Health Report - Separate stories podcast

In the news this week:  An outbreak of diptheria in the Kimberley. Lower risk of cancer for boys who get a HPV vaccine. Negotiations stall on adding Mounjaro to the PBS for people with type 2 diabetes. References Outbreak of diptheria in the Kimberley . Nine-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Related Cancers in Males An estimated 450,000 diabetics will miss out on subsidised Mounjaro afte...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a diagnosis of exclusion - doctors rule out a number of other conditions before they can say it's IBS. That's because there haven't been reliable biomarkers to flag it. But a new analysis from researchers at the University of Newcastle suggests there may in fact be a number of biomarkers associated with IBS. Guest Dr Grace Burns, Postdoctoral Researcher...

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include blood in your stool, bloating, constipation, changes in bowel habit and unexplained weight loss. But two people presenting with the same symptoms could go down very different paths to test if their symptoms are, in fact, bowel cancer. And that can be due to where you live, with richer areas getting different types of follow up and testing.  Guest Dr Shaoke Lei,...

The government's 1800MEDICARE app allows people to access their pathology and diagnostic results once uploaded to their digital health record. For Christine Kwong from Brisbane, that access meant she spotted a breast cancer finding that might otherwise have fallen through the cracks. But at the same time, some doctors report difficulties accessing results and navigating the app. Guests Christine K...

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

In the news this week:  Free access to the RSV vaccine expanded. Home cooks in Japan found to have less dementia than those who ate out often. Another indicator that GLP-1s could help treat addiction. A bat coronavirus capable of entering human cells has been discovered. References RSV Vaccine - Department of Health Home cooking, cooking skills and dementia requiring long-term care: a population-b...

There's an increasing recognition of the cognitive symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause - sometimes termed 'brain fog'. A group of researchers is arguing for a consensus definition of the term to aid in the management of symptoms and improved outcomes for women. Guest Dr Caroline Gurvich, Associate Professor at the HER Centre, Monash University; Clinical Neuropsychologist References...

More than 2.8 million Australians have asthma, and it isn't always managed well. A new coalition of researchers has mapped out a blueprint for changing that. Guest Professor Christine Jenkins , Program Head, Respiratory, The George Institute for Global Health; Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney; Clinical Professor, Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney Refe...

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

A new Australian study suggests understanding the genes we're born with - our genome - could help to explain why some children get cancer in childhood. And there are implications for adults too. Guest Dr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos, Paediatric Oncologist and Clinical Researcher, Children's Cancer Institute and Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital References Integrated germline and somatic mole...

In the news this week:  How aggressively should cholesterol be managed when someone's at risk of heart disease? A new review finding no relationship between fluoride consumption and IQ. Concerns over cold and flu products that use the herbal ingredient androphagis. Drugs that clear amyloid from the brain no help in preventing dementia. References Intensive LDL Cholesterol Targeting in Atherosclero...

In a medical emergency, how good is ChatGPT at guiding you towards the right treatment (whether that's the emergency department or the GP?). A new trial out of the United States finds mixed results. It can sometimes work well, but often its recommendations did not match those of a panel of human doctors -- especially when it mattered most. Guest Dr Ashwin Ramaswamy, Instructor of Urology, Mount Si...

We know that growth in the use of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss has been dramatic over the past few years. But it's hard to tell exactly how sizeable that rise has been because much of the prescribing for these drugs happens outside of the PBS, where public medication prescriptions are tracked. That's until now. New data from across New South Wales reveals how high the uptake has been,...

Australia's first clinical guidelines for preventing suicide and treating suicidal ideation or self-harm in young people have been released. What are the lessons for doctors, parents and families? Guest Sydney Stevens, Senior Project Officer, Royal Children’s Hospital; Research Associate, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute References Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolesce...

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

New data on GLP-1 use for people with diabetes and its impact, if any, on mental health. The Lancet retracts a decades-old commentary on talcum powder. And if you're struck with appendicitis, should you have the appendix out or manage with medicine? References Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national coh...

‌A large study following more than 6,000 Australian kids finds four distinct trajectories when it comes to their mental health. What are the predictors of declining mental health, and what do we do about it? The findings suggest we start with school connection - and with sleep. Guest Clinical Psychologist and Professor Aliza Werner-Seidler, Black Dog Institute, UNSW References Future Proofing Stud...

It's common for someone to visit the doctor with a shoulder injury - often suspected to be to the rotator cuff. You might be tempted to ask for imaging tests ... but that might be more trouble than it's worth, especially if you are over 40. Guest Dr Thomas Ibounig, Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon at Helsinki University Hospital, Researcher at the Finnish Center for Evidence-Based Orthopaedics Reference...

In January, four astronauts were pulled early from the International Space Station after a medical emergency in orbit. As future missions plan for longer periods spent even further from Earth, what can crews do treat a medical emergency in orbit - and why is research in Antarctica helpful for our understanding of staying healthy in space? Guests Dr John Cherry, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Austra...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week, including snoring and toenail fungus. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A new Australian review finds vapes with nicotine are likely to cause lung and oral cancers. Treatment pathways for peanut allergy in kids and their cost-effectiveness. And concerning declines in vaccine coverage in Australia, still markedly below pre-pandemic benchmarks. References The carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes: a qualitative risk assessment Cost-Effectiveness of Oral Immunotherapy Treatmen...

It's already that time of the year when we need to think about getting our flu vaccine - but there are some changes to the rollout this year. The changes affect options for how the vaccine is delivered. Plus, which of the strains circulating should we worry about? Guest Professor Patrick Reading, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Doherty Instit...

Could a saline nasal spray stop kids with sleep apnoea from having unnecessary surgery? It’s low-cost and simple to try – so how often does it work and who should be using it? Guest Adjunct Clinical Professor Gillian Nixon, Paediatric Sleep and Respiratory Specialist, Monash Children’s Hospital.  References Intranasal Treatments for Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing: The MIST+ Randomized Cl...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate that can cause urinary problems - feeling like you need to pee often, waking up to go to the toilet in the night or weak flow. Traditionally it's been treated with surgery, but a suite of studies over almost a decade finds a treatment called 'prostate artery embolisation' can achieve comparable outcomes and fewer side effects. Guest Ni...

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