Published: September 12, 2007
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…]
Published: September 12, 2007
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…]
Published: September 11, 2007
High levels of a male sex hormone in foetuses are linked to a higher chance of developing autistic traits in childhood, scientists say. The findings come from an eight-year study relating the development of 253 children to levels of testosterone they were exposed to in the womb.
The scientists said it was unclear whether the hormone was causing the traits or was a by-product of them.
The research was presented at the BA Festival of Science in York. [continue reading…]
Published: September 11, 2007
 Mind-body therapies, which focus on the interactions between the mind, body and behavior, and the ways in which emotional, mental, social and behavioral factors can affect health, may be of particular benefit to elderly chronic pain sufferers. A new study published in Pain Medicine provides a structured review of eight mind-body interventions for older people, including progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, tai chi and yoga. [continue reading…]
