Excitation-contraction Coupling In Skeletal Muscle In Health, Exercise And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,621.00
Summary
Skeletal muscle dysfunction occurs in certain diseases, aging and exercise, and can deleteriously affect lifestyle and mobility. This project investigates the molecular mechanisms involved in the complex sequence of events that occur in each individual muscle fibre, starting from stimulation by a nerve through to the fibre contracting. This should give information about causes of skeletal muscle dysfunction in myotonia, heart failure and other situations, and help development of therapies.
Development Of A Novel Intervention For Training Stepping Ability To Reduce The Risk Of Falls In Older Adults.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,393.00
Summary
Stepping is often the last protective option to prevent a fall. This study will first modify and validate an interactive system for training stepping ability in older adults. The system will be also provide the capability of acquiring indeices of stepping ability in the home. We will investigate the effect of an in-home training program using this system on stepping ability and falls risk. Findings will inform future interventions for preventing falls.
Impaired Stepping As A Risk Factor For Falls In Older People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,727.00
Summary
Stepping is often the last protective option to prevent a fall. This study will investigate stepping responses as a risk factor for falls. Complementary studies of physiological and psychological contributions to stepping will also be conducted. A path model will be used to examine the relative importance of physiological, psychological and behvioural factors. An exercise program to imrpove stepping responses will be trialed. Findings will inform future interventions for preventing falls.
A reduced capacity to recover balance following an imbalance episode contributes to the high incidence of falls in older adults. The goal of the present study is to determine how age-related differences in lower extremity neuromuscular and biomechanical properties are related to balance recovery capacity and falls incidence. A detailed understanding of this relationship is necessary for the development of efficacious exercise-based interventions for the prevention of falls.
Low Strength Silver Fluoride Solutions As Clinically Effective Bacteriostatic And Cariostatic Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$147,800.00
Summary
Scientific evidence indicates that low concentrations of silver are effective in countering bacteria involved in dental decay, and that solutions of silver fluoride are effective in stopping progression of dental decay. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of low strength silver fluoride solutions in the clinical management of dental decay in children. Such solutions may provide a simplified technique for controlling dental decay in populations which lack traditional resources
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.
Discrete Simulation Of Powder Dispersion In Pharmaceutical Aerosol Inhalers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$35,085.00
Summary
This project seeks to develop fundamental understanding of the dispersion mechanisms of powders as aerosol for inhalation drug delivery. It couples computational simulations using computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method with experimental dispersion analysis. Successful development of this research will lead to a comprehensive understanding of factors controlling inhaler performance and thus maximizes the therapeutic benefits to the patients.