself leads to death. The object of this research is to screen, in a mouse influenza model, agents known to prevent this occurring and antagonise it once it has occurred. This will be done with and without Tamiflu, a standard anti-influenza drug.Read moreRead less