Cancer research in kidney transplant recipients

Results have been published today based on research into kidney transplant recipients, and their risks of cancer compared to the general population.

The research analysis was undertaken by researchers from The George Institute, the University of Sydney, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Statewide Renal Services using the ANZDATA Registry.

Data was evaluated from 1983, in a trial that consisted of 481 patients, which researchers reviewed trends over 20 years.

The results indicate that no particular immunosuppressive drug regimen appears to increase the risk of cancer among kidney transplant patients and the cancer risk is driven by many factors that are known at the time of transplantation such as age and smoking history.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Politicians receiving millions after leaving office

New South Wales politicians who once held positions in high office receive millions of dollars in tax payers money for expenses years after leaving office.

A freedom of information release has uncovered that former News South Wales Premiers Neville Wran, Nick Greiner and Bob Carr received about $3.8 million in allowances from 2007 to 2009.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon had called upon the Keneally Government to employ more strict limits on annual allowances for those who once held positions in high office.

Rhiannon said “It is 17 years since Mr Greiner was the NSW premier. It is a bit rich that he is allowed to spend half a million dollars of public money annually just because he was in the top job for four years.”

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

2010 World Press Freedom Day to be Held at UQ

The 2010 World Press Freedom Day will be held for the first time in the Pacific region, at the University of Queensland over the long weekend.

Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation will also be visiting the conference in which the UN agency will discuss topics on international freedom of expression and press freedom.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Artificial heart development

The Federal Government announced yesterday a grant of more than $70,000 for Queensland researchers developing a new artificial heart.

Researchers from Queensland, Malaysia, Germany and Japan are developing the heart which will replace the function of both sides of the heart in patients.

Associate Professor John Fraser from Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital, said he is hoping an artificial heart can be implanted in sheep by the end of the year.

Mr Fraser said he’d also love to see this developed and finished and ready for a humans within two to three years.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Interactive Human Rights Education Resources Available to Teachers and Schools

Teachers and students now have access to a new range of interactive human rights education resources, released by the Australian Human Rights Commission today.

Commission President Cathy Branson, launched the new rightsED resource this week by sending a complimentary DVD to schools around the country in a bid to help students develop a critical understanding of human rights and responsibilities.

Ms Branson said “the importance of human rights education should not be underestimated in our efforts to create a more respectful human rights culture in Australia.”

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Indigenous awards ceremony

Indigenous organisations and individuals that have promoted quality and excellence in health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been recognised in new national award ceremony.

Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, presented recipients with their awards at the inaugural Healthy for Life and New Directions Mothers and Babies Services Health Awards in Brisbane yesterday.

The awards follow a conference bringing together representatives who deliver Healthy for Life and New Directions Mothers programs, which together focus on child and maternal health care, early detection and management of chronic disease and men’s health.

Mr Snowdon congratulated the six award winners and said, “They highlight the innovation and leadership being demonstrated by organisations and individuals in addressing the Government’s targets to close the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Changes to Criminal Justice System to Increase the Conviction Rate of Child Sexual Assualt Offenders

Australia’s state governments are considering a radical overhaul of the criminal justice system aimed at improving the conviction rate in cases of child sexual assault.

If the plan goes ahead, specialist courts would be established to ensure sexually abused Aboriginal children are not intimidated into silence by the formality of traditional courts.

New rules could also be introduced to ensure that convicted pedophiles would not be able to rejoin society unless they had completed rehabilitation programs.

The reform plan has been produced by the National Child Sexual Assault Reform Committee (NCSARC), which is made up of some of the nation’s leading lawyers, judges and academics.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

New Regulations for Pain Relievers Containing Codeine Start Tomorrow

Starting from tomorrow the 1^st of May a significant number of pain relievers containing codeine, such as Nurofen Plus and Panadeine, will be available to Australians only after consultation with a pharmacist, rather than consumers being able to choose themselves in the pharmacy.

Senior Drug Information Pharmacist at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Geraldine Moses said “the vast majority of consumers use these medicines responsibly and benefit from the convenience of being able to obtain them in consultation with a pharmacist rather than having to visit their GP for a prescription.”

Patients can discuss their symptoms with their pharmacist, who will advise them on the most appropriate medication. 

The new regulation will mean that combination analgesics containing codeine will be stored behind the counter and larger packs containing more than five days’ worth of tablets will now require a prescription from a GP.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Cyber-Racism Summit Held in Sydney Today

The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Internet Industry Association are co-hosting a Cyber-Racism Summit in Sydney today.

Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, has noted that the incidence of cyber-racism is on the rise, and said the Summit would be an important and unique opportunity to share ideas with people who may not normally have the opportunity to work together.

Commissioner Innes said “cyber-racism is not a problem that the Australian Human Rights Commission can tackle alone.”

Participants in the Summit will be coming from the United States, New Zealand and around Australia, to learn more about the ways cyber-racism manifests itself and to discuss ways in which it could be addressed.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News

Caxston Street festival

Caxton St is set to hold its biggest ever Seafood and Wine Festival this Sunday, reports City News.

Described as Brisbane’s biggest street party, the annual event is expected to host approximately 12 000 people and will feature three stages of live music and seafood from 25 food outlets.

Recent ARIA hall of fame inductees Mental As Anything will lead the line up at this year’s festival, with local favourites Butterfingers and hip hop extraordinaire Urthboy headlining alongside.
Event manager Nichola Burton says chefs take delivery of around 10
tonnes of seafood.

Posted via email from 4ZZZ News