Podcasts about south australian health

In this episode, we discuss pain science and all of its complexities. We explore: The definition of pain and chronic painPain in total knee replacement recoveryPatient and therapist expectations and their role in painPerception and awareness in painLanguage and visualisation strategies and resources in painSpinal painRole of pain in knee OAImportance of education in pain managementProfessor Lorimer Moseley is a Bradley Distinguished Professor at the University of South Australia. He is interested in pain and other protective feelings. He has written over 400 scientific articles and 7 books. His foundational discoveries and outreach initiatives have led to awards in 15 countries. He leads the non-profit Pain Revolution and in 2020 he was made an Officer Of the Order of Australia for distinguished contribution to pain and its management, education, science communication and physiotherapy, to humanity at large. He lives, works, and rides a very cool e-scooter, on Kaurna Land in Adelaide, South Australia.Associate Professor Tasha Stanton leads the Persistent Pain Research Group at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and is co-Director of IIMPACT in Health at The University of South Australia, Adelaide. She is a clinical pain neuroscientist, with original training as a physiotherapist. Her research focuses on pain – why do we have it and why doesn't it go away? She has a specific interest in chronic pain, osteoarthritis, pain science education, and novel technologies, such as virtual and mediated reality, to enhance exercise engagement.If you like the podcast, it would mean the world if you're happy to leave us a rating or a review. It really helps!Our host is @sarah.yule from Physio Network

Primary results from ASC4FIRST trial, the first study in chronic myeloid leukemia comparing current standard-of-care frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitors with the novel agent asciminib in newly diagnosed patients, were reported at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting. First author Timothy Hughes MD, Consultant Hematologist with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, and the University of Adelaide in Australia, reported higher efficacy in terms of major molecular responses and lower toxicity with asciminib. After his talk in Chicago, he met up with Oncology Times reporter, Peter Goodwin.

There are many Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth reviews of interventions to prevent health problems in babies that are born early. One of these was updated in April 2024, looking at the evidence on the effects of receiving magnesium sulphate prior to early birth. Lead author, Emily Shepherd from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and University of Adelaide in Australia tells us about the latest findings in this podcast, with a focus on the prevention of cerebral palsy.

There are many Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth reviews of interventions to prevent health problems in babies that are born early. One of these was updated in April 2024, looking at the evidence on the effects of receiving magnesium sulphate prior to early birth. Lead author, Emily Shepherd from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and University of Adelaide in Australia tells us about the latest findings in this podcast, with a focus on the prevention of cerebral palsy.

In this ToxChats© episode, we interview Dr. Chris Christou, Director of Preclinical Imaging and Research Laboratories at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Dr. Christou discusses the history of sheep as a preclinical species for medical device testing, novel groundbreaking neurological disease models, and the use of sheep as an alternative model in general toxicology studies. Critical regulatory standards and international guidelines are discussed to ensure successful submissions with the US Food and Drug Administration, the Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration, and the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency.

Yes campaign strategists say they'll target advertising spend around football finals in a bid to win over young men disengaged from politics. Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton is seeking powers to detain children aged 10 to 13 once the age of criminal responsibility is lifted. Queensland Fertility Group is at the centre of a multimillion-dollar baby-swap scandal. South Australian Health inspectors conduct illegal vape blitz. Treasurer Jim Chalmers praises the RBA's first female governor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes campaign strategists say they'll target advertising spend around football finals in a bid to win over young men disengaged from politics. Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton is seeking powers to detain children aged 10 to 13 once the age of criminal responsibility is lifted. Queensland Fertility Group is at the centre of a multimillion-dollar baby-swap scandal. South Australian Health inspectors conduct illegal vape blitz. Treasurer Jim Chalmers praises the RBA's first female governor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes campaign strategists say they'll target advertising spend around football finals in a bid to win over young men disengaged from politics. Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton is seeking powers to detain children aged 10 to 13 once the age of criminal responsibility is lifted. Queensland Fertility Group is at the centre of a multimillion-dollar baby-swap scandal. South Australian Health inspectors conduct illegal vape blitz. Treasurer Jim Chalmers praises the RBA's first female governor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes campaign strategists say they'll target advertising spend around football finals in a bid to win over young men disengaged from politics. Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton is seeking powers to detain children aged 10 to 13 once the age of criminal responsibility is lifted. Queensland Fertility Group is at the centre of a multimillion-dollar baby-swap scandal. South Australian Health inspectors conduct illegal vape blitz. Treasurer Jim Chalmers praises the RBA's first female governor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Iasiello is a Researcher and Project Co-ordinator at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Matthew is also a PhD candidate at Flinders University, whose PhD focuses on the relationship between mental health and mental wellbeing. In this episode of The Mental Wellbeing Show, we discuss what mental wellbeing is, why it matters to everyone regardless of mental illness status, and strategies anyone can implement to improve their own mental wellbeing. 0:00 Intro 0:15 Dual-continua model of mental health 4:34 What is mental wellbeing? 8:44 Having low mental wellbeing 11:58 Effective interventions for your mental wellbeing 15:19 Finding the best intervention for you 19:01 The Be Well Plan 20:20 Examples of mental wellbeing strategies 26:46 Impacting mental wellbeing at scale 28:37 Matt's recommendations on mindfulness Further reading on resources and studies mentioned in this episode: New York Times article on mental wellbeing: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/we.... Image outlining the Dual Continua Model of Mental Health: https://opentextbc.ca/mhwframework/ba... The Be Well Plan: https://www.bewellco.io/ "A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological interventions to improve mental wellbeing" (2021) by van Agteren et. al. "The protective effects of wellbeing and flourishing on long-term mental health risk" (2022) by Burns et. al. "A facilitated, Internet-based intervention to promote mental health and wellbeing in a vulnerable population of university students: randomised controlled trial of the Be Well Plan" (2022) by Fassnacht et. al.

Matthew Iasiello is a Researcher and Project Co-ordinator at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Matthew is also a PhD candidate at Flinders University, whose PhD focuses on the relationship between mental health and mental wellbeing. This clip is part of an episode of The Mental Wellbeing Show titled "Mental Wellbeing Strategies"

Vol 216, Issue 7: 11 April 2022. Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak is a clinical pharmacist and Practitioner Fellow at Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. He talks about hormonal contraceptive use following early medical abortion, to accompany his coauthored research letter published in the MJA. With MJA news and online editor Cate Swannell.

“We would like to acknowledge that this conversation was recorded on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people and pay my respect to Elders both past, present and future.”Our guest Rachel Reilly lives and work on Kaurna Country, and pays her respects to Elders past, present and emerging.We would also like to acknowledge the cultural authority of my Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues who have led this project, and provided guidance and support for me throughout.The project team comprises a team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers with an extraordinary depth of knowledge. Their bios are on the NIMAC website below.Lastly, we acknowledge and thank the participants in the research, who by generously sharing their knowledge have enabled this project to exist.In this episode, we chat with Rachel Reilly who is a senior research fellow from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute about her work in Aboriginal health and the development and research of an app to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the harmful impacts of Ice use. Rachel & Jack are not Aboriginal and have sort the blessing to publish this conversation from Professor James Ward, who is a Pitjantjatjara and Nukunu man and lead researcher on this project. Professor James Ward is a Pitjantjatjara and Nukunu man, an infectious diseases epidemiologist and a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. He is currently the Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at The University of Queensland.Holding various roles over the last 25 years in Aboriginal public health policy for both government and non-government organisations, in urban regional and remote communities he has built a national program of research in the epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on STIs, HIV and viral hepatitis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.Professor Ward has previously worked at the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Baker IDI in Alice Springs and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. He has served on numerous national and international committees including currently the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia, the Australian National Council on Alcohol and Drugs, the CDNA COVID-19 Working Group and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 Taskforce. He has over 120 publications and leads several large scale public health and infectious diseases studies.   Links to the project and other helpful information. Project website:www.wecandothis.com.au www.nimac.org.au https://www.facebook.com/1wecandothis For service providers interested in using the app with clients, and providing feedback to us: Contact me: rachel.reilly@sahrmi.com Social determinants: Broadly, social determinants are the circumstances in which people grow, live, work and age (WHO 2008). ... For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the social determinants of health also include factors such as cultural identity, family, participation in cultural activities and access to traditional lands. I've attached a poster that summarises some of the findings from our conversations with people about their experiences with methamphetamine. A summary of intergenerational trauma narrated by Jack Charles is here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-RaB19D13E The US research on Adverse Childhood Events is summarised here:https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.htmlIt includes a neat little YouTube video on the site that gives a nice summary. Info sheet on trauma-informed services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Judy Atkinson):https://earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/files/ctg-rs21.pdfhttps://aifs.gov.au/cfca/2013/08/13/growing-our-children-up-strong-and-deadly-healing-for-children-and-young-people-2 _________________________We have a new book! Grab the Special Offer here: https://www.connectionbasedliving.com/11STEPSBOOKIf you or a loved one needs help beating addiction, you can visit www.connectionbasedliving.com.au If you want to check out more about Real Drug Talk & Everything we do you can visit us at our website, www.realdrugtalk.com.au We would love it if you followed us on social media to keep supporting the message. Our social media handle is @realdrugtalk on socials. 

Tom Browne gave us all the latest footy news, including some bizarre South Australian health directives, (0:43), the Crows under investigation over some face mask issues on a flight, Richmond and Essendon's preparation and selection for the Dreamtime game with Trent Cotchin flying to Perth (2:45), Nathan Buckley and Collingwood, (5:40), where the Queen's Birthday game will be and how much money Melbourne have lost having to relocate it (7:06), and the teams who it's set to be a big weekend for (10:00). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Australian health authorities yesterday warned AFL fans not to touch the ball if it flies into the crowd during the Adelaide v Collingwood game on Saturday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vitamin A derivative selectively kills liver cancer stem cells  RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (Japan), April 23, 2021 Acyclic retinoid, an artificial compound derived from vitamin A, has been found to prevent the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Now, in research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have discovered that the compound targets one class of cancer stem cells, preventing them from giving rise to new tumors. HCC is a highly lethal cancer, which causes approximately 600,000 deaths each year around the world, making it the second deadliest cancer after non-small cell lung cancer. One of the reasons for the high lethality is that it has a high rate of recurrence—surgery and other treatments are initially effective, but the cancer often relapses. As a result, researchers have looked for ways to prevent recurrence, and acyclic retinoid was recently found to be effective in stopping recurrence of tumors. However, scientists were not sure exactly why it worked. To find clues, a research group led by Soichi Kojima of the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science looked at the transcriptome of cells that had been exposed to acyclic retinoid, and found that compared to control untreated cells, they had low expression of MYCN, a gene that is often expressed in tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis. Further experiments, which involved deliberately repressing the expression of the gene in cancer cells, showed that the reduction in MYCN expression led functionally to slower cell-cycle progression, proliferation, and colony formation, and to greater cell death, implying that the action of the acyclic retinoid on MYCN was slowing the cancer growth. The group then focused on the role of "cancer stem cells"—special cells that are able to survive the onslaught of chemotherapy or other treatments and to then differentiate into new cancer cells, leading to recurrence. They found, indeed, that high expression of MYCN was correlated with the expression of a number of markers that are associated with cancer stem cells. "The most interesting part of our finding," says Kojima, "is when we then looked at different subpopulations of heterogeneous cancer cells. We found one specific group of EpCAM-positive cancer stem cells, where MYCN was elevated. We wondered if perhaps the key to acyclic retinoid's effect was its ability to target these hepatic cancer stem cells." Indeed, experiments revealed that when exposed to acyclic retinoid, in a dose dependent manner, the EpCAM-positive cells were selectively depleted. To test whether this had clinical significance, they took liver biopsies of patients who had been given acyclic retinoid following liver cancer surgery, and found that in four of the six who had received a higher dosage of 600 mg/d but rather than 300 mg/d, there were decreased levels of MYCN expression, suggesting that MYCN expression in response to acyclic retinoid could be an important part of the difference in recurrence seen in trials. Finally, they looked at data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, and found that elevated expressionof MYCN correlated with dramatically poorer prognosis. According to Kojima, "It is remarkable that the acyclic retinoid clearly targets a certain category of cancer stem cells, and this provides us with important hints for decreasing cancer recurrence and truly curing patients. We are waiting to see what clinical data will show us." A phase 3 clinical trial of acyclic retinoid (also called Peretinoin), is currently underway in Korea, Taiwan and Singapore to test the drug's ability to prevent HCC recurrence.     Light up your mind: A novel light-based treatment for neurodegenerative diseases Researchers review growing knowledge on the methods and applications of light therapy in treating neurodegenerative diseases Soochow University (China), April 2021 A lot about the human brain and its intricacies continues to remain a mystery. With the advancement of neurobiology, the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases (ND) has been uncovered to a certain extent, along with molecular targets around which current therapies revolve. However, while the current treatments offer temporary symptomatic relief and slow down the course of the disease, they do not completely cure the condition and are often accompanied by a myriad of side effects that can impair normal daily functions of the patient. Light stimulation has been proposed as a promising therapeutic alternative for treating various ND like Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cognitive and sleep disorders. Light therapy consists of controlled exposure to natural daylight or artificial light of specific wavelengths. While neurologists worldwide have begun testing its use in clinical practice, less remains understood about the mechanisms behind how light affects neurological function. Thus, in a review article now published in Chinese Medical Journal, researchers from China comprehensively summarize the growing knowledge on the mechanism of action, effectiveness, and clinical applications of LT in the treatment of ND. Neurologist and author Dr. Chun-Feng Liu explains how their work can advance our understanding of novel emerging therapies for ND. "While light therapy has been investigated in mental and sleep disorders, comprehensive knowledge on its use in neurodegenerative diseases in lacking. We therefore sought to shed light on the potential therapeutic methods and implications of light therapy," he states. Our body function is tuned to a circadian or day and night rhythm. The clock that controls this rhythm is housed in the hypothalamus region of the brain. The genes expressed in this region are crucial in maintaining the circadian rhythm. Thus, a malfunction of these genes can disrupt the rhythmic cycle. These defects have been associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic and sleep disorders. External stimuli such as light, physical activity and food intake can help reset the clock and restore normal circadian rhythms, thus alleviating symptoms. Another mechanism by which the clock controls circadian rhythms is through the secretion of the melatonin (MT) hormone. MT secreted by the pineal gland in the brain is known to control sleep patterns as it is secreted in higher amounts in the night than the day. Light stimulation in this case suppresses the secretion of MT during the day time and thus reduces drowsiness. Interestingly, different tissue and organs in the body may respond differentially to light stimulation. Furthermore, different biomolecules expressed in circulating immune cells and stem cells are sensitive to specific wavelengths of light and thus elicit different responses by promoting the secretion of neurotrophic factors that can rescue neuronal functions. Next, the researchers go on to discuss the application of light stimulation in specific neurodegenerative disorders. In case of AD, a progressive dementia, sleep disturbance has been associated with an increased expression of biomarkers that promote disease progression. Patients with AD often experience confusion, emotional distress and hyperactivity after dusk and through the night. Preliminary clinical studies on AD mouse models as well as patients with AD suggest that light stimulation helps restore memory and cognition and decreases the burden of the pathogenic amyloid-β protein in the brain. Furthermore, LT has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration in patients with sleep disorders while bright environments help reduce anxiety and aggressive behaviors in patients with dementia. In case of PD, patients suffer from motor impairment, tremors and posture imbalance and also display non-motor symptoms such as insomnia, depression and fatigue that can collectively impair their quality of life. While LT has been shown to decrease non-motor symptoms to some extent, evidences on its direct benefits towards motor-function however are limited. The use of LT in other neurodegenerative disorders is currently at preclinical stages and needs to be pursued further. Overall, LT offers a safe and cost-effective alternative for treatment of ND. Additional studies and large scale clinical trials in this direction can help establish its effectiveness as a potential therapeutic strategy. Explaining the long term clinical applications of LT, Dr. Liu says, "The light box or light therapy lamp will help improve the sleep quality of patients with sleep disorders. Light stimulation will also likely have therapeutic effects on neurodegenerative diseases and seasonal depression. Further studies are needed to elucidate its effectiveness." This review not only advances our understanding on how LT functions in resetting the circadian rhythm and associated neurological symptoms but also highlights its applications in routine clinical practice.   Bad to the bone: Hebrew University reveals impact of junk food on kids' skeletal development Study provides first comprehensive analysis for how junk foods impact skeletal development. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, April 19, 2021 A team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has proven the linkages between ultra-processed foods and reduced bone quality, unveiling the damage of these foods particularly for younger children in their developing years. The study, led by Professor Efrat Monsonego-Ornan and Dr. Janna Zaretsky from the Department of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition at the University's Faculty of Agriculture, was published in the journal Bone Research and serves as the first comprehensive study of the effect of widely-available food products on skeleton development. Ultra-processed foods--aka, junk food--are food items products that undergo several stages of processing and contain non-dietary ingredients. They're popular with consumers because they are easily accessible, relatively inexpensive and ready to eat straight out of the package. The increasing prevalence of these products around the world has directly contributed to increased obesity and other mental and metabolic impacts on consumers of all ages.  Children tend to like junk food. As much as 70% percent of their caloric consumption are estimated to come from ultra-processed foods. While numerous studies have reflected on the overall negative impact of junk food, few have focused on its direct developmental effects on children, particularly young children. The Hebrew University study provides the first comprehensive analysis for how these foods impact skeletal development. The study surveyed lab rodents whose skeletons were in the post embryonic stages of growth. The rodents that were subjected to ultra-processed foods suffered from growth retardation and their bone strength was adversely affected. Under histological examination, the researchers detected high levels of cartilage buildup in the rodents' growth plates, the "engine" of bone growth. When subjected to additional tests of the rodent cells, the researchers found that the RNA genetic profiles of cartilage cells that had been subjected to junk food were showing characteristics of impaired bone development.  The team then sought to analyze how specific eating habits might impact bone development and replicated this kind of food intake for the rodents. "We divided the rodents' weekly nutritional intake--30% came from a 'controlled' diet, 70% from ultra-processed foods", shared Monsonego-Ornan. They found that the rodents experienced moderate damage to their bone density albeit there were fewer indications of cartilage buildup in their growth plates. "Our conclusion was that even in reduced amounts, the ultra-processed foods can have a definite negative impact on skeletal growth."  These findings are critical because children and adolescents consume these foods on a regular basis to the extent that 50 percent of American kids eat junk food each and every day. Monsonego-Ornan added. "when Carlos Monteiro, one of the world's leading experts on nutrition, said that there is no such thing as a healthy ultra-processed food, he was clearly right. Even if we reduce fats, carbs nitrates and other known harmful substances, these foods still possess their damaging attributes. Every part of the body is prone to this damage and certainly those systems that remain in the critical stages of development."   Results From The World's Largest Wellbeing Study Are In: Here's What We Know South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, April 20, 2021 For decades, researchers have known that positive mental wellbeing seems to deliver significant improvements in physical health, development, and lifespan – which suggests looking after your mind and mental state is one of the most effective ways to care for the rest of your body as well. But what's the best way to actually promote personal mental wellbeing? In a new study led by scientists in Australia, researchers cast a wide net, analyzing data from almost 420 randomized trials employing different kinds of psychological interventions to help improve mental states of wellbeing. The results – a meta-analysis examining data from over 53,000 participants involved in hundreds of psychological experiments – is being billed as the world's largest study of its kind on wellbeing, giving perhaps the most comprehensive overview ever on how interventions can help towards a healthy mind and body. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad hardships it has brought all over the world, new insights on how to successfully bolster mental states are in high demand. "During stressful and uncertain periods in our lives, pro-actively working on our mental health is crucial to help mitigate the risk of mental and physical illness," says mental health researcher Joep Van Agteren from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). "Our research suggests there are numerous psychological approaches people should experiment with to determine what works for them." In itself that might seem obvious, but as the researchers point out, up until now our awareness of psychological interventions' relative efficacy has been obstructed, given much research treats mental wellbeing and mental illness as different things, although they are overlapping concepts in some ways. Here, the researchers tried to take a broader view, looking at how a wide range of different types of psychological intervention can benefit mental wellbeing, irrespective of any particular theoretical foundation in psychology. Amongst the many forms of interventions included, two in particular stood out for their consistent associations with positive findings across trial cohorts: mindfulness-based interventions, and multi-component PPIs (positive psychological interventions), which package together a range of treatment methods and activities designed to cultivate positive feelings, behaviors, and thinking patterns. To a lesser extent, other interventions also appeared to deliver benefits, including acceptance and commitment therapy-based interventions, cognitive therapy, singular PPIs, and interventions focusing on reminiscence. While the effect sizes of these interventions are often moderate, the analysis here suggests they are linked with positive improvements in wellbeing in both clinical and non-clinical populations – but there's no quick fix, the researchers emphasize. "Just trying something once or twice isn't enough to have a measurable impact," says co-author Matthew Iasiello, a project coordinator at SAHMRI's Mental Health and Wellbeing program. "Regardless of what method people are trying out, they need to stick at it for weeks and months at a time for it to have a real effect." In their paper, the researchers make the same point in a different way. "Our moderator analysis indicated that improvement in mental wellbeing seems to be related to effort," the team writes. "While the review did not find a clear linear dose-response effect, with more exposure leading simply to better treatment outcomes, the results do indicate that more intense interventions seem to lead to more pronounced changes." Another insight by the researchers is that many kinds of psychological interventions can be done safely in volunteer groups or via online platforms, not requiring clinical appointments with professionals such as psychologists. With mental illness projected to become the largest contributor to disease by 2030, electing to look after yourself with these sorts of activities might not only benefit your own mental wellbeing and health – but the health of the health system too. "It is therefore potentially a cost-effective addition to current referral pathways and treatment methods," says clinical psychologist Michael Kyrios from Flinders University. "We need to take everyone's wellbeing seriously and ensure we're taking the necessary steps to improve mental and physical health so we can prevent future complications for ourselves and keep healthcare costs down." The findings are reported in Nature Human Behaviour.     The Stuff Beer Cans are Made from is Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Keele University (UK), April 15, 2021 There appears to be a troubling link between aluminum in the brain and the early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, according to a new study. Researchers have known for years that aluminum has something to do with Alzheimer’s, but now Keele University scientists have discovered that the metal pops up at the same places in the brain as the tangles of tau protein that appear in the early stages of the disease, according to research published last month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports. The discovery suggests that it’s possible that aluminum could even play a role in forming those tangles and plaques — which precede the onset of Alzheimer’s — in the first place. “The presence of these tangles is associated with neuronal cell death, and observations of aluminum in these tangles may highlight a role for aluminum in their formation,” lead study author Matthew Bold said in a press release. That doesn’t mean that you need to ban aluminum cans from your home. Aluminum, perhaps introduced through food or other exposures, is commonly found in healthy brains, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, a dementia-focused charity based in London. But as people age, their kidneys may lose the ability to filter it out of the brain ­— potentially leading to the Alzheimer’s ties uncovered in the new study. “Aluminum accumulation has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease for nearly half a century,” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease editor-in-chief George Perry said in the release, “but it is the meticulously specific studies of Drs. Mold and Exley that are defining the exact molecular interaction of aluminum and other multivalent metals that may be critical to formation of the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.”     Drought-resistant cactus pear could become a sustainable food and fuel source, new research shows University of Nevada, April 16, 2021 Cactus pears could become a sustainable source of food and fuel in places in need of these two resources. Those are the findings of a recent study by researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno. Published in the journal GCB Bioenergy, the study covered five years of research. The group had set out to look at how successful different varieties of cactus pear would fare in warm, dry climates. They found that the prickly pear variety (Opuntia ficus-indica) produced the most fruit and used up 80 percent less water than other varieties to do so. With drought and heatwave events becoming more common worldwide, crops like corn and soybean may likely be heavily affected because they require more water than what might be available in the future. People will need to look for alternative crops that require less water, can tolerate droughts and still bear fruits. Cactus pears as sustainable food and fuel source Given current climate trends, the world is poised to get hotter and drier in the future. Therefore, plants that are drought-resistant and able to produce food with little water might soon become major sources of food. According to study co-author John Cushman, about 42 percent of all land on Earth is classified as arid or semi-arid. Therefore, there is enormous potential for planting cactuspears. Doing so has two main benefits. For starters, scientists can grow cactus pears in fields that are far too arid to be suitable for other crops. This increased production would put cactus pears on the map as food. Many cultures worldwide already eat the fruits from cactus pears and even the cactus pads themselves. However, cactus pears and other edible cactus varieties are far from being a major food and forage crop in the United States, let alone around the world. But that is a missed opportunity because cactus pear fruits can be used just like other fruits. They are especially great for making jams because they contain natural sugars. They can also be consumed fresh or pickled once the spines have been removed. They are also great for feeding livestock due to their high water content. The other benefit of utilizing arid fields for the cultivation of cactus pears is carbon sequestration. They capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, serving as a land-based carbon “sink.” They can also be harvested and used as raw materials for biofuels to replace fossil fuels. “That’s the benefit of this perennial crop,” explained Cushman. After you have harvested the fruits and pads for food, you will be left with a large amount of biomass that can be used for biofuel production, he said. (Related: Hemp: the versatile biofuel that could save America’s energy independence.) Cushman and his colleagues plan to continue researching cactus pears and their potential as sustainable fuel or foods. They plan to understand what it is about the genetic makeup of cactus pears that makes them so drought-resistant and use that information to make other crops more drought-resistant as well. Scientists have long been interested in the potential of cactus pears to serve as food and fuel. In 2015, a team of researchers from the United Kingdom suggested that water-efficient plants like cacti could be the key to providing sustainable bioenergy for the future. Plants like cacti carry out photosynthesis through a crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) system. They grow on arid and semi-arid land with low or unpredictable rainfall, which can make conventional farming difficult. Arid and semi-arid lands are unproductive. But they can be put to good use by filling them with cacti and many other CAM plants that can capture and store carbon efficiently. The researchers said CAM plants like prickly pear could make a huge contribution to sustainable biogas production this way.   Yeast in kefir drink combats disease-causing bacteria Ben-Gurion University (Israel), April 17, 2021 People may have been producing and drinking kefir, a fermented milk drink that originated in Tibet and the North Caucasus, for thousands of years. People can make the sour, slightly effervescent brew by infusing milk with kefir grains, which are a starchy matrix containing a symbiotic community of lactic acid bacteria, acetic bacteria, and yeasts.  The drink has many reputed health benefits, which include lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and exerting an antioxidant effect.  In common with other probiotics, kefir also has antimicrobial properties. However, scientists were unsure exactly how it inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Be’er Sheva, Israel, have now discovered that a type of yeast in kefir called Kluyveromyces marxianus secretes a molecule that disrupts bacterial communication. Scientists already knew that plants and algae produce this substance, called tryptophol acetate, but this is the first time that they have found a yeast that makes it. They discovered that tryptophol acetate interferes with “quorum sensing” — a form of microbial communication — in several disease-causing bacteria.  In quorum sensingTrusted Source, bacteria release signaling molecules into their surroundings. When the molecules reach a particular concentration, they trigger changes in the expression of genes in bacteria of the same species. These changes allow disease-causing bacteria to coordinate their activity according to their numbers. This coordination is necessary for some bacteria to defend themselves or attack their hosts.  In some cases, when they reach a certain density, the microbes may come together to form a slimy, protective coating, or “biofilm,” on a surface.  Disease-causing bacteria In lab cultures, the researchers found that tryptophol acetate had an inhibitory effect over quorum sensing in several disease-causing bacteria, including some Gram-negativeTrusted Source bacteria. Some of the tested species were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes pneumonia when it infects the lungs.  S. enterica, which is responsible for food poisoning.  Staphylococcus aureus, which can trigger sepsis, among other life threatening infections. V. cholerae, which causes cholera. The research, which Ph.D. student Orit Malka led, appears in the journal BMC Microbiome. “These results are notable, since this is the first demonstration that virulence of human pathogenic bacteria can be mitigated by molecules secreted in probiotic milk products, such as yogurt or kefir,” says senior author Prof. Raz Jelinek. The scientists focused in particular on the effect of tryptophol acetate on V. cholerae. They found that the substance blocked quorum sensing in this bacteria and reduced its virulence. It did this by changing the expression of bacterial genes that control quorum sensing. The researchers write that this kind of interference in bacterial communication may be commonplace in complex environments where many different microorganisms live together, such as in probiotic food or the human gut.   Living near pesticide-treated farms raises risk of childhood brain tumors Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, April 15, 2021 Pregnant women living within 2.5 miles of agricultural lands treated with pesticides have a greater risk of their children developing central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to a recent study. Published on Wednesday, March 31, in the Environmental Research journal, the study also revealed that the pregnant women did not have to be working in agriculture or in close contact with pesticides for health-harming exposures to occur. Study co-author Christina Lombardi, a public health researcher at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said there are large numbers of pregnant women and children living close to pesticide-treated farmlands. Both mothers and children could experience adverse health effects from their proximity to those farmlands. The study is not the first to show that pesticide use poses a threat to pregnant women and their children. But it is unique in that it showed the specific pesticides linked to the development of different kinds of CNS tumors. Maternal exposure to pesticides linked to childhood tumors Experts have examined pesticide exposures as risk factors for the development of childhood brain cancers. But they have yet to assess the risk of developing childhood brain cancers from exposure to specific pesticides. (Related: California is going after another dangerous pesticide: Chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage.) To that end, Lombardi and her colleagues from the University of California, Los Angeles made use of the California Cancer Registry to identify cases of childhood CNS tumors in children below six years old. Overall, the researchers found 667 cases of CNS tumors in children below six. They matched each one with 20 controls to increase the statistical power of their findings. They then checked pesticide application records from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation‘s (CDPR) Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) system to determine whether chemicals classified as possible carcinogens were used within 2.5 miles of the mothers’ homes at the time of the children’s births. Results showed that maternal exposure to certain pesticides heightened the risk of certain childhood CNS tumors by 2.5 times, even if the mother was not a farmworker. Pesticides found to increase the risk of childhood CNS tumors include thiophanate- and kresoxim-methyl, chlorothalonil, bromacil, triforine, propiconazole, dimethoate and linuron. Co-author Julia Heck said their findings are more precise than those of previous studies on pesticide exposure, which usually grouped pesticide use into broad categories based on type, such as herbicides or insecticides. Heck added that their results suggest that exposure to specific pesticides may best explain the results of earlier studies that reported a link between broader pesticide types and CNS tumors. Due to the risks that pesticide exposure poses on pregnant women and children, the researchers called for policy interventions to reduce pesticide exposure among people living near farms. “The simplest way to mitigate these risks is by reductions in exposure to pesticides,” said co-author Myles Cockburn. This can be done by restricting harmful practices like aerial spraying and air blast. Exposure to pesticides may also be reduced by promoting farming methods that limit reliance on pesticides.

Dr Cathy Foley is a physicist and commenced her term as Australia's ninth chief scientist in January 2021. Before that she had a long and distinguished career at CSIRO, where she was appointed chief scientist in August 2018 – only the second woman in that role.Over the course of her career, she has made significant contributions to the understanding of semiconductors and high-temperature superconductors. Her work led to the development of field-deployable superconducting devices that locate valuable mineral deposits by detecting minute magnetic fields (ten million times weaker than the Earth's field).Dr Vikram Sharma is a quantum physicist and the founder and CEO of Canberra-based QuintessenceLabs, which is a world leader in the quantum cybersecurity industry. Vikram is a dual MSc holder – in computer science (from ANU), and management (from Stanford University, California). His doctorate in quantum physics was also awarded by ANU.Dr Johan Verjans is a cardiologist who combines clinical and research work. He's deputy director, Medical Machine Learning, at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning; a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide attached to South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute; an associate investigator at Adelaide Uni's Centre for Nanoscale Biophotonics; and a consultant cardiologist at Royal Adelaide Hospital.Our guests join moderator Tory Shepherd, an Adelaide-based journalist and broadcaster, to discuss what AI is, its certain prevalence in our future, the variety of real-world applications for which it's already used, and future applications, both already in development and as yet only imaginedFind the science of everything at cosmosmagazine.com

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is in intensive care after slipping and falling on wet stairs, South Australian Health officials are concerned after testing showed a strong result for traces of COVID-19 within Adelaide's wastewater, no response from Buckingham Palace after bombshell Oprah interview, George Clooney and Julia Roberts coming to Australia, Cameron Smith and Andrew Voss.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Robyn Norton from the George Institute and Steve Wesselingh from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute While a number of Australian higher education and research sector organisations have started their journey towards gender equity, gender imbalance at senior leadership levels remains a challenge to overcome. In the latest episode of “Think Difference”, guest host Liz Foschia from the Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) spoke with two medical research institutes and SAGE subscribers who are working to reverse that trend. The Think Difference podcast is produced by Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE).

In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, I’m joined by Australian researcher Leonie Heilbronn, Ph.D.. Her fasting research looks at the biological pathways that support reducing the risk of chronic diseases.Leonie leads the Obesity and Metabolism group based within the Lifelong Health Theme at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute at Adelaide University in Adelaide, Australia. Today, I have her on to talk about her studies on fasting, many of which show more specific results than what we’ve seen in this field before. She looks at intermittent fasting, time restricted eating, calorie restriction and more. In a particular study on women, Leoni says, “We did see that the intermittent fasting group lost a little bit more weight than the caloric restriction group, and they had better improvements in their health.” There were other positive results like reductions in diabetes and cardiovascular risk markers. Fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all, so I asked Leonie a lot of questions about her research, such as:How does the food you eat during intermittent fasting affect the fast itself? What food works for some people and not others and how does that influence the effectiveness of your fast? How do intermittent fasting and caloric restriction compare? When should you eat your daily protein and carbs? Should you consume black coffee during your fast? How does time-restrictive eating affect your lifespan?How do people respond in fasting studies? “For some people, it takes them a little while to get used to fasting and then some people just maybe never get used to it,” she says. How do people respond in time restrictive eating studies? “I think time restrictive eating is great because you don’t really have to change everything that you’re eating and you’re still going to have some really good effects,” she says. “But I think if you started to have bad behaviors because of time pressure, then you’re not going to see the improvement that we’d hope to see.”Leonie breaks down her research in in simple terms, so no matter what your familiarity with fasting might be, you’ll find a fascinating entry point. Enjoy! And get more resources at https://blog.daveasprey.com/category/podcasts/WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!Replenish Electrolytes: https://drinklmnt.com/dave; claim your free Sample Pack with $5 shippingAnti-Aging Solution: https://spermidinelife.us/dave; use code DAVE25 for 25% off your first month’s orderDigestive Health: https://globalhealing.com/dave; use code DAVE15 to get 15% off all productsDAVE ASPREY’S NEW BOOK LAUNCHES JANUARY 19, 2021!Pre-order “Fast This Way: Burn Fat, Heal Inflammation, and Become the High-Performing Human You Were Meant to Be” and you’ll receive special product offers and enroll in Dave Asprey’s first ever Fasting Challenge: https://fastthisway.com

In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, I’m joined by Australian researcher Leonie Heilbronn, Ph.D.. Her fasting research looks at the biological pathways that support reducing the risk of chronic diseases.Leonie leads the Obesity and Metabolism group based within the Lifelong Health Theme at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute at Adelaide University in Adelaide, Australia. Today, I have her on to talk about her studies on fasting, many of which show more specific results than what we’ve seen in this field before. She looks at intermittent fasting, time restricted eating, calorie restriction and more. In a particular study on women, Leoni says, “We did see that the intermittent fasting group lost a little bit more weight than the caloric restriction group, and they had better improvements in their health.” There were other positive results like reductions in diabetes and cardiovascular risk markers. Fasting isn’t one-size-fits-all, so I asked Leonie a lot of questions about her research, such as:How does the food you eat during intermittent fasting affect the fast itself? What food works for some people and not others and how does that influence the effectiveness of your fast? How do intermittent fasting and caloric restriction compare? When should you eat your daily protein and carbs? Should you consume black coffee during your fast? How does time-restrictive eating affect your lifespan?How do people respond in fasting studies? “For some people, it takes them a little while to get used to fasting and then some people just maybe never get used to it,” she says. How do people respond in time restrictive eating studies? “I think time restrictive eating is great because you don’t really have to change everything that you’re eating and you’re still going to have some really good effects,” she says. “But I think if you started to have bad behaviors because of time pressure, then you’re not going to see the improvement that we’d hope to see.”Leonie breaks down her research in in simple terms, so no matter what your familiarity with fasting might be, you’ll find a fascinating entry point. Enjoy! And get more resources at https://blog.daveasprey.com/category/podcasts/WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!Replenish Electrolytes: https://drinklmnt.com/dave; claim your free Sample Pack with $5 shippingAnti-Aging Solution: https://spermidinelife.us/dave; use code DAVE25 for 25% off your first month’s orderDigestive Health: https://globalhealing.com/dave; use code DAVE15 to get 15% off all productsDAVE ASPREY’S NEW BOOK LAUNCHES JANUARY 19, 2021!Pre-order “Fast This Way: Burn Fat, Heal Inflammation, and Become the High-Performing Human You Were Meant to Be” and you’ll receive special product offers and enroll in Dave Asprey’s first ever Fasting Challenge: https://fastthisway.com

Research led by University of South Australia PhD candidate Katharine McBride has found what makes the heart strong for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Did you know, the life expectancy of Aboriginal women is 75.6 years, compared to 83.4 years for non-Aboriginal women?According to McBride’s paper, ‘Good Heart: Telling Stories of Cardiovascular Protective and Risk Factors for Aboriginal Women’, the current approach to heart health is not working because the model of care fails to meet Aboriginal women’s cultural needs.Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for Aboriginal women and McBride's study explains what changes are needed to meet the 2031 Closing the Gap target.Anna Dowling, a Yamatji Badimia woman and Research Assistant at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, is a member of the advisory group who worked on the study. The advisory group agreed that Aboriginal women’s voices need to be prioritised to understand what protects the heart and puts it at risk.

Professor Steve Wesselingh is the inaugural Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Prior to taking on this role in late 2011, Steve was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University from 2007-2011.   Ccentric is a market-leading executive search firm in Australia with an exclusive focus on healthcare, academic healthcare, digital health, and not-for-profit and human services – industries that improve the quality of life. Ccentric has four division including Ccentric Executive Search, CcSelection, CcInterim and CcLeadership which allow Ccentric to assist clients with their needs ranging from mid-level leadership to c-suite executive search, interim management, leadership assessment and succession planning.   To keep up-to-date with the latest news from Ccentric subscribe here today

Paediatric research dietician from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Dr Merryn Netting, explains. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Dr Phil Worley, Chair for the RACS South Australia State Committee, examines the current and future initiatives in South Australia. In recent times, the state has benefited from major medical developments, including the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. In early September, Port Lincoln will host the SA, NT and WA ASM; this year's theme is 'Robots in Surgery – Tsunami or just the next wave?'  The SA, NT and WA Annual Scientific Meeting Dates: 5-7 September Location: Port Lincoln Hotel Details: https://www.surgeons.org/conferences-events/college-calendar/2019-sa-nt-wa-annual-scientific-meeting Contact: 08 8239 1000 or email college.sa@surgeons.org 

Up until 2 weeks ago 'burn-out' from work was considered to be just your poor time management or lifestyle issues - but not anymore. The World health Organisation has decided to list it as an occupational phenomena caused by chronic stress and something we need to address. Today we find out how to recognise it, how to deal with it and how to communicate it to your boss. CREDITS Host/Producer: Claire Murphy Executive Producer: Elle Beattie Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri Thanks to our special guests Burnout Coach LaTanya N. Riggs and Michael Musker from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. The Quicky is the easiest and most enjoyable way to get across the news every day. And it's delivered straight to your ears in a daily podcast so you can listen whenever you want, wherever you are...at the gym, on the train, in the playground or at night while you're making dinner. The Quicky. Getting you up to speed. Daily. Want The Quicky in your ears every day?  Subscribe at mamamia.com.au/the-quicky or in your favourite podcast app. Love the show? Send us an email thequicky@mamamia.com.au or call the podphone 02 8999 9386. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2019 season of the CGA-IGC podcast series, Expert Approach to Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancers, will focus on the management of extra-colonic features of APC-Associated conditions. In the second episode, Dr. Daniel Worthley, an expert in hereditary cancer syndromes from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, tells the tale of how Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach (GAPPS) was first recognized and characterized. GAPPS is caused by a mutation in the promotor region of the APC gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. This condition is associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer, but unlike FAP, GAPPS is not associated with tumors in the colon or small bowel. Dr. Worthley reviews the characteristics of this rare condition and current approach to management. Note: This episode was recorded on April 23, 2019, and reflects expert opinion at the time of recording. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Omega-3 fats are the subject of more than two dozen Cochrane Reviews for conditions including cardiovascular health, dementia and gastrointestinal problems. In November 2018, the review on the effects on preterm birth when these are taken by pregnant women was updated. The review was led by Associate Professor Philippa Middleton and Professor Maria Makrides, from the Healthy Mothers Babies and Children theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Professor Makrides tells us about the latest evidence.

Omega-3 fats are the subject of more than two dozen Cochrane Reviews for conditions including cardiovascular health, dementia and gastrointestinal problems. In November 2018, the review on the effects on preterm birth when these are taken by pregnant women was updated. The review was led by Associate Professor Philippa Middleton and Professor Maria Makrides, from the Healthy Mothers Babies and Children theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Professor Makrides tells us about the latest evidence.

Omega-3 fats are the subject of more than two dozen Cochrane Reviews for conditions including cardiovascular health, dementia and gastrointestinal problems. In November 2018, the review on the effects on preterm birth when these are taken by pregnant women was updated. The review was led by Associate Professor Philippa Middleton and Professor Maria Makrides, from the Healthy Mothers Babies and Children theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Professor Makrides tells us about the latest evidence.

During National Science Week, thousands of events are held around the country to shine a light on the work of our researchers. Dr Adrian Elliott from the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute and University of Adelaide discusses his latest study which aims to understand more about athletes’ hearts and how they adapt over time.

Jane caught up with two members of the writing group for the recently updated Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular. Confusingly, they are also called Jane and Dan! Jane O'Connor is an Editor at Therapeutic Guidelines and Dr Daniel Scherer is a Cardiologist and PhD Candidate at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

In this podcast, I chat with Kootsy about his discussions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men on going to the Doctor. He talks about the concept of being "half sick" and how the delivery of GP services doesn't work for many Indigenous guys; something that does nothing to address the gaps in health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous men. Kootsy, a sociology graduate, sees the benefits of gender-specific services. He says he didn't make it as a rugby player, so he is pursuing a career in research to make a difference to men's health and well-being. Kootsy is in his final year of his PhD at the Aboriginal Research Unit at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

This is Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.The recent WannaCry ransom ware outbreak across the world is the latest alarm about cyber security that demands immediate efforts at different levels, including international cooperation.It has been found that measures as simple as official Microsoft patch installation and security software update can work to fend off WannaCry in the largest cyber-attack in more than a decade. The hacking highlights the need for Internet users to heighten cyber security awareness.However, it also calls for systematic efforts as well as international cooperation to tackle cross-border challenges in a digitally connected world in order to affect a universal defense.A senior research fellow on cyber policy and security at Stanford University told the Xinhua News Agency that international cooperation on cyber security will be essential for a safer and more secure cyberspace.Herb Lin deplored the fact that countries have different views on how they intend to use cyberspace and the rules they want to apply have so far made it difficult to achieve international cooperation.Some experts foresee more attacks like WannaCry, which has hit more than 200,000 computers in some 150 countries since May 12. The vast majority of successful hacks require only the most basic techniques.This is Special English.Pharmaceutical company Merck recently won approval from the China Food and Drug Administration to sell its human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil, to help women fight cervical cancer.Developed by the US-based company in 2006, the vaccine has proved effective in protecting against the virus, better known as HPV, the chief cause of cervical cancer. The virus is found in almost all cervical cancer cases.Gardasil is the first HPV vaccine in the world and the second to be licensed for use in China.In July, Cervarix, an HPV vaccine developed by pharmaceutical GlaxoSmithKline, received approval to be sold on the Chinese mainland after almost 10 years of seeking approval.Gardasil is expected to be commercially available on the mainland in three to six months, which means women will no longer have to seek vaccinations outside of the mainland, in places such as Hong Kong.After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in women aged between 15 and 44 in China. China reports more than 130,000 cervical cancer cases a year, accounting for 28 percent of the global total.The HPV vaccine, as the first anti-cancer vaccine in the world, has proved effective in preventing cervical cancer and is seen as a breakthrough in the fight against the condition.Today, such vaccines are in use in around 120 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia and most European countries.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.A 100-year-old medical technique could be used to achieve pregnancy in infertile women without the need for expensive in vitro fertilization treatments. That's according to researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. The often overlooked historical technique, which involves "flushing" the woman&`&s fallopian tubes with iodised poppy seed oil, has been proven to be successful in aiding fertility.Research teams in Australia and the Netherlands say that the procedure, called HSG, was first carried out in 1917 and involved flushing the tubes with the oil during an X-ray. Professor Ben Mol from the University of Adelaide says that over the past century, pregnancy rates among infertile women reportedly increased after their tubes had been flushed with either water or oil during the X-ray procedure. Until now, it has been unclear whether the type of solution used in the procedure was influencing the change in fertility.He said the results have been even more exciting than scientists could have predicted, helping to confirm that an age-old medical technique still has an important place in modern medicine.According to the results of Mol&`&s study, around 35 percent of infertile women who underwent the procedure achieved successful pregnancies within six months of the HSG being performed.This is Special English.Some 1,730 new plant species were discovered globally in the last year, some of which have food and medicinal value. That's according to an annual report released recently by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, based in England.Involving 128 scientists from 12 countries, RBG Kew&`&s State of the Worlds Plants report presents data never seen before on patterns affecting plants in different regions.New species of Manihot were discovered in Brazil that have the potential to be developed into better food crops, and new species of the climbing vine genus Mucuna, used in the treatment of Parkinson&`&s disease, were found in South East Asia and South and Central America.Kathy Willis, director of science at RBG Kew, says they have tried to make sure that this year&`&s State of the World&`&s Plants report goes beyond the numbers to look at the natural capital of plants -- how they are relevant and valuable to all aspects of our lives.The report also reveals that plants with thicker leaves and bark, more efficient water use, deeper roots, and higher wood density are better able to cope with future climate change.The report also highlights information on how new technology is helping to speed up the discovery and classification of plants that are providing important sign posts to the next food crops and actions in protecting some of the most important plant species globally.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.Climate change is more real than ever. A new study has found a steady growth of moss in Antarctica over the past 50 years, and suggested that the continent will be greener in the future.The study was published recently in Current Biology, a scientific journal that covers all areas of biology. The research is led by Matthew Amesbury, a researcher at the University of Exeter in Britain.The Antarctic Peninsula might sound like a remote and untouched region, but the study showed that the effects of climate change are felt there, and it has been warming faster than the rest of the continent.The research team looked at 150 years&`& worth of data and found clear change points in the last 50 years, which showed the increase of moss cover. That could shift the ecosystem in Antarctica, driving it to simulate what has been observed in Arctic.Last month, the sea ice cover in the Arctic was record low, and that of Antarctic was near record low too, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.This is Special English.The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa has been held with calls for increased support for youth and addressing unemployment and poverty.Officials during the forum at the Dead Sea said providing financial and moral support to the youth in the Middle East and reforming education were key in addressing the pressing challenges facing the region.The forum attracted more than 1,100 political and business leaders from more than 50 countries. The participants agreed that the world is facing many problems including high unemployment rate, fast population growth and political regional challenges. The problems are relentlessly seeking to thrive on the hopelessness and despair of the younger generation. The forum said providing hope and support are vital for the youth in the region.Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan said at the forum that what young people need most is for all to take a bet on them, and to support them, morally and financially, so they can create their own impact.The forum agreed that as 31 percent of young people in the region are unemployed, new initiatives and urgent action are needed. You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing. You can access the program by logging on to crienglish.com. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. Now the news continues.More than 30 national library curators and representatives from 20 countries and regions in Asia and Oceania gathered in Beijing to discuss the building of sustainable regional library networks.The participants came from countries including Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. They shared their experience in international cultural exchanges at the two-day conference hosted by the National Library of China.The National Library of China is promoting the establishment of the "Silk Road" international library alliance, and most of the participating libraries are from countries along the ancient trading route.The annual conference is hosted in turn by the participating libraries. This year marks the third time that China has hosted the event.This is Special English.A Peking opera adaptation of the Western masterpiece "Faust" was staged recently in Germany's western city of Wiesbaden, starting its premiere tour in the country.The opera was co-produced by China National Peking Opera Company and Italy&`&s Emilia Romagna Theater Foundation. It was performed as part of the International May Festival, a world-known traditional theater festival.The opera is based on the Western masterpiece "Faust", written by Johann Wolfgang Goethe more than 200 years ago. The Peking Opera adaptation combines music, vocal performances, mime, dance, and acrobatics.Since its debut in 2015, the opera has been staged over 70 times worldwide. It offers a creative blend of Western classics with oriental culture as well as presents a perfect cooperation between Chinese artists and performers from Italy and Germany.The opera has been added to this year&`&s German-Chinese cultural program, a national event in Germany featuring the theme "China Today" to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.The first International Tea Expo has been held in east China's Zhejiang province, attracting tea vendors and companies from both home and abroad.The expo is held in Hangzhou, the provincial capital, at the venue where the G20 Summit was held. Over 1,000 enterprises from more than 30 countries participated in the event.President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to be read at the opening ceremony, extending his hope that the expo would give exposure to Chinese tea culture. He said he hopes the event will grow into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.The letter also included a call for the expo to promote both the tea industry and tea culture.This is Special English.The first China-themed library in Mexico has opened in a bid to promote cultural exchange.Books on Chinese history, culture, medicine and music, as well as digital and video archives, can be found at the new Chinese Library at Mexico City&`&s Anahuac University.Officials from China and the prestigious private university were on hand to inaugurate the 14th library of its kind worldwide, as part of celebrations marking 45 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.Chinese officials say the library provides an opportunity for Mexico to know China better. It will also be a new platform for deepening educational, academic and cultural exchange between the two countries.The library currently has 6,000 books and 80,000 digital archives with information on China&`&s politics, economy, culture, science and technology, as well as education and history.Special software is provided, in both Spanish and English, for those who wish to learn Mandarin Chinese.This is Special English.As part of the celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, an exhibition about the revolution has opened at the British Library.（全文见周六微信。）

Alanna Ball felt a little lost in health and safety, she wanted to belong to a family, a tribe. There was no tribe for her, so she led others who were in a similar place to form a tribe: Women in Safety.  What a tribe! Join us in the interview for a great insight into the importance of a professional family or tribe, and the opportunity for you to leverage other work-families and work-tribes to drastically improve health and safety. We also get two FREE slices of conference-goodness, from the the 2016 South Australian Health and Safety Conference, with thanks from conference organisers Informa.  I chat on the couch with a very vivacious Professor Ian Maddocks (Australian of the Year, no less), who shares some very thought-provoking insights into the amazing opportunities, and things to consider for, ageing workforce, and John Cvetko, a client relationship manager who knows a thing or two about improving health and safety outcomes through a sharp focus on our customers. Let’s get to know each other! Connect with Safety on Tap on LinkedIn, or me Andrew Barrett.  If Facebook is more your thing, check out @safetyontap If you want to get in touch with me, send me an email! andrew@safetyontap.com

"Where shall I begin, your Majesty?" he asked.  "Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go-on until the end: then stop". Thanks Lewis Carroll, the King, and the White Rabbit who asked such a great question in the first place! Since this is episode ZERO (not that kind of zero...) of the Safety on Tap podcast, I thought it gentlemanly that I tell you a little about my WHY....and a little bit more about me. Towards the end I also share two short-but-great interviews, which I recorded at the 2016 South Australian Health and Safety Conference, with thanks from conference organisers Informa. Marie Boland, Executive Director of SafeWork SA shares with us how she is disrupting her organisation from the inside, and David Clarke, CEO of the Safety Institute of Australia, makes the case for professional certification and the momentum of the health and safety profession in Australia. Not to be missed! Let's get to know each other! Connect with Safety on Tap on LinkedIn, or me Andrew Barrett, and check out the website for much more www.safetyontap.com If you want to get in touch with me, send me an email! andrew@safetyontap.com

In this podcast Dr James Rudd talks to Professor Stephen Nicholls, consultant cardiologist and Deputy Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide, at the 2015 European Cardiology meeting in London. They discuss the next generation of lipid therapies and imaging as a surrogate marker of disease.

Could our Adelaide winter be a blessing for getting healthy? Professor Gary Wittert from the University of Adelaide thinks so and explains why as we talk to him about all manner of health topics as part of the SAHMRI opening. The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute is celebrating its official opening this week and we chat with Gary about: The SAHMRI The Fat vs Sugar Q and A involving Tony Jones this week Whether South Australia should use indulgent food in its tourism advertising, given a growing awareness about cutting down on calories You'll even learn what section of the supermarket makes him angry, really angry! Chloe from Yelp is with us to undo the professor's work and guide us around five spots where you can avoid the cold and enjoy hearty, interesting meals - with or without tracky dacks! Brett poses a question: when is grooming too much grooming for men? He explains in the podcast and seeks your feedback, especially from women listeners. We note the launch of AdelaideFree City Wifi - enjoy it as you go about the CBD. Colin notes the large number of mobile phone offenses reported by South Australia Police recently, while Steve shares an inspiring quote from Michael Bollen from Wakefield Press about the true joy of a great book. And we have the largest Adelaide Visa Council history on record, all thanks to a probing tweet by the @WeAreADL account, being managed this week by Alexis from THE SHOW on PBA-FM. Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.