Validation Of Point Of CarE CT DeRived FracTionAl Flow Reserve In Stable Coronary Artery Disease (VERITAS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,554.00
Summary
In stable coronary artery disease outcomes are dependent on the presence and burden of ischaemia. Current methods of assessing ischaemia are either invasive with associated risks or non-invasive but limited in their diagnostic accuracy. Our research plans to assess the real world feasibility of a novel, non-invasive, point of care CT-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve technique and its potential for guiding clinical decision making and influencing downstream testing.
Utility Of Adenosine Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Following ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Post Primary Angioplasty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,322.00
Summary
Heart attacks remain the leading cause of death in the western world. Many patients presenting with an acute heart attack have more than one significant narrowing in the blood vessel. After treatment of the culprit vessel, a robust non invasive imaging technique such as cardiac MRI allows us to study of the extent of damage from the heart attack. In addition, it also enables us to determine the functional significance of the non culprit vessel. This will help guide the management of these patien ....Heart attacks remain the leading cause of death in the western world. Many patients presenting with an acute heart attack have more than one significant narrowing in the blood vessel. After treatment of the culprit vessel, a robust non invasive imaging technique such as cardiac MRI allows us to study of the extent of damage from the heart attack. In addition, it also enables us to determine the functional significance of the non culprit vessel. This will help guide the management of these patients.Read moreRead less
Use Of Novel Imaging Techniques For The Diagnosis Of Coronary Artery Disease And Myocardial Ischaemia: Implications For The Assessment Of Patients With Chest Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,322.00
Summary
Coronary artery disease (narrowing of heart arteries) is the leading cause of death in Australia, and a serious cause of chest pain. This project is designed to determine the accuracy, safety and long-term outcomes of patients with chest pain investigated with the novel technique of computed tomography (CT) of the heart muscle and arteries, including an investigational technique of CT stress testing by injection of a pharmacological agent, which may be more accurate and safe than current tests.
Effects Of Hypoxia And Reactive Oxygen Species On Neuronal Excitability Of Intrinsic Cardiac Ganglia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$70,000.00
Summary
Neural control of the heart is mediated by intrinsic cardiac neurones which respond to chemical substances such as neurotransmitters released from nerve fibres innervating the heart and vasoactive substances released into the coronary ciruculation. Prolonged periods of myocardial ischaemia (hypoxia) and post ischaemic reperfusion (oxygen-derived free radicals) influence the electrical activity of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. The involvement of membrane electrical phenomena in general, a ....Neural control of the heart is mediated by intrinsic cardiac neurones which respond to chemical substances such as neurotransmitters released from nerve fibres innervating the heart and vasoactive substances released into the coronary ciruculation. Prolonged periods of myocardial ischaemia (hypoxia) and post ischaemic reperfusion (oxygen-derived free radicals) influence the electrical activity of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. The involvement of membrane electrical phenomena in general, and ion-selective pores (ion channels) in particular, and the action of hypoxia and oxygen-derived free readicals on their function will be studied in isolated neurones dissociated from neonatal and adult rat intrinsic cardiac ganglia. The characterization of ion channels modulated by hypoxia and reactive oxygen species will be monitored using electrical and fluorescence techniques. The opening of ion channels in the cell membrane by changes in either voltage or the intracellular calcium ion concentration leads to an electrical response. The goal of the research is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of ischaemia and ischaemia-reperfusion on neuronal excitability in mammalian cardiac ganglia, thus regulation of the heart rate. Development of therapeutic strategies to prevent ischaemia and reperfusion injuries in coronary heart disease and improvement of cardiac protection during surgery are potential outcomes of this research.Read moreRead less
The Vasoprotective Actions Of Flavonoids In Ischaemia And Hypercholesterolaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,018.00
Summary
Diet has a major influence on the incidence of coronary artery disease. Thus in populations where large amounts of fruits, vegetables and legumes are consumed with a low proportion of food from animal sources there is a relatively lower incidence of coronary artery disease. A possible explanation for the beneficial actions of this diet is that it provides a high level of compounds called flavonoids. Flavonoids have a number of biological actions that may prevent coronary artery disease. Flavonoi ....Diet has a major influence on the incidence of coronary artery disease. Thus in populations where large amounts of fruits, vegetables and legumes are consumed with a low proportion of food from animal sources there is a relatively lower incidence of coronary artery disease. A possible explanation for the beneficial actions of this diet is that it provides a high level of compounds called flavonoids. Flavonoids have a number of biological actions that may prevent coronary artery disease. Flavonoids can relax blood vessels which would improve blood flow to organs. In addition they may lower the level of LDL cholesterol, the bad form of cholesterol that promotes artery narrowing. They may also have actions that prevent damage that normally occurs to organs when there is an interruption to blood flow, such as occurs when someone has a heart attack or stroke. This project will investigate the ability of selected flavonoids to prevent injury to blood vessels that occurs when there is an interruption to blood flow or when cholesterol levels are too high. Understanding the actions of flavonoids may lead to the development of new therapies to prevent or treat heart attacks and stroke.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of The Cardiac Sodium/proton Exchanger During Ischaemia, Reperfusion And Preconditioning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,000.00
Summary
Heart attacks are currently treated with drugs to dissolve the clot in the coronary artery or by catheterisation with the aim of restoring blood flow to the ischaemic heart muscle. If restoration of blood flow occurs soon after the heart attack, the ischaemic region can recover completely. However if treatment is delayed, the ischaemic region may not recover. This project concerns the mechanisms that are involved in the myocardial damage which occurs after moderate periods of ischaemia. A transp ....Heart attacks are currently treated with drugs to dissolve the clot in the coronary artery or by catheterisation with the aim of restoring blood flow to the ischaemic heart muscle. If restoration of blood flow occurs soon after the heart attack, the ischaemic region can recover completely. However if treatment is delayed, the ischaemic region may not recover. This project concerns the mechanisms that are involved in the myocardial damage which occurs after moderate periods of ischaemia. A transport protein, the sodium-proton exchanger, is involved in recovery and if its action is blocked with an inhibitory drug, recovery of the ischaemic myocardium is improved. However clinical trials of the drug in humans have given variable results. We are investigating the regulation of this exchanger and believe that such information is essential to the efficient use of the inhibitory drugs in humans and may identify other pathways to improving recovery after ischaemia.Read moreRead less
Adenosinergic Control Of Cell Death In Ischaemic-Reperfused Myocardium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,375.00
Summary
Despite a decline in death rates due to heart disease over the last decade, cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of premature death and disability in our population. During a heart attack the single most important factor determining outcome is the extent of cell death. Thus, the most valuable thing we can do is reduce the numbers of cardiac cells which die during and following heart attack. In recent years we have learned that cell death during a heart attack occurs via an active process ....Despite a decline in death rates due to heart disease over the last decade, cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of premature death and disability in our population. During a heart attack the single most important factor determining outcome is the extent of cell death. Thus, the most valuable thing we can do is reduce the numbers of cardiac cells which die during and following heart attack. In recent years we have learned that cell death during a heart attack occurs via an active process termed apoptosis (or programmed cell death). Novel therapeutic strategies for limiting cardiac apoptosis are highly desirable. This research project will examine the possibility that a locally generated chemical (termed adenosine) can very effectively reduce this form of death via multiple pathways. By understanding how one of the heart's own intrinsic defense mechanisms functions (the adenosine system), it may be possible to design new therapeutic approaches for treatment and management of ischaemic heart disease.Read moreRead less