It is now recognized that genetic factors are the major cause of intellectual disability and autism. This presentation will provide an overview of recent advances in our understanding of these genetic factors and the application of new genetic testing technologies to provide an answers for individual families.
The modern environment is associated with an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Mounting evidence implicates environmental exposures, experienced early in life (including in utero), in the aetiology of many NCDs, though the cellular/molecular mechanism(s) underlying this elevated risk across the life course remain unclear. The Barwon Infant Study (BIS) is a population-derived birth cohort study (n = 1,074 infants) with antenatal recruitment, designed to facilitate a detailed mechanistic investigation of development within an epidemiological framework.
Chronic wet cough (>4 weeks) is common in children and often considered benign and self-limiting. However, there is increasing evidence to suggest that it may have greater significance, particularly if left untreated. Chronic wet cough, protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis share many clinical and pathological features and are postulated to represent a clinical spectrum. With increased access to CT scans, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis diagnoses are rising.
In today’s industrialised, globalised world, we live to extreme old age. But this extended life span comes with a trade-off: our DNA is now out of sync with our environment. We can live for eight, nine, even ten decades, while the use-by date on our DNA is closer to 40-50 years. That means people spend their later years living with the diseases of ageing. If our DNA is lettering us down, why shouldn’t we alter it to suit our environment?
Parents’ requests for a gastrostomy, tracheostomy, or assisted ventilation for children with profound disabilities may raise ethical concerns about children’s interests, parental decision-making, and health care costs. The underlying concern for some relates to the perceived quality of life for such children.
The Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Morbidity and Mortality (CCOPMM) reviews every obstetric, neonatal, child and adolescent death in Victoria. This Grand Round will describe the functions and history of CCOPMM, together with a review of the epidemiology of child deaths in Victoria over the last 30 years reviewed by the committees.
Education remains one of the most powerful social determinants of adult health outcomes. Yet in 2015 one in five children started school with areas of developmental vulnerability. Paediatric health care providers play a vital role in understanding the impact of developmental variation and illness on school participation and engagement.
Politicians and policy makers increasingly focus time and resources on measuring efficiency, accrediting health care processes and public reporting, all of which have a weak evidence base. In contrast, there is growing international evidence that clinical repositories and benchmarking using patient outcome data can drive improvements in health care quality and efficiency and in patient outcomes.
“Tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century” according to The Lancet in 2015. Research shows that health professionals are generally aware of the threats of climate change to health. But what is the role of the medical professional? This talk will highlight possible avenues for both individual and collective action.
Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness on the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the contributions made by refugees to Australian society.
