The Role Of The Osteoblast In Mediating Glucocorticoid-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,254.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids (GC) exceed most other drugs in terms of numbers of patients treated and indications. Preventing or attenuating the deleterious effects of GC on fuel metabolism is therefore of great clinical significance. Our studies will create new knowledge regarding the mechanisms of GC-induced diabetes and osteoporosis, and will contribute to the development of new approaches that are essential to tackle the pressing medical problem of GC-induced disease.
Communication Between Calcium Ion Channels In Skeletal Muscle Excitation-contraction Coupling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,100.00
Summary
Ageing, injury, drugs or genetic defects cause muscle weakness, prevent exercise, compromise life style and contribute to poor health and osteoporosis. In order to move signals travel from our brain to muscles, where one calcium ion channel detects the signal and tells a second calcium channel to open and release calcium ions to initiate contraction. The project will pave the way for developing drugs to help with muscle disorders by trageting the site of interaction between the channels.
GLUCOCORTICOID EFFECTS ON BONE: THE ROLE OF THE OSTEOBLAST
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$464,520.00
Summary
Glucocorticoids (usually referred to as cortisone) are used as therapeutic agents in almost all fields of medicine, where they have been proven to be of great benefit to countless patients suffering from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and malignancies. Glucocorticoids are also of live saving benefit to patients who have undergone organ transplantation. It is, however, well known that glucocorticoids may also exert deleterious effects on bone, muscle, ca ....Glucocorticoids (usually referred to as cortisone) are used as therapeutic agents in almost all fields of medicine, where they have been proven to be of great benefit to countless patients suffering from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and malignancies. Glucocorticoids are also of live saving benefit to patients who have undergone organ transplantation. It is, however, well known that glucocorticoids may also exert deleterious effects on bone, muscle, cartilage and skin, causing osteoporosis, muscle wasting and skin damage. As a matter of fact, cortisone-induced muscle and bone disease is one of the most frequent and serious side effects associated with glucocorticoid treatment, and substantially affects quality of life and co-morbidity in many patients. In the present project, we aim to develop new strategies for the understanding and prevention of costisone-induced bone disease. The first step is to investigate the mechanisms of actions of glucocorticoids in bone. To this aim, we have generated a model in which a cortisone- inactivating enzyme is produced in excess in the bone forming cells (osteoblasts). Previous studies have shown that these cells are protected against the effects on cortisone, while other cells not producing this enzyme remained vulnerable. We now intend to use this model to study the mechanisms of glucocorticoid action on bone and muscle under normal and diseased conditions (e.g. in a model of glucocorticoid excess and in a model of rheumatoid arthritis). We also intend to study how internal glucocorticoids affect the development of bone forming cells. Our long-term aim is to uncover new ways to target drug action to the desired tissues and cells, while protecting other tissues and cells from deleterious side effects.Read moreRead less
Is Sedentary Behaviour (too Much Sitting) A Distinct Risk For Cardiovascular Disease?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,666.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are significant and prevalent public health problems. Physical activity can decrease the risk for these conditions. However, reducing prolonged sitting may also be important. This research will add crucial new evidence on the role of sitting time in type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and will help with future decisions about whether reducing prolonged sitting at home and at work should be taken as seriously as promoting exercise for good health.
Physical activity has many health and psychological benefits, however many programs aimed at increasing physical activity have failed to show the expected results. This may be because when people increase their level of exercise, they decrease the amount of energy they use in other areas of their lives. This project will examine how two different exercise programs affect overall physical activity level. Findings may cause us to reconsider how to prescribe exercise.
The Effectiveness Of A Clinical Practice Change Intervention In Increasing, On A Health Service Wide Basis, Community Health Clinician Adherence To Preventive Care Guidelines.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,290.00
Summary
The delivery of preventive care that aims to decrease smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is less than optimal in community health services. The study examines the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing the delivery of such across an area health service. The findings will demonstrate the ability of community health clinicians to routinely provide preventive care, and hence improve the health of the community.
There are a number of important medical conditions that are characterised by a loss of bone. These include osteoporosis, cancer-induced bone loss, and the bone loss that causes loosening of orthopaedic prostheses. Bone loss is understood to be due to an excess of bone resorption by osteoclasts in relation to bone formation. Understanding of the regulation of osteoclast formation and activity has increased greatly in the last few years, but important questions remain. In particular, more informat ....There are a number of important medical conditions that are characterised by a loss of bone. These include osteoporosis, cancer-induced bone loss, and the bone loss that causes loosening of orthopaedic prostheses. Bone loss is understood to be due to an excess of bone resorption by osteoclasts in relation to bone formation. Understanding of the regulation of osteoclast formation and activity has increased greatly in the last few years, but important questions remain. In particular, more information is needed about the process of human osteoclast formation. We have devised a novel cell culture model of human osteoclast formation, in which osteoclast precursor cells mature into osteoclasts under the influence of human osteoblast cells. The importance of this model is that it allows us, for the first time, to investigate the role, and the potential relevance in human disease, of agents that positively and negatively affect osteoclasts. We intend also to use this model to study the way in which cancer cells in bone cause bone loss, as well as the involvement of cells of the immune system in osteoclast formation, in normal bone and in inflammatory conditions.Read moreRead less
Clinical Modulation Of The Hyperglycaemic Effect Of A 10-second Sprint In Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,207.00
Summary
Although regular exercise provides a number of health benefits for individuals with Type 1 diabetes, it increases the risk of hypoglycaemia, which if severe can result in convulsion, coma and irreversible brain damages. Recently, we have made the surprising discovery that it is possible to prevent hypoglycaemia if exercise is combined with one or several short sprints. Our goal is to identify some of the clinical factors likely to interfere with the glucoregulatory benefits of sprinting.
Optimising Outcomes For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Evaluation Of Walking Training.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,161.00
Summary
This will be the first study to examine whether a short-term and long-term program of ground walking training is sufficient to improve and maintain exercise capacity and quality of life in people with COPD. If ground walking training is shown to be an effective intervention, this will translate into more widespread provision of exercise training to people with COPD, particularly those living in rural or remote communities.