New Translational Research short courses being offered by CCS

Lupus: its secrets being discovered
by research

Central Clinical School will be offering a suite of courses specialising in translational research and its management. The first four are now open for participants. See their respective links for eligibility criteria and detail of content. See also index.

• Introduction to Clinical Trials
• Introduction to Bioinformatics
• Introduction to Fermentation and Bioprocessing
• Introduction to Biobanking

Dr Catherine Carmichael joins ACBD

Dr Catherine Carmichael

Welcome to Dr Catherine Carmichael from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), whose expertise is on the regulation of both normal and abnormal blood cell development especially in relation to leukaemia. Dr Carmichael received her PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2008, studying genetic predispositions to haematological malignancies. She was a postdoc for 6 years at WEHI studying the role of the ETS-related gene, ERG, during leukaemia development. She has now joined the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases Mammalian Functional Genetics lab of A/Prof Jody Haigh as a Research Fellow, and is studying the role of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) modulators during both normal blood cell production ("haematopoiesis") and leukaemia development. See more at www.acbd.monash.org/research/mammal-genetics.html

Participants sought: Metformin for weight loss and depression

People with depression who are also overweight are more likely to have chronic symptoms. It may be that inflammation and high insulin levels associated with being overweight make depression worse. Metformin in a medication usually used for diabetes that lowers inflammation and insulin levels and has been shown to help with weight loss. The Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centre is investigating the effectiveness of metformin in combination with standard antidepressants at causing weight loss and improving depressive symptoms.

Rare but critical immune cells to fight CLL can be restored

Professor Fabienne Mackay

The long-term survival of people suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) could be increased with the development of new therapeutic strategies. Ground-breaking research by Monash University Professor Fabienne Mackay from the Department of Immunology and PhD student Damien Easton-Saulep has been released today in the prestigious journal Leukemia that uncovers never before reported aspects of CLL. Professor Mackay’s research found that key cells called “plasmacytoid dendritic cells”, which are important for fighting infections and stimulating other immune cells in the destruction of tumor and infected cells, are actually eliminated in people with aggressive CLL. See more: 14 April 2014 Monash story 
Reference: www.nature.com/leu/journal/v28/n10/full/leu2014105a.html#aff1

Estrogen therapy promising for women with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Source: alasbimn journal

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni and a team of researchers at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre have published evidence in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, showing the clinical effectiveness of estrogen as an adjunct therapy for women with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Their large-scale trial adds to the growing body of evidence that estradiol has antipsychotic effects, particularly at higher doses, and has a clinically meaningful effect in this particular group of women. See article reference and abstract.

Is gluten a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in people without celiac disease?

Gluten: appears not to affect
non-celiac IBS sufferers

The avoidance of wheat- and gluten-containing products is a worldwide phenomenon. While celiac disease is a well-established entity, the evidence base for gluten as a trigger of symptoms in patients without celiac disease (so-called ‘non-celiac gluten sensitivity’ or NCGS) is limited. Department of Gastroenterology (DoG) researchers review the evidence and conclude that, "On current evidence the existence of the entity of NCGS remains unsubstantiated." See full text of article.

Easter special: What is the FODMAP content of chocolate?

Photo: cucicucicoo

• Green: dark chocolate. 1 serve = 5 squares or 30 g
• Amber: milk chocolate. 1 serve = 5 squares or 30 g - Lactose is the fodmap
• Amber: white chocolate. 1 serve = 5 squares or 30 g - Lactose is the fodmap

Avoid large serves of chocolate. Chocolate is high in fat, and when consumed in excess can affect gut motility and may trigger symptoms.
Avoid carob chocolate. Carob powder is high in oligos (fructans), and much higher than cocoa powder.  Source: www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/research/updates.html