Is Physiotherapy Beneficial For People With Hip Osteoarthritis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$629,508.00
Summary
Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that causes pain and reduced function. There is currently no cure so safe, effective treatments are needed. Physiotherapy plays a role in the management of hip OA but there is little evidence of its effectiveness. This project will determine the effects of a 12 week physiotherapy program on pain and function in 148 people with hip OA. The results will help with recommendations as to the best ways to treat this chronic condition.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain characterised by extra bone formation at the hip, called a cam-deformity. FAI is thought to create hip joint damage and osteoarthritis. Our 5 year longitudinal study of people with FAI in two (Melbourne and Brisbane) sites will investigate whether factors (such as cam-deformity size, hip contact force, muscle strength and joint range) can predict hip joint damage (measured with magnetic resonance imaging) over two years.
Evaluation Of Anterior Hip Muscle Function In The Presence Of Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,237.00
Summary
Hip osteoarthritis is a disease with significant costs to the individual, the community and the healthcare system. This research study aims to investigate muscle function at the front of the hip joint in healthy and osteoarthritic hips. Expected outcomes are the identification of muscle imbalances and weakness due to osteoarthritis. This information will help to design effective physiotherapy treatment for this population so that further degeneration may be prevented.
Regulation Of Osteoclast Differentiation And Function By The PKC Pathway.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,189.00
Summary
Developing strategies to control the formation of osteoclasts which underlines many disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis has been a major focus of bone research.The proposed research examines the fundamental role of Protein Kinase C (PKC) in bone resorption.This work will help elucidate the role of PKC in osteoclast formation;define the physiological role of PKC in bone structure and bone resorption in vivo and develop the treatment of bone disorders.
Interaction Of Rab3D And Tctex-1 Is Required For Bone Resorption Through The Regulation Of Post-TGN Vesicle Trafficking
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,510.00
Summary
Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells responsible for the breakdown-resorption of bone tissue. Elevated osteoclast numbers and-or activities is a major hallmark of a number of debilitating Orthopaedic-related diseases including osteoporosis, arthritis, bone cancer and aseptic loosening. Among these, osteoporosis is endemic in Western society with an estimated 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men sustaining a fracture in their lifetime. It is well accepted that the transport of carrier vesicles containing ....Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells responsible for the breakdown-resorption of bone tissue. Elevated osteoclast numbers and-or activities is a major hallmark of a number of debilitating Orthopaedic-related diseases including osteoporosis, arthritis, bone cancer and aseptic loosening. Among these, osteoporosis is endemic in Western society with an estimated 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men sustaining a fracture in their lifetime. It is well accepted that the transport of carrier vesicles containing bone destructive enzymes is critical for bone resorption by osteoclasts. Although vesicle transport has been shown to be associated with microtubules (the cells skeleton), the molecular mechanisms responsible for vesicle and microtubule interaction are largely unknown. We have identified a novel interaction between Rab3D, a vesicle transport molecule, with Tctex-1, a microtubule-binding protein. We propose that the binding of Rab3D to Tctex-1 in osteoclasts is essential for the interaction of vesicles with microtubules and, hence, osteoclast function. The focus of this project is to further confirm our hypothesis by analysing the importance of this interaction in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The anticpated outcomes of the proposed project are: 1) Rab3D-mediated vesicle transport is directed via the microtubule network; 2) Interaction between Rab3D and Tctex-1 is cruical for the coupling of Rab3D-mediated vesicle transport to the microtubules; and 3)Disruption of the Rab3D-Tctex-1 interaction may impair bone resorption. Understanding the molecular mechanisms which regulate osteoclastic vesicle trafficking might therefore enable us to develop new strategies to specifically target and inhibit breakdown of bone tissue.Read moreRead less
The Interaction Of Ac45 With V-ATPase And Its Function In Osteoclastic Bone Resorption
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,613.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to fractures. Of concern is osteoporotic fractures in the elderly are linked with increased mortality rates. Also, diseases associated with excess bone resorption place significant financial burden on the health care systems. We will examine the role of proton pump in bone resorption as a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Randomised Trial Of Ibuprofen For The Prevention Of Ectopic Bone-related Pain And Disability After Hip Replacement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,217.00
Summary
Joint replacement is a well-established treatment for severe osteoarthritis of the hip. While most patients benefit substantially from the procedure, many still experience some pain and disability after surgery. New evidence suggests that one important cause of this pain and disability may be abnormal bone deposits that form in the muscles around the hip (ectopic bone formation) during the first few months after surgery. Ectopic bone formation is seen in about 40% of all patients with hip replac ....Joint replacement is a well-established treatment for severe osteoarthritis of the hip. While most patients benefit substantially from the procedure, many still experience some pain and disability after surgery. New evidence suggests that one important cause of this pain and disability may be abnormal bone deposits that form in the muscles around the hip (ectopic bone formation) during the first few months after surgery. Ectopic bone formation is seen in about 40% of all patients with hip replacements. If the formation is extensive, all movement of the hip is lost and revision surgery is necessary. However, even when the formation is less severe, movement at the hip can be restricted resulting in pain and disability. There is growing evidence that treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug at the time of surgery may halve the risk of ectopic bone formation. While this would be expected to decrease the risk and severity of post-operative pain and disability, there is little evidence available about the long-term effects of these drugs after hip replacement. For this reason, together with concerns about possible side-effect of these drugs, orthopaedic surgeons have generally been reluctant to prescribe these drugs routinely for the prevention of ectopic bone formation. Ibuprofen appears to be the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with the lowest risk of side effects. If it was shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of pain and disability associated with ectopic bone formation after hip replacement, it may well be considered worthwhile by doctors and patients alike. If such benefits were realised, this preventive strategy is likely to be a highly cost-effective way to improve long-term outcome among the rapidly growing numbers of patients that receive hip replacements. This study will provide reliable evidence about the short and long-term effects of ibuprofen among 1,000 patients receiving hip replacements in Australia.Read moreRead less
The Role Of CHKB In Osteoclastic Bone Resorption And Bone Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,695.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a devastating disorder. Osteoporotic fractures in the elderly have been correlated with increased mortality rates. Osteoporosis alone costs $13.8 billion p.a. in USA and tens of millions of dollars in Australia. Cost to society of our ageing population for people become disabled by hip fractures alone could triple by the year 2040. Our research examines the role of CHKB in bone loss which may underscore its potential as a new molecular target for anti-resorptive drug development.