Hormonal Predictors Of Cardiovascular Outcomes And Mortality In Ageing Men: The Role Of Androgens And The IGF System.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,035.00
Summary
As men age levels of testosterone and growth hormone fall while ill health increases. We do not know if low hormone levels directly cause heart disease. We will measure testosterone and IGF1, which reflects growth hormone, in 4,200 older men, and relate hormone levels to the future risk of ill health especially heart disease, stroke and large artery blockages. This will clarify whether low hormone levels increase risk of ill health, and the value of studies to test hormone therapy in older men.
Osteoblast Control Of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell Differentiation: The Role Of Glucocorticoids And Wnt Signalling.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,131.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is an important and growing health issue. Reduced ability to make new bone is an important cause of osteoporosis. In this project we will study how the immature cells which eventually make bone are recruited and controlled. In particular, we will study how genes coding for important growth factors are regulated so that the proper signals are sent to young cells to induce them to become bone-making rather than fat-making cells.
Glycaemia And Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes In Patients With Diabetes And CKD: Methodology, Relationship And
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$143,661.00
Summary
Diabetes is increasing and now the primary cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). At present the care of people with diabetes and CKD aims to achieve normal blood glucose levels in the safest possible way in order to prevent acute and chronic complications and improve outcomes and quality of life. In this project we will examine the best means by which to measure, monitor and treat blood glucose levels in such people and explore the effect of intensive blood glucose control.
I am an academic clinician who has a principal interest in all aspects of diabetes, especially treatment and complications, and who is also involved in studies of antimalarial pharmacology.
Mechanisms Of Pro-atherogenic Effects Of Androgens In Human Vascular Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,320.00
Summary
Atherosclerosis is the most important cardiovascular disease and is now the leading cause of death in Western societies. A major clue to the causality of the disease is the striking gender gap in its prevalence and severity. The gender gap in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may be due to genetic, lifestyle or hormonal differences between males and females. Of these, hormonal differences are the most amenable to therapeutic intervention. Accordingly, there has been a lot of interest in the ....Atherosclerosis is the most important cardiovascular disease and is now the leading cause of death in Western societies. A major clue to the causality of the disease is the striking gender gap in its prevalence and severity. The gender gap in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may be due to genetic, lifestyle or hormonal differences between males and females. Of these, hormonal differences are the most amenable to therapeutic intervention. Accordingly, there has been a lot of interest in the potential protective effects of estrogens but few have studied the role of androgens with sophisticated approaches to androgen physiology and pharmacology. Clues from epidemiological and our recent studies suggest that androgenic influences on atherosclerosis may involve positive and negative effects on atherogenesis but the mechanisms are not understood. We now propose a comprehensive approach to studying androgenic effects on vascular biology both to enhance knowledge as well as potentially opening new therapeutic options in selective androgen receptor modulation.Read moreRead less
The Physiological Relevance Of Calcitonin In Osteoclast Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,640.00
Summary
Throughout adult life, bone tissue is continuously remodelled. The two main processes involved in bone remodelling, are bone formation and bone breakdown. Bone formation is controlled by cells known as osteoblasts and bone breakdown is controlled by cells known as osteoclasts. Under normal circumstances these two processes are tightly coupled. Excessive breakdown of bone, causes these two processes to become unbalanced and results in bone loss. This is the basis of many bone diseases such as ost ....Throughout adult life, bone tissue is continuously remodelled. The two main processes involved in bone remodelling, are bone formation and bone breakdown. Bone formation is controlled by cells known as osteoblasts and bone breakdown is controlled by cells known as osteoclasts. Under normal circumstances these two processes are tightly coupled. Excessive breakdown of bone, causes these two processes to become unbalanced and results in bone loss. This is the basis of many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become fragile and therefore more susceptible to fracture. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men aged 70 years and older suffer from osteoporosis in Australia. Despite this, the mechanisms which control osteoclast breakdown of bone are not well understood. Our laboratory is interested in how hormones affect osteoclast action. We plan to examine the role of the hormone calcitonin, thought to be important inhibitor of osteoclastic bone breakdown. This will be achieved by studying transgenic mice in which the receptor for calcitonin is specifically removed from osteoclasts. This will allow us to precisely determine the role of calcitonin in osteoclast function. Current treatment for osteoporosis involves the administration of drugs which inhibit bone breakdown. This project will increase our understanding of how calcitonin acts to regulate the function of osteoclasts. We believe that this research is of great importance as osteoporosis is becoming more prevalent as the population ages.Read moreRead less
Association Between Birthweight And The Metabolic Syndrome - A Study In Twins.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,880.00
Summary
The Metabolic Syndrome is a shorthand term for a collection of disorders in the same individual; including Diabetes, high cholesterol levels, hypertension, atherosclerosis and obesity. These conditions have previously been assumed to occur because of genetic influences, acting in combination with the individual's lifestyle. However, another factor may also be important in causing the metabolic syndrome. A recent theory suggests that adverse events occurring during fetal development may result in ....The Metabolic Syndrome is a shorthand term for a collection of disorders in the same individual; including Diabetes, high cholesterol levels, hypertension, atherosclerosis and obesity. These conditions have previously been assumed to occur because of genetic influences, acting in combination with the individual's lifestyle. However, another factor may also be important in causing the metabolic syndrome. A recent theory suggests that adverse events occurring during fetal development may result in low birth weight and lead to metabolic changes which cause the metabolic syndrome in adulthood. This theory, if true, would have profound implications for the prevention of these common problems; which are the leading cause of death in developed countries. The validity of the Fetal Origins Hypothesis is curently uncertain. Confounding genetic and environmental factors make it difficult to separate the role of genetic, fetal and environmental influences. Studies of twins have the potential to sort out this important question. We will study the association between birthweight and the metabolic syndrome in sets of identical twins who have identical genes and similar environmental backgrounds. We will use a set of metabolic and hormone tests to define the characteristics of each twin. We will also employ a novel non-invasive method of measuring cell metabolism using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. If we find that the twin with lower birthweight usually has more adverse features of the metabolic syndrome, this will point to an important cause of cardiovascular disease. This study will provide very important insights into the influence of early life on subsequent health and may lead to a dramatic changes in our approach to the prevention of common diseases. Improving the health and well-being of pregnant mothers and their babies may turn out to be one of the most important public health issues that we can address.Read moreRead less