News Articles
New genetic test Down's syndrome in UK
Date of Posting: 15-01-2016
UK women at risk of giving birth to babies with abnormalities are being offered a new blood test that can detect Down's, Patau's and Edwards' syndromes. A new, highly accurate test for Down's syndrome has been recommended for high- Read More...
Miners anger over black lung resurgence
Date of Posting: 15-01-2016
Queensland's minister for mines has announced a plan to tackle black lung disease, which affects coal miners, after five confirmed cases in the state. Underground coal miners feel let down by the system amid fears more workers could be diagnos Read More...
Industry report on alcohol and violence slammed by experts
Date of Posting: 14-01-2016
A report commissioned by the alcohol industry has underplayed the role of grog in violence, researchers say. As one-punch attacks continue to dominate Australasian headlines, researchers have slammed a report saying alcohol is not a cause of viole Read More...
Food allergies linked to hyperactive cells at birth
Date of Posting: 14-01-2016
Immune systems of babies who develop food allergies are 'primed' for them by the time they are born, says new research Babies with hyperactive immune cells at birth are more likely to develop food allergies in early life, new Australian re Read More...
Researcher puts muscle damage under the microscope
Date of Posting: 14-01-2016
A New Zealand post-doctoral researcher will take up a role investigating the progressive muscle-wasting group of diseases, muscular dystrophy, in the United States this month. Dr Angus Lindsay, previously a lecturer in exercise physiology at the U Read More...
Dementia breakthroughs expected within a decade
Date of Posting: 13-01-2016
A leading British scientists says new treatments for dementia are in the pipeline with therapies being trialled which could provide a breakthrough. New treatments for dementia are "on target" to be developed within the next decade, a lea Read More...
Mammograms most beneficial for over 50's
Date of Posting: 12-01-2016
A US task force has come to the conclusion mammograms do most good when women have them from the age of 50 onwards and should be merely an option at 40. Mammograms do the most good later in life, a US government task force has declared in recommen Read More...
Gene sequencing to detect early-stage cancer
Date of Posting: 11-01-2016
A universal blood test to identify early-stage cancers is being funded in the United States by gene sequencing company Illumina. Gene sequencing company Illumina is going after the next big advance in cancer detection, working to develop a univers Read More...
Cancer risk not enough for lifestyle changes
Date of Posting: 11-01-2016
People are reluctant to change their lifestyles despite the risk of developing cancer, new research from Britain shows. People are reluctant to change their unhealthy lifestyle choices even when they know they could contribute to them getting canc Read More...
'Happy Meal' concept could help cut obesity
Date of Posting: 08-01-2016
Non-food perks with smaller food portions could significantly counter the rising problem of obesity, researchers find. Eating smaller portion sizes and adding a non-food prize can help cut back on overeating, scientists say.[subscribe] Research Read More...
Peripartum heart condition could have genetic link
Date of Posting: 07-01-2016
Researchers have found a genetic link to a condition which can lead to a woman developing heart failure in late pregnancy or shortly after delivery. The cause of a life-threatening condition that can lead to heart failure in pregnant women could b Read More...
Survivor blood no help to Ebola patients
Date of Posting: 07-01-2016
Doctors have sometimes used blood from Ebola survivors to treat others afflicted with the virus, but a study suggests the strategy has little effect. Giving the blood of Ebola survivors to patients didn't seem to make a difference, doctors fou Read More...
New research into radiation for melanoma
Last Updated: 06-01-2016
New research at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital is looking at how effective radiation treatment is for individual melanoma patients. People with aggressive melanomas could be spared the trauma of radiation treatments that wouldn't w Read More...
Fears over unvaxxed kids in QLD childcare
Date of Posting: 06-01-2016
Childcare centres no longer have to accept unvaccinated children, however at least two Queensland providers are welcoming these enrolments. Queensland's government is fearful infection could spread at childcare centres that accept high numbers Read More...
Exercise may increase prostate cancer survival
Date of Posting: 06-01-2016
Researchers are monitoring a group of men with prostate cancer as they exercise, to determine whether it improves survival chances. Exercise training is being examined as a possible treatment for prostate cancer in a pioneering new study.[subscrib Read More...
Up to 3000 WA hospital staff on the chopping block
Date of Posting: 04-01-2016
The WA government has confirmed more than 1100 job cuts to hospital staff but the AMA says the figure could be far bigger. Up to 3000 West Australian hospital staff could lose their jobs or have hours reduced in the wake of state government-implem Read More...
Heroin rehab admissions spike in Sydney
Date of Posting: 18-12-2015
Heroin-related admissions at one of Sydney's largest rehabilitation clinics have trebled over the past 12 months, while ice continues to make an impact. A third of admissions to one of Sydney's largest rehabilitation clinics are for ice ad Read More...
Golden staph on the decline in Aus hospitals
Last Updated: 18-12-2015
Cases of the potentially deadly golden staph infection are on the decline in Australian hospitals, new figures show. Potentially deadly golden staph infections are becoming less common in Australian public hospitals, new figures show.[subscribe] Read More...
Folate in bread cuts birth defects
Date of Posting: 18-12-2015
Mandatory folate in bread has dramatically cut the rates of serious birth defects in Aboriginal children. A Telethon Kids Institute study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, used WA data to examine a Read More...
Gastro outbreak hits Sydney cruise ship
Date of Posting: 16-12-2015
More than 180 passengers and crew on a Royal Caribbean cruise liner that has docked in Sydney Harbour have been struck down by a gastro outbreak. A stomach bug has struck down more than 180 cruise ship passengers and crew on a Royal Caribbean line Read More...
Pair diagnosed with measles in Sydney
Date of Posting: 16-12-2015
Two people have been diagnosed with measles in Sydney, leading authorities to warn to be on the lookout for symptoms - fever, red eyes and a runny nose. An adult and a baby in Sydney have been diagnosed with measles, prompting health authorities t Read More...
Health Star Rating should be mandatory, researchers say
Date of Posting: 15-12-2015
Australia's Health Star Rating should be made mandatory because most food manufactuters aren't participating in the scheme, says a researcher. Only a fraction of packaged food carries the new Health Star Rating designed to help families bu Read More...
Study gives surgery nod in prostate care
Date of Posting: 15-12-2015
UK research has shown that, in general, surgery results in better mortality rates than radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients. Prostate cancer patients are more likely to survive if they undergo surgery rather than radiation, a study found.[sub Read More...
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak has hit 932, as international health experts meet to discuss whether to declare the situation a crisis. The death toll of the Ebola epidemic has neared 1000 as fears that the disease is now taking hold in Afr Read More...
Mental health nurses should get tweeting
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
Paul McNamara wants to encourage other mental health nurses to tap into the benefits of social media. The Cairns clinical nurse specialist has built up an extensive professional social media profile with a presence on platforms spanning Twitter, w Read More...
Social media linked to mental health problems in kids
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
A British study has linked higher levels of emotional problems, hyperactivity and poor behaviour in youngsters to spending a lot of time on social media. Children who spend more than three hours a day on social media websites are twice as likely t Read More...
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
Gemma Sinead Ryan, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at University of Derby Online Learning comments. Here at the University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) we aim to be thought leaders, as healthcare professionals and academics. The education of healthc Read More...
Med students cop to posting 'inappropriate' content
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
Some medical students are ignoring social media guidelines by posting inappropriate material online, a survey shows. More than a third of medical students post inappropriate material, mainly depicting intoxication, to their social media accounts, Read More...
Caterpillar fungus to treat arthritis?
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
Sufferers of osteoarthritis might be getting some pain relief from a fungus that lives on caterpillars found in China. A fungus found on caterpillars could be used to relieve pain in osteoarthritis sufferers, according to British researchers.[subs Read More...
Doubts on long-term knee op benefit
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
A Danish study has cast doubts about the long term benefit of knee arthroscopy, saying the surgery is potentially harmful. The long-term benefits of knee surgery for middle aged or older patients are outweighed by the negative consequences, a stud Read More...
Indigenous have more cardiac conditions
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
Non-indigenous people who have a severe heart attack are more likely to have a hospital cardiac procedure than indigenous patients, a study shows. Indigenous Australians continue to have higher rates of heart conditions and poorer access to cardia Read More...
Injected drug boom in aboriginal communities
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
A health professional has warned of an HIV and hepatitis C epidemic in Aboriginal communities if medical resources are not used to target drug injecting. Rising levels of injecting drug use in Aboriginal communities could lead to an epidemic of HI Read More...
Australian Psychological Society welcomes Government mental health reform
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomes today’s announcement by the Government of much-needed reform to the mental health system through a regionalised approach to deliver better tailored care to people with mental health problems. Read More...
Perth ambulance ramping ban starts
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
An ambulance ramping ban at Royal Perth, Fiona Stanley and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals has gone well on its first day, the WA health minister says. Emergency departments have not descended into chaos on the first day of an ambulance ramping ban Read More...
Easy on the triple-zero calls: paramedics
Last Updated: 15-12-2015
A social media campaign will encourage people in NSW to save triple-zero calls for genuine life-threatening emergencies. NSW paramedics have taken to social media to encourage people not to bother triple-zero with calls about minor health issues d Read More...
Ketamine for depression 'premature', experts say
Date of Posting: 14-12-2015
Despite encouraging signs in trials, prescribing the anaesthetic ketamine for depression is premature, an expert says. Doctors shouldn't jump the gun in prescribing patients the drug ketamine to treat depression, warns an expert.[subscribe] Read More...
Anti-meth campaign launched in WA
Date of Posting: 14-12-2015
An anti-drug campaign has been launched in WA aimed at young people and addicts of methamphetamine. An anti-methamphetamine advertising campaign has been launched in Western Australia, with people sharing personal stories about how the drug took c Read More...
Pox parties 'ill-informed and missguided'
Date of Posting: 14-12-2015
Queensland's health lobby and premier have hit out at anti-vaxxer parents hosting so-called "pox parties" to deliberately infect children. Anti-vaccination parents holding chickenpox parties to deliberately infect children are " Read More...
Thousands of Qld nurses face violent assaults
Date of Posting: 11-12-2015
Thousands of workers have reported being assaulted on the job at hospitals right across Queensland. Fractured skulls, chemical burns, death threats and post-traumatic stress.[subscribe] These might seem like reasons to attend a hospital but in Read More...
New scan to identify 'most dangerous tumours'
Date of Posting: 11-12-2015
A new MRI scan developed in the UK could help doctors identify the most dangerous tumours by mapping regions of oxygen deprivation. A new scanning test developed in the UK could help doctors pinpoint dangerous cancers before they spread around the Read More...
