Studies show that stress can increase the risk of heart disease and other conditions. Therefore, identifying people who are most likely to have strong reactions to stress is an important goal in the prevention of heart disease. David Nordstokke believes facial expressions may be key markers for identifying people at risk of stress-induced heart disease. He is studying the relationship between facial expressions and stress by giving participants a test of social anxiety. During the videotaped test, David compares changes in heart rate with specific facial movements to determine if there is a link. He hopes the research will reveal patterns of facial expression that provide information about heart rate reactivity. Ultimately, David aims to help health care practitioners in the early detection of individuals at risk of developing heart disease so they can intervene with stress management programs.
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Finding the metaphorical road back to health: Understanding the illness experience and locating the means of recovery
MSFHR Distinguished Scholar Michael Chandler is researching individual and cultural factors that could help reduce the high rate of suicide among youth in certain First Nations communities. His research is directed at understanding the ways cultural differences help or hinder young people’s ability to insulate themselves from risks of self-injury and suicide. With Dr. Chandler as his supervisor, Jesse Phillips is building on the focus of this research by examining how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth view the relationship between their health and well-being, and the health and well-being of their community and culture as a whole. Jesse is exploring the notion that Aboriginal youth understand their health and well-being in ways that are more rooted in community life and cultural tradition than is ordinarily the case for non-Aboriginal youth. Achieving a better appreciation of such cultural difference could work to ensure that the health concerns and ability of First Nations youth are more adequately met by means sensitive to their cultural diversity.
Coping in serodiscordant couples: the role of HIV-negative partners' coping strategies in health outcomes of their HIV-positive partners
Effective anti-retroviral drug regimes are helping people with HIV live healthy for longer periods of time. As a result, people with HIV are increasingly able to enter long-term relationships, a development which has implications for the course of their disease. For example, there is research indicating that people with HIV have a higher risk of their disease progressing when they perceive negative support from family or friends. Eli Puterman is examining coping methods in relationships involving an HIV-negative person with a HIV-positive partner. He is studying how these couples cope with both HIV disease and the interpersonal problems that emerge from the illness. Eli hopes to reveal insights about how the interaction of coping methods affects the mental and physical health of people with HIV. The research will help identify coping strategies that either buffer the effects of HIV disease or contribute to increased suffering. The study could also help improve mental health treatments for couples coping with chronic illnesses in general.
Role of DNA methylation and histone modification in the transcriptional regulation of mouse Ly49 genes
Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of white blood cells and are part of the innate immune system. Their activation, unlike that of the adaptive immune system, does not require exposure to a foreign substance. NK cells are considered a first line of immune defense in the body, as they can recognize and destroy altered cells such as virus-infected or tumour cells. On the surface of normal cells there are receptor molecules called MHC class-I, which are recognized by receptors on the surface of NK cells. The interaction of NK receptors and MHC class-I prevents NK cells from destroying normal cells. NK cells are able to destroy virus-infected cells and cancer cells because in these cells, MHC class-I molecules are often not expressed (shut off). In both human and mouse, the repertoire of receptors varies among different NK cells. To better understand how NK genes are regulated, Arefeh Rouhi is studying the mechanisms that control these variations among NK cells. Ultimately, this knowledge may lead to ways to use the body’s own immune system to protect against infections and malignancy.
Immunomodulation using the modified transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)
The immune system constantly monitors all cells in the body to identify and eliminate any cell that becomes infected or cancerous. A key component of the immune system is a transporter called TAP, which resides inside the cell on the membrane of a compartment called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Normally, TAP imports protein fragments called peptides into the ER, after which they are displayed on the cell surface and examined by immune system cells. If the immune system recognizes peptides derived from a virus or tumour, the cell is destroyed. In many cancer cells, TAP is present in very low levels, so viral or tumour peptides do not get into the ER for identification. As a result, the T cells that recognize and kill aberrant cells are not activated and diseased cells continue to grow. At the opposite end of the immunity spectrum, T cells may identify cells from a donor organ as being foreign to the host’s body and kill these cells, resulting in transplant rejection. Robyn Seipp is investigating whether different forms of TAP can be used to improve the immune system’s ability to recognize and respond appropriately to both tumour cells and donor cells from a transplanted organ. The results may be used to improve cancer treatments and reduce transplant rejection.
The importance of visual speech information in the recognition of one's native language
Infants are inundated with visual and auditory information that is critical to their development of communication. One important communication skill that infants learn is the ability to discriminate between their native language and an unfamiliar language. Whitney Weikum is studying whether infants can develop the ability to discern people speaking in the infants’ native language, versus other languages, based solely on visual information. The research involves conducting imaging studies that will determine the neural processes responsible for analyzing visual information. Results from the study could help create definitive tests for patterns of normal communication development. Such tests could lead to early identification and treatment of infants with disorders such as Autism.
Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 on islet transplantation
More than two million Canadians and 135 million people worldwide have diabetes, a chronic medical condition characterized by a lack of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels (Type 1), or insensitivity to insulin (Type 2). Transplanting islets, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, can cure Type 1 diabetes. But use of this therapy is limited because of the huge volume of islet tissue required to treat all Type 1 diabetics. As a result, most continue to rely on insulin injections to help control blood glucose. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is produced in the intestine and has numerous anti-diabetic effects. Clinical trials are currently investigating GLP-1 as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Other recent studies show GLP-1 also enhances the growth of islet tissue. Rhonda Wideman is investigating the effects of GLP-1 on the growth and survival of transplanted islets to determine if GLP-1 reduces the amount of islets needed to cure Type 1 diabetes in transplant recipients. If so, more islet tissue could be produced and more patients could be treated with this procedure.
Development of a non-viral DNA cancer vaccine by combining liposome-mediated gene and immunostimulatory oligonucleotide delivery technologies
Vaccines offer a promising approach to prevent and treat cancer. Vaccines have the potential to overcome the failed immune response to cancer cells by priming the immune system to recognize and destroy these cells. But two issues hamper the success of generating cancer vaccines: the difficulty in identifying an appropriate tumour associated antigen (TAA) that would induce an anti-tumour response; and the availability of a safe but potent adjuvant (partner) therapy to boost the immune response against the antigen. Kaley Wilson is researching ways to overcome these obstacles and allow the creation of a non-viral DNA cancer vaccine. To accomplish this, she is using two lipid, or fat-based delivery systems to introduce TAA and adjuvant therapies into tumour cells. The combination of these two lipid-based technologies could support the development of a vaccine targeting a variety of cancers.
Dose corrections for inhomogeneities in small field intensity modulated x-ray radiation therapy
Alanah Bergman’s research focuses on the use of high energy x-ray radiation in cancer treatment. Radiation fields are shaped to deliver high doses that conform closely to the shape of the tumour being targeted. A new technique called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) uses a collimator to fine-tune the shape and intensity of the radiation field. But it is difficult to accurately calculate the dose for small fields, especially when inhomogeneous tissue — such as lung, air or bone — is included in the treatment area. Alanah Bergman is investigating methods for improving dose calculations for x-ray radiation treatment. She will quantify errors in dose calculations and modify the calculations to improve their accuracy. Results from the study could provide radiation oncologists with better tools for making treatment decisions and ultimately benefit patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer, particularly cancers of the head/neck, lung and breast.
Examining health care interactions for their influence on effective and equitable perinatal health care services for women and families
Research has shown that quality of health care services influences the health and well-being of women and their families during pregnancy, birth and the first two to three months after birth. Studies also show that access to effective health services is important in helping women follow healthy practices. Less is known about the ways in which relationships between women and their health care providers influence the effectiveness and fair distribution of health services. Helen Brown is investigating this question, with a focus on understanding how these relationships affect healthy practices among women from marginalized or less powerful groups. Helen hopes the research will help improve health care relationships, enhance quality of care, strengthen health promotion and education for childbearing women, and help policy-makers create more effective and equitable services.