Exploring the brave new world of the epigenome

Professor Sam El-Osta's (second from right, back row) research group

by Anne Crawford

When it comes to the epigenome, there is a fine line between clarity and confusion—walk that line and you will discover another fascinating level of transcription control.

So begins a review of the current state-of-play of studies into epigenetics in diabetic complications led by Professor Sam El-Osta from Monash University’s Department of Diabetes. The paper, which focusses particularly on the complication diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), appeared on the cover of last month’s edition of ‘Diabetologia’.

Media mention: Short Chain Fatty Acids, Francine Marques and Paul Gill

Researchers PhD student Paul Gill (Monash University)
and Dr Francine Marques (Baker Institute). Image: The Age

The Age published a story on research performed at Baker Institute by Dr Francine Marques (Twitter handle @FZMarques) that has shown that products of fermentation of dietary fibres by the gut microbiota (short-chain fatty acids, SCFAs) protect mice from developing hypertension (the initial paper was published at the beginning of 2017). Francine is now hoping to translate these findings into humans and has begun to examine if there is a link between short-chain fatty acids and blood pressure in humans with hypertension.

 

As part of Paul Gill's PhD, he has been measuring SCFAs from Francine's patient samples. Paul has also been measuring SCFAs in many fermented foods and beverages. Some of the foods that he found to be high in SCFAs were vinegars, kombucha, pickled foods, kimchi and soft cheeses (which have been marketed to have 'health benefits', many of which are completely unsubstantiated).

Paul says, "We are now using this information to formulate a 'high SCFA diet', that we think could have therapeutic value in conditions such as hypertension, but also immune disease." And, watch this space, Paul is currently designing a dietary intervention study (hopefully launching by April-May) in order to investigate this - so we'll be calling out for recruits!

 

Age story link: https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-make-or-break-moment-for-what-may-be-a-new-miracle-molecule-20180216-p4z0ky.html

Participants sought: Are you interested in brain science and what happens after a head injury?

Volunteers wanted with NO history of
head injury for study.

 

Traumatic brain injury Are you interested in brain science and what happens after a head injury?

PhD student Hannah Coyle's project is investigating traumatic brain injury, and involves using a non-invasive type of brain stimulation to learn more about changes post concussion and during recovery.

We need volunteers who have NO history of head injury to act as a comparison group. Participation will involve visiting our research centre in Prahran for three research sessions over a 6 month period.

Sessions take approximately 3 hours each.You will be compensated for your time and travel costs. Together we will complete an interview, do some thinking tasks, take a recording of your brain waves and give you a short session of non-invasive brain stimulation.

If you think this sounds interesting and would like to know more please contact Ms Hannah Coyle on 9076 9823 or at hannah.coyle@monash.edu

Photo of the week: Honours cohort

2017's CCS Honours students. We are welcoming a large cohort of Honours students this year (50!), on Thursday 22 February, and will publish a group photo to https://www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/education/current-students/current-honours.

What's on at CCS 19-23 Feb 2018

Shara Ket presents Mon 19 Feb
PhD mid-candidature review

Central Clinical School (CCS) has regular seminar series and postgraduate presentations. Event notices are posted on the CCS Events calendar.

CCS staff and students can see details of both public and local events (including professional development courses, trade fairs and Graduate Research Student calendars) and deadlines, at the CCS intranet's Announcements page.

See CCS seminar index:  www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/events/seminars.html

What's on at CCS 19-23 Feb 2018

Mon	19/02/2018	►	09:30	PhD Final review: Evelyn Lindsay
		►	10:00	2018 BMedSc(Hons) orientation
		►	12:30	PhD Mid-Candidature review: Shara Ket
Tue	20/02/2018	►	12:30	PhD Final review: Larissa Ratten
Wed	21/02/2018	►	11:30	Immunology seminar: Ben Marsland
Thur	22/02/2018	►	11:00	2018 CCS Honours orientation
		►	11:30	Cutting Edge Journal Club: Jade Jaffar
		►	12:00	Alfred Grand Rounds: Naso-gastric tube management

Recent CCS publications: 23 - 30 January 2018

A/Prof Kate Hoy (left) with a colleague and research participant.
Kate is first author on a study using tACS and tDCS to  investigate
the pathophysiology of working memory impairment in schizophrenia.

Recent publications for Central Clinical School affiliated authors in the following departments. Note, browse down this entry for complete publications list. Linked headings for each section are to the departments' home pages.

•  Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory              Medicine (AIRMed) 
•  Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD)
•  Diabetes
•  Immunology and Pathology
•  Infectious Diseases
•  Medicine
•  Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
•  National Trauma Research Institute,
•  Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) 
•  Neuroscience
•  Surgery

Putting mindfulness to the test

Theta connectivity averaged across
conditions. Image: Neil Bailey

by Anne Crawford

Mindfulness meditation with its images of people sitting cross-legged and closed-eyed was once thought of as being almost mystical, but scientific studies are revealing very tangible benefits to those practising it and observable changes in the brain.

The practice has been shown to be effective for preventing the relapse of depression and for other mental illnesses such as anxiety, for relieving stress and helping with chronic pain. People who use it show improved attention.

But the cause of these changes is unclear and under-researched. Now, a Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) study is set to look for the mechanism that leads to the practice’s positive effects.