Defining The Insulin-signalling Defect In Human Insulin Resistance And Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,280.00
Summary
Problems with the way insulin removes glucose from the circulation contribute to developing type 2 diabetes. Despite research to date, controversy remains regarding the nature of known defects in insulin action and their relevance to humans. We plan to measure molecules involved in insulin action in muscle of people with insulin resistance, which is linked to diabetes. These studies will define new defects that cause insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in humans.
Apportioning Deficits In Bone Size And Density In Women With Fractures To Growth Or Ageing By Studies In Their Daughters
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,018.00
Summary
Women fracture their bones because the bones are small and break easily and because the bones are thin or low in denseness (very porous like a honey comb). This study is aimed at identifying why women with fractures have small bones and why the bones are so porous. They may have these problems because they lost a lot of bone as they get older or because growth was abnormal so the size of the bone didn't reach its potential size or because the denseness of the bones didn't develop properly. The s ....Women fracture their bones because the bones are small and break easily and because the bones are thin or low in denseness (very porous like a honey comb). This study is aimed at identifying why women with fractures have small bones and why the bones are so porous. They may have these problems because they lost a lot of bone as they get older or because growth was abnormal so the size of the bone didn't reach its potential size or because the denseness of the bones didn't develop properly. The study will be carried out in women with spine or hip fractures and their daughters. All participants will have bone densitometry, provide a 24 hour urine sample and a fasting blood sample of 20 ml whole blood. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The bone density scan is associated with radiation exposure of about 4 mSv, about one tenth of a chest x ray, temporary bruising may follow taking blood. If we can understand the different ways osteoporosis can occur we can then start to devise specific treatments tailored to the individual. Also if we can identify the causes of small bones and bone thinness during growth it may be possible to correct some of these causes before the reduced growth and reduced building of bone occurs. We might also prevent the thinning of bone by identifying and removing causes of bone thinning.Read moreRead less
Is Periosteal Bone Formation Responsible For Sexual Dimorphism In Bone Fragility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,320.00
Summary
Men and women sustain fractures as they age because their bones become fragile. Women sustain fractures more often than men. Bone thinning occurs in both sexes but it is usually believed that this thinning or loss of bone is greater in women than men. We have evidence to suggest that this may not be correct. In fact, it is likely that men and women lose a similar amount of bone, about half what they started with, but during ageing, men lay down more bone on the outside surface of the bone than w ....Men and women sustain fractures as they age because their bones become fragile. Women sustain fractures more often than men. Bone thinning occurs in both sexes but it is usually believed that this thinning or loss of bone is greater in women than men. We have evidence to suggest that this may not be correct. In fact, it is likely that men and women lose a similar amount of bone, about half what they started with, but during ageing, men lay down more bone on the outside surface of the bone than women compensating for the similar amount lost on the inside of the bone. We also have evidence to suggest than men and women who get spine fractures do so because the process of laying down bone may fail to occur normally. We will study these processes of bone loss inside the bone and bone gain outside the bone to try to better understand why bones become weak. We will measure the bone size and its density in healthy men and women and patients with fractures to determine how the increasing size of the bone produced by laying down bone on its outside helps to keep it strong and to preserve the bone that would otherwise be lost if it didn't occur or if a disease developed that might reduce the compensatoryRead moreRead less
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