freelance science journalist and author
From Pathway, Spring 2007.One of the most spectacular errors in pathology history might indirectly be credited with claiming nearly 20 million lives. It’s even more astounding to learn that the pathologist behind it was in fact the founding father of histopathology, Rudolph Virchow.Virchow failed to diagnose German Emperor Friedrich III’s laryngeal cancer until it was … Continue reading Expecting perfection
From PathWay, Spring 2007.Debbie: … How can we all have died at the same time?The Grim Reaper: (pointing with a skeletal finger) The salmon mousse!Geoffrey: Darling, you didn’t use tinned salmon did you?Angela: I’m most dreadfully embarrassed…Monty Python managed to make light of it in this sketch from The Meaning of Life, but in reality, … Continue reading When the bad bugs bite
From Australian Doctor, July 2007.From artificial hips to anti-epileptics, the Pill to penicillin – the 20th century has seen a wealth of medical innovations emerge that have transformed how we practice medicine. Read more (pdf file).
From Kiwi FM, 23 August 2007:What happens when you cross a frog with a non-stick frying pan? New Scientist has the answer. Listen here.
From G Magazine, September/October 2007:Who has time to research the environmental cred of every cleaning product in their house? In this 8-page guide to non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning, Bianca Nogrady breaks through the greenwash to find the best choices.
From Australian Doctor, 24 August 2007:Insulin levels and neck circumference are the two strongest predictors of the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, a leading obesity expert says.Speaking at the recent Australian Doctor/HealthEdGP Summit on Diabetes, Obesity and Heart Disease in Sydney, Associate Professor John Dixon said a neck circumference of 43cm or more for men … Continue reading Neck size a strong sleep apnoea clue
From Australian Doctor, 23 August 2007:THERE’S a guilty pleasure involved in drinking good-quality wine while the sun still shines high in the sky. But in the vineyards of Mudgee, NSW, such pleasurable behaviour is one of the delights of a visit to this wine-growing region. Read more.
From Australian Doctor, 23 August 2007:GPs are urged to be alert for cardiac symptoms in high-risk patients with influenza, as Australia struggles through its worst flu season in several years.Experts warned the infection could trigger acute coronary syndrome in patients with existing heart disease, and urged doctors to take preventive action. Read more.
From Australian Doctor, 16 August 2007:Restless legs syndrome is under-diagnosed in children and could be an underlying cause of behavioural and sleep problems, experts say.A US survey of more than 10,000 families found 1.9% of children aged 8-11 years and 2% of children aged 12-17 years met the criteria for restless legs syndrome, but only … Continue reading Restless legs diagnosis missed in kids
From Australian Doctor, 16 July 2007:Once firmly in the realm of science fiction, nanotechnology is fast becoming a medical reality – so fast that regulators are struggling to catch up. IN the classic 1960s science fiction film Fantastic Voyage, a medical team is shrunk to micrometre size and injected into the body of a dying … Continue reading Fantastic Voyage
Bianca Nogrady 