Improving Inner Retinal Oxygenation: Developing A New Form Of Retinal Laser Photocoagulation Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,818.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of vision loss in the working age population in our community. Current therapy involves laser destruction of much of the peripheral retina to protect the central vision. However, recent clinical and experimental evidence suggests that more moderate laser therapy could be sufficient, and that useful vision in the laser treated area can be preserved. Benefits to the patient would include reduced loss of visual field, and reduced night blindness.
Renal Medullary Blood Flow: Regulation By Paracrine, Endocrine And Neural Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,616.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a condition afflicting more than 10% of our community, and is the leading risk factor for stroke and heart disease. The kidneys play a critical role in control of blood pressure under normal conditions, and probably also in the initiation and maintenance of high blood pressure. This influence is exerted both through the excretion of salt and water, and by the release of substances into the circulation that affect blood pressure (hormones). Recent experiments performed by u ....High blood pressure is a condition afflicting more than 10% of our community, and is the leading risk factor for stroke and heart disease. The kidneys play a critical role in control of blood pressure under normal conditions, and probably also in the initiation and maintenance of high blood pressure. This influence is exerted both through the excretion of salt and water, and by the release of substances into the circulation that affect blood pressure (hormones). Recent experiments performed by us and others have indicated that the inner part of the kidney (the medulla) is critical in these functions, which appear to be regulated by the level of blood flow in the medulla of the kidney. Our recent experiments also show that hormones and nerves have diverse effects on blood flow in the different regions of the kidney, showing that these factors can differentially affect blood pressure depending on their effects on medullary blood flow. Importantly, these hormones and nerves do not act in isolation, but act in concert, and in association with so called 'second messenger' systems that act locally to directly affect the contraction of muscle in blood vessels, and so blood vessel size. The experiments described in this application are aimed at determining how circulating and locally acting hormones, and the nerves in the kidney, interact together to control blood flow in the different regions of the kidney. This will help us understand how blood flow to the medulla of the kidney is regulated normally, so that we can begin to understand how malfunction of these systems can contribute to the development of high blood pressure.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Neural Mechanisms Of 670 And 830nm Laser Acupuncture In Pain Relief, Using Rat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,207.00
Summary
Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigat ....Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigate this we (CI A and CI B) previously undertook a study of infrared laser on nerve cell cultures. This followed on from a positive clinical study with the same laser wavelength in the treatment of neck pain, undertaken by CI B. We established that laser temporarily interrupts the nerve transport system, which is made up of a series of minute tubes, called microtubules. These act as a “monorail” system for transport of mitochondria, which provide energy for all nerve functions. We propose that temporary interruption of this system, called fast axonal transport, disrupts the conduction of pain signals along the nerve, resulting in pain relief. Important unanswered questions The mechanism by which 830nm laser acupuncture relieves pain clinically remains poorly understood. For its acceptance into mainstream clinical practice it is important to determine the effect of laser on the peripheral nerves and in particular the pain carrying fibres. We know from an earlier study that a single exposure causes significant but reversible changes in pain fibres including axonal microtubule disruption, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and block of fast axonal flow. These events would result in conduction failure. The question is whether the repeated irradiations, comparable to those delivered clinically result in the same changes. This would provide a scientific basis for understanding the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture. We also do not know if 670nm laser acupuncture would act in the same way. There is evidence that this may be more effective so that this remains another important unanswered question. Further, there is no evidence regarding which wavelength would be cost and time effective as it is desirable to deliver lower dose. We need to determine the most effective dose and wavelength so that clinical trials could be carried out as was done for the trials by CIB (Chow and Barnsley, 2006).Read moreRead less
Vasoactive Nutrients To Promote Healthy Ageing In Postmenopausal Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,031.00
Summary
Poor circulatory function in the brain, associated with mood and cognitive disturbances, can be further exacerbated by ageing and estrogen deprivation at postmenopause. My research will determine whether phytoestrogen supplementation with either resveratrol or genistein for 2 years can counteract menopause-related impairments in mood and mental performance by enhancing cerebral vasodilator function and whether the magnitude of improvement differs between early and late menopausal years.
Maternal Ophthalmic Artery Doppler Waveform Analysis In The Assessment And Management Of Pre-eclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,758.00
Summary
Pre-eclampsia is the commonest serious medical problem in pregnancy. Mothers who have this condition are at risk of seizures, stroke and other neurological problems, which can cause death or long-term morbidity. Treatments for pre-eclampsia aim to prevent these problems. Through ultrasound imaging of a blood vessel at the back of the eye, this study will provide new insights into how these treatments change the brain's blood supply in mothers with pre-eclampsia.
Predicting Intrapartum Fetal Compromise At Term Using The Fetal Cerebro-umbilical Ratio And Placental Growth Factor Levels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,733.00
Summary
A lack of oxygen to a baby after the onset of labour (i.e. fetal distress) in an otherwise healthy pregnancy is one of the top three causes of death in singleton pregnancies after 37 weeks. Our previous research has shown that a late pregnancy ultrasound scan combined with a blood test from the mother measuring the levels of a placental hormone can potentially identify pregnancies at risk. We aim to assess the value of this screening test at a major tertiary hospital.