Smoking Cessation For Youth Project Booster And Cohort Tracking Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,550.00
Summary
Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP ....Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP data indicate that the intervention students were significantly less likely to smoke heavily (smoking five or more days per week) than the control group and that intervention students were also significantly less likely to have tried smoking than the control group. These results represent a world first in evidence that population-based smoking cessation interventions among teenagers can be successful. The proposed project will determine the extent to which these positive intervention effects are sustainable, two years post intervention, as our cohort moves into Year 12. In addition to tracking the possible decay of SCYP intervention effects, the proposed project will also measure the effects of a booster intervention delivered students when they are in Year 12 (2002). The Year 12 intervention will comprise an innovative self-help 'magazine style' booster and a supportive environmental intervention involving school nurses and local GPs. This proposal represents a cost-effective opportunity to measure the effectiveness of a Year 12 tobacco cessation booster intervention. Further data on tobacco smoking behaviour in 2002 will also enable us to determine how long the SCYP intervention appears to affect behaviour and whether 'boosters' are needed in later secondary school years to maintain the benefits.Read moreRead less
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING FOR MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, WEIGHT LOSS And GLYCAEMIC CONTROL IN TYPE 2 DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,285,894.00
Summary
Regular exercise, a healthy diet and weight loss are key to managing type 2 diabetes, yet these are major challenges for most people with diabetes. This study will evaluate the impact of a telephone counselling program to assist people with type 2 diabetes to exercise, eat a healthy diet and lose weight, with the goal of helping them to sustain these changes over the long-term. It is expected that these lifestyle changes will also result in improved blood glucose control and quality of life.
A Case-control Study Of Environment And Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,948.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women and there have been a number of recent events which have raised public concern that occupational exposures are contributing to the increasing occurrence of this cancer. In this study, we will investigate occupational causes of breast cancer, particularly shift work, industrial solvent use and combustion products. We will compare occupations of 1000 women with breast cancer and 2000 women without cancer.
Antigen Selection In The MHC-restricted Cellular Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,570.00
Summary
The body's white cells eliminate microorganisms through the actions of immune lymphocytes and other cells which conspire to kill and neutralise these unwanted guests. When microorganisms hide inside the cells of the body they are still detected by a set of T lymphocytes which have specific receptors for scrutinising the surface of cells for any changes which might signal an intracellular infection. The immune system is ever vigilant in its search for signs of infection which are generally appare ....The body's white cells eliminate microorganisms through the actions of immune lymphocytes and other cells which conspire to kill and neutralise these unwanted guests. When microorganisms hide inside the cells of the body they are still detected by a set of T lymphocytes which have specific receptors for scrutinising the surface of cells for any changes which might signal an intracellular infection. The immune system is ever vigilant in its search for signs of infection which are generally apparent when molecules called antigens are released by microorganisms and captured by the body's cells. This activates lymphocytes resulting in an immune response capable of eliminating the microorganisms. Scrutiny of the body's cells by lymphocytes occurs continuously even when there is no infection present in the body. Following infection of a cell, microbial antigens reveal the infection by their appearance on the cell surface where they are detected by the immune system's lymphocytes. This occurs through a mechanism called antigen presentation. During antigen presentation the proteins inside the cell, including those of any invading microorganism, are first degraded into shorter molecules called peptides. This event is called antigen processing. A fraction of the peptides created by antigen processing are captured by specialised receptors present on all cells. These receptors are called HLA or histocompatibility molecules. This project examines the molecular events which mediate the capture of peptide antigens by HLA molecules. The main focus is on those peptide antigens which elicit killer T cell responses by the immune system. A knowledge of how these peptides are selected for presentation and how they are captured and carried to the cell surface is fundamental to understanding immune responses to microorganisms, tumours, allergens, transplants and self tissues as in autoimmunity. Therefore the study is of great general relevance.Read moreRead less
Dissecting The Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome With Complementary Genetic, Proteomic And Biophysical Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,352.00
Summary
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an eye condition in which flaky material deposits in the eye, greatly increasing the risk of cataract and glaucoma which can lead to blindness. PEX is also associated with heart disease, strokes and aneurysms. Cataract surgery in PEX patients has a higher rate of complications. In this project we will determine the nature of PEX material and why it forms. This knowlege will facilitate better diagnosis and treatment of PEX preventing associated blindness.
Mechanisms Underlying Growth, Lineage Commitment And Differentiation Of Liver Progenitor Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,333.00
Summary
Liver disease is a serious health problem. Viral hepatitis, obesity and alcohol can result in end-stage liver disease. Organ transplant is the only treatment available. A widening gap between organ donations and recipients mandates alternative treatments are developed. Cell transplantation and artificial liver devices are alternatives which can use liver progenitor cells. We will investigate how factors grow and convert them into liver cells for treating liver disease patients.
Impact Of An Ivermectin Mass Drug Administration Program Against Endemic Scabies And Strongyloidiasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,289,786.00
Summary
Overseas studies suggest sustainable and long term benefits can be obtained through the use of ivermectin in mass drug administration programs to control parasitic infections. Our study will be a critical first step in establishing if such a program can be successful in a remote Indigenous community setting, where the disease burden from scabies and strongyloidiasis (threadworm infections) is very high.
Erythroid Molecular Cascades Involving The Tyrosine Kinase Lyn
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,500.00
Summary
Mature red and white cells develope from hemopoietic stem cells in the adult bone marrow. The production of red blood cells is primarily controlled by the hormone erythropoietin (Epo). The availability of this hormone in a recombinant form has aided in the treatment of numerous forms of anaemia resulting from kidney failure, malignancies, and AIDS. Previously we had identified that the protein Lyn must be present inside primitive red blood cells for Epo to stimulate them to become mature functio ....Mature red and white cells develope from hemopoietic stem cells in the adult bone marrow. The production of red blood cells is primarily controlled by the hormone erythropoietin (Epo). The availability of this hormone in a recombinant form has aided in the treatment of numerous forms of anaemia resulting from kidney failure, malignancies, and AIDS. Previously we had identified that the protein Lyn must be present inside primitive red blood cells for Epo to stimulate them to become mature functional cells. Recently, we have demonstrated that mice lacking the Lyn gene develope major problems with their red blood cells. We have identified several molecules which interact with Lyn in red blood cells. We have shown that a molecule called Cbp is important for Epo function in individual red blood cells and now we plan to investigate its function in whole animals. We have shown that a new molecule called Arp is important for red blood cell development. This protein moves in and out of the nucleus (where DNA is stored) and may be important in the regulation of genes needed for red blood cells. The third gene (AFAPbeta) is also novel and is closely related to another called AFAP-110, which can exert effects on the structure of a cell. Since red blood cells have to shrink considerably during their development, the role of AFAPbeta on red blood cell structure will also be investigated. From these experiments we should develop a much better understanding of how the production of red blood cells is controlled and how diseases of red blood cells (such as anaemia) occur.Read moreRead less
A Genome-wide Search For Genes Underlying The Developmental Origins Of Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,552.00
Summary
Epidemic rises in the incidence of many chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and mental illness have occurred in Australia over the last two decades. Antenatal, early life and childhood factors have been consistently associated with the development of such diseases. We propose to conduct a genome-wide scan in an exceptional longitudinal birth cohort in order to identify the genetic mechanisms linking early life event and adult disease.
Role Of Transition Metal Ions And Redox Activity In The Development Of Atherosclerotic Plaques
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,018.00
Summary
Metal ions such as iron and copper have been reproted to be present in the lesions present in diseased human arteries and it has been suggested that these metal ions contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) via their ability to catalyse the formation of highly reactive molecualr fragments called free radicals. Though metal ions are known to catalyse such reactions in test-tube experiments, both the presence of metal ions in diseased arteries and their ability ....Metal ions such as iron and copper have been reproted to be present in the lesions present in diseased human arteries and it has been suggested that these metal ions contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) via their ability to catalyse the formation of highly reactive molecualr fragments called free radicals. Though metal ions are known to catalyse such reactions in test-tube experiments, both the presence of metal ions in diseased arteries and their ability to generate free radicals is controversial. This study will employ a novel, minimally-invasive, technique to assess the nature and quantity of metal ions present in well-defined human and animal lesions at different stages of lesion development. The ability of these metal ions to catalyse free radical formation from components present in the artery wall will also be assessed. The release of these metal ions from the artery wall to added organic molecules will be assessed as this might minimise their potential to cause damage, and provide a possible therapeutic strategy. These studies will therefore provide valuable information as to the significance and role of reactive metal ions in the development of human artery disease and the possible prevention, or minimisation, of such processes.Read moreRead less