In the news September 2005
No Care for Sea Changers
Source: Australian, 30 September 2005
Retirees and people leaving the city in search of a sea change have created an urgent need for more doctors in regional areas. A national report based on 600,000 patient visits by 6000 GPs concluded that while the shortage of medical staff in rural areas was well known, there was a growing demand for doctors in regional centres.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Less Severe
Source: Australian Doctor, 30 September 2005
New research has confirmed what many doctors have long suspected rheumatoid arthritis cases are milder today than in previous decades. Researchers investigated whether the disease had changed in recent years and found the severity of rheumatoid arthritis had waned since 1985.
Long-term Risk in Testicular Cancer
Source: Australian Doctor, 30 September 2005
Long-term survivors of testicular cancer are at greater risk of second cancers in the lung, bladder and other areas, particularly if they were diagnosed at a younger age. A study of more than 40,000 testicular cancer survivors found the risk of a second solid tumour among those diagnosed at age 35 was almost double that of the age-matched population.
Smoking Dads a Cancer Risk
Source:Daily Telegraph, 27 September 2005
Source:Border Mail (Albury Wodonga), 27 September 2005
Source:Cairns Post, 27 September 2005
Source:Canberra Times, 27 September 2005
Source:Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga), 27 September 2005
Source:Daily Examiner (Grafton), 27 September 2005
Source:Daily Mercury (Mackay), 27 September 2005
Source:Fraser Coast Chronicle (Maryborough), 27 September 2005
Source:Gladstone Observer, 27 September 2005
Source:Gympie Times, 27 September 2005
Source:Maitland Mercury, 27 September 2005
Source:Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 27 September 2005
Source:News - Mail (Bundaberg), 27 September 2005
Source:Northern Star (Lismore), 27 September 2005
Source:Queensland Times (Ipswich), 27 September 2005
Source:Western Advocate (Bathurst), 27 September 2005
Source:AAP Newswire - National, 27 September 2005
An estimated 64,000 Australian smokers who will become fathers this year may have put their babies' health at risk before conception, a medical conference will be told. Epidemiologist Stephen Leeder, of the University of Sydney, said several international studies had suggested the children of fathers who smoked were at increased risk of developing cancer.
Anti-Cholesterol Drug 'A Lifesaver'
Source: Australian, 28 September 2005
Thousands of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented if more Australians had access to cholesterol-lowering drugs. Under Australian prescribing guidelines, a class of drugs known as statins are only available to people with high cholesterol.
Statins Drugs Can Cut Heart Attacks, Strokes
Source:Maitland Mercury, 28 September 2005
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins should be prescribed to all patients at risk of a heart attack or stroke regardless of their blood cholesterol levels, research suggests. Scientists from Australia and the United Kingdom analysed 14 randomised trials of statin drugs involving more than 90,000 patients.
Bashir to Open Vietnam Hostel
Source:Sun-Herald(Sydney), 25 September 2005
When NSW Governor Marie Bashir travels to Vietnam this week, she will fulfil a long-held dream for the war-battered country she has visited 10 times. Twenty years ago, Professor Bashir saw up to 300 relatives of patients at Hanoi's leading hospital sleeping in the grounds as they waited to see sick loved ones.
Statins Can Cut Heart Attacks Regardless Cholesterol Levels
Source:AAP Newswire - National, 27 September 2005
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins should be prescribed to all patients at risk of a heart attack or stroke regardless of their blood cholesterol levels, research suggests.
Expanding Research
Source:Western Weekender-Penrith Valley, 23 September 2005
A major expansion in researching and teaching facilities at the University of Sydney's Western Clinical School, based at Nepean Hospital, was officially launched by the University of Sydney and Sydney West Area Health Service last Thursday. The 50 per cent increase in laboratory space, which will be operational by 2006, represents a major expansion in medical research and education at Penrith.
Students Lending a Helping Hand
Source:St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, 22 September 2005
Merissa Cappetta, of Sutherland, is studying medicine to make a difference. She will be doing just that when she heads to a Ugandan village later this year with fellow University of Sydney students to help build a school.
Sydney Students' Mission of Mercy
Source:Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), 18 September 2005
A group of Sydney medical students hope to raise enough money to build a primary school and a health education resource in one of the world's poorest countries. The team of 20 mostly medical students, led by Phoebe Williams, will travel to Uganda in December for two months.
Illegal Tobacco on Sale
Source:Sunday Tasmanian, 18 September 2005
Source:Sydney Morning Herald, 19 September 2005
Source:Wentworth Courier, 21 September 2005
Source:Advocate (Coffs Harbour), 21 September 2005
A new study has found that deadly, smokeless chewing tobacco is being sold in many Asian grocery stores in Sydney's south. Smokeless tobacco held in the mouth for 30 minutes is said to deliver as much nicotine as about four cigarettes and has been linked to oral cancer.
Doctors Offered Double Degree
Source:Australian Financial Review, 19 September 2005
Recognising a growing need for management skills in the medical profession, the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and the University of Sydney are to set up a joint MBA medical degree. The degree, on offer from next year, will require students to complete the four-year graduate MBBS degree at Sydney to get their medical qualification. Students will do the MBA at the AGSM.
The Asthma Enigma
Associate Professor Peter van Asperen and Professor Andrew Kemp.
Source:Sydney's Child, 7 September 2005
An article on the recent developments and implications of asthma.