Volume 203 Issue 6

Australia, Canadian and New Zealand health bodies and the Cochrane Library collaborate to produce a series of special collections

Davina Ghersi PhD, MPH · Samantha Faulkner BA

Severe head trauma mortality drops at Royal Darwin Mortality rates for severe head trauma at the Royal Darwin Hospital are down 40% from the 79% rate reported in a study 10 years ago, according to the ANZ Journal of Surgery. The study reviewed clinical service between 2008 and 2013, highlighting the continuing challenge of remoteness to the delivery of emergency medicine and surgery in the Top End. Alcohol remains a major player in hospitalisation, with 57% of patients having evidence of alcohol involvement and 39% of patients with traumatic brain injury having alcohol as a factor in their presentations. Indigenous persons were also overrepresented, accounting for 39% of all procedures as well as being considerably younger by a median of 15 years than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Resident generalist surgeons are reliant upon interstate neurosurgeons, who provide ongoing education, training and support, both by way of outreach visits and by 24-hour telephone and teleradiology consultation over 2600 km away. Maternal, neonatal tetanus eliminated in India Maternal and neonatal tetanus has been reduced to less than one case per 1000 live births in India, according to a WHO report. Until a few decades ago, India reported 150 000 to 200 000 neonatal tetanus cases annually. According to Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, the Indian government used a mix of existing and new programs to make elimination possible. “India’s re-energized national immunization program and the special immunization weeks and the most recent ‘Mission Indradhanush’, helped ensure that children and pregnant women are reached with vaccines”, he said. “The ‘National Rural Health Mission’ promoted institutional deliveries with a focus on the poor. The ‘Janani Suraksha Yojana’ encouraged women to give birth in a health facility.” Maternal and neonatal tetanus in South-East Asia now exists in just a few districts of Indonesia. Hazard alert for hip replacement component The Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a hazard alert for one model of the Profemur cobalt-chrome femoral neck (part number PHAC1254 – “long 8-degree varus”) due to the potential for the component to fracture. The manufacturer, Surgical Specialities, is also undertaking a recall of unimplanted stock. Component fractures are extremely rare; however, the manufacturer reported that there had been 27 reports of fracture of the PHAC1254 component in the approximately 9800 units sold worldwide over the previous 5 years. Only 32 units have been sold in Australia. “If you are treating patients who have had a hip replacement and are concerned about the above issue, advise them to be alert to the potential symptoms of a femoral neck component fracture (the sudden onset of symptoms such as pain, instability and difficulty walking or performing common tasks).” Elevated lead levels in 30 NT children The Northern Territory Health Department has confirmed that 30 children have been found with elevated blood lead levels in three separate locations across remote areas of the territory, the ABC reports. Children in Palumpa and Peppimenarti, in the West Daly region, and the Emu Point outstation, had higher than expected lead levels, probably due to contact with lead shot, used for shooting magpie geese, according to NT Health Minister John Elferink. NT Chief Health Officer Professor Dinesh Arya said that the children and their families were being interviewed to determine the cause, and all the children were receiving treatment from “specialist paediatricians”. Ebola vaccination trial extended to Sierra Leone The WHO reports that a new case of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone, after the country had marked almost 3 weeks of zero cases, has set in motion the first “ring vaccination” use of the experimental Ebola vaccine in the country. A swab taken from a woman who died aged around 60, in late August in the Kambia district, tested positive for Ebola virus. “The Guinea ring vaccination trial is a Phase III efficacy trial of the VSV-EBOV vaccine. Interim results published last July show that this vaccine is highly effective against Ebola. The ‘ring vaccination’ strategy involves vaccinating all contacts — the people known to have come into contact with a person confirmed to have been infected with Ebola (a ‘case’) — and contacts of contacts.”

Cate Swannell

Policies addressing health care financing should reinforce Australia’s commitment to the principle of universalism

Tracey-Lea Laba PhD, BPharm(Hons), BSc(AppChem)(Hons) · Beverley M Essue MPH, PhD · Stephen Jan PhD, MEc, BEc

We need fairer policies and investment in change that may only be realised in the long term

Thomas Astell-Burt PhD · Xiaoqi Feng PhD

A special program for rural medical graduates promotes their postgraduate training

John B Best AO, MD BS, PhD · Jacque Phillips OAM, MPS · Terry Welch GradDipHlthServiceMt, BApplSci(Nursing), GAICD · Shane Boyer BHlthSci(HlthProm) · Craig DeLacy RN RM BN · Geoffrey J McColl MB BS, BMedSc, MEd, PhD

The epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in WA reflect patterns of occupational asbestos exposure of more than 30 years ago

Arthur W (Bill) Musk MD, MSc, MB BS · Nola Olsen BAppSc, RGN · Helman Alfonso PhD · Susan Peters PhD · Peter Franklin PhD

Metronidazole is a known neurotoxic antibiotic that can be ototoxic, if only rarely

Anthony Rotman MB BS · Philip Michael FRCSEd(ORL-HNS), DLO, MA(ODE) · Michael Tykocinski MD, FRACS · Stephen J O’Leary MB BS, PhD, FRACS

AMA survey of trainees identifies positives and negatives in their training experiences

Julian Grabek MB BS · James A Churchill MB BS, BMedSc · Sally Banfield MB BS, BMedSci

Rising health care costs are placing serious strains on the sustainability of the Australian Medicare system in its current structure

Richard W Harper MB BS, FRACP, FCSANZ · Arthur Nasis MB BS(Hons), MD, PhD · Vijaya Sundararajan BA(Hons), MD, MPH

Chronic illness has a severe impact on workforce participation and GDP

Deborah J Schofield PhD, BSpPath, GradDipComp · Rupendra N Shrestha PhD, MSc, BSc · Michelle Cunich PhD, MEc, BEc · Robert Tanton PhD · Simon Kelly PhD, MS, BAppSc · Megan E Passey PhD, BMed(Hons), MPH · Lennert J Veerman PhD, MPH, MD

The focused application of genetics assists and informs cardiac patients and their families

Dominica Zentner MB BS(Hons), FRACP, PhD · Tina N Thompson BNurs · Paul A James MB ChB, DPhil, FRACP · Alison Trainer MB ChB, MSc, PhD · Lesley C Adès MB BS, FRACP, MD · Ivan Macciocca BSc, MHSc(GenCouns), FHGSA · Jessica A Taylor BSc, MGenCouns · Kirsty Mann BSc, MGenCouns · Michael Bogwitz BSc(Hons), GradDipGenCouns, PhD · Nigel Lewis MB ChB, MRCP, CCDS · Natalie Morgan BNurs, GradDip(GenCouns) · Jitendra Vohra MD, FRACP, FRCP · Ingrid Winship MD, FRACP, FACD

The Aboriginal Maternity Group Practice Program significantly improved neonatal outcomes for babies in south metropolitan Perth

Christina Bertilone MB BS, FRACGP, MPH · Suzanne McEvoy FAFPHM, MAppEpid, PhD

The first reported case of severe injuries caused by an elephant in an Australian zoo

Alice M Young MB BS · Anthony P Joseph FACEM · Alicia Jackson RN

NBOMes are hallucinogenic substances that have recently become available as drugs of misuse

Geoffrey K Isbister BSc, FACEM, MD · Alphonse Poklis PhD · Justin L Poklis BSc · Jeffrey Grice PhD

A change in the law is needed to allow procurement after circulatory death to maximise organ procurement

James Tibballs MD, MHlth · Neera Bhatia LLB(Hons), LLM, PhD

I want to go sit in a park

Rae Desmond Jones

After growing up in Queensland, Professor Emma McBryde has spent the past decade in Melbourne, but she is now returning to the tropics to track multiresistant tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland

Cate Swannell

The Australian Museum’s Eureka Prize winners for 2015 have been announced and health and medical academics have featured strongly. Professor Dayong Jin (University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University and ARC Centre for Nanoscale Biophotonics), Professor Tanya Monro (University of South Australia, University of Adelaide and ARC Centre for Nanoscale Biophotonics), and Professor Bradley Walsh (Minomic International Ltd and Macquarie University) won the prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research for their work on Super Dots technologies used for non-invasive cancer diagnosis. Dr Marc Pellegrini and Dr Greg Ebert (University of Melbourne) team at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research won the prize for Infectious Diseases Research for developing the first therapy to eliminate hepatitis B virus-infected cells, resulting in clearance of the virus in preclinical models. The therapy has now entered clinical trials in Australia. Professor Peter Currie, Phong Nguyen (Monash University) and Dr Georgina Hollway (Garvan Institute of Medical Research) won the prize for Scientific Research for identifying for the first time a mechanism in the body that triggers hematopoietic stem cell production, which could see it used to cure a range of blood disorders and immune diseases. http://australianmuseum.net.au/2015-eureka-prizes-winners Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to Emeritus Professor Richard Larkins, AO, for his “significant contribution to both Monash and the wider Australian public through his work as a medical researcher as well as his six years as Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University”. He was Dean of the Faculty from 1998 to 2003. Before that he was Professor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, holding the James Stewart Chair at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1984 to 1997. His clinical and research interests were in diabetes, endocrinology and general medicine. Professor Ben Canny received the David de Kretser Medal for his work leading the development of the MB BS curriculum and for maintaining “an active research and teaching profile, focusing on various aspects of stress, reproductive and metabolic endocrinology, as well as on ethics and professional and clinical skills, and most recently medical education, especially assessment”. http://www.med.monash.edu.au/news/2015/dekretser-awards-2015.html Three University of Melbourne academics have been appointed by the VCCC Alliance to oversee research programs at the Victorian Comprehensive Care Centre, which will house the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre from mid 2016. Professor Grant McArthur and Professor Andrew Roberts have been appointed to lead the research and education of two specific cancers — melanoma and haematology — and Professor Jon Emery will oversee the delivery of primary care at the VCCC. The VCCC will also provide new state-of-the-art cancer research and clinical facilities for Melbourne Health, and more than 25 000 square metres of dedicated space for over 1200 cancer researchers. http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/cancer-research-and-education-experts-appointed-vccc The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience’s Dr Alysha Elliott is nominated for the Centenary Institute’s Lawrence Creative Prize people’s choice award, which recognises young researchers tackling challenging issues and problems. Dr Elliott leads the microbial and screening team for UQ’s Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery, which aims to find new antibiotics through scientific cooperation. “We are taking an open approach where scientists around the world can send us their chemical compounds and we will test, for free, if they are active against disease-causing bacteria and fungi”, Dr Elliott said. https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2015/08/uq-superbug-researcher-needs-your-vote?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Nov2013&utm_campaign=Newsletter A new First People’s Health Unit has opened at Griffith University, aiming to “provide high level indigenous leadership and strategic direction on First People’s health in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and community engagement”. Professor Roianne West will develop the FPHU’s learning and teaching plan. Of Griffith’s 8500 students studying within its health group, 170 identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, which is believed to be one of the highest figures for an Australian university. The FPHU will also establish and lead research in First People’s Health, as well as foster enhanced collaborations with the Menzies Health Institute Queensland and schools within the Griffith Health Group. https://app.secure.griffith.edu.au/news/2015/08/25/first-peoples-health-unit-opens-at-griffith/ University of New South Wales experts in big data, assisted reproductive technology and research innovation have been appointed to National Health and Medical Research Council committees. Professor Louisa Jorm, Head of UNSW’s Centre for Big Data Research in Health, has been appointed to the NHMRC’s Health Ethics Committee. Professor William (Bill) Ledger, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at UNSW’s School of Women’s & Children’s Health, has been appointed to the NHMRC Embryo Research Licensing Committee. Professor Maria Kavallaris, the co-director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine and Program Head at the Children’s Cancer Institute, has been appointed to the NHMRC Research Committee. http://med.unsw.edu.au/news/unsw-experts-appointed-nhmrc-committees Balancing parenthood and academia is set to become easier for female University of New South Wales Medicine staff with the introduction of a new scholarship that encourages early career academic women to focus on research projects when returning to work after parental leave. The scholarship — named after NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Professor Minoti Apte, OAM — will provide eligible staff with relief from teaching and administration to write publications, applications and/or access research assistance. http://med.unsw.edu.au/news/unsw-medicine-scholarship-help-balance-academia-and-parenthood

Cate Swannell

This calendar includes conferences based in Australia into the foreseeable future, as far as can be confirmed. If you have an event you would like to add, please include relevant details in an email to cswannell@mja.com.au ALM = active learning module ASM = annual scientific meeting CPD = continuing professional development CT = computed tomography ECHO/echo = echocardiography EMAC = effective management of anaesthetic crises MRI = magnetic resonance imaging OSCE = objective structured clinical examination SAT SET = supervisors and trainers for surgical education and training October 2015 1-5Asia Pacific Rim International Counselling and Psychotherapy Conference, Perth, WA 5-7Interprofessional Health, Education and Practice Conference, Melbourne, VIC 8-9Medical Deans Annual Conference 2015, Hobart, TAS 9-10Australasian Gastrointestinal Pathology Society ASM, Sydney, NSW 9-11Australasian Military Medicine Association Conference 2015, Hobart, TAS 11-142015 Australasian Genomic Technologies Association Conference, Newcastle, NSW 11-15Australian Orthopaedic Association 75th Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, QLD 15-18Societe Internationale d’Urologie Annual Congress, Melbourne, VIC 16Australasian College of Sports Physicians GP Symposium 2015, Melbourne, VIC 16-19RANZCOG ASM, Perth, WA 16-19Australian Society of Cytology 45th ASM, Brisbane, QLD 18-21HAA 2015 ASM, Adelaide, SA 20-23Australian and New Zealand Burns Association 39th ASM, Melbourne, VIC 22-24Rural Medicine Australia 2015, Adelaide, SA 22-24Australasian Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health 2015 Conference, Adelaide, SA 22-25Australasian Doctors Health Conference 2015, Melbourne, VIC 23-2536th Annual Meeting, Australasian Dermatopathology Society, Sydney, NSW 26-27Safe and Secure Hospitals Conference, Melbourne, VIC 26-2713th Australasian Biospecimens Network Association Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW 26-27Future of Health Policy Reform Forum, Sydney, NSW 26-287th Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium, Creswick, VIC 28-30ACHS/ACHSM Joint Asia-Pacific Congress 2015: Health leadership: odds-on favourite, Melbourne, VIC 29-312nd Global Advances and Controversies in Skin Cancer 2015, Brisbane, QLD 29 Oct-1 Nov66th ASM Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Adelaide, SA November 2015 2-4National Primary Health Care Conference, Canberra, ACT 6-7RANZCP Section of Neuropsychiatry Conference, Melbourne, VIC 6-7ASBDD Conference, Sydney, NSW 9-1313th Congress of the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, Gold Coast, QLD 11-13Hospital in the Home 8th Annual Scientific Meeting 2015: HITH at 21: Maturity, Responsibility and Quality, Sydney, NSW 13-14Interdisciplinary Cerebrovascular Symposium, Gold Coast, QLD 16-18Improving Healthcare International Convention, Melbourne, VIC 17-18Second National Complex Needs Conference, Canberra, ACT 18-20International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology, Gold Coast, QLD 19-21Paediatric Pathology Society and ANZ Paediatric Pathology Group Joint Scientific Meeting, Perth, WA 19-21Mercy Global Obstetric Update, Melbourne, VIC 20-22RANZCP Section of Psychotherapy Conference, Sunshine Coast, QLD 22-26Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, 32nd ASM, Brisbane, QLD 25-26AOPA Congress 2015: Enhancing quality and performance, Adelaide, SA 25-28RANZCP Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry Joint Conference with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychology, Psychiatry and Law 35th Annual Congress, Canberra, ACT 26-28RANZCP Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age and APS Psychology and Ageing Special Interest Group Joint Conference, Adelaide, SA 27-29International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation 1st ANZ Regional Conference: Broken structures, broken selves: complex trauma in the 21st century, Sydney, NSW December 2015 1-414th International Scientific Conference of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology, Perth, WA 3-5Inaugural International Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Congress, Sydney, NSW 7-99th Health Services and Policy Research Conference, Melbourne, VIC 7-113rd International Conference on UV and Skin Cancer Prevention, Melbourne, VIC 14-16International Conference on Signal Processing and Communication Systems, Cairns, QLD February 2016 5-63rd International Four Corners of Cardiology Meeting, Melbourne, VIC 26-28Pathology Update: A diamond date, Melbourne, VIC March 2016 1Asian Australasian Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Meeting, Cairns, QLD 3-4Evidence Review in Emergency Medicine FSM, Wollongong, NSW 115th International Medical Symposium: Future challenges for the medical profession, Sydney, NSW 11-132016 ANZSNR Meeting, Hunter Valley, NSW 13-16Australian Pain Society 36th Annual Scientific Meeting: Pain: Meeting the Challenge, Perth, WA 14-17Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group 28th ASM, Brisbane, QLD 19-23Ottawa and ANZAHPE 2016 Conference, Perth, WA 29 Mar-1 AprAsia Pacific Orthopaedic Association Congress 2016, Melbourne, VIC April 2016 13-16General Assembly and International Conference on Asian Pacific Organisation of Cancer Prevention, Brisbane, QLD May 2016 14-1949th Australasian College of Dermatologists ASM, Perth, WA 16-18Royal Australasian College of Physicians Annual Congress, Adelaide, SA June 2016 1-3Australian and New Zealand Society of Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM) Annual Scientific Meeting 2016, Cairns, QLD 17-18Emergency South Australia FSM, Adelaide, SA August 2016 21-26International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, VIC 26-282016 ACD/ASDR/JDA/JSID/NZDSi Combined Meeting, Noosa, QLD September 2016 18-22International Congress of Tropical Medicine and Malaria, Brisbane, QLD 20Polio Australia’s 2016 Australasia-Pacific Post-Polio Conference, Sydney, NSW October 2016 16-19RANZCOG ASM, Perth, WA November 2016 19-2348th RANZCO Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, VIC

Cate Swannell