Volume 204 Issue 2

A new highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test

Amalia Z Berna · James S McCarthy · Stephen C Trowell

N/A

Cate Swannell

An update from the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute

Nico van Zandwijk MD, PhD, FRACP · Matthew Soeberg MPH, PhD · Glen Reid BSc, MSc(Hons), PhD

Do we equip junior specialists with the skills to conduct research throughout their careers?

Sandra L Turner MB BS(Hons), FRANZCR · Tim Shaw BSc(Hons), PhD

Collaboration between scientists and clinicians is essential

Paul G McMenamin MSc, PhD, DSc · Norman Eizenberg MB BS · Anthony Buzzard FRCS, FRACS, FACS · Quentin Fogg BSc(Hons), PhD, FRCPS · Michelle Lazarus PhD

Genetics and genomics in everyday clinical practice

Andrew Mallett MB BS, MMed, FRACP · Lindsay F Fowles BSc, MSc, PhD · Julie McGaughran MD, FRCP, FRACP · Helen Healy MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Chirag Patel BSc, MD, FRACP

The answer depends on how much and which data one consults

James E Fielding MAppEpid, PhD · Annette K Regan MPH, MInfDis · Craig B Dalton BMed, MMSc · Monique B-N Chilver BSc(MolBiol), GDPH · Sheena G Sullivan MPH, PhD

Start prepregnancy counselling early and discontinue teratogenic medications

Gene-Siew Ngian MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Andrew M Briggs BSc(PT)Hons, PhD · Ilana N Ackerman PhD, BPhysio(Hons) · Sharon Van Doornum MB BS, MD, FRACP

Ten years of data on eligibility to initiate and continue on bDMARDs remains un-utilised

Ashley M Hopkins BPharm(Hons) · Susanna M Proudman MB BS(Hons), FRACP · Agnes I Vitry PhD, MEcManageHealthSyst, BPharm · Michael J Sorich PhD, GradDipMedStat, BPharm(Hons) · Leslie G Cleland MB BS, MD, FRACP · Michael D Wiese BPharm, MClinPharm, PhD

Non-clinicians have based their claims of inappropriate care in hyperbaric medicine on flawed methods

Susannah Sherlock BSc, MB BS, FANZCA

Vertebroplasty has been controversial but remains clinically useful and new evidence awaits publication

William A Clark MB BS, FRANZCR, EBIR

Measuring inappropriate care should rely on available evidence, with anomalous practices evaluated by clinical panels

Stephen J Duckett DSc, FASSA, FAHMS · Peter Breadon MPA, MPP, BA · Danielle Romanes BA(Hons), GradDipAppEc

Early administration of antibiotics and aggressive fluid resuscitation improves outcomes for patients

Anthony R Burrell MB BS, FANZCA, FCICM · Mary-Louise McLaws DipTropPubHlth, MPH, PhD · Mary Fullick RN, BHlthSci(Nurs) · Rosemary B Sullivan RN, BHlthSci(Admin), MBus(HRM) · Doungkamol Sindhusake PhD, MPH, MA

If GPs are to play a role in managing this disease, they need specialist support

Zeina Najjar BSc(Med)/BMed/BSurg, MPH, FAFPHM · Leena Gupta MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Janice Pritchard-Jones RN, MPH · Simone I Strasser MB BS, MD, FRACP · Miriam T Levy MB BS, PhD · Siaw-Teng Liaw PhD, FRACGP, FACMI · Benjamin C Cowie MB BS, PhD, FRACP

Interventions that improve timeliness and appropriateness of care have produced impressive results

Sue M Evans PhD, MClinEpi · Arul Earnest PhD, MSc, BSocSc(Hons) · Wendy Bower PhD, BAppSc(Physio), PgDEpiBiost · Meera Senthuren BSc(Hons) · Peta McLaughlin BApplSci · Rob Stirling BSc(Hons), MB BCh(Hons), FRACP

Influenza vaccination is an important intervention for protecting vulnerable patients

Heath A Kelly BSc, MB BS, MPH · Courtney Lane BSc, MPH, MPhil(AppEpi) · Allen C Cheng FRACP, MPH, PhD

Re-infection with TB is possible even after preventive TB treatment

Claudia C Dobler MD, PhD, FRACP · Roujan Chidiac BN · Jonathan P Williamson BSc(Med) FRACP, PhD · Peter J Jelfs BSc

Early ophthalmology involvement and intravitreal antibiotic injections are essential

Jeewaka E Mohotti MB BS(Hons) · Shuang Q Chan MB BS, BMedSc · Fumitaka Nonaka MB BS

A 78-year-old man presented to a regional emergency department with a severe progressive rash

Andrew DK Nguyen BSc, MB BS · Gabriela Strey MD, FRACP

A new approach affects medical practitioners who give expert evidence

Bill Madden BA LLB(Hons), FAAL · Tina Cockburn LLM, LLB(Hons), BCom

I was in the City of Bridges, always nervous

Shaindel Beers

Dr Kean-Seng Lim was always going to study medicine, but deciding what kind of doctor he wanted to be came down to how he felt about himself as a person

Cate Swannell

The University of Queensland and The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane will lead a new centre dedicated to the early detection of lung cancer thanks to $1 million in funding from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF). The ACRF Centre for Lung Cancer Early Detection would focus on the discovery and development of innovative methods for early stage detection of lung cancer. The Centre will concentrate on three major innovative research streams: innovations in diagnostic imaging using Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) screening and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD); investigating unique molecular profiles and biomarkers of lung cancer; and advanced innovations in bronchoscopy techniques. The Centre will be based at The Prince Charles with major collaborations across key Australian and international sites. Due to the clinical focus of the research, the team will be able to translate findings directly into daily clinical practice. http://health.uq.edu.au/article/2015/12/1-million-earlier-detection-of-lung-cancer Two groups of University of Western Australia researchers have successfully secured more than $2.5 million funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Professor Susan Prescott, of the School of Paediatrics and Child Health, received $1.68 million to conduct a clinical trial investigating whether increased dietary fibre in pregnancy favourably influences metabolism and immune function, and can prevent allergies in children. Renowned burns specialist Professor Fiona Wood, of the Burn Injury Research Unit in the School of Surgery, was awarded a development grant of $873,305 to develop the first drug to remove scars which will hopefully be taken to clinical trials. Researchers have discovered a compound that targets collagen in the skin, preventing it from becoming too densely packed so that it remains more like normal skin. http://www.meddent.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2832798/MeDeFacts-Dec-2015.pdf The University of Melbourne has announced the formation of the Primary Care Diabetes Society of Australia (PCDSA). The not-for-profit society has been established to support primary health care professionals to deliver high quality, clinically effective care, in order to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. Department of General Practice Associate Professor Mark Kennedy said most of the one million people in Australia with diabetes receive most of their treatment in primary care, yet there is no primary care-based multidisciplinary society to support those health care practitioners. “Education will be a key role of the society. We are establishing a quarterly online journal, online continuing professional development and will hold the first annual conference in Melbourne on April 30 next year.” http://newsroom.melbourne.edu/news/new-diabetes-society-be-voice-primary-care-professionals Researchers at the University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) have been awarded a $40 000 Goldstar Award for research into the structure and function of apolipoproteins that affect brain ageing. CHeBA Co-Director Professor Perminder Sachdev will lead the research team, which includes other prominent CHeBA researchers: Dr Anne Poljak, Leader of the Proteomics Group; Dr Nady Braidy, Co-Leader of the Molecular Biology & Stem Cells Group; Dr Julia Muenchhoff, post-doctoral researcher; and statistician Dr John Crawford. Prof Sachdev said the potential for novel findings of this research is abundant, and it promises to yield new insights into normal ageing, pathological brain ageing including mild cognitive impairment, and longevity. http://med.unsw.edu.au/news/gold-star-cheba%E2%80%99s-apolipoprotein-research Bond University will offer a dedicated Indigenous Medical Scholarship, covering all tuition fees through the full 4-year, 8-month medical program for the successful applicant. Over the past 3 years, BU has invested more than $2.5 million in improving tertiary education outcomes for Indigenous students through outreach programs, scholarships, bursaries and a network of on-campus support. BU’s enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has more than doubled, and their degree completion rate is well above the national average. Applications close on 4 February. The yearly intake for Bond medical students is in May. https://bond.edu.au/news/47425/bond-launches-new-indigenous-medical-scholarship Two Monash University researchers have won the RACV Sir Edmund Herring Memorial Scholarships for their studies aimed at preventing road trauma and improving the quality of care delivered to road trauma victims. Dr Rene Stolwyk from Monash’s School of Psychological Sciences received the scholarship for his work in utilising simulator technology to enhance driver rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury. The other winner was Damien Dambrosi, a lecturer in Monash University’s Department of Community Health and Paramedic Practice, for his work looking at the potential efficacy and safety of ketamine as an analgesic by all Victorian MICA paramedics. http://www.med.monash.edu.au/news/2015/monash-researchers-win-scholarships-for-research-into-tackling-road-toll.html UNSW alumnus and current Rural Clinical School Associate Professor Kelvin Kong has been named as a 2016 Australia Day ambassador. Prof Kong was one of the first Indigenous doctors to graduate from UNSW after entering medicine through UNSW’s Indigenous Entry into Medicine scheme. He is an ear surgeon, and a partner in the Newcastle-based Hunter ENT (ear, nose and throat), and often conducts Indigenous health clinics in remote places such as Broome, WA. http://med.unsw.edu.au/news/aboriginal-surgeon-and-rcs-academic-kelvin-kong-speak-port-stephens-australia-day-event UNSW graduate Dr Amanda Cohn has been awarded the Foundation Year Graduates Medal, presented to the graduating medical student who most excels in the areas of leadership and fellowship across the academic and non-academic realm. Dr Cohn completed her medical degree at Rural Clinical School’s Albury campus, and intends to stay on in the area to continue her medical training, and maybe do some teaching at the campus. http://med.unsw.edu.au/news/new-rcs-grad-wins-university-medal

Cate Swannell

This calendar will be updated each month. If you have an event you would like to add, please include relevant details in an email to cswannell@mja.com.au

Cate Swannell