Category: Medical

Medical reporting

Continued engagement with schizophrenia patients can prevent declines

Posted on No Comments on Continued engagement with schizophrenia patients can prevent declines

From Clinical Psychiatry News, 23 April 2013: A review of the causes and impact of hospitalization in schizophrenia has shown that hospitalization is more likely the result of cognitive and functional decline rather than a contributor. “While it is difficult to disentangle the consequence of the reasons for hospitalization from the effects of hospitalization, most … Continue reading Continued engagement with schizophrenia patients can prevent declines

What is the hygiene hypothesis?

Posted on No Comments on What is the hygiene hypothesis?

From ABC Health and Wellbeing, 28 March 2013: It sounds counter-intuitive, but not being exposed to viruses, bacteria and parasites in your early years could have a negative effect on your health, or at least that’s what the hygiene hypothesis suggests. The idea, which is subject to much debate, suggests our obsession with cleanliness and … Continue reading What is the hygiene hypothesis?

Insect allergies: more than a nasty sting

Posted on No Comments on Insect allergies: more than a nasty sting

From ABC Health and Wellbeing, 24 January 2013: Think ‘dangerous Australian animals’ and images of snakes, spiders, box jellyfish or even crocodiles come to mind. But for a small number of people, the bite or sting of relatively benign insects, such as ants, ticks, wasps or bees can be as deadly as any encounter with … Continue reading Insect allergies: more than a nasty sting

Molecular makeover targets insulin longevity

Posted on No Comments on Molecular makeover targets insulin longevity

From Monash Magazine, February 2013: “Nature may have come up with a beautiful design in the insulin molecule, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved,” says Associate Professor Andrea Robinson from Monash University’s School of Chemistry. Regular doses of insulin are essential to the health of almost 300 million people around the world who … Continue reading Molecular makeover targets insulin longevity

Alzheimer’s culprit may be ‘innocent’

Posted on No Comments on Alzheimer’s culprit may be ‘innocent’

From ABC News in Science, 4 April 2013: Amyloid proteins may have been wrongfully accused as the culprits behind Alzheimer’s disease, new research in mice suggests. Two studies – one Australian, one from the US – have examined the role amyloid proteins play in the brain with one study suggesting that far from being a … Continue reading Alzheimer’s culprit may be ‘innocent’

Neuroimaging reveals characteristics of deficit schizophrenia

Posted on No Comments on Neuroimaging reveals characteristics of deficit schizophrenia

From Clinical Psychiatry News, 19 March 2013: The deficit subtype of schizophrenia is characterized by white matter tract disruption, while all subtypes of schizophrenia feature a reduction in cortical thickness, a cross-sectional neuroimaging study has found. Patients with deficit schizophrenia showed significant disruption of white matter at the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, the right arcuate … Continue reading Neuroimaging reveals characteristics of deficit schizophrenia

Genotype plays role in schizophrenia response to folate

Posted on No Comments on Genotype plays role in schizophrenia response to folate

From Clinical Psychiatry News, 19 March 2013: Folate and vitamin B12 supplements may improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia but only in patients with a genetic variant that influences folate metabolism, a study has shown. “Although four such variants have previously been associated with negative symptom severity, the genotype that contributed most strongly to treatment … Continue reading Genotype plays role in schizophrenia response to folate

Heart disease a 4000-year old ‘serial killer’

Posted on No Comments on Heart disease a 4000-year old ‘serial killer’

From ABC News in Science, 11 March 2013: The diseased arteries of ancient mummies are challenging modern assumptions about the causes of cardiovascular disease. Whole-body CT scans of 137 mummies from different countries, cultures and lifestyles spanning 4000 years of history has found evidence of hardened arteries in at least one-third of the mummies. The … Continue reading Heart disease a 4000-year old ‘serial killer’

No stand-out among pediatric UTI diagnostic algorithms

Posted on No Comments on No stand-out among pediatric UTI diagnostic algorithms

From Pediatric News, 6 March 2013: There is no one perfect diagnostic algorithm for children with a first uncomplicated febrile urinary tract infection, according to a retrospective cohort simulation comparing six diagnostic approaches for yield, cost, and radiation dose. Five diagnostic algorithms possibly using ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and late technetium99 dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan … Continue reading No stand-out among pediatric UTI diagnostic algorithms