Health Report - Separate stories podcast

In the news this week: References Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problemMpox disease epidemiology, vaccine uptake and vaccination coverage in Australia 2022–2024: a descriptive studyHantavirus-hit cruise ship leaves Cape Verde after three evacuated

Urgent care clinics will receive $1.8 billion in the 2026-7 Budget to make them a permanent part of Australia's health system. We speak to the Health Minister Mark Butler about the decision. Guest

Could 'fitspiration' social media content be harming mental health? A new study from Northwestern has investigated the effects of consuming this content online and argues that it has serious negative effects on young peoples' body image. Guest References Lifting the Screen on Fitspiration: A Meta-Analysis

'Phage therapy' is a novel form of treatment aimed at providing an alternative to antibiotics. What are bacteriophages, how does this therapy work and what are the obstacles to making it a first-line treatment? References Cross-reactive anti-prophage antibodies and bacterial heteroresistance implicated in phage therapeutic failure

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

In the news this week: References Outbreak of diptheria in the KimberleyNine-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Related Cancers in MalesAn estimated 450,000 diabetics will miss out on subsidised Mounjaro after negotiations stalled

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a diagnosis of exclusion - doctors rule out a number of other conditions before they can say it's IBS. That's because there haven't been reliable biomarkers to flag it. But a new analysis from researchers at the University of Newcastle suggests there may in fact be a number of biomarkers associated with IBS. Guest References Serological and faecal markers of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include blood in your stool, bloating, constipation, changes in bowel habit and unexplained weight loss. But two people presenting with the same symptoms could go down very different paths to test if their symptoms are, in fact, bowel cancer. And that can be due to where you live, with richer areas getting different types of follow up and testing. Guest References Variations in the investigation of colorectal cancer-related symptoms in Australian primary care: a retrospective cohort study

The government's 1800MEDICARE app allows people to access their pathology and diagnostic results once uploaded to their digital health record. For Christine Kwong from Brisbane, that access meant she spotted a breast cancer finding that might otherwise have fallen through the cracks. But at the same time, some doctors report difficulties accessing results and navigating the app. Guests

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

In the news this week: References RSV Vaccine - Department of HealthHome cooking, cooking skills and dementia requiring long-term care: a population-based cohort study in JapanTypology of out-of-home eaters: a description of sociodemographic, lifestyle, nutritional and environmental characteristics in the NutriNet-Santé cohortGender and age differences in weekend eating habits: associations with fat mass percentage in a cross-sectional studyGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of substance use disorders among US veterans with type 2 diabetes: cohort studyHeart-nosed bat alphacoronaviruses use human CEACAM6 to enter cells

There's an increasing recognition of the cognitive symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause - sometimes termed 'brain fog'. A group of researchers is arguing for a consensus definition of the term to aid in the management of symptoms and improved outcomes for women. Guest References Advances in understanding of cognitive symptoms during menopause

More than 2.8 million Australians have asthma, and it isn't always managed well. A new coalition of researchers has mapped out a blueprint for changing that. Guest Professor Christine JenkinsReferences A Bold Blueprint for Asthma Reform in Australia

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A new Australian study suggests understanding the genes we're born with - our genome - could help to explain why some children get cancer in childhood. And there are implications for adults too. Guest References Integrated germline and somatic molecular profiling to detect cancer predisposition has a high clinical impact in poor-prognosis paediatric cancer

In the news this week: References Intensive LDL Cholesterol Targeting in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular DiseaseMunicipal water fluoridation, adolescent IQ, and cognition across the life courseAndrographis paniculata (Andrographis) and anaphylaxis - updated safety review and supplementary reportAmyloid‐beta‐targeting monoclonal antibodies for people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease

In a medical emergency, how good is ChatGPT at guiding you towards the right treatment (whether that's the emergency department or the GP?). A new trial out of the United States finds mixed results. It can sometimes work well, but often its recommendations did not match those of a panel of human doctors -- especially when it mattered most. Guest References ChatGPT Health performance in a structured test of triage recommendations

We know that growth in the use of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss has been dramatic over the past few years. But it's hard to tell exactly how sizeable that rise has been because much of the prescribing for these drugs happens outside of the PBS, where public medication prescriptions are tracked. That's until now. New data from across New South Wales reveals how high the uptake has been, and who is using these drugs. Guest References Initiators of Semaglutide in General Practice in New South Wales, 2020–2023: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Australia's first clinical guidelines for preventing suicide and treating suicidal ideation or self-harm in young people have been released. What are the lessons for doctors, parents and families? Guest References Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Children and AdolescentsSuicide and intentional self-harm hospitalisations among young peopleGenerational effects in self-reported age of onset for youth suicidal ideation, self-harm and attempted suicide: A retrospective analysis using data from the Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020–2022

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au