The Medical journal of Australia
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While the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council guideline document of 2009 on reducing health risks from drinking alcohol provided sensible advice for public policy on alcohol, it appeared to dismiss the cardiovascular benefits of low to moderate consumption. Undue prominence was given to a hypothesis from a single research group that the well documented J-curve relationship of lower risk of ischaemic heart disease events with low to moderate intake alcohol consumption may have been due to a misclassification of drinking patterns. ⋯ Recent studies have separated recent abstainers from lifetime abstainers and the misclassification hypothesis has not been confirmed as an explanation for the J-shaped curve. The J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk has been studied and confirmed in multiple studies; while it complicates the formulation of public policy on alcohol consumption, it cannot be dismissed.
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To examine the association between tobacco outlet density and area socioeconomic status (SES) in Western Australia. ⋯ This study provides the first Australian evidence of a strong relationship between area SES and tobacco outlet density. Findings are consistent with a number of United States studies that report higher tobacco outlet densities in lower SES or minority neighbourhoods. The results underscore the importance of policy approaches to limit the number of tobacco retail licences granted, and to reduce the geographic density of outlets in more disadvantaged suburbs and towns.
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To describe risk factors for recurrence after exclusive surgical treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection. ⋯ Recurrence rates after exclusive surgical treatment of M. ulcerans disease in an Australian cohort are high, with increased rates associated with immunosuppression or positive histological margins.
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To determine the prevalence of prior and current mental health disorders in parents, including trends over time. ⋯ From 1990 to 2005, there was an increase in prevalence of parents with a prior history of mental health disorders in WA. General practitioners and mental health workers can play an important role in identifying mental illness and in working with families to offer early intervention, referral and support.
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To examine population iodine status in Tasmania after mandatory iodine fortification of bread and assess the magnitude of difference compared with results from a period of voluntary iodine fortification. ⋯ Iodine status in Tasmania can now be considered optimal. Mandatory iodine fortification has achieved significantly greater improvements in population iodine status compared with voluntary fortification. However, surveys of schoolchildren cannot be generalised to pregnant and breastfeeding women, who have higher iodine requirements. Measurement of iodine status in population surveys is warranted for ongoing monitoring and to justify the appropriate level of fortification of the food supply into the future.