Signalling Pathways Activated By Atrial Dilatation And Their Relationship To Atrial Fibrillation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$449,878.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormality of cardiac rhythm that affects a large percentage of the population, especially the ageing population, and causes increases in morbidity and mortality. AF is associated with structural heart disease, and especially with atrial dilatation. Current treatments are designed to treat symptoms rather than underlying causes, and most have undesirable side effects. It is our long term goal to study the involvement of the calcium-releasing messenger inositol(1,4 ....Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormality of cardiac rhythm that affects a large percentage of the population, especially the ageing population, and causes increases in morbidity and mortality. AF is associated with structural heart disease, and especially with atrial dilatation. Current treatments are designed to treat symptoms rather than underlying causes, and most have undesirable side effects. It is our long term goal to study the involvement of the calcium-releasing messenger inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and its immediate precursor phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (PIP2) in atrial fibrillation with a view to providing targets for therapy that are well tolerated. There is recent evidence that Ins(1,4,5)P3 and PIP2 can contribute to atrial fibrillation. Over the next 3 years we will study cellular signalling responses to acute and chronic dilatation of the atria and examine the relationship of these findings to clinical atrial fibrillation. We will identify the G protein and phospholipase C subtypes involved in responses to stretch and use tools developed in these studies in experiments with atrial fibrillation models.Read moreRead less
Development Of Non-surgical Approach To Treating Tricuspid Regurgitation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,427.00
Summary
Heart failure is a common problem in which the heart enlarges and contracts poorly. In association with enlargement of the heart, the heart valves also begin to fail causing further worsening of quality and length of life. Failure of the tricuspid valve occurs in upto 87% of patients with heart failure and presently the only treatment option is high risk heart surgery. We are developing a way of dealing with tricuspid valve failure that does not require cardiac surgery.
Novel Multi-Modality Assessment Of Arrhythmic Risk And Disease Progression In Repaired Tetralogy Of Fallot Undergoing Redo-Pulmonary Valve Surgery Using 4D Cardiac MRI Flow And High Density 3D Electro-Anatomical Mapping.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,703.00
Summary
Sudden death from arrhythmia is the most common cause of death in adults with tetralogy of Fallot, a type of congenital heart disease. It has been shown that dangerous arrhythmias can be induced in almost half of these patients when severe pulmonary valve disease is present. Our study will evaluate the potential for arrhythmias both before and after pulmonary valve surgery, using MRI and electrophysiological testing, to determine if these patients require defibrillators.
Sympathetic Nervous System Activation In Renal Failure. Its Contribution To Pathogenesis And Progression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,796.00
Summary
Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is exceedingly high in patients with chronic renal failure and particularly end stage renal disease. Recent studies suggest that sympathetic activation contributes substantially to the development of hypertension, progression of renal disease and cardiovascular prognosis in these patients. Increased sympathetic nerve firing has been demonstrated in end stage renal disease by the use of clinical microneurography, which has been attributed to uremia-related t ....Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is exceedingly high in patients with chronic renal failure and particularly end stage renal disease. Recent studies suggest that sympathetic activation contributes substantially to the development of hypertension, progression of renal disease and cardiovascular prognosis in these patients. Increased sympathetic nerve firing has been demonstrated in end stage renal disease by the use of clinical microneurography, which has been attributed to uremia-related toxins. However, renal transplant recipients with excellent graft function and no signs of uremia still exhibit increased sympathetic nerve firing. Most interestingly, bilateral nephrectomized patients have nerve firing rates comparable to that of normal control subjects without renal disease. These data suggest that the diseased kidneys exert excitatory effects on the sympathetic nervous system independent of correction of uremia. The proposed study aims to comprehensively investigate the pattern of sympathetic activation both centrally (microneurography) and regionally (radiotracer dilution methodology) in patients with chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease . The effect of the centrally acting sympatholytic drug rilmenidine on sympathetic activity in the setting of renal disease will be assessed. Patients with ESRD waitlisted for kidney transplantation will be studied before and after transplantation. Some of the transplant recipients will also have undergone uni- or bilateral nephrectomy before transplantation which will enable us to further explore the role of the diseased kidneys in sympathetic activation. The results of this study may prove to have significant implications for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular morbid events frequently associated with renal disease.Read moreRead less
Provision Of Secondary Cardiac Preventive Australian General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,513.00
Summary
This study will provide a comprehensive description of secondary preventative activities for patients with ischaemic heart disease, with the aim of determining those factors that can most contribute to reducing the increased risk of further events which they experience, and thereby reducing the burden of this disease.
Depression And Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Study Of Mediating Haemostatic Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,625.00
Summary
Growing evidence suggests that depression, anger and anxiety play a role in causing coronary heart disease (CHD) and complicating the outcome in existing CHD. This may occur by effects of these emotions on promoting blood clotting and the stickiness of platelets - the blood cells responsible for blood clotting. This pilot study will follow a group of people with depression but without CHD and a control group over 8 months to compare how the blood clotting profile changes as depression resolves. ....Growing evidence suggests that depression, anger and anxiety play a role in causing coronary heart disease (CHD) and complicating the outcome in existing CHD. This may occur by effects of these emotions on promoting blood clotting and the stickiness of platelets - the blood cells responsible for blood clotting. This pilot study will follow a group of people with depression but without CHD and a control group over 8 months to compare how the blood clotting profile changes as depression resolves. The potential benefits of this research are a better understanding of the links between the common illnesses of depression and CHD that might improve the prevention and treatment of heart disease.Read moreRead less
Performance And Safety Testing Of The BioQ Cardiac Assist System In A Chronic Ovine Heart Failure Animal Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$142,800.00
Summary
This proposal will test a novel cardiac assist system in safety and performance studies using a chronic sheep heart failure model. This device has been tested in cardiovascular simulators and in an acute animal model showing attractive proof-of-concept data. Specifically, the device increased left coronary artery blood flow and reduced aortic pulse and mean pressures using our novel self-powered fully implantable stand alone device, a potential therapy treatment for heart failure.
Regulation Of Heart Development And Regeneration By DNA Methylation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,709.00
Summary
The adult mammalian heart has an extremely limited capacity for regeneration following a heart attack, which is in stark contrast to the robust regenerative capacity of the newborn heart. How and why mammals lose their ability to regenerate heart tissue after birth is not well understood. We propose a new approach to unravel the complex mechanisms that control gene expression during heart development in rodents and humans, which could provide new therapeutic avenues for heart regeneration.