In the news December 2005
Our students and staff making the news.
SLEEP DISORDER AFFECTS 1 IN 100
Dr Delwyn Bartlett, Woolcock Institute
Source: Fraser Coast Chronicle, 24 December 2005
Shiftworkers who find it difficult to nod off, yet feel tired all the time, may have a condition known as shiftwork sleep disorder, an Australian expert says. Psychologist Delwyn Bartlett said the condition, officially recognised in the international classification of sleep disorders, affected an estimated 1 to 2% of shiftworkers.
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON WITHDRAWAL OF TREATMENT FROM PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE
Professor Ian Kerridge, Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine
Source: Medical Journal of Australia, 19 December 2005
For decades there has been debate over whether family members, health care professionals, or other surrogate decision-makers should be permitted to make the decision to withdraw ventilation and artificial nutrition and hydration from patients who are no longer able to breathe on their own or feed themselves, when such withdrawal will inevitably lead to death. This debate is characterised by a general, moral presumption in favour of maintaining and preserving life, along with widespread recognition that there are circumstances in which it may be morally justifiable to refuse, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining therapy.
BP KEY IN DIABETIC KIDNEY PROTECTION
Associate Professor Bruce Neal, George Institute of International Health
Source: Australian Doctor, 16 December 2005
The renoprotective benefits of using ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in diabetic patients have been challenged by a meta-analysis that found little evidence of additional benefits above blood pressure control alone. In patients with diabetic nephropathy, treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) had no beneficial effects on creatinine levels, glomerular filtration rate or end-stage renal disease compared with other anti-hypertensives, according to a paper in the Lancet (10 December).
TEST MAY EXPLAIN WHY LIVING CLEAN CAN CAUSE ILLNESS
Professor Barbara Fazekas, Centenary Institute
Source: Barrier Daily Truth, 14 December 2005
Australian researchers have developed a test they believe may help them explain why people living in clean environments are more susceptible to auto-immune diseases and allergies. Barbara Fazekas, of Sydney's Centenary Institute, and colleagues, have designed a blood test which detects the number of regulatory T-cells in the immune system and found people with inflammatory bowel disease only have half as many as healthy people.
STUDY INTO IMMUNITY
Professor Barbara Fazekas, Centenary Institute
Source: Sunday Telegraph, 11 December 2005
Australian researchers have developed a test they believe may help explain why people living in clean environments are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases and allergies. Barbara Fazekas, of Sydney's Centenary Institute, has designed a blood test that detects the number of T-cells in the immune system.
LIVING CLEAN CAN CAUSE ILLNESS
Professor Barbara Fazekas, Centenary Institute
Source: Kalgoorlie Miner, 10 December 2005
Australian researchers have developed a test they believe may help them explain why people living in clean environments are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases and allergies. Barbara Fazekas, of Sydney's Centenary Institute, and colleagues, have designed a blood test which detects the number of regulatory T-cells in the immune system and found people with inflammatory bowel disease only have half as many as healthy people.
SHIFT IN ACUTE ASTHMA ADVICE
Woolcock Institute
Source: Australian Doctor, 9 December 2005
Doubling inhaled steroids during asthma exacerbations is ineffective, a study shows, and the recommendation may be dropped from new national asthma guidelines. For mild-to-moderately severe asthma exacerbations, only daily doses of fluticasone of 2000pg or greater were effective.
BLOOD AND DIRT
Centenary Institute
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 8 December 2005
Australian researchers have developed a test that may explain why people living in clean environments are more susceptible to auto-immune diseases and allergies. Scientists from Sydney's Centenary Institute have designed a blood test that detects the number of regulatory T-cells in the immune system.
THE BEAT GOES ON
George Institute
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 8 December 2005
When the Angiotensin Receptor Blocker drugs were first introduced a decade ago they seemed the ideal drugs for tackling hypertension. Like their cousins, the ACE inhibitors, they reduced blood pressure by blocking the harmful cardiac effects of a peptide called angiotensin. Even better, the ARBs were almost free of the troublesome cough that plagues up to half of people who take ACE inhibitors.
CLEAN LIVING A SOURCE OF ILLNESS
Barbara Fezekas, Centenary Institute
Source: Ballarat Courier, 7 December 2005
Source: Townsville Bulletin, 7 December 2005
Source: Newcastle Herald, 7 December 2005
Source: Cairns Post, 7 December 2005
Australian researchers have developed a test they believe may help them explain why people living in clean environments are more susceptible to auto-immune diseases and allergies. Barbara Fazekas, of Sydney's Centenary Institute, and colleagues have designed a blood test which detects the number of regulatory T-cells in the immune system and found people with inflammatory bowel disease only have half as many as healthy people.
AUSSIE TEST MAY EXPLAIN WHY LIVING CLEAN CAN CAUSE ILLNESS
Centenary Institute
Source: AAP, 6 December 2005
A sleep-related eating disorder may be the reason why some people are tired and have unexplained weight gain, according to Today Tonight. Dr Peter Buchanan, a specialist in sleeping disorders at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. said the condition, where people eat while they are asleep, affected 4% of the US population and numbers in Australia could be similar.
BLAME IT ON MIDNIGHT MEALS
Dr Peter Buchanan, Woolcock Institute
Source: Australian Doctor, 2 December 2005
A sleep-releated sleeping disorder may be the reason why some people are tired and have unexplained weight gain, according to Today Tonight. Dr Peter Buchanan, a specialist in sleeping disorders at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. said the condition, where people eat while they are asleep, affected 4% of the US population and numbers in Australia could be similar.
DECK THE HALL
Professor Tony Basten, Professor Barbara Fazekas de St Groth
Source: Australian Life Scientist, 1 December 2005
Australia's best-known and most venerable medical research institute, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Parkville, Melbourne, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Graeme O'Neill interviewed the Hall's former director, Prof Sir Gustav Nossal, and his successor, Prof Suzanne Cory, about the institute's history and their view of science in Australia today.