Insights Into The Acute Cerebral Lesion Of Childhood Diabetes And It's Neuropsychological Sequelae
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,000.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes in childhood is a major cause of morbidity with an Australian prevalence of approximately 20 per 100,000 children under 15 years of age. The leading cause of death in type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents is diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by cerebral oedema (brain swelling), the origins of which remain unknown. This research is aimed at providing an insight into changes in the brain of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the relationship of these brain changes ....Type 1 diabetes in childhood is a major cause of morbidity with an Australian prevalence of approximately 20 per 100,000 children under 15 years of age. The leading cause of death in type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents is diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by cerebral oedema (brain swelling), the origins of which remain unknown. This research is aimed at providing an insight into changes in the brain of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the relationship of these brain changes to short and long term neuropsychological functioning. The major aim of this project is to provide an insight into brain changes of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the relationship of these brain changes to subseuqent brain function. This is a study where we will simply observe differences between newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients with no ktoacidosis, ketoacidosis or ketoacidosis with brain swelling over 6 months. We will measure brain function using various techniques includiung: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), electrophysiology (EEG) and neuropsychological tests. The significance of this project is that it will provide insight into the brain impairment of diabetic patients with and without DKA, and with brain swelling in the context of DKA. By further clarifying the nature of brain impairment we will provide early intervention strategies to improve psychological development of the young patients with diabetes. In addition to this we hope to better understand the origins of brain swelling during DKA and design treatment protocols that will prevent this devastating complication.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cell Function And Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,750.00
Summary
Diabetes remains a major health problem in Australia. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is eventually due to pancreatic insulin-producing beta-cell destruction, which is caused mainly by the cell death, so called 'apoptosis' or programmed suicide of the cells. Thus, attempting to protect beta-cells against death and rescue their insulin secretory function is emerging as a strategy for the treatment of diabetes. However, how the beta-cells undergo death and how to protect the cell death are still n ....Diabetes remains a major health problem in Australia. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is eventually due to pancreatic insulin-producing beta-cell destruction, which is caused mainly by the cell death, so called 'apoptosis' or programmed suicide of the cells. Thus, attempting to protect beta-cells against death and rescue their insulin secretory function is emerging as a strategy for the treatment of diabetes. However, how the beta-cells undergo death and how to protect the cell death are still not completely understood. We have recently discovered a new protein, named sphingosine kinase, that is a strong protector against cell death. We also found that this enzyme is involved in process of insulin secretion. Thus, this application seeks to establish a dual role of this enzyme in protecting beta-cells from death and promoting insulin secretion by the cells. This will ultimately allow us to create new therapeutic strategy to target this protein for the management of diabetes.Read moreRead less