In the news June 2005
Live long and prosper
Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, Dept of BiochemistrySchool of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences; Associate Professor Arthur Everitt, Discipline of Anatomy and Histology - Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital
Source: Bulletin 30 June 2005
Article about living longer features interview with Associate Professor Everitt and Professor Jennie Brand-Miller.
News
Associate Professor Arthur Everitt, Discipline of Anatomy and Histology - Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital
Source: 2GO FM 30 June 2005
Interview with Associate Professor Everitt about research which proves that eating less helps us live longer. Tests on animals show reducing calorie intake by 20 percent increases life expectancy.
Lung cancer detection boost
Dr Roger Fulton, Medicine
Source: Inner Western Suburbs Courier 28 June 2005
There may be fewer deaths from lung cancer after the Cancer Council announced a $200,000 research grant to boost early detection and better scanning techniques.
Debating the dangers of cervical cancer
Professor Bruce Armstrong, School of Public Health
Source:Independent Weekly 26 June 2005
Leading gynaecological oncologists say that doctors are unnecessarily treating thousands of women each year for minor Pap test abnormalities. States that an independent review conducted by Prof Armstrong concluded that under new guidelines there would be fewer cases of cervical cancer compared with 1994 guidelines.
Ignorance of doctors is risking lives
Professor Bruce Armstrong, School of Public Health
Source: Sydney Morning Herald 25 June 2005
Professor Armstrong, the head of School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, said a report which showed that patients are missing out on the most up-to-date treatments was immensely valuable.
The University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research Service
University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research Service
Source: Channel 7, 'Today Tonight' 23 June 2005
Program about low GI foods mentions the University of Sydney Glycemic Index Research Service.
Study identifies day-of-surgery crisis
Dr Bill Schofield, School of Public Health
Professor George Rubin, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Westmead
Source: Web, Medical.Net 21 June 2005
A study from Sydney University's Centre for Health Services based at Westmead Hospital, has shown that more than one in 10 operations over a six month period were cancelled at the last minute. www.news-medical.net/?id=11236.
Interview with Bill Schofield
Dr Bill Schofield, School of Public Health
Source: Radio 2UE Sydney, John Laws 20 June 2005
Interview with Bill Schofield about his report which found almost 12 percent of all surgical procedures are cancelled on the day they are scheduled to take place due to running out of theatre time or lack of post-operative beds.
Surgical procedures regularly cancelled
Dr Bill Schofield, School of Public Health
Source: Radio 6PR Perth, Howard Sattler 20 June 2005
A new report has found that almost 12% of all surgical procedures are cancelled on the day they are scheduled to take place. Report author Bill Schofield, Centre of Health Services Research, University of Sydney discusses his work which focused on Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
Cure hope for asthma sufferers
Professor Judith Black, Department of Pharmacology
Source: Daily Telegraph 13 June 2005
Researchers from the University of Sydney have found that muscles in the lungs of asthmatics keep growing when healthy muscles stop, a discovery which could lead to new drugs to treat the condition. Prof. Judith Black (Pharmacology) believes the lack of a protein known as C/EBP-alpha in the lungs of asthmatics is to blame and cold be the reason why the cells divide too much and grow out of control.
Government plans to put restrictions on P plate drivers
Professor Mark Stevenson, The George Institute for International Health
Source: Radio 2GB Sydney, Alan Jones 9 June 2005
Interview with Professor Stevenson about Government plans to put restrictions on P plate drivers which he says don’t go far enough.
How fatherhood affects men
Professor Ian (Brian) Hickie, Discipline of Psychiatry - Brain Mind Research Institute
Source: Radio ABC 702 Sydney, 'Evenings' 8 June 2005
Interview with Professor Hickie about how fatherhood affects men. Says fathers often feel they are ignored after the birth of a child and some men experience post-natal depression.
A great attraction
Professor Allan Snyder, The Centre for the Mind
Source: Scientific America 7 June 2005
Professor Snyder comments that magnetic stimulation of the brain could lift depression and perhaps even boost creativity, but questions still remain.
Changes in the P-Plate laws
Professor Mark Stevenson, The George Institute for International Health
Source: ABC 702 – Sydney 'Breakfast' 7 June 2005
Professor Stevenson argues that changes in the P-Plate laws will not help to stop fatalities among young people.
Pharmaceutical companies buying de-identified medical records from GPs
Associate Professor Ian Kerridge, Discipline of Medicine - Centre for Values and Ethics and the Law in Medicine
Source: Radio National - 'Background Briefing' 6 June 2005
Interview Professor Kerridge about pharmaceutical companies buying de-identified medical records from GPs and using the information to create sophisticated sales and marketing pitches to consumers.
Babies at risk with high-voltage cancer link
AProfessor Bruce Armstrong, School of Public Health
Source: Sydney Morning Herald 4 June 2005
People who lived near high-voltage power lines as babies are almost twice as likely as others to develop leukaemia during childhood according to the largest study conducted of more than 9,000 childhood cases over three decades by Oxford University scientists. Dr Gerald Draper of the university’s Childhood Cancer Research Group found the 9,700 children with leukaemia were 70 per cent more likely to have lived within 200 metres of a high-voltage power line. Prof. Bruce Armstrong (Public Health) said the findings were consistent with earlier research that linked childhood leukaemia to power lines.
Aussies identify asthma tool
ADr Euan Tovey, Discipline of Medicine, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
Source: Daily Advertiser 3 June 2005
Australian scientists have developed a new diagnostic tool, known as the Halogen immunoassay which may one day help doctors better identify asthma and allergy triggers in individual patients. Dr Euan Tovey originally developed the tool to diagnose an individual’s susceptibility to dust mite allergens. The technique, licensed to the University of Sydney, has since been modified to pick up a patient's response to a range of airborne particles.