Cognitive impairment in mental illness associated with faster cellular ageing

Cognitive impairment is associated with shorter telomere in people
with bipolar-schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Study

by Anne Crawford

Telomeres, the protective cap-like structures that stop the ends of our chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled, are of increasing interest globally as markers of cellular ageing. Now a study led by Monash University Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) researchers has revealed a link between telomere length and cognitive impairment in people with bipolar-schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Paper analyses tools tracking MS progression

Katherine Kenyon is first author on a paper reviewing tools for
monitoring symptoms in MS.

by Anne Crawford

Monitoring symptoms is crucial for the effective management of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a debilitating neurological disease that is one of the leading causes of disability in young and middle-aged adults.  

Central Clinical School PhD student Katherine Kenyon has published a paper in ‘The Cerebellum’, reviewing tools used by clinicians and researchers to do this. 

New sexual health campaigns needed for women: study

A large-scale study has investigated the connection between
female sexual practices and STI rates for the first time.
Image: Centre for Sexuality

by Anne Crawford

A rise in sexually transmitted infection (STI) among Australian women in the past decade has prompted Monash University researchers to investigate the connection between female sexual practices and STI rates for the first time in women who have sex with women.

The large-scale study aimed to compare differences in sexual practices and positivity for STIs and other genital infections among women who have sex with men only (WSMO), women who have sex with women only (WSWO), and women who have sex with men and women (WSMW), and whether these changed over time. It included data on 36,147 women who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) between 2011 and 2019.

Researcher finds ‘gold standard’ test for MS wanting

Dr Meaghan Clough researches cognitive speed in early MS

by Anne Crawford

For seven years, researcher Dr Meaghan Clough frequently observed Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients performing well on the standard test used to measure cognitive function then talk to her about cognitive problems they were facing. She wondered about the discrepancy.

“On further investigation I would realise that actually they did have a cognitive deficit,” Dr Clough said. 

Working memory (WM) and attention deficits are a common – and disturbing – symptom of MS.

New diabetic kidney disease target raises hopes

Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm and Dr Jay Chandra Jha

by Anne Crawford

Monash University scientists are developing what could be a promising new therapeutic target to combat diabetic kidney disease. 

The Central Clinical School researchers led by Professor Karin Jandeleit-Dahm and Dr Jay Chandra Jha, together with an international collaboration, recently revealed details of the predominantly pathological role of the pro-oxidant enzyme NOX5 in diabetic complications, particularly diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and are working on small molecule inhibitors to target it. 

Monash scientists find ‘bad guy’ blood cells vital to gut health

Eosinophil granulocytes in inflammatory infiltrate. This type of
white blood cell is responsible for combating parasites, and has a
role in mechanisms associated with allergy and asthma.
Image: Shutterstock

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University collaboration has found that eosinophils, a type of white blood cell commonly associated with asthma and allergy, play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut.

Professor Nicola Harris, from Monash’s Central Clinical School, made the surprising discovery working with study co-lead, Professor Kathy McCoy from the University of Calgary, and scientists from Switzerland. Their paper was published in Immunity 16 June.

Diabetes and dementia: exploring the links

Professor Velandai Srikanth and Associate Professor Chris Moran
tease out the connections between type 2 diabetes and dementia in
their recent review. See also a recent video presentation from them.

by Anne Crawford

Studies have linked type 2 diabetes with dementia in later life for some years but the connection between the two conditions, causal or otherwise, is still to be clarified.

A review by researchers from the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Peninsula Health and Medicine, Central Clinical School has highlighted the need to further explore the potential mechanisms and pathways linking the two conditions.

New clot-busting drug may improve treatment for stroke patients

L-R: Professor Christoph Hagemeyer and Dr Be'eri Niego have

published a study investigating a new drug for blood clots.

by Anne Crawford

A team of Monash University researchers has demonstrated that an innovative drug that removes blood clots improves the outcomes of acute ischaemic stroke and has a promising safety profile. 

The study, led by Professor Christoph Hagemeyer and Dr Be’eri Niego from the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD), showed the potential of their new clot-busting agent ‘SCE5-scuPA’ in mouse stroke models.

The findings were published in ‘Blood Advances’ late last month.

Monash study finds spinal vest wanting

The halothoracic vest's benefits are not clear,

study shows. Image: Susan Liew

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University clinician-researcher has questioned the benefits of a commonly used orthosis for cervical spine injury.

Adjunct Associate Professor Susan Liew, Director of Orthopaedic Surgery at The Alfred and part of the Monash Central Clinical School, conducted a study on the halothoracic vest, an alternative to spinal surgery. “The halothoracic vest is like scaffolding – you put four pins in the skull which supports a ring around the head (the halo) and a chest piece between four struts around the neck. It’s pretty invasive for a ‘non-invasive treatment’,” Adjunct Associate Professor Liew said.

The treatment has been linked to high rates or risk of complications, including the loosening of the pins, pressure injury, pneumonia and respiratory failure. 

Leader in lymphoma bolsters Monash’s blood cancer research

Professor Con Tam

by Anne Crawford

When haematologist Professor Constantine (Con) Tam joined the Central Clinical School and The Alfred last month he brought with him a wealth of expertise in blood cancers, some Australia-firsts in treatments for them and a new vision for Monash University.

Professor Tam was recruited to become the inaugural Head of the Lymphoma Service at Alfred, a unit that will push the boundaries of treatment for the diverse forms of the disease.

Visual Snow Syndrome causes becoming clearer

The grainy visual disturbance typical of Visual Snow Syndrome
compared with normal visual perception.

by Anne Crawford

A little over three years ago, Monash University Department of Neuroscience researchers Associate Professor Joanne Fielding and Professor Owen White were given A$140,000 to fund research into a neurological condition that was at the time little known and under-researched.

People with Visual Snow Syndrome see the world through a constant overlay of flickering dots passing over their entire field of vision. This persists whether their eyes are open or closed. The incurable condition is not due to eye problems – it’s caused by an unknown brain malfunction.

One million epilepsy patients in China missing out on beneficial surgery

Professor Patrick Kwan, lead author of
the Neurology paper

by Anne Crawford

In 2010, Professor Patrick Kwan led an international team researching the causes and outcomes of epilepsy patients in rural China.

A decade later the results indicate that at least one million Chinese people with epilepsy could be candidates for a standard operation that may leave them seizure-free.

Adverse effects of antiseizure drugs little changed over 30 years

Dr Zhibin (Ben) Chen

by Anne Crawford

An international study led by Monash University scientists has shown that tolerability to antiseizure medication (ASM) has not improved over 30 years. This was despite the advent of nearly 20 ‘second-generation’ drugs – those developed after 1980 – designed to better the earlier treatments.

Tolerability is a key determinant of the effectiveness of epilepsy treatment; greater effort to improve it was needed in ASM development, the paper urges.

Toxic effects of anti-epileptic drugs 'overstated'

Dr Emma Foster is a neurologist and

PhD student working on epilepsy

by Anne Crawford

Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have frequently been linked to cognitive impairment such as difficulties in concentrating, learning, understanding and remembering, which can be more disabling to the patients taking them than the seizures for which they are prescribed.\

But studies looking into this in the past haven’t always taken into account other factors affecting the patient that may also affect cognition such as advanced age, increased frequency of seizures and mood disorders such as depression, said Central Clinical School (CCS) PhD student Emma Foster.

Concussion in Australian collision sports 'under-researched'

Ms Georgia Fuller Symons, first author

on the paper, demonstrating the frame

for ocular motor function tests, one of 

the indicators of brain trauma

by Anne Crawford

Concussion sustained during collision sports including AFL and rugby, and its effects on players, is a growing issue in Australia but research into the subject is limited and lacks consensus, a paper by Monash University Department of Neuroscience researchers has found.

First author PhD student Georgia Symons said the review, which appeared recently in the Journal of Neurotrauma, found that most literature on the topic predominantly looked at North American contact sports such as ice hockey and NFL, and also European sport.

Study highlights gap in ageing brain research

L-R: Dr Mujun Sun (first author) and A/Prof

Sandy Shultz (last author)

by Anne Crawford

Neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease are leading causes of morbidity and mortality affecting millions of people worldwide. Yet the majority of clinical trials testing drugs for these common conditions have failed.

The Department of Neuroscience’s Associate Professor Sandy Shultz is among a growing number of scientists asking whether the failure to translate findings of preclinical studies to the clinic is because many patients with these conditions are middle-aged or older, yet most preclinical studies test only young adult animals.

New technique for analysing aggressive brain tumour tissue

Immunocytochemical image of
cultured tumour cells: Katrina Kan

by Anne Crawford

A Department of Neuroscience PhD student has helped develop a new, cost-effective and reliable method for studying glioblastoma, a devastating brain cancer.

Ms Katrina Kan from Dr Mastura Monif’s laboratory, was first author on a paper about a new protocol for using primary human glioblastoma tissue, published last month in Methods and Protocols.

Study strengthens link between cleft palate and ancient gene

Dr Marina Carpinelli (first author) and
Professor Stephen Jane (last author)

by Anne Crawford

Cleft lip and palate are common birth defects, affecting about one in 800 Australian babies. The conditions, which result in the baby’s facial parts failing to fuse during early foetal life, can affect the child’s social development, feeding, hearing and speech, as well as their appearance.

Now, Monash University scientists have found that Grhl2, part of an ancient gene family called Grainyhead-like (Grhl), plays a critical role in preventing cleft palate in combination with a gene called Zeb1.

Findings may boost hay fever therapy

L-R: Dr Craig McKenzie, Prof Robyn O'Hehir,

Associate Professor Menno van Zelm

by Anne Crawford

Allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment to modify the natural course of allergy to ryegrass pollen – or spring hay fever – rather than just alleviating symptoms. Treatment involves repeated exposure of patients to allergen extracts either by injection or tablet, ‘training’ the immune system to clear these allergens without generating an allergic response.

But it’s not known exactly how this immunotherapy works.

Coeliac disease: on the rise or just being reported more?

Professor Peter Gibson asks the question of whether the reported
rise of coeliac disease is due to the rise in incidence or detection.

by Anne Crawford

It’s a question pondered in both medical science and the community: does the rising rate of a chronic disease – in this case, coeliac disease – mean that it is being detected more or is the rate of the disease really rising? Or both?

The distinction is critical to clinical and scientific responses to such changes, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology Professor Peter Gibson argues in a recent opinion piece in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The journal was commemorating landmark studies published over the last decade or two, including that of seminal research on coeliac disease rates by Lohi et al in 2007.