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Role Of AMP-activated Protein Kinase In Salt Excretion And Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,351.00
Summary
High blood pressure is a significant health problem and may result from the kidneys not being able to get rid of salt properly. The mechanisms underlying this are unclear. I will investigate the role of a kidney protein, called AMPK, in salt excretion in mice. I will also look at the effects that diabetes and obesity have on the function of this protein. The overall aim is to improve the understanding of what causes high blood pressure which will ultimately aid the development of new treatments ....High blood pressure is a significant health problem and may result from the kidneys not being able to get rid of salt properly. The mechanisms underlying this are unclear. I will investigate the role of a kidney protein, called AMPK, in salt excretion in mice. I will also look at the effects that diabetes and obesity have on the function of this protein. The overall aim is to improve the understanding of what causes high blood pressure which will ultimately aid the development of new treatments for it.Read moreRead less
VicHealth, is going to implement a 3-year ‘Salt Action Challenge’ with the goal of reducing the average salt consumption of Victorians by 1g by June 2018. This research will test whether this objective is achieved, identify which actions were most important and calculate the health gains achieved for Victoria.
Poor diet is now the leading cause of death and disability in Australia and most of the rest of the world. This is because most people eat too much fat, sugar, salt and energy which increases the risks of obesity, diabetes and premature death from conditions like stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. This research will identify new ways to prevent diet-related ill health by making it easier for everyone to eat better, and by identifying new treatments for problems like diabetes.
Salt And Cardiovascular Disease: Does Acute Salt-Sensitivity Convey Greater Cardiovascular Risk?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,578.00
Summary
Salt intake of Australian adults is 10X more than required. Further, salt intake in very young children is alarmingly high secondary to high consumption of salty snacks and processed food. High dietary salt intake has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease and death. We will examine the cardiovascular risks for adults and children on a high salt diet and examine whether switching to a low salt diet ameliorates the high blood pressure and heart disease caused by high salt diets
Evidence For Interventions That Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
The many Australians with kidney disease experience higher rates of cardiovascular events. Some of the highest rates of cardiovascular events and mortality are seen in people with kidney failure. Currently available treatments are inadequate at reducing this risk indicating an urgent need for new therapies. The program will investigate the effect of little used but readily available, promising interventions to assess their potential to reduce cardiovascular events for people with kidney disease.
Hypothalamic Regulation Of Cardiovascular Function In Hypertension And Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,880.00
Summary
Blood pressure is controlled to a large extent by nerves, known as sympathetic nerves, that supply the heart and blood vessels. The activity of sympathetic nerves is commonly increased in people with high blood pressure, particularly younger patients. This has the effect of constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate, which places an additional load on the heart, and increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Sympathetic nerves are also activated strongly in response to stress. In ....Blood pressure is controlled to a large extent by nerves, known as sympathetic nerves, that supply the heart and blood vessels. The activity of sympathetic nerves is commonly increased in people with high blood pressure, particularly younger patients. This has the effect of constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate, which places an additional load on the heart, and increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Sympathetic nerves are also activated strongly in response to stress. In some people stress can trigger an extreme reaction, called a panic disorder, characterised by intense sympathetic activation, which also increases the risk of heart attacks. A region in the brain called the hypothalamus plays a key role in generating these increases in sympathetic nerve activity. This project aims first to identify the precise region or regions in the hypothalamus that are responsible for causing increased sympathetic activity in high blood pressure, and also in response to acute stress. There is also evidence from studies in humans that drugs which act on a particular type of receptor in the brain (called a serotonin receptor) can strongly inhibit the normal response to stress. We also aim to determine exactly where and how such drugs work. These studies may lead to much more effective treatments for high blood pressure and stress-related disorders.Read moreRead less
Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction In Prenatal Life Predisposes To Hypertension In Adult Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,007.00
Summary
An intact endothelial lining in the vascular system is important for the normal development and functioning of the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide is a substance produced by the endothelium which acts on smooth muscle cells to cause relaxation. Recently, nitric oxide has been shown to play an important role in development of the cardiovascular system. This proposal aims to study the impact a dysfunctional endothelial lining, in particular a reduction in nitric oxide synthesis, has on develop ....An intact endothelial lining in the vascular system is important for the normal development and functioning of the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide is a substance produced by the endothelium which acts on smooth muscle cells to cause relaxation. Recently, nitric oxide has been shown to play an important role in development of the cardiovascular system. This proposal aims to study the impact a dysfunctional endothelial lining, in particular a reduction in nitric oxide synthesis, has on development and control of the cardiovascular system. It is known that a reduction in nitric oxide synthesis, results in an increase in arterial blood pressure and an alteration in development of the smooth muscle cells of vessels. Studies in human populations have shown that individuals of low birth-weight, which is indicative of poor intrauterine development, are predisposed to developing cardiovascular diseases as adults. This study will investigate the impact reduced nitric oxide synthesis in the fetal period has on adult blood pressure. This study will investigate the mechanisms-factors which contribute to altered control and-or structure of heart and blood vessels in the fetus, newborn and adult after inhibition of the nitric oxide synthesis. The major outcomes of this proposal are that a disruption in nitric oxide synthesis during fetal life predisposes the individual to elevated blood pressure in adult life and an increased probability to becoming hypertensive if they are fatter or have a high salt intake.Read moreRead less
Protein Kinases Regulate Salt Reabsorption In The Kidney
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,696.00
Summary
This proposal is designed to determine how the kidney senses the level of salt in the body and monitors blood pressure. This is critical for diseases such as hypertension, kidney and heart failure, where salt is retained inappropriately. We propose that the kidney uses proteins called kinases that are activated by salt in the kidney. When it is too low, they detect this and cause the kidney to absorb more salt to correct the deficiency. The way that they are able to do this has profound implicat ....This proposal is designed to determine how the kidney senses the level of salt in the body and monitors blood pressure. This is critical for diseases such as hypertension, kidney and heart failure, where salt is retained inappropriately. We propose that the kidney uses proteins called kinases that are activated by salt in the kidney. When it is too low, they detect this and cause the kidney to absorb more salt to correct the deficiency. The way that they are able to do this has profound implications for human heart and kidney disease, and biology in general.Read moreRead less