Now parents are encouraged to introduce common allergens in the first year of life, products are popping up promising to make it easier.  However it's unclear whether these sachets are adequate to help prevent allergies, or if it's still better to stick to whole foods.  Guest/s Professor Mimi Tang, paediatric immunologist and allergist at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital 

When a couple is struggling to conceive, historically women have been the focus of infertility discussions. However in up to 30 per cent of cases male reproductive issues are the sole factor, and in another 20 per cent of cases it’s a contributing factor. For the first time guidelines have been released for the assessment and management of male infertility. Guest/s Professor Rob McLachlan, Medical Director, Healthy Male and consultant andrologist for the Monash IVF program References Guidelines for the management of male infertility - Healthy Male

Joint replacements don’t last forever, but they are lasting longer thanks to new technology. A new report has looked at the more than 150,000 hip, knee and shoulder joint replacements in the 12 months to December 2024. Just 6.9 per cent of these were revisions, meaning an artificial joint needed to be replaced. Guest/s Dr Peter Lewis, orthopaedic surgeon and deputy director of the Australian Joint Replacement Registry References Data Resource Profile: The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR)

We’ve known for about 50 years that there’s an issue with the machine that measures oxygen saturation in your blood. Pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen saturation in people with dark skin, and it can result in them not receiving vital care. New research is underway to assess how this disparity might affect sleep apnea assessments – and whether incorrect readings could lead to misdiagnoses. Guest/s Dr Amal Osman, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI): Sleep Health References Novel Hypoglossal Stimulation Markedly Improves Airflow and Airway Collapsibility in OSA Racial Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurement - NEJM

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au References Find a clinical trial

A change in guidance has prevented tens of thousands of children from developing an allergy to peanuts.  Until about 10 years ago, parents were advised to delay the introduction of peanuts until about three years of age.  It's now understood that advice actually led to an increase in allergies.  Also, the shingles vaccine could lower the risk of heart attacks and stroke, adding to benefits that go well beyond protection from the virus itself. References Guidelines for Early Food Introduction and Patterns of Food Allergy New systematic review and meta-analysis shows an association between shingles vaccination and lower risk of heart attack and stroke  Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine - who should get vaccinated?

For people in larger bodies, going to the doctor can be a minefield, even for common ailments. Weight and weight loss can be brought up unprompted, and because of this some people avoid going to the doctors at all. So how should weight be discussed in primary care? How do doctors avoid an overemphasis on weight, versus avoiding it entirely? Guest/s Professor Gemma Sharp, founding director of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders References Supporting weight focused discussions in primary care: A qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators Discussing Weight with Patients in Primary Care in Australia: A Mixed Methods Experimental Study

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses the magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It has shown promise in depression when other treatments haven’t worked. Where does the evidence stand on TMS, and how does it compare to other treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? Guest/s Professor Paul Fitzgerald, director of the school of medicine and psychology at the Australian National University References TGA approves new brain stimulation device for treatment of depression - ABC News

The five-year survival rate from pancreatic cancer is only 13 per cent, and one explanation could be late diagnosis. A consortium of experts has formed to increase survival by improving early detection and screening. The goal is to increase the 5-year suvival rate to 50 per cent within the next decade. Guest/s Dr Diane Simeone, director of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and founder of the PRECEDE Consortium Professor Andrew Metz, gastroenterologist and director of the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth Hospital References The Australian Pancreatic High-RIsk ScrEening (APRISE) Study The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put out its global report on antibiotic resistance. In some countries resistance to last-ditch antibiotics is going up, leaving no treatment options available to potentially deadly bugs.  Also, if you've got a My Health Record you'll be getting faster access to some blood test results.  References Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report – World Health Organization  New test categories available for faster access on My Health Record

Rosacea is a common and chronic skin condition that often affects the cheeks, chin, nose and eyes. While there’s no cure, there are treatments that can help manage the condition. There are people who are more susceptible, and some potential risks that go alongside it. Guest/s Associate Professor Gayle Ross, dermatologist and the head of dermatology research at Royal Melbourne Hospital

In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced he had edited the genomes of human embryos. The births of twins Lulu and Nana brought forward an ongoing debate about whether we should ever make heritable changes to the human genome. And if we do, how far should we go? Can we really stop at curing disease, or will we be opening the door for designer babies? Guest/s Professor John Rasko, leading researcher in gene therapy Professor Matthew Porteus, paediatrics and stem cell biology at Stanford University Distinguished Professor Emerita Dianne Nicol, Centre for Law and Genetics at the University of Tasmania Thank you to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for supplying the baby KJ audio, and Genepool Productions for supplying the citizen's jury audio used in this episode.

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Tens of thousands of children aged under five are suffering acute malnutrition in Gaza, according to a recent study highlighting the impact of blockades and aid restrictions.  The study published in the Lancet shows how rates of wasting — measuring the circumference of the upper arm — noticeably fluctuated when aid was allowed through or at times of ceasefire.  References Assessment of malnutrition in preschool-aged children by mid-upper arm circumference in the Gaza Strip (January, 2024–August, 2025): a longitudinal, cross-sectional, surveillance study Testimony, advocacy, and the public health effect of genocide Health of the Nation report - RACGP Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

There is emerging evidence that diet changes might be able to help people with endometriosis manage their symptoms. There have been recent studies looking into the effects of a low FODMAP diet and supplements. Guidelines have been updated to reflect where the evidence stands on endometriosis care and treatment. Guest/s Dr Marilla Druitt, obstetrician, gynaecologist and RANZCOG councillor References Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis - The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 

Heart failure affects about 55 million people worldwide, including Almost 144,000 people in Australia. Prevention is possible, but are we taking the right approach to lower the risk of people falling into heart failure? A new Lancet series propose a comprehensive framework to reduce the burden of heart failure in the community. Guest/s Associate Professor Adam Nelson, cardiologist at the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals References Cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health: an actionable vision for heart failure prevention - the Lancet

Anal cancer is a rare cancer with a lot of stigma attached, and many misconceptions. While rates are significantly higher in men who have sex with men than those who don’t, more women are still diagnosed with the condition than men. We also know most cases are caused by infection with specific strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), driving home the importance of vaccination. Guest/s Dr Mary Poynten, clinical epidemiologist and Group Leader of the Anal Cancer Prevention Research Group at the Kirby Institute at the UNSW References Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan says the government could double its funding to researchers through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).  That's according to costings she has commissioned, which she says points to an excess of funds that Australia could use to jump on the gaps in medical research left by the Trump administration.  Also, warnings from the TGA on melatonin bought online and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) retracts a controversial study on apple cider vinegar and weight loss.  References Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy - NHMRC Safety concerns over imported melatonin products - TGA Retraction: Apple cider vinegar for weight management in lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study