Historically women have had a hard time being heard in the doctor's office, with dismissiveness and delays in diagnosis all too common. 

The state government in Victoria has held an enquiry into women's pain to come up with recommendations aimed at shifting that experience to a more positive one. 

Also, we get a better sense of what's nature vs nurture when it comes to our attributes and our disease risks. 

And research suggests antibiotics, and their effects on the gut microbiome, could weaken vaccine response. 

References

• The effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course 
• WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity 
• Product warnings updated for GLP-1 RA class - TGA 
• Inquiry into Women's Pain - Victorian Government
• Govt backs green whistle during IUD insertion in response to women’s pain inquiry
• Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes
• Bifidobacteria support optimal infant vaccine responses - Nature
• Antibiotics-Driven Gut Microbiome Perturbation Alters Immunity to Vaccines in Humans
• The Antibiotics and Vaccine Immune Responses Study (AVIRS) – people must be in Adelaide to participate!

The dentists' chair is not everyone's favourite place. Have you ever sat there wondering, why would anyone become a dentist?

We take a trip to dental school to find out why so many people get into dentistry, and the skills it takes. 

Also, are we doing enough to weigh up the risks vs benefits of CT scanning? 

And how an autoimmune skin condition actually affects the whole body, particularly the heart.

References:

• Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6 - TGA
• Bird flu confirmed in elephant seal population at Heard Island
• Decades of data missing: Metastatic breast cancer cases double previous estimates
• Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging
• Study on current CT scanning practices and the incidence of future cancers
• Mediterranean Diet and Patients With Psoriasis: The MEDIPSO Randomized Clinical Trial

No coffee for six months, not even decaf. That's what participants of a trial looking into the effect on atrial fibrillation were asked to do.

Also, could we be on the verge of changing guidelines for asthma care in children? Or is it too early to call?

And catching cancer early can be important. How far away are we from harnessing blood, urine and even saliva tests to help?

References

• PFAS inquiry hands down 47 recommendations to better regulate 'forever chemicals' in Australia - ABC News 
• The Lancet series on ultra-processed foods
• Orforglipron, an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (ATTAIN-2): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial
• Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation: The DECAF Randomized Clinical Trial
• Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial

There has been a rise in people that cut gluten out of their diet to address gut symptoms, despite not having a diagnosis of coeliac disease. 

New research is shedding light on what might actually be at play in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. 

Also, how a common antibiotic might lower the risk of developing schizophrenia when given to young people at risk. 

And a look at the cancer prevention strategies that could have a big impact, but that most countries aren't taking on board. 

References

• Government expenditure on public health activities in Australia 2023–24 - AIHW
• Global prevalence of hypertension among children and adolescents aged 19 years or younger: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
• Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity - the Lancet
• Global prevalence of self-reported non-coeliac gluten and wheat sensitivity: a systematic review and metaanalysis
• Doxycycline Use in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients and Risk of Schizophrenia: An Emulated Target Trial
• Cancers attributable to alcohol - IARC
• Alcohol: a major preventable cause of cancer (IARC Evidence Summary Brief No. 6)

If you live with chronic pain, getting referred to a psychologist for pain management can feel like another dismissal. 

What does a session with a pain psychologist look like, and how effective can it be if you don't have any mental health diagnoses?

Also, some practical information for parents introducing allergens to their babies. And how the nervous system might inadvertently be fuelling gastrointestinal cancers. 

References

• Deaths due to acute respiratory infections in Australia - ABS
• Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Utero
• Pain Management Network
• Pain Management and Research Centre - patient information
• Management of Chronic Pain - for health professionals
• OPEN pain training - for health professionals
• Nip allergies in the bub
• The impact of reversing peanut allergy advice
• Are allergen starter packs safe?
• Sensory neuropeptide CGRP and its co-receptor RAMP1 drive tumour cell growth in gastrointestinal cancers

For 50 years we've known pulse oximeters are less accurate on darker skin, and it could lead to misdiagnoses. 

Also, allergen starter packs are being advertised to parents. Are they safe?

Guidelines have been released for male infertility care so men aren't left out. 

And joint replacements don't last forever, but there are ways to extend their life.

References

• Guidelines for the management of male infertility - Healthy Male
• Data Resource Profile: The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR)
• Novel Hypoglossal Stimulation Markedly Improves Airflow and Airway Collapsibility in OSA
• Racial Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurement - NEJM
• Find a clinical trial

It's a tricky conversation to navigate, so researchers have tried to find out the best way to bring up weight in the doctor's office while dodging bias and stigma.

Also, a look at the evidence surrounding transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression. 

The international effort to improve survival from pancreatic cancer. And how a change in guidelines spared tens of thousands of children from peanut allergy. 

References

• Guidelines for Early Food Introduction and Patterns of Food Allergy
• New systematic review and meta-analysis shows an association between shingles vaccination and lower risk of heart attack and stroke 
• Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine - who should get vaccinated?
• Supporting weight focused discussions in primary care: A qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators
• Discussing Weight with Patients in Primary Care in Australia: A Mixed Methods Experimental Study
• TGA approves new brain stimulation device for treatment of depression - ABC News
• The Australian Pancreatic High-RIsk ScrEening (APRISE) Study
• The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium

Gene editing holds huge promise to cure disease and alleviate human suffering, but there are many ethical considerations when it comes to changing our DNA. 

We map the story of Chinese scientist He Jiankui who was jailed for altering the genome of babies without proper consent. 

Also, we take a look at the common skin condition rosacea and what treatments are available. And some changes to blood test results mean you could see them before your doctor. 

References

• Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report – World Health Organization 
• New test categories available for faster access on My Health Record

Endometriosis is a complex condition, and the pain associated with it can persist despite medications and surgery. New guidelines have suggested lifestyle changes like diet or supplements could work for some. 

Also, what you can do in your 40s to prevent heart failure later on. And anal cancer is rare but might be going under people's radar. Who should be screened?

References

• Assessment of malnutrition in preschool-aged children by mid-upper arm circumference in the Gaza Strip (January, 2024–August, 2025): a longitudinal, cross-sectional, surveillance study
• Testimony, advocacy, and the public health effect of genocide
• Health of the Nation report - RACGP
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis - The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 
• Cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health: an actionable vision for heart failure prevention - the Lancet
• Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines

Daylight saving time kicks in this weekend for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Time shifts can be controversial, and in recent years there's been research into the effects on our health. One study has looked into the incidence of strokes and obesity. 

Also, why experts want to change the name of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and we take a tour of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. 

References:

• Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy - NHMRC
• Safety concerns over imported melatonin products - TGA
• Retraction: Apple cider vinegar for weight management in lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
• Circadian-informed modeling predicts regional variation in obesity and stroke outcomes under different permanent US time policies
• Polycystic ovary syndrome perspectives from patients and health professionals on clinical features, current name, and renaming: a longitudinal international online survey - the Lancet
• Inside the Australian lab where scientists study bird flu and other emerging disease threats - ABC News
• Dynamic Balnce for Life
• A Judo-Based Exercise Program to Reduce Falls and Frailty Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Feasibility Study