Based on her previous research on pediatric bone health, Dr. Kerry MacKelvie believes that perhaps the greatest hope for preventing osteoporosis in later life is to intervene during childhood. Kerry has studied how high impact exercise affects bone mass and structural changes during growth, and she has investigated the effects of ethnic background on bone health. Now Kerry is bringing together in one study an investigation of all the factors that may contribute to bone strength during childhood: exercise, hormones, body mass and composition, and ethnicity. She will study Asian and Caucasian boys who have not yet reached puberty, focusing on bone mass changes over time for both overweight boys and inactive boys. The study is particularly relevant to Vancouver’s population, as it will examine and compare ethnic-specific hormonal, body composition and bone mass changes during growth in both Asian and Caucasian children.
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Health status and health care utilization among mid-life Chinese, South Asian, and British Canadians in the lower mainland: An examination of socio-economic, immigration, and cultural dimensions
Dr. Karen Kobayashi has long been interested in how ethnicity affects aging and health. In her current research, Karen is comparing the health of Chinese and South Asian adults—the fastest growing ethnic groups in the Lower Mainland—with Canadians of British origin. She is examining differences in health status and use of health services among middle age Canadians to determine the factors that may promote or impede healthy aging. The research involves interviewing participants to determine how differences in such variables as education, income, time since immigration, English language ability, religious affiliation, and adherence to traditional values affect their health status and the way they use health services. She anticipates the research will reveal differences between and within cultural groups. For example, the way foreign-born and Canadian-born adults access health services may vary within each population group. The way new immigrants use health services may also vary from people who have lived in Canada for 10 years or more. This information could be used to predict health care needs among the groups and improve access to health services for these populations as they age.
Evaluation of efficacy of borate-based fungistatic treatments on building materials and growth, pro-inflammatory and toxic products of secondary metabolism by selected micro-organisms
With the prevalence of “”leaky”” buildings in BC, there is increasing awareness of the potential health risks associated with damp building products fostering the growth of fungal organisms. These organisms grow from spores, which are naturally abundant in outdoor air. Although spores cannot grow on dry building materials, they can readily form colonies and grow on building materials that have sufficient moisture (e.g. resulting from water leaks, flooding or condensation). These fungi are thought to contribute to respiratory and inflammatory health problems in people. Dr. Karen Bartlett is studying the effects of a class of anti-fungal preservative containing borate. This preservative, used to inhibit fungal growth on wood products, is not yet approved for use in Canada. Dr. Bartlett is monitoring whether borate leaches out building materials when they are wet and becomes ineffective. She is also investigating whether the fungi produce any harmful byproducts in response to these preservatives that might create further health problems.
Investigating the link between symptom expression, medicalization and acculturation: The case of Portuguese immigrants
Dr. James has conducted groundbreaking research into the experiences of Portuguese immigrants with agonias, a commonly-expressed disorder that is literally translated as “the agonies.” While North American clinicians often diagnose agonias as anxiety and/or depression, and treat it with medication and psychotherapy, these approaches are often unsuccessful. Dr. James’ previous research indicates that the meaning, symptoms and treatment of agonias do not match the standard psychiatric disorders of anxiety or depression. Dr. James is investigating the differences in the way clinicians and members of Portuguese communities understand agonias; whether it is related to anxiety or depression; and whether assimilation into North American society changes community members’ understanding and experience of agonias. This research will further inform her work teaching therapists throughout Canada and the US how to conduct psychotherapy with ethnic minority patients.
Genes regulated by the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells
Dawn Bradley’s research focuses on the key role of the male hormone androgen in prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death for men with cancer in North America. Prostate tumours initially need androgen to grow and proliferate, but tumours can progress to the point where they survive without androgen. Conventional treatments are ineffective when prostate tumours become androgen-independent. Bradley is investigating the process by which the androgen receptor regulates various genes. Using microarrays, a technology that allows thousands of genes to be examined in a single experiment, she hopes to identify genes that are regulated by the androgen receptor and other genes that progress to androgen-independence. Her research will improve understanding of how prostate cancer cells become androgen-independent and provide potential targets for anti-cancer therapies.
Cytoskeletal modulation and developmental regulation of Kv15 surface expression
Potassium channels comprise a group of transmembrane proteins in cells that typically allow preferential passage of K+ from the inside of the cell to its external environment. In excitable tissues such as neurons and myocytes, these channels functionally hyperpolarize the cell, serving to retard electrical conduction and excitability. In the heart, K+ channels such as Kv1.5 are of paramount importance in cardiomyocyte repolarization and governing the duration of the action potential. Since cardiac arrhythmias arise from abnormal cardiac excitability, the control of cardiac K+ channel modulation constitutes a promising site of clinical therapeutic intervention. It has been proposed that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton leads to an increased surface activity of cloned Kv1.5 channels in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. To investigate this hypothesis and its physiological importance, I propose to investigate cytoskeletal disruption in cardiomyocytes as well as HEK cells, examining its effect on levels of gating current in Kv1.5 and the distributions of a-actinin-2 and Kv1.5. In addition, it has been speculated that repolarizing K+ currents underlie the basis of alterations in cardiac action potential configuration occurring during post-natal development. I further propose to examine the possible postnatal changes in Kv1.5 expression contributing to this developmental dependence.
Single Channel analysis of the mechanism basis of Zn 2+ and H+ medical block of Kv1.5
A goal that scientists have long hoped for — the ability to design drugs based specifically on the known properties of their targets — motivated Daniel Kwan’s Masters research. In order to develop such target-specific drugs, the molecular structure of potential targets needs to be well-defined. Daniel contributed to this goal by combining techniques in electrophysiology, cell biology and molecular biology to study Kv1.5, a protein controlling the movement of potassium ions from heart muscle cells. The protein acts as a pathway for ions to pass through cell membranes. Results from the research show that zinc ions and protons can block these pathways by causing a reduction in the channels available. Daniel also examined how nickel ion affects these channels and results from this study point to a possible link between zinc and epileptic seizures. These findings could help in developing drugs to block the channels as a treatment for diseases such as irregular heartbeat and epilepsy
Identification of caspase modifiers via genetic selection in yeast
Elaine Law’s Masters research literally related to matters of life and death. Elaine investigated apoptosis – the process of programmed cell death. Apoptosis plays a critical role in normal body function by eliminating unwanted and potentially dangerous cells as part of tissue renewal. However, too much cell death can lead to strokes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Huntington’s disease, while too little cell death has been associated with many forms of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Using yeast as a host and advanced genetic techniques, Elaine studied caspases, a group of proteins that play a key role in cell death. She developed a genetic selection system in yeast for identifying caspase modifiers: proteins that either activate or inhibit caspases. Her research improves understanding of cell death and provides insights about genes that contribute to abnormal patterns of cell death leading to cancer.
Identification of Notch4-Modulated Genes in Vascular endothelia Cells
Graeme McLean’s research focuses on angiogenesis, the process by which a person’s existing blood vessels sprout extensions from themselves to enhance blood flow or nutrient delivery. The process is critical in embryo development, wound healing and inflammation. Defects in angiogenesis can interfere with wound healing and contribute to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Abnormal patterns of angiogenesis also contribute to the growth of cancerous tumours that are capable of co-opting the process to increase their blood supply. In addition, the ability to increase blood flow to the heart is crucial to the survival of heart attack victims. McLean is studying Notch4, a protein in endothelial cells that line the blood vessel wall and participates in the regulation of angiogenesis. Investigating how this protein works will lead to a better understanding of angiogenesis and provide insights into correcting defects in the process.
Calcium Homeostasis and Basal Entry in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Much research has been devoted to understanding how calcium enters stimulated vascular smooth muscle and causes muscle contraction. Defects in this process have been linked to diseases such as hypertension and peripheral vascular disease. But little research has been done on calcium entry in unstimulated muscle. Damon’s research suggests that a significant amount of calcium enters muscle even in the absence of a contraction-inducing stimulus. By investigating the pathways through which calcium enters vascular smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, Mr. Poburko aims to identify the specific role of calcium entry in causing diseases such as muscular dystrophy and chronic hypertension. Ultimately the research may point to new drug therapy targets for the diseases.