Environmental Influences On Allergic Airways Disease From Birth To 8yrs: Long-term Outcomes Of A Randomised Trial (CAPS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
The prevalence of asthma in Australia is among the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, it will not be possible to give confident advice about how to prevent asthma. We are applying to continue follow up of the cohort of the ....The prevalence of asthma in Australia is among the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, it will not be possible to give confident advice about how to prevent asthma. We are applying to continue follow up of the cohort of the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) which has been underway since mid-1997. CAPS is a randomised controlled trial in which 616 infants at high risk of developing asthma because of a family history have been enrolled. The interventions include allergen reduction and dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. The interventions are designed to have maximum effect but be simple to implement by parents. Objective and subjective measurements of exposures, atopy, diet and asthmatic symptoms are being collected at 3 month intervals and at medical assessments when the children are 18 months, 3 and 5 years old. The interventions are stopped at age 5 years. The continued follow up of the cohort to age 8 will enable us to test conclusively if the interventions have had a positive effect. If so, CAPS will form the basis for a nationwide public health campaign which will have the potential to reduce the incidence of childhood asthma in Australia.Read moreRead less
Upper Bedding As A Prevention Measure In Childhood Asthma: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$198,075.00
Summary
Asthma has recently been identified as a National health Priority (1) by the Australian Government in view of the increasing prevalence of asthma and its great importance as a public health problem. The total health system costs of asthma are estimated to be in excess of $600 million (2). Recently, feather pillows have been shown to have more than five times less house dust mite allergen than other pillows. To date, several population-based studies have shown that children using feather upper be ....Asthma has recently been identified as a National health Priority (1) by the Australian Government in view of the increasing prevalence of asthma and its great importance as a public health problem. The total health system costs of asthma are estimated to be in excess of $600 million (2). Recently, feather pillows have been shown to have more than five times less house dust mite allergen than other pillows. To date, several population-based studies have shown that children using feather upper bedding are also reported by their parents to have less severe wheeze. These findings call into question the National Asthma Council recommendation that people with asthma who are allergic to house dust mite should use synthetic quilts rather than feather or down (3). However, concerns remain that these important findings may only have occurred because unmeasured factors, such as the socioeconomic status or child diet may be closely related to feather bedding use, and in themselves, protective against asthma. Alternatively, parents of a child with asthma symptoms may be more likely to have chosen non-feather bedding. The best way to address these concerns is to conduct a randomised controlled trial to evaluate whether the use of new feather upper bedding is associated with reduced asthma severity among house dust mite-sensitised children with severe asthma. This study is underway and has support in 2001-2002 from the Financial Markets Foundation for Children. The research will address the following NHMRC Primary Health Care project grant thematic research areas: Evidence based primary health care practice; Quality of primary care; and Illness prevention and health promotion as a primary health care strategy. (1) National Health Priority Areas: Asthma. http:--www.health.gov.au-hsdd-nhpq-asthma-index.htm (2) NH and MRC Evidence Based Clinical Practice Research Program Workshop - December 16-17, 1999. (3) National Asthma Campaign Asthma Management Handbook 1998Read moreRead less
The prevalence of asthma in Australia is amongst the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, the value of the wide array of advice given to asthmatics by various health institutions will not be known. We are applying to continue ....The prevalence of asthma in Australia is amongst the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, the value of the wide array of advice given to asthmatics by various health institutions will not be known. We are applying to continue the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) which has been underway since mid-1997. CAPS is a randomised controlled trial in which 616 infants at high risk of developing asthma because of a family history have been enrolled. The interventions include allergen reduction and dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. The interventions are designed to have maximum effect but be simple to implement by parents. Several measures of compliance are being collected and regular contact is maintained though telephone calls and frequent home visits. Objective and subjective measurements of exposures, atopy, diet and asthmatic symptoms are being collected at 3 month intervals and at medical assessments when the children are 18 months, 3 and 5 years old. It is essential that we continue the study until all children are aged 5 and we will be able to test conclusively whether the interventions have had a positive effect. If so, CAPS will form the basis for a nationwide public health campaign which will have the potential to reduce the incidence of childhood asthma in Australia.Read moreRead less
Preventing Falls In Older Aboriginal People: The Ironbark Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,026,699.00
Summary
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is ageing: in 1991, Aboriginal people aged 55 years and over accounted for only 6% of Australia’s total Aboriginal population and this proportion is predicted to double to 12% by 2021, with resulting increased in ageing conditions such as falls. This large scale trial in NSW, SA and WA will test the effectiveness of a community based program in reducing falls and improving function in older Aboriginal people.
Community-wide Active Case Finding For Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,422,325.00
Summary
During 2010, 8.8 million people developed TB and 1.45 million people died due to the disease. In this project, which will be conducted in Vietnam, one of the countries in our region with a particularly high prevalence of TB, we will test a new form of an old intervention: community-wide screening for TB, not with x-rays but by testing sputum. If the project is successful it has the potential to lead to a giant leap forward towards the elimination of TB as a global health problem.
Many approaches to the prevention and treatment of allergy and associated asthma are dependent on the identification of the allergens producing the inflammation. This applies to new methods of determining the exposure to allergens and measuring the effectiveness of procedures which minimise allergen exposure. Diagnostic and immunotherapeutic measures require reliable preparations of allergens. The presence of important allergens in extracts however can be variable and often low so it important t ....Many approaches to the prevention and treatment of allergy and associated asthma are dependent on the identification of the allergens producing the inflammation. This applies to new methods of determining the exposure to allergens and measuring the effectiveness of procedures which minimise allergen exposure. Diagnostic and immunotherapeutic measures require reliable preparations of allergens. The presence of important allergens in extracts however can be variable and often low so it important that the allergens be identified and monitored. It is also important that new forms of immunotherapy being developed consider the responses to all allergens. Allergy to the cat is, behind house dust mite, the second most frequent allergy associated with asthma in most developed countries and brief exposure to a cat frequently induces life-threatening attacks. Almost all of the study of cat allergens have concentrated on a single allergen called Fel d 1. Although it importance is undisputed critical reading of the literature show it is only responsible for 50% of the IgE binding in cat extracts and recent work on cross allergy to cat and dogs and experimental therapy based on Fel d 1 point to the importance of other allergens. Experience with other source of allergens has shown that at least several allergens are usually important. It is also apparent from other studies that some allergens which are difficult to detect in extracts, and cannot be readily studied by immunochemistry are important. This project will use both cDNA cloning and immunochemistry to identify and characterize the other cat allergens and determine there relative importance. In particular it intended that they can be used, along with Fel d 1, to develop new types of immunotherapy.Read moreRead less
Improving Skin Cancer Prevention: Motivating Preventive Behaviours Using Knowledge Of Personalised Genomic Risk Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,720.00
Summary
The aim of our study is to evaluate whether we can improve the Australian public’s skin cancer prevention behaviours, particularly reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, by giving personalised information about melanoma genetic risk. We will also explore the psycho-social, ethical, and economic implications of receiving this information. The results of our study are likely to influence the future of skin cancer prevention in Australia.
The Effect Of Asthma Control During Pregnancy On Markers Of Airways Inflammation And Lung Function In The Offspring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,131,043.00
Summary
Asthma is the most common chronic disease complication during pregnancy. By improving asthma management we have reduced asthma exacerbations by 50% during pregnancy and their babies suffered less often from bronchiolitis in the first year of life, which can be a life threatening infection. As bronchiolitis also promotes the development of asthma we want to investigate whether better asthma management in pregnancy leads to less lung inflammation and better lung function in the children.