Pathology Update 2007

From Pathway, Winter 2007:
On one side of Sydney, lycra and sequins were in, but at Darling Harbour, lab coats were definitely the order of the day. As Sydney’s gay and lesbian community celebrated Mardi Gras, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia held their annual Pathology Update conference on March 2–4, hosting nearly 1000 delegates from as far afield as Malaysia and London.
Presentations included:
– The future for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is looking a little brighter now that Australian and international researchers have identified a group of genes that could help target more aggressive treatment to those who need it most. Read more (scroll to page 40).
– A new approach to diagnosing subarachnoid haemorrhage offers a robust screening alternative to the more costly and difficult spectrophotometric scanning, say New Zealand researchers. Read more (scroll to page 40).
– An Australian researcher is heading the mammoth task of building a database of human genetic variation, which could revolutionise genetic medicine. Read more (scroll to page 42).
– Early detection and improved treatment have significantly increased life expectancy for children with cystic fibrosis, but an Australian expert has stressed the need for increased vigilance and standardisation in testing for the disease. Read more (scroll to page 42).
– A new group of genetic mutations has been identified that places carriers at a 70% lifetime risk of gastric cancer, and also significantly increases the risk of lobular breast cancer in female carriers. Read more (scroll to page 45).
– Pathology services in the United Kingdom are set to undergo a radical overhaul after an inquiry chaired by Lord Carter of Coles found fragmentation of service and a lack of centralised, standardised information on pathology services. Read more (scroll to page 45).