Research in the news

Kidney disease increasing
NEW cases of end-stage kidney disease treated with dialysis or transplantation are expected to rise significantly over the next decade, due largely to the ageing population and increasing rates of diabetes. A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, predicts that the incidence rate of treated ESKD could rise by up to 80% by 2020. The research was reported in The Age.

Dementia underdiagnosed
ABOUT 28 million of the world’s 36 million people with dementia may not have received a diagnosis, according to the 2011 World Alzheimer Report produced by Alzheimer’s Disease International. In high income countries, only 20%–50% of cases are diagnosed. The report says early diagnosis is crucial because some interventions are more effective when started earlier. The research was reported by the ABC’s AM program.

Prescription drug costs high
AUSTRALIA has some of the highest out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in the developed world, according to an analysis published in the Australian Health Review. The study also found that medication costs in Australia had increased substantially since 1970. The research was reported in The Canberra Times.

IUD may reduce cancer risk
IUD use might act as a protective cofactor in cervical cancer, according to UK research published in The Lancet Oncology. The research showed a strong inverse association between ever use of intrauterine devices and cervical cancer (odds ratio 0.55). However, no association was found between IUD use and detection of cervical HPV DNA among women without cervical cancer. Cellular immunity triggered by the device might be one explanation for the findings, the researcher said. The study was reported in The West Australian.

Laugh away the pain
SOCIAL laughter is associated with an elevated pain threshold, according to a study in from the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Participants watched either comedies or factual documentaries in a laboratory, while wearing a frozen vacuum wine cooler sleeve to measure their pain threshold. The study was reported in The Australian.

Posted 19 September 2011