In-brief: December 2020
People in Western Australia making health care headlines. Read More...
LATEST ARTICLES
Wine Review: St Aidan Wines – quality and diversity in the Ferguson Valley
St Aidan Wines is located in the Ferguson Valley, near Bunbury, in the heart of the vast, emerging Geographe wine region. Phil and Mary Smith started planting vines on their property in 1997. Read More...
Who will make the call? ‘Goals of Patient Care’ is helping
You’re getting older…maybe your heart or lungs aren’t working like they used to. Perhaps your brain is beginning to forget things. As you stride or stumble past 70 life will be become more fragile. If you suffer a significant medical happening – a heart attack, a stroke, a pneumonia – who will make the call as to what treatment we should offer you? Read More...
Low haemoglobin in the elderly – physiological or pathological?
The World Health Organisation suggests normal haemoglobin is above 120 g/l in females and 130 g/l in males. Notwithstanding minor differences in reference ranges used by different laboratories because of different testing platforms, up to 26% of males and 20% of females older than 85 will be anaemic based upon the WHO diagnostic thresholds. It is likely this number will increase into the future. Read More...
Neuroprotective peptide ARG-007 (R18) in ischaemic stroke
A year ago, in Medical Forum, we outlined the progress at the Perron Institute in developing the neuroprotective peptide poly-arginine-18 (R18; renamed ARG-007) for acute ischaemic stroke. Since then, there have been significant developments that suggest a major breakthrough is imminent. Read More...
Radiation therapy and heart disease
In mid-July 2020, a team of cardiologists and radiation oncologists became the first doctors in WA and the second in Australia to use stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to treat a heart disease patient. The team of Perth doctors carried out the procedure in close collaboration with Washington University of St Louis (WUSTL), where the technology was developed. Read More...
Falls prevention in the elderly
Statistically, up to a third of people above the age of 65 have at least one fall annually. Fall and falls-related injuries result in significant morbidity and mortality in patients. Read More...
Colchicine & chronic coronary disease
Colchicine is an ancient, yet sophisticated drug with multiple effects on cellular function involved with inflammation and healing. It has long held FDA approval for the life-long treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever and treatment and prevention of gout. Read More...