New research identifies reliable diagnostics to improve safety of malaria treatment

Publicly released: Sat 14 Dec 2019 at 1520 AEDT | 1720 NZDT

PLoS Medicine

A new diagnostic has been identified to test malaria patients for an enzyme deficiency that is linked to severe side-effects to standard treatment of vivax malaria. Funder: No specific funding was received for this study. Media Release. From:Menzies Read more about New research identifies reliable diagnostics to improve safety of malaria treatment - Scimex

Paving the way to healing complex trauma

Publicly released: Sat 14 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

A major study led by researchers at La Trobe has identified key themes that will be used to inform strategies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents in the first years of their children’s lives. Funder: Lowitja Institute Read more about Paving the way to healing complex trauma - Scimex

New treatment for viral arthritis reveals impressive results in Phase 2 human clinical trial

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics and Melbourne-based company Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Limited have reported impressive results from their Phase 2A clinical trials of a new drug candidate to treat viral arthritis (joint Read more about New treatment for viral arthritis reveals impressive results in Phase 2 human clinical trial - Scimex

Educated people more likely to help a stranger

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Evolutionary Human Sciences

People from highly educated neighbourhoods are more likely to help a stranger, according to a study by researchers at The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University. Study author Dr Cyril Grueter, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences Read more about Educated people more likely to help a stranger - Scimex

Just four percent of Kiwis experience almost half of all crimes

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey

A tiny slice – just four per cent – of New Zealanders experience almost half of all crimes, finds a new report based on interviews with 8, 000 New Zealand adults. Young people, Māori and people who have never been in a legally recognised Read more about Just four percent of Kiwis experience almost half of all crimes - Scimex

Why whales are big but not bigger

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

US researchers think they've cracked why whales are so unbelievably huge. Turns out like most animals, the gargantuan size of whales is determined by the balance of the energy they can get from their food, and the energy they expend to get food - Read more about Why whales are big but not bigger - Scimex

Genetic ‘clock’ predicts lifespan in animals

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have discovered a simple way to estimate how long a species lives. Using the human genome, the researchers found the maximum natural lifespan of humans is 38 years, which matches Read more about Genetic ‘clock’ predicts lifespan in animals - Scimex

FAST stroke campaign boosts symptom awareness

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Would you know if someone was having a stroke? Kiwis' knowledge of how to spot a stroke happening and act quickly increased in the wake of the Ministry of Health's FAST campaign, reports a new study. The campaign was designed around key symptoms Read more about FAST stroke campaign boosts symptom awareness - Scimex

Not enough GPs know how to put in IUDs

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Not all New Zealand women have access to long acting reversible contraceptive devices (LARCs) like IUDs and implants because not enough GPs are trained in inserting or removing them. Researchers from the University of Auckland say it's difficult for Read more about Not enough GPs know how to put in IUDs - Scimex

SUVs and macho marketing no good for emissions

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Sports utility vehicles and diesel-powered utes made up 80 per cent of the top selling new light vehicles globally in 2018, but the latter especially are no good for our environment, Kiwi public health researchers say. The researchers say these Read more about SUVs and macho marketing no good for emissions - Scimex

Institutional racism hinders breast cancer outcomes for Māori women

Publicly released: Fri 13 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Māori women with advanced breast cancer are half as likely as their Pākehā counterparts to reach the five-year survival mark, say Unitec researchers in a comment piece. The traced the inequity of care back to inadequate screening, lack of patient Read more about Institutional racism hinders breast cancer outcomes for Māori women - Scimex

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking rates and the NT

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

A survey released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows sustained improvement in the national smoking rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey Read more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking rates and the NT - Scimex

Giving premature babies 100% oxygen may help them breathe on their own faster

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Frontiers in Pediatrics

Giving premature babies 100 per cent oxygen straight after birth may help them to take their first breath on their own faster, according to an Australian and international study. The study of 52 babies split them into two groups, one of which Read more about Giving premature babies 100% oxygen may help them breathe on their own faster - Scimex

Bushfire planning controls stifle designs able to prevent catastrophe

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1337 AEDT | 1537 NZDT

As fires ravage much of Australia, a QUT expert has called for an urgent review of planning regulations which limit construction to conventional homes only able to withstand moderate levels of bushfire attack. Dr Ian Weir also says the mass clearing Read more about Bushfire planning controls stifle designs able to prevent catastrophe - Scimex

New insights to major disease pathways

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

ChemBioChem

Flinders researchers have made major inroads into finding the cause of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes and other diseases after discovering a further 148 proteins affected by oxidative stress in the human body. The latest publication Read more about New insights to major disease pathways - Scimex

Do summer holidays undo the good work of school? Helping kids stay lean and fit over summer

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1205 AEDT | 1405 NZDT

BMC Public Health

As thousands of Aussie kids start summer holidays this week, there’s no doubt parents will see an increase in kids’ screen time, snack time and general relaxation. After a busy school year, it’s well-deserved, but could this change in activity Read more about Do summer holidays undo the good work of school? Helping kids stay lean and fit over summer - Scimex

A way to ‘fingerprint’ human cells

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Genome Biology

Researchers have developed a method that allows them to identify single cells with a unique genomic profile from a tissue sample. Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council. Media Release. From:Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Read more about A way to ‘fingerprint’ human cells - Scimex

Time to explain Country in Indigenous terms

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Oceania

It’s time to write about Indigenous Australian place relationships in a new way – in a language that speaks in Indigenous terms first, to convey a rich meaning of Country and best identify its deep ecological and social relevance to Aboriginal Read more about Time to explain Country in Indigenous terms - Scimex

A rare genetic brain condition

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Researchers at Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute have today launched a cutting-edge research project into Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN). BPAN is a genetic brain disorder that causes intellectual Read more about A rare genetic brain condition - Scimex

Workout frequency the most important factor in strength gains for women

Publicly released: Thu 12 Dec 2019 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Sports Medicine

It’s not necessarily the type of exercise that has the biggest impact on women’s strength gains, but how often they do it, a UNSW Sydney-led study has found. Funder: UNSW Sydney. Media Release. From:The University of New South Wales. W orkout Read more about Workout frequency the most important factor in strength gains for women - Scimex