Information technology needs to go beyond the latest youth-oriented web-based device and be used to assist elderly people in an ageing population, according to German IT expert Professor Dieter Rombach.

In his Sydney Ideas lecture, to be held at the University of Sydney on Tuesday 11 September, Professor Rombach, executive and founding director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering, will explore cutting-edge technologies that can be used to improve the lives of the aged and prolong their independence. “People are living longer,” says Professor Rombach. “The age pyramid is changing.” [continue reading…]

Tamoxifen Treats Mania Faster than Some Standard Medications

The medication tamoxifen, best known as a treatment for breast cancer, dramatically reduces symptoms of the manic phase of bipolar disorder more quickly than many standard medications for the mental illness, a new study shows. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) who conducted the study also explained how: Tamoxifen blocks an enzyme called protein kinase C (PKC) that regulates activities in brain cells. The enzyme is thought to be over-active during the manic phase of bipolar disorder. [continue reading…]

Male patients are given more certified sick leave by male doctors compared with sick notes given to females by female doctors , a University of Liverpool study has revealed.

Male patients are given more certified sick leave by male doctors compared with the amount of sick notes given to females by female doctors, a University of Liverpool study has revealed.

The report, written by primary care experts at the University, indicates that male GPs are more likely to give male patients a larger amount of intermediate sick leave (6-28 weeks) from work compared with female patients certified by female doctors. The study, which is the first of its kind in the UK, is based on a survey of 3,906 patients from nine general practices across Merseyside. [continue reading…]