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Cardiovascular Reactivity To Stress: Role Of Redox Signalling In The Hypothalamus And Brainstem
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,979.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is Australia's greatest health problem. It kills more people than any other disease and affected 3.5 million Australians in 2004-05. More and more evidence suggests a relationship between the risk of cardiovascular disease and mental stress. But more research is needed on how stress contributes to heart disease risk. This project aims to determine the role of harmful molecules, called free oxygen radicals, in brain in mediating effects of stress on cardiovascular system.
Influence Of Superoxide On The Central Cardiovascular Response To Emotional Stress: Cellular And Subcellular Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$642,599.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is Australia's greatest health problem. It kills more people than any other disease and affected 3.5 million Australians in 2004-05. More and more evidence suggests a relationship between the risk of cardiovascular disease and mental stress. But more research is needed on how stress contributes to heart disease risk. This project aims to determine the role of harmful molecules, called free oxygen radicals, in brain in mediating effects of stress on cardiovascular system.
Gamma-Tocopherol: An Important Dietary Factor For Protection Against Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,575.00
Summary
Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in Western Countries. Oxidative damage is thought to be a major contributor to the development of a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease. Oxidative damage can occur in states of oxidative stress when the body's antioxidant defences cannot prevent damage caused by free radicals or other oxidants. Antioxidant vitamins help defend against oxidative injury and therefore should help to protect against such diseases as heart disease ( ....Heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in Western Countries. Oxidative damage is thought to be a major contributor to the development of a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease. Oxidative damage can occur in states of oxidative stress when the body's antioxidant defences cannot prevent damage caused by free radicals or other oxidants. Antioxidant vitamins help defend against oxidative injury and therefore should help to protect against such diseases as heart disease (atherosclerosis). Population studies support the view that dietary antioxidants such as vitamin E help to protect against heart disease. However, several large studies giving subjects vitamin E supplements (pure alpha tocopherol) showed no benefits or protection against heart disease. There is a cruicial difference between supplements and dietary intake of vitamin E. Supplements contain only alpha tocopherol while dietary sources derived from seeds, nuts, grain and oils is a mixture of different forms of tocopherol. Recent evidence suggests that one of these forms (gamma-tocopherol) has different properties to alpha-tocopherol and can protect against certain oxidants in ways that alpha-tocopherol cannot. We have developed a specialised assay to detect forms of gamma-tocopherol in human plasma that have reacted with toxic oxidants. Using this assay we have shown that people with heart desease may have higher levels of these products in their blood than people without heart disease. This project will investigate the effects of gamma and alpha tocopherol dietary supplements on risk factors for heart disease. It will also investigate how gamma tocopherol may be working to protect against the development of heart disease. These studies could have important implications for what type of diet or dietary supplement is most beneficial to protect against heart disease.Read moreRead less
Atherosclerosis:Lipoproteins, Cell Biology And Vascular Physiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,274,391.00
Summary
The team comprises internationally recognised experts in basic, clinical and public health applied research in cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis that is the commonest cause of death in Australia and other developed countries. Over the last decade, improvement in cardiovascular health has been primarily the result of a better understanding on how to control 'bad' (or LDL) cholesterol. The significance of the proposed studies is that, on the one hand, they will provide new infor ....The team comprises internationally recognised experts in basic, clinical and public health applied research in cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis that is the commonest cause of death in Australia and other developed countries. Over the last decade, improvement in cardiovascular health has been primarily the result of a better understanding on how to control 'bad' (or LDL) cholesterol. The significance of the proposed studies is that, on the one hand, they will provide new information on how 'good' lipoproteins protect us from atherosclerosis. This information can then be used to regulate 'good' cholesterol in a meaningful manner. On the other hand, the proposed studies will provide fundamental insights into how a range of lifestyle factors, physiological processes and pathological conditions relate to both the function of blood vessel-lining cells and susceptibility of individuals to atherosclerosis.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrial L-arginine Transport And Its Role In The Pathogenesis Of Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,660.00
Summary
Heart failure is a common disorder that is marked by significant symptoms and reduced survival. Reduced cardiac performance is the key responsible mechanism. At the tissue level, altered energy metabolism is a major contributor. Mitochondria are the cellular elements that produce energy and in this project we aim to study how a key process that regulates mitochondrial activity behaves in the setting of heart failure.
Iron And Oxidative Stress In Stable And Unstable Coronary Artery Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,570.00
Summary
This PhD investigates the key roles iron and insufficient antioxidants play in worsening tissue injury during and following a heart attack, in precipitating blockages in heart arteries, and in impairing blood vessel function in those with heart disease. By using drugs to remove iron from the body, it is possible to compare the detrimental effects of iron (on tissue injury and blood vessel function) in the group treated with the medication and the group treated with placebo.
Central Regulation Of Blood Pressure : Role Of Angiotensin And Nitric Oxide
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$488,250.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a major public health problem in Western society with approximately 20% of adults affected. If left untreated serious damage to organs can occur and the risk of sudden cardiac death or stroke is greatly increased. While many factors contribute to the development of hypertension such as lifestyles, genes, diet, weight and exercise levels, a common feature in the early stages is an overactive nervous system in the kidney and in the heart which is most likely due to altered s ....High blood pressure is a major public health problem in Western society with approximately 20% of adults affected. If left untreated serious damage to organs can occur and the risk of sudden cardiac death or stroke is greatly increased. While many factors contribute to the development of hypertension such as lifestyles, genes, diet, weight and exercise levels, a common feature in the early stages is an overactive nervous system in the kidney and in the heart which is most likely due to altered signals from the brain. A major question has been to understand why this occurs. One possibility is angiotensin (a hormone released from the kidney that is known to control body fluid) also acts in the brain to increase nerve activity to the kidney and heart and in this way contribute to high blood pressure. Our research has shown that normally brain angiotensin has relatively little activity but can be switched on by specific situations such as stress or a high salt. This may be by depleting anti-oxidants and producing an oxidative stress in the brain. With aging, stress, lack of exercise and other various environmental influences our body is less able to cope with oxidative stress which is the result of the normal cells function. The major thrust of this project is to determine whether the long term contribution of angiotensin in the brain to high blood pressure is caused by a high level of oxidative stress in the brain. We will see whether experimental animals still develop high blood pressure if angiotensin is blocked in the brain and see whether changing the oxidative stress levels in the brain affects this role. We will be able to better understand the interplay between these molecules in the brain which opens the way for the development of new highly specific drugs that can prevent the high level of nerve activity to the heart and kidney and hence the development of high blood pressure.Read moreRead less
Antioxidant Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) Mimetics And Atherosclerosis: A Role For Targeted Antioxidant Therapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,319.00
Summary
This proposal investigates the use of antioxidant therapy, targeted at increasing the function of the body's important antioxidant enzyme GPx1, to reduce atherosclerosis both in a non-diabetic and diabetic setting. Strong clinical evidence and our recently published data support an important role for GPx1 in limiting atherosclerosis. We will now investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in mediating these effects and whether compounds that mimic GPx1 function reduce atherosclerosis.
Identification Of The Pathophysiologically Relevant NADPH Oxidase Isoform In Human Cardiovascular Disease - Role Of NOX5
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,488.00
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death world-wide. Yet we do not know enough about what causes them to reliably identify and treat, let alone prevent these diseases. Therefore, this project will examine the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, which will lead to the development of novel therapies.