A Senate committee has handed down 47 recommendations after an inquiry into the extent, regulation and management of PFAS "forever chemicals". Also a major journal publishes a series on the issue of ultra-processed foods which have been associated with a range of chronic health conditions.  And results from a drug company-funded trial looking at a pill version of a GLP-1, as the race to develop oral treatments ramps up.  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

It has long been thought that caffeine exacerbates abnormal heart rhythms. However in the first trial of its kind, researchers have compared a cup of coffee to complete abstinance from caffeine – and the results surprised them. The outcomes means patients with atrial fibrillation can have a cup of joe without worrying they’re doing harm. Guest/s Professor Chris Wong, cardiologist at the University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital References Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation: The DECAF Randomized Clinical Trial

The guidelines for asthma care in adolescents and adults have been changed, but what about children? Children aged six to 11 years are still being prescribed the blue puffer as first-line therapy, while older people are prescribed a combination inhaler with a corticosteroid. Now a major New Zealand study published in the Lancet suggests children should also be swapped over to a combined inhaler to reduce asthma attacks. Guest/s Dr Paul Robinson, Professor of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Queensland Children’s Hospital and a Research Leader at the Woolcock Research Institute References Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial

Liquid biopsies are tests that look for traces of cancer in bodily fluids like blood, urine and saliva. The hope is these non-invasive biopsies become more widespread to pick up and and track cancer sooner. At the moment applications are limited – while they’re being used in existing cancer cases, we’re far off when it comes to screening. Guest/s Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, clinician-scientist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Centre for Cancer Research University of Melbourne

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Government spending on public health has fallen $2.3 billion from last year, back down to pre-pandemic levels.  This funding not only support vaccination and cancer screening, but campaigns aiming to prevent disease.  Also, a major study raises questions about how often children should have their blood pressure tested. 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

We’re not talking about coeliac disease here, which is an autoimmune condition where the immune system overreacts to gluten. Some people experience gut and other symptoms after eating gluten-based or wheat-based foods without a coeliac diagnosis. However a new review suggests some people with this sensitivity could be reacting to something else in the diet, not gluten. Gut symptom study — a world-first international clinical trial comparing two proven treatments for IBS: the low-FODMAP diet and an exposure-based therapy that retrains the gut-brain connection. The study is fully online and open to adults located anywhere in Australia (or the United States) who are currently experiencing gut symptoms (similar to IBS). For listeners interested in learning more about the study or expressing interest, they can go to: gutresearchstudy.com  Guest/s Associate Professor Jess Biesiekierski, head of human nutrition at the University of Melbourne References Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity - the Lancet Global prevalence of self-reported non-coeliac gluten and wheat sensitivity: a systematic review and metaanalysis

A drug used to treat acne and to prevent malaria, doxycycline, could reduce the risk adolescents developing schizophrenia. The association was seen in a study looking at more than 50,000 adolescents who attended psychiatric services in Finland. The authors have called it a "tentative but exciting possibility" – but caution more research is needed. Guest/s Professor Ian Kelleher, child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh References Doxycycline Use in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients and Risk of Schizophrenia: An Emulated Target Trial

Between 30 and 50 per cent of cancers could be preventable, and according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) we're ignoring a big one.  In up to five per cent of all cancers, alcohol consumption plays a role. But the director of IARC says we're not doing enough to drive home the risk.  Guest/s Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization   References Cancers attributable to alcohol - IARC Alcohol: a major preventable cause of cancer (IARC Evidence Summary Brief No. 6)

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

For the first time since February 2020, there were more flu deaths than COVID deaths in August.  A study finds an association between COVID infection in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental diagnoses at three years old.  And the Prime Minister's Prize for Science goes to physicist and air quality expert Lidia Morawska. 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

We know that psychotherapy can be beneficial for some people experiencing chronic pain. But what does a session look like for someone who doesn’t have any mental health diagnoses, like anxiety or depression? Guest/s Professor Michael Nicholas, clinical psychologist and director of Pain Education at the Pain Management Research Institute, Kolling Institute References Pain Management Network Pain Management and Research Centre - patient information Management of Chronic Pain - for health professionals

New parents want to give their children the best start in life, but the first 12 months can be a confusing and stressful time to navigate.  The advice now is to expose babies early to common allergens to reduce their risk of developing food allergies.  Allergen starter kits offer to simplify the process, but evidence of their effectiveness is lacking. So how should you go about it? References Nip allergies in the bub The impact of reversing peanut allergy advice Are allergen starter packs safe?

Researchers have discovered a chemical messenger that promotes tumour growth in bowel and stomach cancers. A drug that’s already being used for migraines could be repurposed to switch it off. It’s early days, but scientists are hoping this leads to a targeted treatment that improves survival rates. Guest/s Dr Pavitha Parathan, postdoctoral researcher at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute References Sensory neuropeptide CGRP and its co-receptor RAMP1 drive tumour cell growth in gastrointestinal cancers

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au References Everything you ever wanted to know about osteoarthritis 

Now parents are encouraged to introduce common allergens in the first year of life, products are popping up promising to make it easier.  However it's unclear whether these sachets are adequate to help prevent allergies, or if it's still better to stick to whole foods.  Guest/s Professor Mimi Tang, paediatric immunologist and allergist at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital 

When a couple is struggling to conceive, historically women have been the focus of infertility discussions. However in up to 30 per cent of cases male reproductive issues are the sole factor, and in another 20 per cent of cases it’s a contributing factor. For the first time guidelines have been released for the assessment and management of male infertility. Guest/s Professor Rob McLachlan, Medical Director, Healthy Male and consultant andrologist for the Monash IVF program References Guidelines for the management of male infertility - Healthy Male

Joint replacements don’t last forever, but they are lasting longer thanks to new technology. A new report has looked at the more than 150,000 hip, knee and shoulder joint replacements in the 12 months to December 2024. Just 6.9 per cent of these were revisions, meaning an artificial joint needed to be replaced. Guest/s Dr Peter Lewis, orthopaedic surgeon and deputy director of the Australian Joint Replacement Registry References Data Resource Profile: The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR)

We’ve known for about 50 years that there’s an issue with the machine that measures oxygen saturation in your blood. Pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen saturation in people with dark skin, and it can result in them not receiving vital care. New research is underway to assess how this disparity might affect sleep apnea assessments – and whether incorrect readings could lead to misdiagnoses. Guest/s Dr Amal Osman, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI): Sleep Health References Novel Hypoglossal Stimulation Markedly Improves Airflow and Airway Collapsibility in OSA Racial Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurement - NEJM

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au References Find a clinical trial