Source: University of Newcastle
Hunter researchers have discovered a new protein which plays a crucial role in the development of one of Australia’s biggest health problems – asthma.
Dr Joerg Mattes and colleagues from the University of Newcastle, the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), and the University of Freiburg in Germany, discovered high concentrations of a protein called TRAIL in the airways of asthmatics.
The research, which appears in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, shows the inhibition of TRAIL provides protection from the development of airway inflammation and airflow obstruction, which are the hallmark features of asthma.
Source: Australian Red Cross Blood Service
A shoulder to cry on; a sympathetic ear; someone who shouts you dinner and makes you laugh – these are some of the qualities that make a good mate – but what extra qualities make a great mate?
This October and November the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) is going to test friendship in a different way, by asking current blood donors to recruit their friends to donate, making them, not just good, but great mates.
To help our blood donors recruit their mates we’ve designed them a unique website: www.matesdonate.com.au
Social network websites are all the rage and the ARCBS hopes matesdonate.com.au will be no exception. Here donors can nominate friends they think should be blood donors, send them an e-mail through the website and track how many of their mates have donated. You can even pick up tips about encouraging mates along the way.
Dr Pip Hetzel, National Operations Manager for the ARCBS said: “One in three of us will need blood or a blood product at some point during our lives, so many of us will rely on others to help us out. You may not have needed blood yet, but is it unreasonable to ask your mates to help out in advance and help other Australians as well? The Australian Red Cross Blood Service doesn’t think so!
Source: Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)
An international study into genetic factors behind breast cancer has brought researchers a step closer to understanding the development of the disease.
The study, a collaboration between the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg and the International Hereditary Cancer Centre in Poland, involved 1,940 women from Poland who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene which predisposes them to breast and ovarian cancer.
Source: ABC Online
GP after-hours services will return to the Newcastle central business district (CBD), in the New South Wales Hunter region today, when doctors open a facility in the city’s new $36 million community health centre.
The after-hours clinic was forced to relocate to the John Hunter Hospital when the former health centre in Hunter Street was flooded during the June storms.
Dr Mark Foster from the Hunter Urban Division of General Practice says the temporary move was inconvenient for patients and caused logistical problems for GPs.
"It’s been a busy period since the floods, we’ve actually had a big spike in workload due to the winter flu season, that was particularly in August, and so the Newcastle clinic even operating at the John Hunter like all the other clinics has actually been really busy," he said.
The University of Newcastle has received a record $14 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Funding for 18 research projects, totalling $12.6 million, is an increase of $3.5 million on project funding last year. In addition, the University has received funds for equipment and Research Fellowships.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Barney Glover, said the funding was an outstanding result for the University.
Source: ABC Online
The Salvation Army has announced plans for a new $60 million aged care facility at Morisset in Lake Macquarie in the New South Wales Hunter region.
It has today released its $300 million capital works program for aged care facilities in NSW, Queensland and the ACT.
Salvation Army director Cecil Woodward says about 20 per cent of the money will go to the Morisset facility, which is needed to cater for the region’s ageing population.
"It will … provide high and low residential aged care beds, as well as quite a number of retirement units for independent living and it’s something we’d be eager to see commence as soon as we can make it happen," he said.
Source: ABC Online
A highly infectious gastroenteritis virus has spread to another hospital in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
Kurri Kurri Hospital has now closed one ward to visitors in an effort to contain the outbreak.
Ten cases of the gastro virus were confirmed at Kurri Kurri Hospital over the weekend, and visitors are being urged to stay away from the ward.
The virus has spread to three wards at Newcastle’s Mater Hospital, infecting more than 80 staff and patients in total.
All the wards at the Mater have now reopened to visitors, but three new patients were admitted with the bug over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation ward at Hunter Valley Private Hospital at Shortland is due to reopen today after its own outbreak of the virus.
Hunter Health is urging people to take particular care to wash their hands and stay away from people with the virus to try to stop it spreading further.
Source: AAP
Friends and relatives of patients at a Newcastle hospital are being asked not to visit several wards amid an outbreak of gastroenteritis.
Three wards at Calvary Mater hospital are under strict infection control measures, and visitors are advised to stay away until Friday following the diagnosis of several new cases.
The gastro outbreak began at the hospital last week.
Hunter New England Health microbiology specialist Dr Rob Givney said it was believed to be caused by norovirus.
An outbreak in a hospital is generally an indication of a high level of the virus in the community, he said.
"Norovirus, the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, is highly infectious and is spread through direct contact with an infected person and indirect contact via contaminated surfaces," he said.
"It may also be spread by the airborne route.
"We are asking visitors to delay their visit to reduce the chances of further spread."
Dr Givney said outbreaks occurred throughout the year, but rise during winter.
Symptoms, including vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, usually last for between one and two days and can result in dehydration.
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