Health Report - Separate stories podcast

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a diagnosis of exclusion - doctors rule out a number of other conditions before they can say it's IBS.That's because there haven't been reliable biomarkers to flag it. But a new analysis from researchers at the University of Newcastle suggests there may in fact be a number of biomarkers associated with IBS.GuestDr Grace Burns, Postdoctoral Researcher in Immunology and Microbiology, Centre for Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of NewcastleReferencesSerological and faecal markers of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The government's 1800MEDICARE app allows people to access their pathology and diagnostic results once uploaded to their digital health record.For Christine Kwong from Brisbane, that access meant she spotted a breast cancer finding that might otherwise have fallen through the cracks.But at the same time, some doctors report difficulties accessing results and navigating the app.GuestsChristine Kwong, BrisbaneDr Amandeep Hansra, Chief Clinical Adviser, Australian Digital Health Agency

In the news this week: Free access to the RSV vaccine expanded.Home cooks in Japan found to have less dementia than those who ate out often.Another indicator that GLP-1s could help treat addiction.A bat coronavirus capable of entering human cells has been discovered.ReferencesRSV Vaccine - Department of HealthHome cooking, cooking skills and dementia requiring long-term care: a population-based cohort study in JapanTypology of out-of-home eaters: a description of sociodemographic, lifestyle, nutritional and environmental characteristics in the NutriNet-Santé cohortGender and age differences in weekend eating habits: associations with fat mass percentage in a cross-sectional studyGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of substance use disorders among US veterans with type 2 diabetes: cohort studyHeart-nosed bat alphacoronaviruses use human CEACAM6 to enter cells

More than 2.8 million Australians have asthma, and it isn't always managed well.A new coalition of researchers has mapped out a blueprint for changing that.GuestProfessor Christine Jenkins, Program Head, Respiratory, The George Institute for Global Health; Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney; Clinical Professor, Concord Clinical School, University of SydneyReferencesA Bold Blueprint for Asthma Reform in Australia

A new Australian study suggests understanding the genes we're born with - our genome - could help to explain why some children get cancer in childhood. And there are implications for adults too.GuestDr Noemi Fuentes-Bolanos, Paediatric Oncologist and Clinical Researcher, Children's Cancer Institute and Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's HospitalReferencesIntegrated germline and somatic molecular profiling to detect cancer predisposition has a high clinical impact in poor-prognosis paediatric cancer

In a medical emergency, how good is ChatGPT at guiding you towards the right treatment (whether that's the emergency department or the GP?).A new trial out of the United States finds mixed results. It can sometimes work well, but often its recommendations did not match those of a panel of human doctors -- especially when it mattered most.GuestDr Ashwin Ramaswamy, Instructor of Urology, Mount Sinai HospitalReferencesChatGPT Health performance in a structured test of triage recommendations

Australia's first clinical guidelines for preventing suicide and treating suicidal ideation or self-harm in young people have been released. What are the lessons for doctors, parents and families?GuestSydney Stevens, Senior Project Officer, Royal Children’s Hospital; Research Associate, Murdoch Children’s Research InstituteReferencesSuicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Children and AdolescentsSuicide and intentional self-harm hospitalisations among young peopleGenerational effects in self-reported age of onset for youth suicidal ideation, self-harm and attempted suicide: A retrospective analysis using data from the Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020–2022

New data on GLP-1 use for people with diabetes and its impact, if any, on mental health.The Lancet retracts a decades-old commentary on talcum powder.And if you're struck with appendicitis, should you have the appendix out or manage with medicine?ReferencesAssociation between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort studyRetraction: Cosmetic talc powderOncologic Risk of Missed Appendiceal Tumors in Acute Appendicitis

It's common for someone to visit the doctor with a shoulder injury - often suspected to be to the rotator cuff.You might be tempted to ask for imaging tests ... but that might be more trouble than it's worth, especially if you are over 40.GuestDr Thomas Ibounig, Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon at Helsinki University Hospital, Researcher at the Finnish Center for Evidence-Based OrthopaedicsReferencesIncidental Rotator Cuff Abnormalities on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week, including snoring and toenail fungus.You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

It's already that time of the year when we need to think about getting our flu vaccine - but there are some changes to the rollout this year.The changes affect options for how the vaccine is delivered. Plus, which of the strains circulating should we worry about?GuestProfessor Patrick Reading, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Doherty Institute. ReferencesInfluenza (flu) vaccine - Department of HealthInfluenza immunisation resources - National Centre for Immunisation Research and SurveillanceHistoric 1994 influenza vaccine cohorts define breadth of antibody and B cell responses toward future influenza A and B virusesLab Notes: Super-K flu is here … but it's not our biggest problem

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate that can cause urinary problems - feeling like you need to pee often, waking up to go to the toilet in the night or weak flow.Traditionally it's been treated with surgery, but a suite of studies over almost a decade finds a treatment called 'prostate artery embolisation' can achieve comparable outcomes and fewer side effects.GuestNick Brown, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland; Clinical Director of Radiology with I-MED at Wesley Hospital; Interventional RadiologistReferencesProstate artery Embolisation Assessment of Safety and feasibilitY (P-EASY): a potential alternative to long-term medical therapy for benign prostate hyperplasiaThe ‘Prostate Embolisation AS first-line therapY compAred to meDication in treatment naïVe men with prostAte eNlargement, a randomised ControllEd trial’ (P-EASY ADVANCE): a randomised controlled trial of prostate embolisation vs medication for BPHProstate artery EmbolisAtion Safety and efficacY: Preliminary and foLlow-Up urodynamic Studies (P-EASY PLUS)