Search

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully named Indigenous) Australians are diagnosed with some cancers substantially more frequently than non-Indigenous Australians implying a different risk factor landscape. Additionally, poorer outcomes for certain cancers are exacerbated by lower cancer screening rates and later diagnoses compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

Jane Pillow BMedSci (Dist) MBBS, PhD (Dist) FRACP Head, Developmental Chronobiology jane.pillow@thekids.org.au Head, Developmental Chronobiology

Dysfunctional glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the underlying pathogenesis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPH), which is used as a first line treatment for ADHD, has been shown to have both acute and chronic effects on prefrontal cortex glutamatergic afferents. Animal studies have also identified an effect of MPH and glutamate in prefrontal areas. Despite this there are ongoing questions as to the extent and direction of this effect, as well as its impact on other neurobiological processes. 

There is no clear clinical guidance on the use of alcohol pharmacotherapies in pregnancy due to insufficient safety information. Contraception should therefore be considered for reproductive-aged females receiving alcohol pharmacotherapies not wishing to become pregnant. This study evaluated the concurrent use of alcohol pharmacotherapies with prescription contraception and other medications in Australian females of reproductive age compared to those not receiving an alcohol pharmacotherapy.

Providing a sustainably resourced medical workforce to meet the healthcare needs of a population is a significant challenge. Drivers of medical workforce issues include an ageing population, increasing chronic disease, skill shortages and workforce maldistribution. In this paper, we consider the imbalance between generalism and specialism in Australia, arguing that generalist positions may better address the current healthcare gaps.

The study aimed to evaluate the experiences of participants involved in co-production to develop a National Framework for assessing children's functional strengths and support needs. The National Framework was developed to guide professionals when working with children aged 0-12 years, including children who do and do not have one or more diagnosed condition(s), and their families in Australia and inform good policy across health, education, disability, and community support sectors.

Adolescence represents a pivotal period for the development of early diabetes-related vascular complications, primarily driven by chronic hyperglycemia and associated metabolic disturbances. Metabolomics provides a promising tool to identify biomarkers reflecting these early changes.

Exposure to food advertising is associated with consumption. Globally, most outdoor food advertisements feature unhealthy foods or beverages. As Australian local government areas begin developing restriction policies, the feasibility of applying nutrient-based Nutrition Classification Systems to outdoor advertising requires evaluation.

E-cigarettes are widely perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco, and that perception often extends to their use around infants and children. Yet exhaled aerosol deposits onto indoor surfaces, leaving a residue, known as third-hand e-cigarette aerosol, that can be re-emitted, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. The developmental consequences of such exposure have been almost entirely unexplored.

Mucus plugs have been previously recognized as an important pathological feature in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their clinical role in these diseases has not been explored in depth until recently. Mucus plug formation is driven by mucus hyperconcentration, changes in mucus viscoelastic properties, impaired clearance, and mucociliary collapse.