Does Maladaptive Remodelling Of The Heart And Vasculature In Response To Preterm Birth Lead To Long-term Cardiovascular Risk?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,086.00
Summary
Being born prematurely is linked to the development of high blood pressure (a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease) later in life. In this project we will examine whether injury to the cells lining the cardiovascular system and/or structural changes in the wall of the arteries and the heart, as a result of being born early, lead to an elevation in blood pressure and heart dysfunction in adulthood.
The Genitofemoral Nerve And Gubernaculum In Testicular Descent And Inguinal Hernia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,750.00
Summary
This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in infant boys of undescended testes. In addition, the tunnel through the abdominal wall which permits testicular descent very commonly fails to close afterwards, allowing the intestines to protrude through the hole to cause an inguinal hernia, which is a tender lump in the groin,and requires surgery to resolve. Our long-term aim is to understand testicular descent and inguinal closure ....This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in infant boys of undescended testes. In addition, the tunnel through the abdominal wall which permits testicular descent very commonly fails to close afterwards, allowing the intestines to protrude through the hole to cause an inguinal hernia, which is a tender lump in the groin,and requires surgery to resolve. Our long-term aim is to understand testicular descent and inguinal closure well enough to develop non-surgical treatments for these two conditions, which are the two commonest abnormalities in children requiring surgery. We will examine how male hormones control descent of the testis indirectly by altering the anatomy and function of a specific nerve suplying the groin and scrotum. A simple and safe treatment that avoided surgery would be a major advance for infants in the developing world.Read moreRead less
Does Adenotonsillectomy Change Vascular Function In Children With Sleep Breathing Disorders?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,105.00
Summary
Sleep breathing disorders affect 10% of all children and when severe, obstruction in the upper airways causes serious deficits in growth, development, brain function and heart health. But even mild snoring (without obstruction) may also cause poor health in the arteries that supply blood to the brain and heart, as well as the smaller arteries in the arms and legs. In both adults and children with conditions like diabetes and obesity, poor blood vessel health has been shown to greatly increase th ....Sleep breathing disorders affect 10% of all children and when severe, obstruction in the upper airways causes serious deficits in growth, development, brain function and heart health. But even mild snoring (without obstruction) may also cause poor health in the arteries that supply blood to the brain and heart, as well as the smaller arteries in the arms and legs. In both adults and children with conditions like diabetes and obesity, poor blood vessel health has been shown to greatly increase the future risk of heart attacks, angina and strokes. Children with severe sleep breathing disorders (such as sleep apnoea syndrome) are currently treated by removal of the tonsils and adenoids, which typically resolves snoring and improves sleep, but it is not yet known whether there are any benefits for blood vessel health. The earliest signs of blood vessel disease in children are abnormal function of the lining of the blood vessels (endothelial dysfunction) and thickening of the lining of blood vessels (intima media thickness). They precede the adult diseases of atherosclerosis - which causes heart attacks and strokes, and diabetic kidney and eye disease. These changes can be measured accurately and non-invasively using ultrasound imaging of arteries in the neck and arm. Our primary aim is to assess whether changes in blood vessel health occur in children with sleep breathing disorders across the range of severity, with a secondary aim to measure any changes in cardiovascular control during both sleep (when snoring occurs). Most importantly, by assessing children before and after surgery, we will be able to see for the first time whether treatment of childhood snoring improves blood vessel health. This study may have major implications for the clinical management of snoring children, who may require treatment at an earlier age to prevent poor blood vessel health and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life.Read moreRead less
This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in children of undescended testes. Our long-term aims is to find a non-surgical treatment for undescended testes, and these studies will significantly aid in that goal. We will look at a completely new testicular hormone as well as a molecule released from nerves to determine their exact role in the mechanism. This project should allow us to understand finally one of the unresolved puzz ....This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in children of undescended testes. Our long-term aims is to find a non-surgical treatment for undescended testes, and these studies will significantly aid in that goal. We will look at a completely new testicular hormone as well as a molecule released from nerves to determine their exact role in the mechanism. This project should allow us to understand finally one of the unresolved puzzles of the anatomical differences between males and females.Read moreRead less