Facebook app to monitor mental health: Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre

Researchers are looking at how social media can be used to prevent relapse in a person living with mental illness. The world-first pilot study will use a Facebook app to look at changes in a person’s social media interactions to predict when a person living with a mental illness is likely to experience a relapse. Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Centre (MAPrc), said social media had the potential to be a life-saving way to prevent relapse for patients with bipolar disorder, a substantial clinical problem. See Monash story, 26/06/2014

Mechanisms of retinopathy in premature babies teased out: Immunology research

ARS cover image is by
Dr Devy Deliyanti, one
of the paper's authors

Effective preventive therapies for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) don't exist, yet globally, there are at least 50,000 children blind from ROP. Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka in the Department of Immunology leads research efforts into understanding the problem. A recently published paper shows that one form of a particular enzyme complex called NADPH oxidase (NOX) is involved in the development of retinopathy. The research indicates that blocking the action of NOX1 prevents the damage from occurring. Reference: NADPH Oxidase, NOX1, Mediates Vascular Injury in Ischemic Retinopathy. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. V 20, No 17, 2014 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2013.5357

Multiple sclerosis research by Dr Steven Petratos receives funding

Dr Steven Petratos des-
cribes his research

Congratulations to Dr Steven Petratos, who has been successful in obtaining a highly competitive grant to further his research on multiple sclerosis (MS). The award was made by the US based National MS Society. It is a pilot grant for USD40,000, and the topic is "Delineating the role of the monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) in driving oligodendrocyte precursor cell maturation". MCT8 carries thyroid hormone, and when it doesn't work there's a problem with myelination, as with MS.

Lung tissue bank to be established at the Alfred from a CSL grant

Associate Professor Glen Westall has received a support grant of $216,000 from the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories to establish a lung tissue bank for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) at the Alfred. This is a significant development in research capacity for a disease affecting many thousands of Australians.
See more about A/Prof Westall's work and research at:
www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/airmed/staff/westall.html

Dr Kirk Kee has received an Abstract Scholarship to attend the 2014 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in San Diego, on behalf of the Assembly on Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology (SRN).

Ivan Cash Lung Foundation Australia Grant ($5000) awarded to Dr Ian Glaspole: "The effect of persistent anxiety and depression in IPF."

Is baby health affected by taking antipsychotic medications during pregnancy?

There is a great need for safety and efficacy information about the use of antipsychotic medications in pregnancy. A Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc) team have published research in PLOSOne based on data from the National Register of Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy, which they established in 2005. Live, healthy babies are the most common outcome following the use of antipsychotic medication in pregnancy, but the MAPrc research concludes that clinicians should be particularly mindful of neonatal problems such as respiratory distress. Reference: PLOS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094788. Monash story link. Radio National RN Drive transcript link.

Anaesthetic nitrous oxide no longer an enigma: results of international trial announced

Video of Paul Myles
describing ENIGMA-II

The ANZCA Trials Group recently announced the much anticipated results of the ENIGMA-II trial. Professor Paul Myles, Director of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at Alfred Hospital and the Monash department of the same name within Central Clinical School, presented the results at the combined plenary session at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetist (ANZCA) ASM and Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) ASC on May 6, 2014. Verdict: Nitrous oxide is safe.

What is the FODMAP content of coconut water?

 The Translational Nutrition research group receives many enquiries about the FODMAP content of coconut water. Recent testing has shown that coconut water, at a standard serving size of 250 ml (8.45 fluid oz), is high in FODMAPs (overall rating is red).  The serving size of 250 ml contains high amounts of the Polyol- sorbitol and moderate amounts of the Oligos-fructans.  Intake at this serving size should be avoided. See link for detail: www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/diet-updates/coconut.html