AAS Email – September 2011
AAS ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING 2011
October 19-21, National Wine Centre, Adelaide
The Organising Committee of Terri Allen, Peter Clifton, Judy de Haan, Karin Jandeleit-Dahm, Heather Medbury and Peter Meikle have been working with the Australian and New Zealand Society of Obesity to put together an inspiring scientific program. Abstracts are now closed and the penultimate version of the program is available via the Meetings First website.
Don’t forget your pedometer for the AAS versus ANZOS walking challenge!
- Invited speakers
o Dr Ira Tabas, Columbia University
o Professor Caroline McMillen, UniSA
o Dr Alex Brown, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
o Professor Jacob George, Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research
o Professor Mark Daniel, UniSA
o Professor Mark Febbraio, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
o Professor Wendy Jessup, University of NSW
o A/Professor Karlheinz Peter, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
o Professor Kerry Rye, Heart Research Institute
o Professor Andrew Tonkin, Monash University
o A/Professor Chris Sobey, Monash University
o Professor Merlin Thomas, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS (IAS2012)
Abstract deadline extended to September 9
- ISA2012 - March 25-29, Sydney Australia. Click here for details.
- Call for Abstract Submissions has opened for the XVIth International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (ISA2012), Sydney, Australia. The key aim of ISA2012 is to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of the current understanding of the origins, progression and prevention of atherosclerosis. The ISA2012 Scientific and Program Committees invite the submission of abstracts on original work. Abstracts can be submitted for consideration for an oral, mini-oral, hard copy poster or electronic poster presentation.
o Please click here for further details. Close of abstracts: September 9 2011
- Satellite meetings galore
- Please check the ISA2012 website for details
- HDL Satellite – Call for abstracts – Click here for details
AAS Trust Interdepartmental visit
Yu Shen from UWA visits the laboratory of Prof Roland Stocker at the University of Sydney
Flavonoids, also called bioflavonoids, are a group of naturally occurring compounds widely distributed in nature and are ubiquitous in vegetables, berries, and fruits... and fortunately in chocolate. They comprise the most common subset of plant polyphenols and provide much of the flavour and colour to fruits and vegetables. More than 6000 different flavonoids have been identified. The daily flavonoid intake in the human diet (mainly from onions, apples, grapes, wine, tea, berries, herbs, and spices) is highly variable with estimations ranging from 25 mg to more than 500 mg.
Dietary intakes of certain foods rich in flavonoids are associated with reduced risk cardiovascular disease. Polyphenols in cocoa and tea for example have been shown to improve blood vessel function. It has also been widely recognised that most flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties.
Heme oxygenase (HO) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in oxidative degradation of heme to carbon monoxide, ferrous iron and biliverdin in liver. Its relationship to atherosclerotic vascular disease was not discovered until 1994. In a clinical trial, low serum concentrations of bilirubin were found to be associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. Since then the implied cardioprotective role of HO has been developed and substantiated significantly in experimental models of atherosclerotic vascular disease, including atherosclerosis, intimal hyperplasia and myocardial infarction. The induction of the inducible isozyme HO-1 by a broad spectrum of stress leads to several vascular cell-specific protective activities in the setting of inflammatory atherosclerotic diseases.
In a previous study conducted by Dr Wai Mun Loke and Professor Kevin Croft, University of Western Australia, we found the dietary polyphenol quercetin was able to attenuate atherosclerosis in ApoE gene knockout mice by alleviating inflammation, improving NO bioavailability, and inducing HO-1. In order to extend these studies into the underlying mechanisms, we are collaborating with Professor Roland Stocker at Sydney University. The AAS travel grant has not only supported my travel between the two universities and partly paid for my accommodation, but also allowed me to extrapolate the conclusions from my studies on cell lines to physiological conditions using genetically modified mice available in Prof Stocker’s laboratory.
Our studies have demonstrated that a quercetin supplement in a high fat diet can significantly improve endothelial function in ApoE knockout mice and more interestingly alleviate endothelial dysfunction induced by oxidative stress in C57BL mice. At the same time, in vitro studies have shown arteries from HO-1 deficient mice abolished the protection of quercetin and its metabolites. Although further investigations of quercetin’s atherosclerosis preventive property still need to be completed, this successful collaboration has certainly increased our knowledge of the cardiovascular protective effects of this natural compound.
Chair in Cardiovascular Physiology at Sydney University
Ready for a challenge? Please click here for details of the Chair in Cardiovascular Physiology position currently being advertised – Closing date October 2, 2011
ASMR: Did you know that AAS is an affiliate member of ASMR?
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Asia Pacific Conference on Metabolic Syndrome 2011
Sydney Convention Centre, November 4-5
Click here for meeting website
Interested in attending? To win one of 5 complimentary registrations – please tell us in 25 words or less why you would like to attend this meeting (email to aas@meetingsfirst.com.au) - deadline October 14.
Kind regards
Jennifer Seabrook
Meetings First
PO Box 448
YARRA JUNCTION VIC 3797
Phone +61 3 5967 4479
Fax +61 3 9015 6409
Email aas@meetingsfirst.com.au
Website www.athero.org.au