Health Report

Historically women have had a hard time being heard in the doctor's office, with dismissiveness and delays in diagnosis all too common.  The state government in Victoria has held an enquiry into women's pain to come up with recommendations aimed at shifting that experience to a more positive one.  Also, we get a better sense of what's nature vs nurture when it comes to our attributes and our disease risks.  And research suggests antibiotics, and their effects on the gut microbiome, could weaken vaccine response.  References The effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course  WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity  Product warnings updated for GLP-1 RA class - TGA  Inquiry into Women's Pain - Victorian Government Govt backs green whistle during IUD insertion in response to women’s pain inquiry Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes Bifidobacteria support optimal infant vaccine responses - Nature Antibiotics-Driven Gut Microbiome Perturbation Alters Immunity to Vaccines in Humans The Antibiotics and Vaccine Immune Responses Study (AVIRS) – people must be in Adelaide to participate!

The dentists' chair is not everyone's favourite place. Have you ever sat there wondering, why would anyone become a dentist? We take a trip to dental school to find out why so many people get into dentistry, and the skills it takes.  Also, are we doing enough to weigh up the risks vs benefits of CT scanning?  And how an autoimmune skin condition actually affects the whole body, particularly the heart. References: Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6 - TGA Bird flu confirmed in elephant seal population at Heard Island Decades of data missing: Metastatic breast cancer cases double previous estimates Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging Study on current CT scanning practices and the incidence of future cancers Mediterranean Diet and Patients With Psoriasis: The MEDIPSO Randomized Clinical Trial

No coffee for six months, not even decaf. That's what participants of a trial looking into the effect on atrial fibrillation were asked to do. Also, could we be on the verge of changing guidelines for asthma care in children? Or is it too early to call? And catching cancer early can be important. How far away are we from harnessing blood, urine and even saliva tests to help? References PFAS inquiry hands down 47 recommendations to better regulate 'forever chemicals' in Australia - ABC News  The Lancet series on ultra-processed foods Orforglipron, an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (ATTAIN-2): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation: The DECAF Randomized Clinical Trial Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial

There has been a rise in people that cut gluten out of their diet to address gut symptoms, despite not having a diagnosis of coeliac disease.  New research is shedding light on what might actually be at play in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.  Also, how a common antibiotic might lower the risk of developing schizophrenia when given to young people at risk.  And a look at the cancer prevention strategies that could have a big impact, but that most countries aren't taking on board.  References Government expenditure on public health activities in Australia 2023–24 - AIHW Global prevalence of hypertension among children and adolescents aged 19 years or younger: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity - the Lancet Global prevalence of self-reported non-coeliac gluten and wheat sensitivity: a systematic review and metaanalysis Doxycycline Use in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients and Risk of Schizophrenia: An Emulated Target Trial Cancers attributable to alcohol - IARC Alcohol: a major preventable cause of cancer (IARC Evidence Summary Brief No. 6)

If you live with chronic pain, getting referred to a psychologist for pain management can feel like another dismissal.  What does a session with a pain psychologist look like, and how effective can it be if you don't have any mental health diagnoses? Also, some practical information for parents introducing allergens to their babies. And how the nervous system might inadvertently be fuelling gastrointestinal cancers.  References Deaths due to acute respiratory infections in Australia - ABS Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Utero Pain Management Network Pain Management and Research Centre - patient information Management of Chronic Pain - for health professionals OPEN pain training - for health professionals Nip allergies in the bub The impact of reversing peanut allergy advice Are allergen starter packs safe? Sensory neuropeptide CGRP and its co-receptor RAMP1 drive tumour cell growth in gastrointestinal cancers