Effect Zoledronic Acid And Risedronate On The Preservation Of The Femoral Head In A Rat Model Of Perthes Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$199,750.00
Summary
Perthes Disease (Legg-Perthes Disease) is a common childhood disorder, which leads to collapse and deformity of the growing hip joint. This can lead to arthritis in adult life, as well as a short leg on the affected side. The cause is as yet unknown. A class of drugs called bisphosphonates has been shown to help children with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). We believe, based on our extensive studies of the effect of these drugs on bone healing, that they could also help children ....Perthes Disease (Legg-Perthes Disease) is a common childhood disorder, which leads to collapse and deformity of the growing hip joint. This can lead to arthritis in adult life, as well as a short leg on the affected side. The cause is as yet unknown. A class of drugs called bisphosphonates has been shown to help children with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). We believe, based on our extensive studies of the effect of these drugs on bone healing, that they could also help children with Perthes disease. Although proving to be safe and effective in children with osteogenesis imperfecta, before exposing children with Perthes disease to the risk of any side effects, animal studies are needed. A certain type of rat called the spontaneously hypertensive rat gets a condition almost exactly the same as Perthes disease. This study will treat a large number of these rats and perform detailed study into whether it has a positive effect on preserving the shape of the hip joint, as well as looking into how this actually occurs. A successful outcome would pave the way for trials in children with Perthes disease, and could result in the avoidance of surgery and improved health outcomes for the children.Read moreRead less
Antimalarial Drugs In Pregnancy: Preclinical And Clinical Studies Of Conventional And Novel Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,115.00
Summary
Women in malaria-endemic areas such as coastal PNG are at high risk of malaria in pregnancy. To prevent the substantially increased malaria-associated morbidity and mortality in mother and child, and because even asymptomatic infections can be deleterious, there has been a move to giving antimalarial drugs regularly during pregnancy regardless of the mother's clinical or parasitological status. In poor tropical countries, such treatment usually comprises safe and inexpensive agents such as chlor ....Women in malaria-endemic areas such as coastal PNG are at high risk of malaria in pregnancy. To prevent the substantially increased malaria-associated morbidity and mortality in mother and child, and because even asymptomatic infections can be deleterious, there has been a move to giving antimalarial drugs regularly during pregnancy regardless of the mother's clinical or parasitological status. In poor tropical countries, such treatment usually comprises safe and inexpensive agents such as chloroquine and Fansidar. There are two main issues with this approach. First, the efficacy of such conventional agents is waning and this increases the risk of break-through malaria. Second, there are few data on how the drugs are handled in pregnancy on which to base recommendations for treatment. We plan to collect information on the disposition and effectiveness of chloroquine and Fansidar in women with malaria in pregnancy in PNG that should allow a critical appraisal of the usefulness of current regimens in PNG and in other tropical countries where parasite resistance to these agents is emerging. Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) in the form of a novel artemisinin drug and a longer-acting partner has been suggested as the most promising alternative therapy for malaria in pregnancy if conventional drugs fail. We plan to assess the safety of a leading ACT formulation, namely dihydroartemisinin and the chloroquine-like drug piperaquine (DHA-PQ), in animals before extending our studies to women with malaria in PNG. These latter studies will allow an evaluation of the safety and efficacy of DHA-PQ as novel therapy for malaria in pregnancy in PNG and other tropical countries.Read moreRead less
The Na+-H+ Exchanger And H+-pumping Pyrophosphatases Of The Malaria Parasite
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,604.00
Summary
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a single-celled parasite. The disease kills up to 2 million people each year and the parasite is becoming increasingly resistant to available drugs. This work focuses on the mechanisms by which the parasite controls its internal ion concentrations. These mechanisms may be new drug targets, and they may also play a role in antimalarial drug resistance. For both of these reasons it is important that we understand them.
Antibiotic Loading Of Bone Allografts For The Prevention Of Peri-operative Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,847.00
Summary
Bone is the second most often transplanted tissue after blood, with thousands of grafts done every year in Australia. Allograft bone (taken from another person) is used to replace bone removed due to cancer, but is prone to infection. Infected grafts must be removed, and can lead to amputation. We are developing a process to put antibiotics into allograft bone, to prevent infections from taking hold. Reducing infections can increase the success of limb salvage surgery for cancer patients.
Patient Tailored Immunity Transplant For The Prevention Of Viral Infections Post Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,967.00
Summary
Blood or bone marrow transplantation can cure leukaemia and related blood disorders, but patients are susceptible to infections in the period early after transplant. Infectious complications remain a leading cause of death among allogeneic transplant recipients. Our research aims to prevent the onset of infection using novel cell therapies to rapidly restore the immune system thus preventing the problems associated with the transplant process.
Probiotic Prophylaxis Of Spinal Cord Injury Urinary Tract-Infection TherapeUtic-Trial (ProSCIUTTU)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,747.00
Summary
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are common in spinal cord injury (SCI) and about 2-year occur in SCI. Antibiotic resistance is also common in SCI. UTI are harder to treat with high rates of antibiotic resistance and this often leads to hospitalisation with significant health and economic consequences to the SCI community and country. Probiotics may prevent UTI and treat people colonised with resistant organisms. Unlike alternatives like antibiotics, they do not worsen antibiotic resistance.