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.A specific adiposity-promoting effect of AD36 human adenovirus had previously been described. In vitro, the virus infects immature adipocytes, prompting them to develop more quickly and proliferate, explain Dr Jeffrey B. Schwimmer and colleagues in the journal Pediatrics.
AD36 is one of more than 50 strains of adenovirus known to infect humans. It usually causes mild upper respiratory infections and is responsible for 5-10% of common colds.
In their study of 124 children 8 to 18 years of age, children with positive antibodies for adenovirus 36 were also more likely to be obese.
The children were classified according to BMI percentile as non-obese (<95th percentile) or obese (≥95th percentile), and adenovirus 36 (AD36)-specific neutralising antibodies were measured.
Of those children, 46% were non-obese and 54% were obese. AD36 positivity was present in 19 children (15%). The majority of children found to be AD36-positive were obese (15 of 19 children). AD36 positivity was significantly more frequent in obese children (15 of 67 children) than nonobese children (4 of 57 children). Among the subset of children who were obese, those who were AD36-positive had significantly larger anthropometric measures, including weight, BMI, waist circumference, and waist/height ratio.
Children who were AD36-positive weighed almost 50 pounds more, on average, than children who were AD36-negative. These data support an association of obesity and higher body weight with the presence of neutralising antibodies to AD36 in children.
"If a cause-effect relationship was established, it would have considerable implications for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity," the authors conclude.
About childhood obesity in Australia
Obesity is defined by body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on a person's weight and height.
Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85 percentile, but lower than the 95 percentile. Obesity is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.
In Australia an estimated 1.5 million people under the age 18 are considered overweight or obese. This means about 20-25% of Australian children are overweight or obese.
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In 1995, the proportion of overweight or obese children and adolescents aged 2-17 years was 21% for boys and 23% for girls.
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There have also been significant increases in childhood obesity in recent years. The proportion of obese girls aged 7-15 years increased dramatically from 1.2% in 1985 to 5.5% in 1995, and the proportion of obese boys increased from 1.4% to 4.7%.
The proportion of overweight or obese children in Australian is increasing at an accelerating rate. This pattern, showing up since the 1980’s, is similar internationally.
Many risk factors for childhood obesity have been identified: poor eating habits or overeating, lack of exercise, family history, ethnicity, psychological problems such as stress or depression, family circumstances or socioeconomic status.
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