High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia |
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HBPRCA Email
Newsletter
March 2009
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Welcome Note from
Geoff Head
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Don’t forget to mark in your diary that the ASM will
be held a little earlier this year from 1 – 3 December but at a wonderfully
appropriate venue in Sydney (Luna Park). NB Early bird registration for ESH closes 31st
March (http://www.eshmilan.org/) ISH210 – PowerPoint slides for speakers to include
at the end of their presentation to assist with advertising ISH2010 are
available here. 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting News 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting News Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Monitoring (ABPM) Working Group Initiative Feature
Article: Cardiovascular Disease and ‘Closing the Gap’ for Indigenous
Australians International Society of
Hypertension Corner Pfizer
Australia Cardiovascular and Lipid Research Grants (CVL Research Grants) |
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President’s Message from Stephen Harrap |
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Thank you to
everyone who has provided feedback on our HBPRCA Family Tree. We are at a stage now where we’d like all members of the
Council to check that we have the details and linkages correct. Where
corrections or additions need to be made, please let us know so that we can
complete the tree(s). Having gone to such efforts, I think that we should
nurture the tree and add to it as the Council grows, so that 30 years from
now we can chart the where things began and the impact and reach of the
modern day Council. It will be great to see our young student members of
today with their own branches extending as their careers blossom.
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2009 Annual Scientific Meeting News from
Kate Denton and Markus Schlaich
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Plans for this
years meeting are well in hand. We have made spectacular progress in
terms of invited lecturers, invitations were sent out for all 3 of our guest
spots and were accepted within 24 hours- I was stunned, no hassle, no chasing
people up! I guess this is an acknowledgement of the respect the HBPRCA
carries both nationally and internationally. We can look forward to
some very interesting and stimulating talks. RD Wright Lecturer:
Professor Frans Leenen
Austin Doyle
Lecture: Professor Michael Cowley
Colin Johnston
Lecturer: Dr Alex Brown
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Please put this in
your diaries now! 1 – 3 December
2009 Luna Park Sydney |
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2009 Workshop News from Geoff Head
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ASM Workshop Tuesday 1st
December 2009: “Environmentally Influenced Cardiovascular Disease: From the
Fetus to the Adult”. Obesity and its
associated conditions, both metabolic and cardiovascular, are a major threat
to human health. The increased incidence of obesity is observed worldwide,
but is highest in westernised countries including Australia. The
cardiovascular consequence of this trend is disturbing but quite predictable
since there is a very strong relationship between body mass index and levels
of blood pressure. Management and treatment of obesity related hypertension
poses a formidable challenge with recent data suggesting that up to 70% of
newly diagnosed hypertensive cases in the Framingham study are attributable
to obesity. This phenomenon is affecting not only adults but there is
increasing recognition that there is a relationship between hypertension and
obesity that affects children. We are now realising that even the fetus is
very much affected by its in utero environment such that factors influencing
fetal development can program the offspring to develop obesity, hypertension
and related cardiovascular disease. This increased incidence of
overweight status in young children is alarming and suggests that this
problem will only escalate in the future. This workshop held over a single day will attempt to bring
together various streams of research by scientists and clinicians
involved in the environmental influences leading to cardiovascular disease.
The plan is for sessions involving fetal programming, children's issues
through to the adult with attention to special areas of concern such as
indigenous Australians. Workshop Committee: Geoff Head, Kate Denton, Markus Schlaich, Louise
Burrell, James Armitage, Mary Wlodek, Bruce Neal and Annemarie Hennessy |
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2008 Annual Scientific Meeting News
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Report from our RD
Wright Lecturer, Carlos M. Ferrario, M.D. I will remember the 30th
Anniversary of the HBPRCA as one of the most rewarding and pleasant
experiences of my professional life.
I was truly impressed by the level of the science and the camaraderie
among the faculty and the younger participants. Indeed the sessions dedicated to showcase the work of graduate
students and post-doctoral fellows were quite impressive and denoted a real
commitment to foster and increase participation of young investigators toward
the mission of the Council. The
conference dinner was delightfully fun leaving both Jewell and I impressed
with the effort. Particularly special
were the words of Stephen Harrap who vividly articulated the contribution and
personas of the founder members of the Council. I truly believe that other professional societies could learn a
great deal from the spirit and enthusiasm of the organizers of this meeting.
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Report from Michelle Buttfield When you are
responsible for organising a large project, such as the HBPRCA conference,
you can be so engrossed with the day-to- Michelle graduated
from the University of Southampton, UK in 1999, Practiced as a doctor
(Medicine/Anaesthetics and Intensive Care) in the UK from 1999 until 2005
when she moved to Australia in 2005.
Currently writing up a Masters of Philosophy - Medicine at the
University of Sydney. Michelle joined Novartis Pharmaceuticals as the
cardiovascular Medical Scientific Liaison in April 2008 |
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Student Liaison News from Ann
Goodchild
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At the end on last year, the
Executive Committee put a call out for a student member to sit on Council.
Three applications were received. It is with great pleasure that I announce Erin
O’Callaghan as your representative. Please see her introduction below. I would like to thank all students
who sent in their feedback regarding the student symposium and student's
choice poster award. Feedback was very positive and we will be holding these
again this year. We encourage comments or further
suggestions for the annual meeting from any student member and encourage
discussion of these with Erin and/or myself at any time during the year. |
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Student Member on Council from Erin
O’Callaghan
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Specifically, I will
endeavour to: o
increase student
awareness of opportunities and scholarships available to HBPRCA student
members o
create more opportunities
for student mentoring from senior council members and post-doctoral
fellows o
improve on the highly
successful “Student’s Choice” awards and judging program inaugurated at the
previous meeting o
maintain the high
standard of the student symposium next year by including insights and advice
from early post-doctoral and senior research scientists o
organise an inclusive and
entertaining student mixer event! If any students wish for more information
about the council and its activities or have suggestions to make for future
meetings, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly via e.o’callaghan@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au or phone (03) 8344 5851. |
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Membership News from Doug
McKitrick
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Membership in the HBPRCA is
at an all time high and the Council continues to expand a leading role in
hypertension research and treatment. It is a great time to be involved! The
table below shows the institutions to which our members belong. If yours
isn't the leader of the pack perhaps your colleagues might consider joining
to raise your representation in the Council.
March 31st is the annual
subscription due date for the HBPRCA. If you have thus far overlooked paying
it’s still not too late! Simply go to the HBPRCA website (www.hbprca.com.au) and follow the link on the left for access to the
secure payment site or to download a form for return by post. If you don’t have
internet access, can’t remember if you have paid, or just need a bit of help,
contact the Secretariat by phone, fax or post (details below). Don’t forget to encourage
your graduate students and post docs to take out membership with the Council.
The special initiatives are have been introduced are specifically intended to
benefit student and early career members. |
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Society Liaison News from Bruce
Neal
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British Hypertension SocietyThe British
Hypertension Society has just put out its call for abstracts and is inviting
members of the HBPRCA to make submissions as part of our new arrangement for
members to attend the British meeting.
Attached to this eNews and on the member area of the Website you can
find the abstract instructions and information about the BHS meeting. The abstract deadline is May 1st and the
meeting will be held on the 14 – 16 September. You will remember that the BHS
meeting is usually restricted to its membership but that up to ten members of
the HBPRCA are now invited to attend as guests of the president. You will have to cover your own travel to
Cambridge in the UK but the subsidized registration fee will secure two nights
of accommodation and two days of high quality science, entertainment, meals
and drinks. Elena Velkoska, the
winner of the award is, of course, already on the agenda for the meeting but
we hope that one or two others will also be able to make it. Please let us know if you decide to make a
submission or plan to attend the meeting. Franco – Australian
Exchange After the
successful award of the inaugural Franco-Australian Exchange travel grants
last year we are now seeking applicants for the second year of the program. To
download the registration form, please click here. Once again
acknowledgement must be made of Louise Burrell who has secured from Servier
Australia the funds that will support the Australian Fellow. Paris, the centre of fashion, culture and scientific researchTye DawoodCentre de Recherche des
Cordeliers INSERM UMRS 872 is located on the medical university campus, in
the heart of Paris. The university has a very rich history dating back to the
13th century, when the convent of Cordelier was built. Later, during the
French Revolution in 1789, the government took possession of all the
buildings and turned the refectory into the headquarters of the Club of
Cordeliers, the society of human and civil rights. Then at the beginning of
the 19th century, the convent was demolished and replaced by a hospital and
the faculty of medicine, where medical teaching and scientific research
continue to this day. In 2007, the Cordeliers Research Centre was created,
housing four departments comprising 17 groups, one of which is headed by
Professor Jean-Luc Elghozi. Being part of old university buildings, the
research centre may not have the luxuries that modern research institutes
have, but it certainly has a unique character and charm that only historical
buildings possess.
Jean-Luc Elghozi, Dominique
Laude, Veronique Baudrie and Kesia Palma-Rigo made up the four members of
Jean-Luc’s team, and I was the fifth member for a month last spring (or autumn
in Paris). I was part of the Franco-Australian Exchange Program supported by
the HBPRCA to spend one month in a lab in France. I was going to examine the
stress reactivity hypothesis of cardiac risk in mental disorders by
investigating autonomic activity during mental stress in patients with
anxiety disorders. This sabbatical complemented some of my data that was
analysed and published in conjunction with Dominique and Jean-Luc in the
past.
Working with Dominique
proved to be a very rewarding experience. I learnt more about baroreflex
sensitivity, heart rate variability, a little on visual basic (in both French
and English!) and I increased my French vocabulary. I analysed hundreds of
data files, and on my return to Melbourne I was able to write an abstract,
utilising these results, with a view to presenting them at an international
conference in June this year to be held in…Paris, of course!
Just having ‘cake’ for Tye’s final day in the lab Thank you to HBPRCA for the award; and, to Jean-Luc Elghozi, Dominique Laude, Veronique Baudrie and Kesia Palma-Rigo, my lab in Paris. |
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Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) Working Group Initiative
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Members: Geoff
Head, Susie Mihailidou, Karen Duggan, Alexandra Bune, James Sharman, Arduino
Mangoni, Peter Howe, Narelle Berry, Diane Cowley, Michael Stowasser, Lawrie
Beilin, Jonathan Hodgson, John Chalmers, Carla Morey, Mark Nelson, and
Mark Brown At present, while
ABPM equivalents exist for the diagnosis of hypertension, there is only
limited ABPM equivalents for target blood pressure in the management of hypertension.
While the PAMELA study provided an ABPM equivalent for the diagnostic level
of 140/90, this study from Monza in Italy does not readily provide ABPM
equivalents for target blood pressures such as 125/75, nor is it necessarily
relevant to the Australian population (Mancia G, Sega R, Bravi C, De Vito G,
Valagussa F, Cesana G, Zanchetti A. Ambulatory blood pressure normality:
results from the PAMELA study. J Hypertens. 1995;13:1377-1390). It is therefore important to derive a
robust algorithm, which can provide relevant ABPM target blood
pressures. Aim: This HBPRCA
clinical research collaborative initiative aimed to collect clinic blood
pressure and ambulatory recordings from contributing centres (mostly
hypertension clinics) through out Australia in order to provide sufficient
data to derive the Clinic- ABPM relationship and will also be able
to account for sex or age differences. Progress: So far we have collected over five and a
half thousand recordings from 6 states and 11 centres, which included
both seated and supine clinic BP. We presented our findings at the
council meeting in December and also have submitted an abstract to ESH in
Milan. The working group is now finalising the work for publication
over the next few months. We are liaising with the NHF in order to
use this database for updating the current ambulatory guidelines. If you have
any comments or questions please feel free to contact us via Meetings First. |
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Feature Article: Cardiovascular Disease and ‘Closing the Gap’ for
Indigenous Australians
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The life-expectancy gap
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians remains one of contemporary
Australia’s most enduring health divides, and has recently become a target
for enhanced government and health system reform. Further, there is increasing evidence to suggest that these
differentials are, largely, widening instead of contracting. However, sustainable
reductions in life expectancy differentials have and will prove difficult to
deliver, requiring unparalleled coordination across health and social
institutions, increased investment, and previously unseen levels of
commitment from all sectors of Australian society.
Despite all that
is known about population-wide and high-risk approaches to CVD control, many
of which have led to significant declines in cardiovascular mortality across
the globe, these remain theoretical, rather than realised benefits within
Aboriginal Australians. Further
complicating this picture, and as a consequence inhibiting coordinated
action, the drivers of this disparity remain poorly explored. With these
challenges in mind, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute established the
Centre for Indigenous Vascular and Diabetes Institute at the beginning of
2007, with the explicit objective of reducing the burden of cardiovascular
and related conditions among Indigenous Australians. The centres’ activity is
guided by two fundamental questions. Firstly, what drives the enormous gulf
in cardiovascular and related conditions between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Australians? Secondarily, what can and must be done to reduce
this disparity? Whilst seemingly
simple questions, the complexity of cardiovascular disease aetiology, the
profound disadvantage of Indigenous Australians, the mismatch of resourcing
and level of need, and the intractable barriers to necessary care experienced
by Indigenous communities make answering these questions difficult. The
work of the centre was commenced by thinking of the principles that could
guide targeted research through such a complex space. Firstly, the hierarchy of vascular disease
causation and prevention in this population could only be addressed through
the integration of epidemiology, basic science, social and behavioural
research, clinical and health services research. Secondly, scientific
innovation and knowledge generation must lead to measurable improvements in
outcomes for Aboriginal people. Thirdly, there exists a moral, ethical and
scientific responsibility to reduce the unacceptable disadvantage experienced
by Aboriginal Australians. Lastly, nothing less than excellence will deliver
improved outcomes for Australia’s most marginalized population. In order to move from motherhood statements of intent, to
concrete action, the Centre has focused on developing several interconnected,
foundational themes of research, including: ·
Outlining the complex and inter-related
burden of diabetes, heart and renal disease among Aboriginal Australians
across the life-course. ·
The identification and management of early
markers of vascular disease in Aboriginal people. ·
The identification, development and
evaluation of effective methods of prevention and management of vascular
conditions in Aboriginal people, and ·
Outlining the pathways by which disadvantage
contributes to chronic disease causation in Aboriginal populations. Whilst each of
these themes in isolation could form a long-standing program of research, the
need to unpack the complex pattern of CVD in Aboriginal people, and its
alleviation, requires integrating multiple understandings across several
critical domains. For example,
population differences in traditional risk factors are likely to be important
contributors to cardiovascular disparity experienced by Indigenous
Australians. Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, abdominal obesity, psychosocial
stress, dietary fruit and vegetables, exercise, alcohol consumption and
adverse lipid profiles account for most if not all of the
population-attributable risk of myocardial infarction. For all of these predictors, Indigenous
Australians fare worse than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Yet in
isolation, traditional risk factors are unlikely to account for such stark
disparity. The pattern and interplay of chronic disease co-morbidity, largely
diabetes and renal impairment, looms as a critical contributor and target of
sustained research to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people. Further,
psychosocial factors and socioeconomic position are emerging worldwide as major
independent risk factors for coronary heart disease. The evidence linking CHD
and depression is consistent and strong, and is increasingly accepted as a
factor of importance in aetiology among those without established disease,
and recurrence, progression and mortality in those with established disease.
‘Psychosocial stress’ induced by social isolation, poverty, hopelessness and
lack of empowerment and control over life chances, has also demonstrated
important associations with CHD. These, and other
factors such as racism, poverty, separation from land and family,
intergenerational trauma, marginalisation and grief and loss, have long been
considered as direct causes of the devastating burden of ill-health
experienced within Aboriginal communities. Understanding the psychosocial
determinants of health disadvantage clearly requires recognition of the
intricate connections between the cultural, biological, social and
psychological realities of Indigenous Australians. Clarification of
the potential pathways between ‘psychological stress’ and heart disease is of
the utmost importance to understanding the burden of disease suffered by
Indigenous Australians, to increasing health professionals’ understandings of
the Finally, the
better identification and targeted management of cardiovascular risk in
Aboriginal people, utilising an already existing evidence-base, but framed
and adapted to better meet the needs of Indigenous Australians is essential.
The critical thinking may not be about new science, but the application of
existing knowledge in the complex context of disadvantaged communities. Despite the challenges,
there exist significant opportunities in the pursuit of improved
cardiovascular outcomes for Aboriginal people. Given the profound age-related
burden of chronic disease, their impact among Indigenous people may offer a
window into the needs of an aging Australian population. Developing models of
care that are effective, affordable and culturally aligned can guide health
system reform aimed at improving care for other groups with chronic
disease. Further, a young Indigenous
population structure requires novel approaches to alter the trajectory of
adolescents and children toward healthful behaviour across the life-course.
This becomes all the more important in the context of a growing epidemic of
obesity and related conditions in progressively younger Australian
cohorts. Given the
sector-wide shortfall among allied health, nursing and medical personnel in
rural and remote Australia, there is also a critical need to equip the
existing workforce to better manage cardiovascular risk and develop alternative
models of health care delivery across the sector. An extension of
current policy, largely focused on primary care incentive payments for risk
factor screening, must address a more comprehensive approach to risk
management. This will require significant shifts in the way in which
cardiovascular preventative health care is delivered within Australia. More specifically, how do we best deliver
what we already know must be done to manage elevated risk and disease in
Aboriginal people? What is known is
that life expectancy differentials between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
Australians are largely driven by cardiovascular and related conditions, and
as such, afford significant opportunity for change. Unfortunately, many
Aboriginal people are at extremely high risk of CVD. In those that develop
cardiovascular events; their outcomes are significantly worse, independent of
known clinical predictors. There is also evidence to suggest that the system
is not delivering all available care to Aboriginal people according to their
need. This is beyond a philosophical issue of equity, but one of significant
moral, ethical, scientific and economic importance. Unfortunately we
remain limited in our understanding of several key issues. Despite awareness
of what should be delivered, the mechanisms by which to achieve significant
improvements remain elusive. Whether these will require a focus on improved
primary care across the population, or improved hospital management and
secondary prevention of existing disease in high-risk groups has become a
point of considerable policy debate. In reality, however, reducing the
unequal burden of CVD in Aboriginal Australians will require both, as is
expected to be delivered to all Australian citizens. This will, by
necessity, involve not just those involved in the delivery of services and
research endeavour within Aboriginal communities, but the broader research
and medical community who have so much to offer our most vulnerable
population. |
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International Society of Hypertension Corner
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Hypertension News - An
Electronic Newsletter I am
delighted to let you know that the latest issue of "Hypertension News - An Electronic Newsletter" (Opus
18, March 2009) is now available! Please click here to view a
copy. This issue includes amongst
other things: o
The President's Report - a summary of the Society's current activities o
Vancouver 2010 - an exciting taster of what awaits you at the ISH
Meeting next year in beautiful Vancouver o
News from around the
world - an introduction to some of our
Affiliated Societies o
Asian-Pacific Society
of Hypertension - read a report from
their recent meeting in Kuala Lumpur o
Meeting Dates - check Hypertension News so you don't miss out on
important dates for your diary We hope you enjoy reading
the newsletter - do let me know if you have any suggestions for future
issues. With best wishes, Lars H. Lindholm Editor, Hypertension
News ISH Foundation,
Research Scholar Fellowship Award We are pleased to
announce a new initiative: ISH Foundation, Research Scholar Fellowship Award.
This programme supports the training of postdoctoral scientists in the
formative stages of their careers to conduct clinical,
epidemiological/population science, or outcomes research. It provides the successful candidate with
a period of mentored research as part of collaboration between the Scholar
and a Sponsor at an established research institution. The ISH will provide up to US $30,000 for
one year of support of the Scholar's salary. Please click here for further information and to download the application forms
(deadline: 1st November 2009) Membership We should like to invite you to apply
to become a Member of the International Society of Hypertension. The Society has an active membership of
over 750 individuals working in the field of hypertension and cardiovascular
disease in over 60 countries. ISH comprises researchers in basic,
clinical and population science, academic scientists and clinicians ranging
from senior professors to junior fellows. We invite you to become
part of this international community of experts on high blood pressure and to
receive timely and comprehensive information about the latest events and
discoveries so that you can keep at the forefront of hypertension research. Please visit our website - www.ish-world.com – for more information on the Society
and its activities. As a member, you will: o
gain savings on
conference registrations; o
receive an annual subscription
to the Journal of Hypertension, the official journal of the Society and the
ESH o
obtain copies of the
quarterly newsletter, Hypertension News o
be eligible to apply for
support through the new initiative of ISH Research Scholar Fellowship Award o
be updated regularly on
Society activities via reports from the President o
enjoy broader
opportunities to build relationships and network with peers, mentor others,
and develop your career as a leader in your field o
be eligible to receive or
nominate candidates for the Biennial ISH Awards, generously supported by our
Corporate Members. Those new members
joining the Society who permanently reside and work in certain developing
countries are eligible for a reduced membership fee (please see http://www.ish-world.com/documents/countries_eligible.pdf for a list of the eligible
countries). To become a member
of the ISH, please complete the downloadable Application Form, which can be
found at http://www.ish-world.com/default.aspx?HowToBecomeAMember Applications must be accompanied by: o
A written statement by
two members of the Society (names of regional/national members can be
provided by the Secretariat) as to the qualifications of the nominee, and; o
A list of the nominee’s
academic degrees, professional positions, and a list of five best and five
most recent publications relating to hypertension or allied fields Nominations are initially reviewed by
the Membership Committee and approvals are subsequently ratified by the
Society at its biennial scientific meetings. We hope that you will wish join the
ISH in 2009 and look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, International Society of Hypertension
Secretariat On behalf of Professor A.M. Heagerty,
ISH President |
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Upcoming Meetings
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ISAN09, the 6th Congress of The International Society for Autonomic NeuroscienceEuropean Federation of
Autonomic Societies (EFAS) in Sydney, from 1 – 4 September 2009. We are
expecting about 350 international and national delegates having clinical
and/or basic scientific research interests in autonomic neuroscience. This is
a fantastic opportunity to showcase Australia’s strength in this area. The
congress is supported by the Foundation for High Blood Pressure. Plenaries speakers
are Darwin Berg (UCSD), Hugo Critchley (University of Sussex) Max Hilz
(University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) and Elspeth McLachlan (Prince of Wales
Medical Research Institute). The 18 symposia
programmed include those entitled “Autonomic
mechanisms contributing to the control of the long term blood pressure level” “Central
cardiovascular control: plasticity in response to normal physiological
challenges” “Control of
neuronal functions by the endothelium in the autonomic and neuroendocrine
brain” “Linking emotional
stress to autonomic function” “Human evaluation
of autonomic activity” “Autonomic Neuropathies - recent advances” “Autonomic
disorders in Parkinson's Disease” “Chemo-baroreflex interactions in
physiological and pathological conditions” “The autonomic
nervous system in spinal cord injury – bench to bedside” This promises to
be a very exciting meeting and we encourage all to attend. Further details of
the meeting can be found at http://www.iceaustralia.com/isan2009/ Any sponsorship
enquiries should be directed by email urgently to ann.goodchild@vc.mq.edu.au |
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The 23rd Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
The International Society
of Hypertension (ISH) invites you to participate in the 23rd Scientific
Meeting (ISH 2010) to be held September 26 - 30, 2010 in beautiful Vancouver,
Canada. The theme of the 2010 Meeting is Global Cardiovascular Risk
Reduction. Future perspectives, new research, treatment and prevention will
be showcased through the Scientific Program covering four days of invited
plenary talks and oral and poster presentations. Keynote speakers will
include pioneers and leading investigators in the fields of cardiovascular,
renal, and metabolic health. The Meeting will also include Industry and
Investigator-initiated Symposia held before and after the Scientific Program
at various locations in Vancouver and throughout the province of British
Columbia. ISH 2010 will begin accepting
abstracts in June 2009. Early decisions on acceptance of abstracts will give
participants a longer lead time for visa applications. There is a world to
discover when you visit Vancouver – Spectacular by Nature, and Beautiful
British Columbia. A variety of social events that showcase the diversity and
richness of Canadian culture will be planned along with optional local and
regional tours that will be available both pre and post ISH 2010. Visit www.vancouverhypertension2010.com
for further information. |
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ASMR News
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ASMR Research Awards ASMR offers two Research
Awards annually. These awards support a postgraduate student member of the
ASMR nearing completion of their studies or a recently graduated (2 years
maximum) postdoctoral member to undertake a short period of research in a
laboratory outside of Australia ($5,000) or in a distal laboratory ($2,000)
within Australia. The award specifically excludes support for conference
attendance and travel for an extended period of postdoctoral studies.
Applicants for these awards must have been members of the ASMR for at least
12 months immediately preceding the year in which the Award application is to
be considered. Applications for download. Applications close September 30, 2009. ASMR Newsletter Please click here to view the March 2009 issue. |
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Pfizer Australia
Cardiovascular and Lipid Research Grants
(CVL Research Grants)
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Grants of up to $55,000 (incl. GST) to be awarded in 2009
Research funding is awarded
for clinical research across the fields of (but not necessarily confined to): ·
Cardiovascular Disease ·
Stroke ·
Lipid Disorders Application closing date 15th
May 2009 For more information or to obtain an
application form visit: www.cvlgrants.com.au |
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Article of interest: Going Bananas!
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Bananas contain three
natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana
gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has
proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute
workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's
leading athletes. But energy isn't the only
way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a
substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to
our daily diet. o
Depression: According
to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from
depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because
bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into
serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you
feel happier. o
PMS: Forget the
pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose
levels, which can affect your mood. o
Amenia: High in
iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so
helps in cases of amenia. o
Blood Pressure: This
unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making
it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug
Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims
for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. o
Brain Power: 200
students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams
this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost
their brainpower. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can
assist learning by making pupils more alert. o
Constipation: High
in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action,
helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. o
Hangovers: One of
the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake,
sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and
re-hydrates your system. o
Heartburn: Bananas
have a natural antacid effect in the body; so if you suffer from heartburn,
try eating a banana for soothing relief. o
Morning
Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar
levels up and avoid morning sickness. o
Mosquito
bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly
successful at reducing swelling and irritation. o
Nerves: Bananas are
high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. o
Overweight and at
work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure
at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking
at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely
to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. o
Ulcers: The banana
is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft
texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without
distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and
reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. o
Temperature
control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can
lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand,
for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a
cool temperature. o
Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the
natural mood enhancer tryptophan. o
Smoking &Tobacco
Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12
they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the
body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. o
Stress: Potassium is
a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the
brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our
metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be
rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. o
Strokes: According
to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of
a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! o
Warts: Those keen on
natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece
of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully
hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a
natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four
times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five
times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It
is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe
its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day
keeps the doctor away!' |
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Acknowledgements |
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HBPRCA would like to acknowledge the support
of the following companies: Corporate members
Corporate Sponsors
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Meetings in 2009 |
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Meetings in 2010 |
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HBPRCA Secretariat
Athina Patti at Meetings First 4/184 Main Street LILYDALE VIC 3140 Phone +61 3 9739 7697 Fax +61 3 9739 7076 Email hbprca@meetingsfirst.com.au |
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