Teasing out motivations for vegan and vegetarian diets and their relationship to disordered eating

In her 2022 3MT presentation, Ms Courtney McLean explains

her research into measures of eating disorder for the dietary
choice of veganism and vegetarianism. See video (2:49 mins)

It has long been thought that vegetarianism and veganism are related to an increased risk of disordered eating due to overlapping similarities in dietary rules. But previous research does not necessarily support this idea. 

Furthermore, previous literature has suggested eating disorder tools may be picking up on normal vegetarian and vegan-motivating food behaviours. This could result in inaccurate estimates of eating disorder prevalence in these populations.

Ms Courtney McLean is a PhD student in Central Clinical School’s Department of Psychiatry, whose research is on whether measures of eating disorder psychopathology are appropriate for vegans.

Developing bionic visual prostheses

Monash Vision Group's vision prosthesis.

Australian researchers are undertaking world-class research towards the development of bionic visual prostheses. Teams based at Monash University and the University of Melbourne are developing direct-to-brain and retinal-based devices respectively, that elicit the perception of small spots of light called phosphenes. These phosphenes will then be assembled to produce a basic form of imagery akin to early computer games, albeit with the advantage of modern computer processing power to ensure they display only the most relevant details about the user's environment.

In this paper the authors review the latest advances in retinal and visual cortex stimulation and discusse the surgical and functional outcomes reported to date for retinal and cortical prostheses. They conclude with a brief discussion of advances in the field and an outlook for the future.

Reference: Lewis PM, Ayton LN, Guymer RH, Lowery AJ, Blamey PJ, Allen PJ, Luu CD, Rosenfeld JV. Advances in implantable bionic devices for blindness: a review. ANZ J Surg. 2016 Jun 14. doi: 10.1111/ans.13616. [Epub ahead of print]

Stabbing, gunshot and blast injuries: management and outcomes

Gunshot wound to the left parietal lobe

A review of the current management, prognostic factors and outcomes of penetrating and blast injuries to the central nervous system highlights the differences between gunshot wound (GSW), blast injury and stabbing. GSW and blast injuries cause complex damage and multidisciplinary specialist management is required for them.

Reference and full text link:  Rosenfeld JV, Bell RS, Armonda R. Current concepts in penetrating and blast injury to the central nervous system. World Journal of Surgery. Published online 2 Dec 2014.

Lancet review: The end of AIDS:HIV infection as a chronic disease

Professor Sharon Lewin

 HIV infection is now no longer a death sentence, as antiretroviral (ART) treatment will hold the disease in check. However, the disease is not cured. ART must be taken for life as HIV is latent and may 'awaken' any time without ART. HIV-infected individuals have a higher risk of developing non-AIDS disorders, including chronic cardiovascular, kidney, liver, cancer and some neurological illnesses. Profs Steven Deeks, Sharon Lewin (HOD Department of Infectious Diseases) and Diane Havlir outline the issues in their Lancet review article.