The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has a new chair and for the first time it is a disabled person – former paralympian Kurt Fearnley. His appointment, along with that of two new directors, Graeme Innes (former disability discrimination ... [Continue Reading]
Prenatal steroid treatment may improve survival, reduce complications for extremely preterm infants
Antenatal steroid therapy causes the fetal lungs to mature and has been shown to improve survival. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
‘They treat you like a person, they ask you what you want’: what NDIS participants value in support workers
ShutterstockWhen the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was established almost a decade ago, it was envisaged people with disability would be empowered consumers. It was hoped their customer insights would shape new services designed to meet ... [Continue Reading]
Should I give my teen alcohol? Just a sip, the whole can, or none at all?
Kindel Media/Pexels, CC BY-SAYou’re at a barbecue and the adults are enjoying a few drinks. Everyone is relaxed and having a great time. One of your friends has just given their teen a beer. Next thing you know, your 15-year-old is asking for one ... [Continue Reading]
A healthy lifestyle may help former smokers lower their risk of death from all causes
Lifestyle interventions have not been robustly studied in former smokers. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
Two popular diabetes drugs outperformed others in large clinical trial
NIH-funded researchers complete first study comparing commonly used type 2 diabetes medications. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
What’s this ‘longevity’ diet, and will it really make you live longer?
Brooke Lark/Unsplash, CC BY-SAYou may have heard about the longevity diet, and its promise of an extended life span – but what exactly is it and is it any different to other diets promoting good health? The longevity diet is a set of eating ... [Continue Reading]
NIH-funded study shows sound sleep supports immune function
Adults who cut back on sleep for six weeks had increased markers of inflammation. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
Action on faulty vaginal mesh took too long, now women struggle to access mesh surgery that works
Gwendal Cottin/UnsplashLast week, Johnson & Johnson reached a A$300 million settlement for two class actions brought by Australian women affected by complications from vaginal mesh products. The products are surgically implanted to correct ... [Continue Reading]
Treatment offers new hope for lupus – and maybe for other autoimmune diseases too
Actor and singer Selena Gomez had a kidney transplant due to damage from lupus. Richard Shotwell/Invision/APWhen real patients have unprecedented positive outcomes to a new treatment, it’s tempting to talk about it as “breakthrough” for medical ... [Continue Reading]
New Zealand’s new cut-down COVID response is a missed opportunity – here are 5 ways to improve it
Phil Walter/Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s decision to end most COVID health measures is welcome, as it removes controls that are in most cases no longer essential. But the new COVID management phase looks like a short-term reaction to declining case ... [Continue Reading]
This finals season, a brief ‘priming’ workout could boost performance on the sports field and beyond
As humans, it is in our nature to want to do better, find that edge and succeed. This couldn’t be truer than in sport, where winning and losing are often separated by tenths of a second, a successful score attempt in the dying stages of a game, or a ... [Continue Reading]
NIH-funded team develops method to identify future SARS-CoV-2 mutations that could affect rapid antigen test performance
Researchers developed a method to evaluate how mutations to SARS-CoV-2 can affect recognition by rapid antigen tests. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
With most mandatory public health measures gone, is New Zealand well prepared for the next COVID wave?
Hospitality staff are no longer required to wear masks. Fiona Goodall/Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s decision this week to end most mandatory public health measures aimed at preventing COVID transmission received a mixed response. Our modelling suggests ... [Continue Reading]
Genomics study identifies unique set of proteins that restores hearing in zebrafish
NIH study shows the role of transcription factors in facilitating cell regeneration. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
Lush grasslands, higher allergy risks – what hay fever sufferers can expect from another La Niña season
Pexels, CC BYAustralia has among the highest prevalence of asthma and hay fever globally. La Niña (and El Niño) will undoubtedly affect allergy sufferers. Sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific cycle between episodes of ... [Continue Reading]
National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity to meet
Meeting will take place on September 21. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
Novel imaging approach reveals important details about rare eye disease choroideremia
New findings could improve the development and efficacy of therapies. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
NIH launches Bridge2AI program to expand the use of artificial intelligence in biomedical and behavioral research
Generating high-quality, ethically sourced data sets is crucial for enabling the use of next-generation AI technologies. SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
What do aged care residents do all day? We tracked their time use to find out
Photo by cottonbro/Pexels, CC BYWhat’s the daily routine like for older people in residential aged care facilities? To find out, we spent 312 hours observing 39 residents at six Australian aged care facilities to learn how and where they spend their ... [Continue Reading]
Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with mental disorders in children that persist into early adolescence
NIH-funded results add to growing scientific evidence of negative health effects of cannabis use during pregnancy SOURCE: NIH News Release - Read entire story here. ... [Continue Reading]
Rather than focusing on the negative, we need a strength-based way to approach First Nations childrens’ health
GettyImagesFirst Nations children represent the future of the world’s oldest continuing culture. Of the 66,000 Victorians who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the 2021 Census, one-third were aged under 15 years. First Nations ... [Continue Reading]