Is COVID-19 reshaping the Australian psyche?

by Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
reproduced from Lens 9 Sept 2020

Perhaps one of the unexpected impacts of COVID-19 on Australians is a reshaping of our national psyche. We've seen a rise in mental ill health, with greater numbers of people experiencing anxiety and depression due to the impacts of the pandemic.

Women, the elderly and the vulnerable are particularly experiencing more mental health problems. However, the community’s response has not been to ignore this and say, "She’ll be right, mate", but to insist on greater resources for Australians struggling with mental ill health.

Visual snow causes being revealed

A/Prof Jo Fielding explains the research. See video

Neuroscientists have recently characterised how visual processing is disrupted in the condition known as Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS).

The hallmark symptom of VSS is constant and dynamic “snow” across the entire field of vision.

Lessons from China: Predicting second - and subsequent - waves, and when restrictions can ease

Research from Monash University on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China gives important clues into predicting the size and potential causes of second, and subsequent waves and also when restrictions can be lifted once infection rates start to decline.

The data reveal that the first 30 cases may mark a critical threshold for the transition from a slow to a fast-growing phase of the COVID-19 epidemic. Importantly, after a strict city-wide quarantine measure is applied, maintaining a high uptake of mask-wearing and reduced social contacts are essential to enable the epidemic to follow a smooth decline to elimination. However, if mask usage is 50% or less, there are likely to be more outbreaks.

25 Aug - 7 Sep 2020 Central Clinical School publications

L-R: Dr Emily Edwards and A/Prof Menno
van Zelm are respectively first and last authors
on a review paper on the most prevalent form 
of primary immunodeficiency.

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 25 Aug - 7 Sep 2020 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. The below is not a comprehensive list:

• Allergy, Immunology & Respiratory Medicine
• Anaesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine - Alfred
• MSHC
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Surgery

21 July - 21 Aug 2020 Central Clinical School publications

Toxoplasma and traumatic brain injury:
better kept separate. See study

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during the month 21 July - 21 Aug 2020 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. See publications featuring COVID-19 research during this period in a separate entry. The below is not a comprehensive list:

• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Diabetes
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine - Peninsula
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Surgery

Welcome Dr Fiona Bodey to new Medical Education role

Dr Fiona Bodey

Associate Professor Anne Powell

Congratulations to Associate Professor Anne Powell and Dr Fiona Bodey on their new appointments respectively as Director of Alfred Health's Physician Education program and interim (until Dec 2021) Director of Central Clinical School's (CCS) Medical Education program.

Welcome to Jacinta Opie, Multiple Sclerosis Neuro Immunology Unit!

Welcome to Ms Jacinta Opie, who has just joined the Multiple Sclerosis Neuro Immunology (MSNI) Unit with Helmut Butzkueven's group. Jacinta is a Senior Research Project Manager responsible for a project investigating markers of progression in MS, part of the MSBase Registry. She has more than 20 years’ experience across the public, private and International health sectors in operational and project management. She also has experience across areas including change management, leading key stakeholder engagement, contract management and clinical advisory with a specific interest in innovation and research.