The Heart Foundation of Heartweek is on the 6th to 12th May.
The 2012 Influenza Vaccination Program will commence nationally on Thursday 15th March 2012
Children presenting to the emergency department with moderate or severe asthma attacks are less likely to be admitted to hospital if they are treated with systemic corticosteroids within the first 75 minutes after triage, according to a new study.
Central Queensland University conductes the largest Australian sleep census to explore the sleep habits of the nation. 
New research shows increased information and education regarding the neurocognitive, cardiovascular and metabolic consequences of untreated OSA, as well as the importance of persisting with the treatment has positive consequences on patients CPAP compliance.
New research results reinforce the value of follow-up tools following right heart catheterisation and provide further support for some of the treatment goals currently suggested by international guidelines.
On Sunday 29th August the Thoracic and Sleep Group QLD took part in the Bridge to Brisbane event – raising funds for Autism Queensland. The Thoracic and Sleep Group had a corporate team compete in the 5km event. The 5km track began at Portside Hamilton and then followed the Inner City Bypass southbound towards the RNA Showgrounds.
Funding from this years 2010 event will help it expand services to 3000 Queensland families. Autism Queensland marketing and fundraising manager Paula Davidson said it hoped to extend services to regional centres such as Cairns and Rockhampton.
“We have extreme waiting lists in those regional areas,” she said. Funding will be used to support the Kidstart Outreach Early Intervention Programs, which help autistic children aged six years and under. Their program aims to develop strategies for these children, provide access to therapists and guidance counselors and helps to educate the parents and other family members about understanding autism.
Autism is a complex disorder which affects a person’s ability to interact with the world around them. Autism, a neuro-biological condition, affects one in every 160 children in Australia. Signs of autism include poor language development, unusual or repetitive behaviours, and a diminished interest in other people. The development areas most commonly affected are communication, social interaction and behaviour.
There is a high prevalence of sleep problems associated with autism. Studies have found between 44-83% of people with autism also has some kind of sleep problems. The most common problem is insomnia – difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep. Sleep studies have documented REM sleep abnormalities (such as immaturity in the organization of eye movements into discrete bursts, REM sleep without atonia) and features of undifferentiated sleep in which NREM and REM sleep were difficult to distinguish .
Whilst the Thoracic and Sleep group does not perform sleep studies on adolescents, assistance can be provided to find a suitable paediatric sleep physician.
More information about Autism can be found by contacting Autism Queensland through their website: 
References:
Malow BA, Marzec ML, McGrew SG, Wang L, Henderson LM, Stone WL. (2006). Characterizing sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders: A multidimensional approach. SLEEP 29(12): 1559-1567.
Richdale AL. (1999) Sleep problems in autism: prevalence, cause, and intervention. Dev Med Child Neurol 41: 60-6.
Victorian State Government (2010). Autism. Accessed on 30/08/2010.