Improving Behavioural Treatment For Frequent Headaches By Incorporating A New Approach To Managing Triggers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,255.00
Summary
The standard clinical advice is that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the triggers, but we have argued that this may lead to decreased tolerance for triggers and therefore more headaches. We have developed an innovative approach to managing triggers which focuses on training people to cope with triggers. The proposed research will evaluate a new treatment for headaches based on integrating our approach to managing triggers into our behavioural treatment program for headaches.
Behavioural Management Of The Triggers Of Recurrent Headache: Avoidance Versus Coping
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$503,233.00
Summary
The traditional approach to headache management is to advise that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the trigger factors. This approach has never been systematically evaluated, however, and it may lead to headache sufferers losing tolerance for the factors that could precipitate a headache. This study will be the first to evaluate the traditional approach, and will also evaluate an innovative approach that includes techniques designed to desensitise people to headache triggers.
Anaphylaxis To Australian Native Ant Venoms; Major Allergens, Cross-reactivity, Diagnosis And Risk Assessment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,813.00
Summary
Insect venom allergy is a major cause of life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) in this country, and native ants are the most frequent cause in some regions. For introduced insects (bees and wasps), venom extracts are widely available for diagnostic and therapeutic use, but this is not yet the case for native ants. As many as 50,000 Australians may be affected by allergy to stings from ants in the native genus Myrmecia. This project will provide an in-depth understanding of the ant species respo ....Insect venom allergy is a major cause of life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) in this country, and native ants are the most frequent cause in some regions. For introduced insects (bees and wasps), venom extracts are widely available for diagnostic and therapeutic use, but this is not yet the case for native ants. As many as 50,000 Australians may be affected by allergy to stings from ants in the native genus Myrmecia. This project will provide an in-depth understanding of the ant species responsible for anaphylaxis in Australia. We will develop a range of diagnostic test modules, a detailed national map of causative species, and a panel of reference venoms and allergic sera, so that accurate diagnostic tests can be assured, and so that high quality venom extracts can be provided for human use (immunotherapy). We will also study allergic volunteers for up to five years, so as to determine which people are at the highest risk of repeated stings and reactions and thus most likely to benefit from desensitisation. Current evidence suggests that the commonest cause of native insect venom allergy may be the jack jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula, for which a desensitising venom extract has been developed and shown to be highly effective in preventing life threatening reactions. The research described in this application will enable doctors to ensure an accurate diagnosis, which is an essential step before desensitising treatment can be offered for jack jumper allergy. Another large group of people are probably allergic to larger Myrmecia known as bull dog ants or inch ants. Our results with regard to cross-reactivity patterns and venom similarities will enable us to determine an optimum therapeutic mixture of bull dog ant venoms and thus enable us to provide treatment for people allergic to these ants as well.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Opioid Receptor Desensitisation In Single Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$301,320.00
Summary
Opioid drugs including morphine and codeine are the most effective analgesics known but their utility is limited by problems of tolerance (which is the need for increasing doses of drug to achieve the same effect), physical dependence characterised by a debilitating withdrawal syndrome on cessation of use, and addiction or compulsive drug seeking and use. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these adverse processes could lead to the development of more acceptable pain relieving agen ....Opioid drugs including morphine and codeine are the most effective analgesics known but their utility is limited by problems of tolerance (which is the need for increasing doses of drug to achieve the same effect), physical dependence characterised by a debilitating withdrawal syndrome on cessation of use, and addiction or compulsive drug seeking and use. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these adverse processes could lead to the development of more acceptable pain relieving agents. This project will increase understanding of the initial molecular events occurring in nerve cells that are believed to underlie the development of tolerance and physical dependence on opioid drugs. These studies will focus on sensory nerve cells isolated and cultured from animals, which are one of the major targets of pain relieving drugs. Understanding of these processes will lead to development of better strategies to avoid development of tolerance and perhaps physical dependence. They will also identify on a molecular level the mechanisms that determine why one opioid drug may produce more tolerance than another. This knowledge may lead to the development of pain relieving drugs that do not so readily lose their effectiveness in the management of chronic pain.Read moreRead less
Controlled Clinical Trial Of Desensitization To Chronic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,149.00
Summary
An estimated 17.1% of males and 20.0% of females in NSW report having chronic pain. Chronic pain sufferers are major users of health services, with frequent medical consultations and high pharmacological consumption. A recent NSW population-based study found that 78% of pain sufferers had consulted at least one healthcare practitioner in the previous 6 months about their pain, and 71% of those sampled were taking regular oral analgesic medications. Disability due to chronic pain is often associa ....An estimated 17.1% of males and 20.0% of females in NSW report having chronic pain. Chronic pain sufferers are major users of health services, with frequent medical consultations and high pharmacological consumption. A recent NSW population-based study found that 78% of pain sufferers had consulted at least one healthcare practitioner in the previous 6 months about their pain, and 71% of those sampled were taking regular oral analgesic medications. Disability due to chronic pain is often associated with higher levels of distress and use of healthcare services. Unfortunately, at present there are no lasting curative treatments for most chronic pain conditions and most people with these conditions are told they have to learn to live with their ongoing pain. One of the most effective ways of teaching chronic pain sufferers to live with their pain are known as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions. But even though many find these methods helpful, a significant proportion of cases remain distressed by their pain. This places them at higher risk of relapse and further treatment seeking. If this group of pain sufferers could be taught more effective ways of minimising their pain-related distress, their overall functional and long-term quality of life goals could be maximised. The study has the potential to achieve a major improvement in outcomes for distressed patients with disabling chronic pain, traditionally a very intractable group. The study would also have important implications for the prevention of disability associated with persisting pain. If successful, it could alter the ways in which many health professionals advise patients to cope with their chronic pain, especially in relation to the use of the common modalities of relaxation and distraction techniques, as well as the use of pain reducing interventions. The study represents the first major clinical test of an alternative to these traditional modalities.Read moreRead less
The Mechanisms Responsible For Tolerance At The Mu-opioid Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,815.00
Summary
Strong pain relieving opioid drugs like morphine lose their effectiveness when used for long periods because the single protein target for them in the body loses its� normal signalling functions. This research will determine the mechanisms responsible for this loss of function in brain nerve cells using novel methods to identify the molecular adaptations involved. This will provide a rational framework for development of pain relieving opioid drugs that can maintain long term efficacy.
Regulation Of Cellular Responses To Neuropeptides.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,510.00
Summary
Neuropeptides are chemicals released from nerves that are responsible for communication between the nerves, glands, muscles or other nerves. Neuropeptides exert their diverse biological effects by interacting with small structures on the cells they wish to communicate with. These structures bind the neuropeptide and are termed neuropeptide receptors. The responses of tissues to neuropeptides, for example, contraction of muscle, decrease with continued exposure to the neuropeptide. This reduction ....Neuropeptides are chemicals released from nerves that are responsible for communication between the nerves, glands, muscles or other nerves. Neuropeptides exert their diverse biological effects by interacting with small structures on the cells they wish to communicate with. These structures bind the neuropeptide and are termed neuropeptide receptors. The responses of tissues to neuropeptides, for example, contraction of muscle, decrease with continued exposure to the neuropeptide. This reduction in response is termed desensitization is thought to turn off the response to cells following stimulation by neuropeptides. In this study, I will investigate the mechanisms behind the desensitization of VPAC receptors which are a found throughout the body and have many important roles for example, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and reproductive function and control of muscle. VPAC receptors are also highly expressed in certain many cancers such as breast, prostate and colon carcinoma. The wide variety of functions that these receptors perform and the wide distribution in the body suggest that these are very important receptors. To date research into the responses and desensitisation of these receptors has been lacking, and the work that has been done has become confusing as more receptors and neuropeptides which bind them are discovered. The current project aims to carefully study these receptors and to determine their role in health and disease. The understanding the interaction of receptor and neuropeptide can perhaps lead to development of new therapeutic agents.Read moreRead less