Role Of Tenascin-C And TLR-4 In Carotid Atherosclerosis Related Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,071.00
Summary
It is estimated that approximately 10,000 Australians per year suffer from strokes related to neck artery disease. Warning signs often go undiagnosed and unreported. Currently there are no blood tests available for early simple diagnosis and few specific drugs available to reduce the number of strokes. Based on preliminary studies we will investigate the role of a novel protein and its related pathway in stroke. We will also study the value of these proteins as a blood test for this problem.
Cerebrovascular Diseases And Brain Ageing – A Program Of Research Into Novel Mechanisms, Risk Prevention And Innovative Health Care Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
This research is aimed at understanding the ways in which age-related vascular disease affecting the brain leads to walking difficulty, cognitive impairment and falls in older people. It is also designed to discover potentially modifiable risk factors for such vascular disease. Ultimately the goal of this research is to design and conduct trials of interventions aimed at slowing the process of vascular brain ageing.
VITATOPS Study - A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of Vitamins To Prevent Stroke.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,477,963.00
Summary
Stroke is one of the most important causes of death and long-term disability in developed countries. Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is the major cause of stroke and heart attacks. High blood pressure, high blood concentrations of cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis, but they do not account for all strokes and heart attacks caused by atherosclerosis. There is now increasing evidence that high blood concentrations of homocysteine, a ....Stroke is one of the most important causes of death and long-term disability in developed countries. Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is the major cause of stroke and heart attacks. High blood pressure, high blood concentrations of cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis, but they do not account for all strokes and heart attacks caused by atherosclerosis. There is now increasing evidence that high blood concentrations of homocysteine, a normal protein in the blood, are another major causal risk factor for atherosclerosis (and stroke and heart attacks). Furthermore, blood concentrations of homocysteine can be lowered by about one quarter with simple, safe and inexpensive multivitamin therapy (folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6). However, despite the potentially massive public health benefits of such a strategy, it remains to be demonstrated in properly designed clinical trials that lowering homocysteine levels in the blood actually prevents stroke and heart attack. The VITATOPS trial is the only ongoing randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the world which aims to determine whether multivitamin therapy (folic acid 2 mg, vitamin B12 0.5 mg, and vitamin B6 25 mg) prevents recurrent stroke and heart attacks in patients who have suffered a recent stroke.Read moreRead less
VITATOPS Study - A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of Vitamins To Prevent Stroke.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,887.00
Summary
The VITAmins To Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial is the only ongoing randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the world which aims to determine whether multivitamin therapy (folic acid 2 mg, vitamin B12 0.5 mg, and vitamin B6 25 mg) prevents recurrent stroke and heart attacks in patients who have suffered a recent stroke. To date more than 7,500 patients have been randomised. Ongoing support is requested to complete the follow-up of 8,000 patients by middle of 2009.
An International Comparison Of Systems Of Care, Risk Stratification And Outcomes In TIA And Minor Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,189,790.00
Summary
Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs: self-limited brief episodes of stroke symptoms) are high-risk events with an approximately 15% risk of stroke within 90-days. Current practice calls for specialist treatment within 1-7 days. But this recommendation (based on 20 year old overseas evidence) may not apply in contemporary Australia. We will conduct a study of patients with TIA that will document their interactions with Australian health systems and inform contemporary Australian practice.
Substance P Antagonists As A Novel Therapeutic Intervention In Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,267.00
Summary
Stroke is the major cause of disability in adults over 45 years of age in Australia. The economic and social cost of stroke is enormous with billions of dollars spent each year on the management and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Despite the enormity of this public health problem, no effective treatment currently exists. A number of studies have now demonstrated that much of the morbidity following stroke is associated with the breakdown of the blood brain barrier, development of oedema, and ....Stroke is the major cause of disability in adults over 45 years of age in Australia. The economic and social cost of stroke is enormous with billions of dollars spent each year on the management and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Despite the enormity of this public health problem, no effective treatment currently exists. A number of studies have now demonstrated that much of the morbidity following stroke is associated with the breakdown of the blood brain barrier, development of oedema, and subsequent brain damage in areas surrounding the central region of the stroke. These events develop over hours to days following the stroke and are known as secondary injury. This delayed progression of injury suggests that appropriate pharmacologic intervention can prevent, or at least attenuate, this secondary injury process with a resultant improvement in outcome. Nonetheless, few interventions are available that can limit this development. Our own recent studies have demonstrated that regions in brains which demonstrate the presence of stroke also exhibit signs of neurogenic inflammation, which has been associated with oedema formation, oxidative damage and cell death in other tissues. Although a number of neuropeptides have been implicated in this process, it is thought that substance P release is closely associated with these pathophysiological processes. Thus, inhibiting substance P binding may offer a novel therapeutic approach to attenuating oedema formation and the development of neurologic deficits following stroke. This proposal will utilise a combined biochemical, pharmacologic and behavioural approach to characterize the role of neurogenic inflammation in the development of oedema and neurologic deficits following stroke. Moreover, we will develop a novel pharmacotherapy that can potentially be used in the treatment of clinical stroke.Read moreRead less
Lung Injury Following Resuscitation In Immature Lambs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
The primary aim of this project is to identify techniques for resuscitating premature babies that cause little or no damage to their lungs. We also want to identify factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs so air can easily enter to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide at birth. About 1% of babies are born very prematurely and many develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This is the major cause of illness and death in infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation. Mos ....The primary aim of this project is to identify techniques for resuscitating premature babies that cause little or no damage to their lungs. We also want to identify factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs so air can easily enter to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide at birth. About 1% of babies are born very prematurely and many develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This is the major cause of illness and death in infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation. Most of the survivors required assisted ventilation during their first weeks of life. In 1995, 2381 premature infants were ventilated in Australia and New Zealand, requiring 36,407 days of ventilator care. Thus, this is a serious condition with a high financial and social cost. It is known that RDS is caused by damage to the very immature lung which starts an inflammatory reaction. We don't know what triggers the damage and inflammation but believe that the way babies are resuscitated may damage the lungs. Currently, babies are resuscitated with a resuscitation bag squeezed by hand, with 100% oxygen. There is no pressure to stop the lungs collapsing during expiration. As the volume of gas delivered with each breath is not measured, it is possible that the volumes are too large and damage the lungs. This project will investigate whether less damage occurs to the lungs of preterm lambs when resuscitation uses a modern neonatal ventilator where each inflation is limited to a known volume. A small distending pressure will be used to stop the lungs collapsing during expiration. We will also investigate factors that enhance the clearance of liquid from the lungs after the initiation of breathing. The failure to clear lung liquid greatly limits the ability of babies to breathe and exposes those parts of the lung that are cleared to a much greater risk of injury. The results of this study will be directly applicable to the treatment and care of prematurely born babies.Read moreRead less