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Finding out why your kid’s tummy bug might be a bit fishy

A ground breaking study by James Cook University will examine how and why children develop seafood allergies.

Associate Professor Lopata said he would be working on developing new diagnostic tests for fish allergies among Australian children.

“We will analyse the allergic reactions of children to more than 40 Australian fish species,” he said.

“We know that for certain Australian fish, there have never been any allergy tests for species such as barramundi, for example.”

Other reef fish such as red snapper would also be tested for the first time, he said.

It is research that in future may benefit children all over the world, Associate Professor Lopata said.

The research is being conducted in conjunction with Sydney’s Westmead Children’s Hospital and Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Hospital.

Along with Associate Professor Lopata, Professors Jon Golledge, Alex Loukas, and Dr India Bohamnna and Dr Phurpa Wangchuk will receive funding for their research projects.

(Source: James Cook University)

Altitude and attitude in the fractious row over crying babies

Aircraft passengers have strong opinions about what to do and whom to blame when a baby or small child starts crying mid-flight but the issue has been largely ignored by airlines, according to research.

Passengers on both sides of the debate about crying babies on aeroplanes believe other people lack tolerance and respect, conclude academics Dr Jennie Small from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and Dr Candice Harris from the Auckland University of Technology in their paper, Crying babies on planes: aeromobility and parenting. The paper has been published in the Annals of Tourism Research.

“Those who complain about children’s and parents’ behaviour are accused of anti-family sentiment, of being unreasonable and self-centred in not recognising the rights of families and society at large,” the researchers find.

“At the same time, they, the parents, are portrayed as self-centred for imposing the discomforts of travel on their children, and their crying babies and unruly children on other passengers.”

The academics analysed comments posted by readers on the internet in reaction to media stories about children on planes. They also looked at information provided by airlines.

Dr Small, a senior lecturer in the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism at UTS, says she has always been interested in issues about air travel and, with Dr Harris, has also examined how airlines and passengers react to obese travellers.

She says changes in the past couple of decades in parenting styles and attitudes to holidays, among other things, appear to have influenced the debate over what is appropriate behaviour on aeroplanes.

“With parents now feeling entitled to do certain things [that earlier generations would not have done], there is an argument that everyone has become less tolerant of everyone else,” she says.

“The clear message [from the research] was that people were not critical of the babies; they were critical of the parents and they were critical of the parents who appeared to make no effort to quieten a crying baby.”

As one online reader of The Sydney Morning Herald explained in 2011: “It is so frustrating when you have to sit and watch the ineptitude of some of the parents. Some of them just don’t have a clue and my heart goes out to the child. It is the parents who need a good slap.”

Passengers have suggested solutions such as creating special sections at the back of the plane for families, family-only flights, and better headphones or ear plugs for people sitting near babies and small children.

By contrast, airlines have their heads in the sand, the researchers have concluded.

“Airlines should remember that customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction goes beyond airline food and in-flight entertainment. We call on the airlines to engage in the debate,” they write.

“As airlines continue to improve the noise levels of their aircraft, it behoves the airlines to consider ways to lessen passenger noise and make the airline experience more hospitable and stress-free for all concerned, including the baby.”

(Source: University of Technology – Sydney, Annals of Tourism Research)

Digital junk: Unhealthy brands using Facebook to target young people

World-first research by the University of Sydney reveals that junk food brands are engaging with young Facebook users to promote unhealthy foods which can contribute to obesity and lifestyle diseases.

Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the new study sheds light on the digital marketing strategies of energy dense, nutrient-poor food (EDNP) brands to teens and young adults who are using Facebook.

“Our findings show that unhealthy food and beverage marketing is prolific and seamlessly integrated within online social networks,” says lead author Dr Becky Freeman, from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health.

“Adolescents and young adults are engaging with brands like Dominos, Slurpee and Skittles on Facebook on a near-daily basis.

“Given the exponential growth in use of social media websites such as Facebook among young people, there is a need to understand the techniques and reach of this kind of marketing on these sites.

“Soft drinks and energy drink brand pages are hugely popular on Facebook, reflecting the high consumption of these products among adolescents and young adults.

“Drinking sugar sweetened beverages is a known contributor to rising obesity, and has been the focus of controversial tax policy reform.”

The study used a sample of top-ranked Facebook pages of food manufacturers, food brands, retailers and restaurants. The resulting analysis reviewed 27 food and beverage brand Facebook pages on the basis of their marketing techniques, follower engagement and marketing reach of messages posted by the pages.

“Young Facebook users willingly spread marketing messages on behalf of food and beverage corporations with seemingly little incentive or reward required,” Dr Freeman says.

“Any activity that users engage with on brand pages can appear in the news feed of their friends, so marketing messages quickly amplify across social networks. This kind of consumer involvement and engagement is unique to social media communication.”

Results further showed that competitions, giveaways and aligning with positive events such as Australia Day were found to be effective means of engagement between users and the food companies.

“The Facebook pages in our study were not simply low-budget fan pages, all were professionally moderated and appeared to be administered by either the company brand owner or an advertising agency,” Dr Freeman says.

“In terms of health policy, much of the current work to limit exposure to EDNP advertising is focused on restricting advertisements during children’s television programs and viewing hours. Our study shows that this narrow focus is likely to miss large amount of online advertising aimed at adolescents.

“As a minimal first step, increased monitoring of how EDNP food and beverages are marketed on social media is essential.

“Our study focused on Australian Facebook users, however our findings have international relevance given that many of the pages in our study were for global brands,” Dr Freeman says.

Fast facts

This is the first study to systematically assess the nature of food and drink promotions on the globally popular social media site Facebook.
Social media use has reached near saturation among young Australians, with more than 85% of those aged 15 to 24 years accessing the Internet for social networking or online gaming
Australians are enthusiastic Facebook users, with 9 million people, or nearly 40% of the entire population, visiting the site every day

(Source: The University of Sydney)

Babies’ hearts could beat path to new heart attack treatments

The seemingly-miraculous power of babies’ hearts to repair themselves after being injured has spurred a University of Queensland research team to investigate if this ability can be harnessed for new heart attack treatments.

UQ School of Biomedical Sciences researcher Dr Enzo Porrello is studying the genetic mechanisms behind how and why baby heart tissue is able to re-grow when injured.

Dr Porrello said it was little known that the heart tissue of newborn mammals had the capacity to regenerate.

“What we have known for decades is that some reptiles and amphibians are able to regenerate whole limbs and body parts if they are injured or severed,” Dr Porrello said.

“Newborn infant mammals have some of these regenerative abilities as well, but this is lost soon after birth.”

The research is focussed on decoding the complex genetic circuitries behind cardiac regeneration – information that could lead to new treatments for heart attacks.

“Every year more than 55,000 Australians have a heart attack,” Dr Porrello said.

“Our research may lead to the development of a drug to trigger genetic messages for the heart to regenerate healthy tissue and help people who have had a heart attack return to a healthy life.”

(Source: The University of Queensland)

Children's Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension Safety advisory – potential confusion in reading correct dose

The TGA has become aware that some people have expressed confusion over how to use measuring syringes supplied with Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension. Incorrect measurements have the potential to lead to accidental overdoses.
The active ingredient in Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is paracetamol. Paracetamol has been used in Australia for the relief of pain and fever since the 1950s and is available in many different forms for adults and children.
Paracetamol is safe and effective when taken as directed on the label. However, if taken either in overdose or in amounts that exceed the recommended dose for more than a few days, the unwanted effects can be severe.
The syringe supplied with Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is shaped in such a way that the dose should be measured where the widest side of the plunger meets the barrel of the syringe (see accompanying photograph for the correct measurement point of an 8 mL dose). This differs from most syringes which measure to the tip of the plunger where the liquid finishes. With the Children’s Panadol syringe, the liquid continues past the tip of the plunger and therefore needs be measured to where the widest sides of the plunger meet the barrel of the syringe. If the dose is measured from the point where the liquid touches the end of the plunger closest to the nozzle, the dose is incorrect.
This example shows how to measure an 8 mL dose:

The TGA is working with GSK to address any potential for accidental over use, including whether an update to the packaging of Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension to clarify the instructions on how to use the dosing syringe is sufficient or if other actions are also required.

What happens if there is an overdose?

Paracetamol can be harmful to the liver if given in large doses (i.e. more often than four times per day or for longer than recommended).
The harmful effects on the liver can be fatal if they are not detected and treated early.
The harmful effects of large amounts of paracetamol on the liver are usually delayed so people may feel well for the first day after a paracetamol overdose but can become very sick after that.
If treatment is given early enough, there are usually no permanent ill-effects.

Information for consumers

The dosage instructions accompanying Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension advise that the medicine should be given no more than four times in 24 hours.
Even if the dose is incorrectly calculated due to this issue, the risk of toxicity is low if the dosage instructions and the dose frequency are followed, and the dosing is for no more than 48 hours. If used for more than two days and more than four times daily there is an increased risk of toxicity.
What parents and caregivers should know about paracetamol overdose:

The harmful effects of large amounts of paracetamol on the liver are usually delayed, so children may feel well for the first day after an overdose but become very sick after that.
Immediate medical management is required in the event of overdose, even if symptoms of overdose are not present.
If you think you have given too much paracetamol (overdose), contact the Poisons Information Centre (Telephone 131 126) or your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do this even if your child does not seem sick.
Do not give paracetamol to infants, children or adolescents for more than 48 hours unless advised by a doctor.

If you have any questions or concerns about this issue you can also contact GSK Consumer Healthcare on 1800 028 533.

Information for health professionals

If a syringe supplied with Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is used incorrectly, as described above, an extra 1.26 mL would be included with each dose, equal to an extra 30 mg.
If recommending the use of Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension, advise parents and caregivers to be aware of this issue and offer advice on how to use the measuring syringe, if required.
Be alert to the possibility that accidental overdose may exist when the product has been used more frequently or for longer than recommended.

Reporting problems

Consumers and health professionals are encouraged to report problems with medicines or vaccines. Your report will contribute to the TGA’s monitoring of these products.
The TGA cannot give advice about an individual’s medical condition. You are strongly encouraged to talk with a health professional if you are concerned about a possible adverse event associated with a medicine or vaccine.
(Source: Australian Government – Department Health)

Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension Safety advisory – potential confusion in reading correct dose

The active ingredient in Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is paracetamol. Paracetamol has been used in Australia for the relief of pain and fever since the 1950s and is available in many different forms for adults and children.

Paracetamol is safe and effective when taken as directed on the label. However, if taken either in overdose or in amounts that exceed the recommended dose for more than a few days, the unwanted effects can be severe.

The syringe supplied with Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is shaped in such a way that the dose should be measured where the widest side of the plunger meets the barrel of the syringe (see accompanying photograph for the correct measurement point of an 8 mL dose). This differs from most syringes which measure to the tip of the plunger where the liquid finishes. With the Children’s Panadol syringe, the liquid continues past the tip of the plunger and therefore needs be measured to where the widest sides of the plunger meet the barrel of the syringe. If the dose is measured from the point where the liquid touches the end of the plunger closest to the nozzle, the dose is incorrect.

This example shows how to measure an 8 mL dose:

The TGA is working with GSK to address any potential for accidental over use, including whether an update to the packaging of Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension to clarify the instructions on how to use the dosing syringe is sufficient or if other actions are also required.

What happens if there is an overdose?

Paracetamol can be harmful to the liver if given in large doses (i.e. more often than four times per day or for longer than recommended).
The harmful effects on the liver can be fatal if they are not detected and treated early.
The harmful effects of large amounts of paracetamol on the liver are usually delayed so people may feel well for the first day after a paracetamol overdose but can become very sick after that.
If treatment is given early enough, there are usually no permanent ill-effects.

Information for consumers

The dosage instructions accompanying Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension advise that the medicine should be given no more than four times in 24 hours.

Even if the dose is incorrectly calculated due to this issue, the risk of toxicity is low if the dosage instructions and the dose frequency are followed, and the dosing is for no more than 48 hours. If used for more than two days and more than four times daily there is an increased risk of toxicity.

What parents and caregivers should know about paracetamol overdose:

The harmful effects of large amounts of paracetamol on the liver are usually delayed, so children may feel well for the first day after an overdose but become very sick after that.
Immediate medical management is required in the event of overdose, even if symptoms of overdose are not present.
If you think you have given too much paracetamol (overdose), contact the Poisons Information Centre (Telephone 131 126) or your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do this even if your child does not seem sick.
Do not give paracetamol to infants, children or adolescents for more than 48 hours unless advised by a doctor.

If you have any questions or concerns about this issue you can also contact GSK Consumer Healthcare on 1800 028 533.

Information for health professionals

If a syringe supplied with Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension is used incorrectly, as described above, an extra 1.26 mL would be included with each dose, equal to an extra 30 mg.

If recommending the use of Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension, advise parents and caregivers to be aware of this issue and offer advice on how to use the measuring syringe, if required.

Be alert to the possibility that accidental overdose may exist when the product has been used more frequently or for longer than recommended.

Reporting problems

Consumers and health professionals are encouraged to report problems with medicines or vaccines. Your report will contribute to the TGA’s monitoring of these products.

The TGA cannot give advice about an individual’s medical condition. You are strongly encouraged to talk with a health professional if you are concerned about a possible adverse event associated with a medicine or vaccine.

(Source: Australian Government – Department Health)

Sport to reduce depression and suicide rates in young men

UOW has teamed up with Movember on a multi-million dollar first-of-its-kind project, involving six of Australia’s major sporting organisations, which aims to address mental health issues among adolescent male athletes.

The Movember Foundation awarded UOW almost $2 million over the next three years to conduct the most comprehensive study of its kind into the role of sport in helping adolescent males identify and overcome mental health issues.

The project will see UOW partner with Australia’s leading government sports body the Australian Sports Commission, and top sporting organisations, such as the AFL, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia, Swimming Australia, Basketball Australia and Football Federation Australia, as well as mental health providers The Black Dog Institute and the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Program.

More than 5,000 young men, from across the sporting codes, are expected to take part in the UOW-led research.

Sports Psychologist Dr Stewart Vella, from UOW’s Early Start Research Institute, will lead the project, which will use a grassroots approach to provide clubs with the tools they need to support their young members who are grappling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

“Our aim is to reduce the suicide rate among adolescent males, provide strong social and community networks, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems.”

Dr Vella said Australia’s strong sporting culture provided an avenue to reach a large proportion of adolescent males, who experience disproportionately higher rates of suicide and mental health concerns.

“Sport offers an opportunity to build social and emotional skills, which underpin our general wellbeing, in a consistent and safe environment,” Dr Vella said.

More than 2.5 million children and adolescents participate in organised sports throughout Australia each year. However, research has shown that adolescents who drop out of organised sport are 10 to 20% more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health problem during the next three years than their peers who stay in organised sport.

Dr Vella, who will be supporting Movember by growing his own moustache next month, said the partnership between UOW and Movember would help reduce to stigma of mental health problems in sport and have a positive impact on the lives of countless adolescent men throughout Australia.

“We are excited to be working with Movember, which is such a powerful force for change and so innovative in raising the profile of men’s health issues.”

Dr Erika Borkoles and Professor Remco Polman, from Victoria University, Queensland University of Technology’s Professor Stewart Trost, and Associate Professor Chris Lonsdale and Professor Sandra Jones from the Australian Catholic University are also involved in the project.

UOW’s Global Challenges Program, a multidisciplinary initiative designed to solve to complex problems facing our world, is a key supporter of the study. A key focus of the Global Challenges Program, Living Well, Longer, involves exploration of how the mental and physical health of Australians can be maximised to contribute to a long and healthy life.

The Movember Foundation is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. By encouraging men to grow moustaches in the month of November, Movember raises money for mental health problems, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

(Source: University of Wollongong)

Poor mother-baby bonding passed to next generation

Trust pathways in the brain are set in infancy and passed on from mother to child, according to landmark UNSW-led research. The work relates to oxytocin levels in new mothers and proves for the first time that it is linked to their reported disturbance in bonding with their own mothers.

The paper has been published in the prestigious journal PLOS ONE.

Blood samples taken from women with troubled maternal relationships showed a clear deficit in oxytocin, the trust and bonding hormone, compared with those who reported close childhood ties with their mother. The two groups of women were recruited through Liverpool Hospital.

“The immediate postpartum results show that what you experienced from parenting – these formative experiences – are critical in wiring your response to the hormone,” says the first author of the paper, UNSW Professor Valsamma Eapen, who is Chair of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

“So we see this dysfunctional, or disrupted relating as an intergenerational cycle and just increasing oxytocin levels with a puffer or spray alone won’t change that,” says UNSW Professor Eapen, who is based at the Ingham Institute and Liverpool Hospital.

Oxytocin triggers a dopamine reward response in the brain that promotes newborn bonding as a pleasurable activity. In the baby, this bonding sets lifelong oxytocin release pathways that, if compromised, will affect the child’s own future attachment relationships.

There was an obvious difference in oxytocin readings between the women two months after their babies were born.

The work was carried out by UNSW in partnership with South Western Sydney Local Health District and Karitane, which works with children and their parents from birth to 5 years.

Karitane CEO Grainne O’Loughlin says the work is invaluable for families and that it “gives us the chance to provide that evidence-base, and will lay the foundations for us to expand, over time, what it is that we do”.

“For me, partnerships with universities – that evidence base to our work– is really fundamental. It’s the key to our sustainability going forward,” she says.

This work could be a breakthrough in identifying at-risk mothers and helping them break the cycle, Professor Eapen believes.

“What we are now developing is attachment-based cognitive behavioural therapy for mums to reframe their own perspectives and attitudes to fix problems that have been pre-programmed,” says Professor Eapen, who anticipates that this type of therapy could be used either on its own or perhaps in combination with oxytocin.

The babies will be followed up through Karitane, to examine the anxiety response in the child at one year of age.

(Source: UNSW, PLOS ONE)

Building science bridges from school to university

Secondary school teacher Adam Wallace has spent three days of the past two months at Flinders to discover what the University’s scientists are up to, and will take his insights back to Unley High School for the benefit of his students.

Mr Wallace, a physics teacher, came to Flinders as part of the ‘Teacher in Residence’ initiative, a new program which sees senior secondary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers build capacity through direct contact with academics.

Facilitated by the Southern Knowledge Transfer Partnerships office at Flinders, the initiative is supported by the Advanced Technology Industry Schools Pathway Project (ATISPP) and the Department of Education and Child Development, which organises release time for the participants.

Unley High School has been a partner school in the ATISPP since 2010. Funded from the Commonwealth by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), the program’s focus is to increase the number of students in STEM.

The ‘Teacher in Residence’ program aims to give academics and teachers reciprocal insights into their respective curricula, and Mr Wallace was specifically interested in finding ways to encourage the transition of STEM students to university by improving the continuity of course content and delivery.

Mr Wallace’s main contact at Flinders was nanotechnology lecturer Associate Professor Jamie Quinton; he also met several other specialist academics to tour their laboratories and discuss their research and teaching.

Mr Wallace said one of the major outcomes of his residence will be closer liaison between Flinders and Unley High’s science programs, which may include presentations by science academics to Year 11 students at the school.

Also proposed is setting up a ‘taster’ day for Year 10 students, which would offer a series of workshops in different science disciplines to assist students in choosing their subjects for the following years and beyond.

“We want to give our students a picture of what the science pathways there are beyond a school setting and also help them differentiate between the various science learning areas,” Mr Wallace said.

“We find a lot of kids want to do science in Year 11, but don’t have a clear distinction between the different disciplines.”

At the same time, Mr Wallace said, students need to appreciate the breadth of opportunities for study in science and understand that the borders between science disciplines are fluid, with areas such as nanotechnology encompassing aspects of physics, chemistry and biology.

Associate Professor Quinton said that reducing the culture shock between school and university study was important in successfully engaging students, and that better reciprocal understanding between teachers at secondary and tertiary level would aid transition.

Mr Wallace said he found the program enjoyable and valuable, and that collaboratively developing the agenda for his visits had been especially effective.

“Lots of ideas that come up in professional development can fall by the wayside – my time at Flinders has been very purposeful and productive,” he said.

(Source: Flinders University)

Learning is all a song in classrooms

Music teacher Aniko Debreceny brings song into learning.

A music student is developing the first curriculum-based set of songs to help school students in Australia and beyond learn about ancient history.

Charles Darwin University Masters student Aniko Debreceny said music was a refreshing way to help students remember information.

Ms Debreceny is recording catchy songs about ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China for Middle School students as part of her thesis, “Song as Saga: Creating curriculum-based song for learning.”

“Kids remember these songs. If you sing it, you learn it,” she said.

Each song includes facts and terms outlined in sixth grade ancient history curricula in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ms Debreceny said it was challenging to create songs that included curriculum criteria from all three regions.

“It’s a small world and we’re all connected through music,” she said.

Ms Debreceny’s CD of songs will include slide images displaying the lyrics for students to follow visually to increase material recognition and learning.

She said she would target Middle School students because the content required for High School students would be too detailed to put into individual songs.

Ms Debreceny said the songs she was working on would be short, at six to 20 lines.

“If you’re looking at sixth grade, your attention span is short,” she said.

Ms Debreceny has taught flute for more than 40 years and has taught music using curriculum-based songs to home school students in the US for the past 17 years.

(Source: Charles Darwin University)

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Parenthub

Finding out why your kid’s tummy bug might be a bit fishy

Altitude and attitude in the fractious row over crying babies

Babies’ hearts could beat path to new heart attack treatments

Children's Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension Safety advisory – potential confusion in reading correct dose

What happens if there is an overdose?

Information for consumers

Information for health professionals

Reporting problems

Children’s Panadol 1-5 Years Colourfree Suspension Safety advisory – potential confusion in reading correct dose

What happens if there is an overdose?

Information for consumers

Information for health professionals

Reporting problems

Sport to reduce depression and suicide rates in young men

Poor mother-baby bonding passed to next generation

Building science bridges from school to university

Learning is all a song in classrooms

Monthly Newsletter

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