Investigation Of Neural Mechanisms Of 670 And 830nm Laser Acupuncture In Pain Relief, Using Rat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,207.00
Summary
Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigat ....Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigate this we (CI A and CI B) previously undertook a study of infrared laser on nerve cell cultures. This followed on from a positive clinical study with the same laser wavelength in the treatment of neck pain, undertaken by CI B. We established that laser temporarily interrupts the nerve transport system, which is made up of a series of minute tubes, called microtubules. These act as a “monorail” system for transport of mitochondria, which provide energy for all nerve functions. We propose that temporary interruption of this system, called fast axonal transport, disrupts the conduction of pain signals along the nerve, resulting in pain relief. Important unanswered questions The mechanism by which 830nm laser acupuncture relieves pain clinically remains poorly understood. For its acceptance into mainstream clinical practice it is important to determine the effect of laser on the peripheral nerves and in particular the pain carrying fibres. We know from an earlier study that a single exposure causes significant but reversible changes in pain fibres including axonal microtubule disruption, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and block of fast axonal flow. These events would result in conduction failure. The question is whether the repeated irradiations, comparable to those delivered clinically result in the same changes. This would provide a scientific basis for understanding the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture. We also do not know if 670nm laser acupuncture would act in the same way. There is evidence that this may be more effective so that this remains another important unanswered question. Further, there is no evidence regarding which wavelength would be cost and time effective as it is desirable to deliver lower dose. We need to determine the most effective dose and wavelength so that clinical trials could be carried out as was done for the trials by CIB (Chow and Barnsley, 2006).Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Nuclear Import Of Viral Oncoproteins And Transcription Factors By Protein-protein Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,383.00
Summary
The present application examines the controls that exerted over proteins that localize in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. This relates relates integrally to cellular processes such as growth, development and oncogenesis. This research area is not represented elsewhere in Australia, and the particular experimental strategies to approach the problem, revolving around the use of special quantitative microscopic techniques are novel internationally. One part of the application seeks to examine tran ....The present application examines the controls that exerted over proteins that localize in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. This relates relates integrally to cellular processes such as growth, development and oncogenesis. This research area is not represented elsewhere in Australia, and the particular experimental strategies to approach the problem, revolving around the use of special quantitative microscopic techniques are novel internationally. One part of the application seeks to examine transport within the cell of complexes of interacting proteins, rather than single proteins, under as close as possible to physiologically relevant conditions. This will be truly unique, and of great importance to our comprehension of eukaryotic cell function. This application examines particular types of negative control over protein nuclear localization. Since many proteins show such regulation, and in particular important proteins controlling cell growth and division, the results are fundamentally important to our understanding of how cells function in general. Further, this understanding may be applied in disease situations, such as viral-mediated oncogenesis. In the work we propose to do, viral proteins with functions relating to cancer will be examined in detail, as well as a cellular protein which is recognised by them - the tumor suppressor Rb. We intend to examine several viral oncoproteins which target Rb; one is a protein (E7) from the Human Papilloma Virus which has been frequently associated with cervical carcinomas and other cancers. Accordingly, the results may have direct application to viral-induced cancer, and our work may lead to understanding of the regulation of protein transport to the nucleus. This may thus afford a new approach at the pharmacological level to combat transformation.Read moreRead less
Developing A Novel Glaucoma Surgery For Clinical Use And Commercialisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,893.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a potentially blinding eye condition that affects more than 60 million people. The greatest risk factor in glaucoma is high intraocular pressure. Surgical treatment for glaucoma seeks to lower the pressure inside the eye by increasing the drainage of fluid from the eye. There are numerous techniques available but all have risks of complications. This grant seeks to develop a novel approach to the problem using intra-ocular delivery of laser pulses to cut a drainage channel.
The Role Of The Osteoblast In Mediating Glucocorticoid-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,254.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids (GC) exceed most other drugs in terms of numbers of patients treated and indications. Preventing or attenuating the deleterious effects of GC on fuel metabolism is therefore of great clinical significance. Our studies will create new knowledge regarding the mechanisms of GC-induced diabetes and osteoporosis, and will contribute to the development of new approaches that are essential to tackle the pressing medical problem of GC-induced disease.
Developing A New Glaucoma Surgery Using Precision Ablation Of The Trabecular Meshwork And Inner Wall Of Schlemm’s Canal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,606.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a major sight threatening disease in our community, affecting an estimated 60 million people worldwide. This project investigates a new laser based method for reducing intraocular pressure, the major risk factor in glaucoma. The novel approach is to create a selectable number of drainage channels for excess fluid in the eye to drain away, thereby restoring normal intraocular pressure.
Understanding The Roles Of Dendritic Domains In Neuronal Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,509.00
Summary
We aim to find cellular basis to cognitive function and dysfunction by understanding the input/output characterstics of individual neurons. Since neurons are fundamental computational units in the brain, we aim to understand how synaptic inputs to different dendritic regions are processed prompting the neuron to fire an output. We also aim to seek distinct roles of certain dendritic branches in gating sensory inputs onto the neuron.