Health Report - Separate stories podcast

New research suggests young bats might be a key source of viral spillover, as the immunity from their mums wane. Coronaviruses are common in bats, though they don’t tend to cause any issues unless they spill over into bridging animals, which might then infect humans. This is becoming more common because of habitat destruction and environmental stressors. Guest/s Dr Alison Peel , veterinarian and w...

For the first time ever, there’s been an international survey on chronic conditions from the perspective of the patient. Australia is one of 19 countries that participated in the OECD-led survey. Insights from the survey could contribute to improving care for patients living with chronic illness – with an emphasis on continuity of care. Guest/s Lesley, participant in the survey Associate Professor...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Researchers in the UK have published the results of a clinical trial of an IVF technique known as mitochondrial donation. This latest round provides further evidence of its efficacy and safety. 

There are five risk factors that account for about 50 per cent of the global burden of cardiovascular disease. If you've got all five, your risk is between 24 and 38 per cent, but there is hope. A new study has found quitting smoking, or addressing hypertension in midlife can reap years of benefits. Guest/s Professor Annette Dobson , Professor of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the...

Treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with medication can be life-changing. It's consistently associated with lower risks of self-harm, unintentional injury, traffic crashes and crime. However a new study has found as prescription rates increased, some of these associations weakened. Guest/s Professor David Coghill , chair of developmental mental health at the University of Melb...

Since the start of February, pregnant women have been eligible to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As of June, more than 60,000 women had received the vaccine. 

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

US President Donald Trump  has flagged the possibility of imposing 200 per cent tariffs on pharmaceutical products coming into America. 

GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, have been heralded as miracle drugs. They started out as diabetes drugs, but have shown benefits well beyond diabetes – including in weight loss and other metabolic conditions. However these are new drugs, and as more and more people take them, researchers are keeping tabs on their effects. While the risk is small, there are potential eye-related side effec...

A study has found while eight per cent of non-Indigenous dialysis patients were waitlisted, just two per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were.

The Human Exposome Project is a global effort underway to understand how the environment influences our health. It includes exposures from our diets, our lifestyles and our behaviours. It’s hoped that, like the Human Genome Project, it will help us prevent and treat things like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Guest/s Fenna Sillé , one of the coordinators of a proposed Human Exposo...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at  healthreport@abc.net.au References Generation Cancer - 4Corners Mapping the chemical complexity of plastics - Nature

CAR T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy which can cure patients with aggressive blood cancers.  However, until now, it hadn't been proven effective against solid tumours.  Researchers have used gene editing techniques to arm CAR T-cells with extra proteins, to target these tumours.  References Rewiring endogenous genes in CAR T cells for tumour-restricted payload delivery - Nature

We might need an update to first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, according to some experts. In Australia metformin is the first-line treatment, with drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors considered a second-line approach if needed. They work by increasing glucose excretion in the urine. In the United States it’s common to use them as first-line treatment alongside metformin. Is that the right approach...

Years after pinpointing a faulty protein in the brains of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, researchers have made another breakthrough. The team at the University of Sydney was able to target this SOD1 protein with a drug treatment in mice. They observed a “dramatic” improvement in their motor skills. Now comes the tricky task of figuring out how to target the SOD1 protein safely in hum...

For close to 50 years, a type of immunotherapy called Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) therapy has been used to treat early-stage bladder cancer. It’s still the regimen of choice, but a new study has indicated that combining BCG with a chemotherapy drug might be better for some. It could also go some way to addressing a global shortage of BCG, because it requires fewer doses of the immunotherapy. Gu...

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is taking Atlus, Mamamia and Newscorp's News Life Media to court, accusing them of advertising medicinal cannabis.  Also for the first time in a decade, guidelines for the screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes have been updated. And more information revealed about the Monash IVF debacle.  References Atlus, Mamamia and News Life Media face court...

A national lung cancer screening program begins in July, targeting high-risk people without symptoms. This includes people aged between 50 and 70 years who are currently smoking or have quit in the past 10 years. But could it be expanded in future to include people without a history of smoking? Guest/s Professor Alvin Ing , Respiratory Medicine at Macquarie University References National Lung Canc...

When available treatments weren't working on Paul’s dog Rosie, he decided to take matters into his own hands to pinpoint a mutation that might be key to Rosie's cancer.

Guidelines have recently changed to recommend more regular testing for syphilis throughout pregnancy, regardless of sexual acitivity.  Cases in the community are on the rise, and the consequences of an infection during pregnancy can be life-threatening to the baby. Guest/s Professor Marcus Chen , a specialist at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and researcher at Monash University References Syphilis...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Gay or bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men will be able to give blood or plasma under changes introduced by Lifeblood.  Also, a report digs into the high fees and long wait times most people face when going to see a specialist doctor.  References Lifeblood announces changes to sexual activity rules for blood and plasma donation Special treatment: Improving Australians’ access...

The way a doctor talks to you about your osteoarthritis can go on to impact how much pain you feel as a result.  A pilot program has offered people pain education alongside exercise therapy, to address unhelpful pain beliefs.  It was hoped this education would help people push through initial pain flares and achieve their exercise goals.   Guest/s Peter Ninnes, study participant Associate Professo...

Couples can unknowingly be carriers for genetic conditions, even though there are tests available to reveal recessive traits before conceiving. Medicare covers genetic carrier screening for cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and fragile X syndrome (FXS). However advocates are calling for subsidies to cover more conditions, so parents can be well informed. Guest/s Rachael Casella,...