P u l s e 1 4 3 by HMSA Bond University

contents page. A word fromthe editor

Pg. 3

Ebola

Laters from the HMSA

Pg.10-13

Pg.6-7

Hello from the president

Moving on out, and up?

Pg.4

Pg.20-21

Pg. 8-9

Pg. 5

Alcohol under the microscope

From the deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office

Obese

Medsoc Physical evidence

Trainspotting review

Pg. 22 Pg. 14-17

P.g 26-27

Physical recap Pg. 16

8 Stages of blood doantion

Pg. 18-19

Pg. 24-25

Aboriginal STI review Pg. 28-29 Mental Health awareness week

Pg. 30-31

Janey Cooks

Pg. 32-33

The Projects Pg. 35-37

a word from the editor. I was really hoping that by the time my last edition of PULSE came bounding around the corner I would have a catchy phase or something to intrigue the heck out of such a fabulous audience of readers. Once again, thank you for making it to the second sentence so far of PULSE, your support throughout my term has been incredible; the flick of pages, likes on Facebook and the odd mention around campus has made my experience as Publications Director and Editor of PULSE flipping wicked. Pulse has taught me a lot of things this year. The ways of life some inhabitants of the Bat Labs are truly documentary worthy, numerous life lessons of deadlines that come and go and should often be abided by, as well as the most important fact that is reiterated continuously, computers and I are a love affair destined for failure. Showcased in this edition is the phenomenal talent of Health Science & Medicine students. The articles in PULSE 3.0 range from an investigation of alcohol under the microscope to Ebola, crossing over to sexually transmitted diseases and a rough reminder you can’t always have your cake and eat it.

Gracias to the legends who have given me their words and thoughts, without such talent, PULSE 3.0 would no doubt be in a sad shape. A massive thank you to Zac for being the cool headed, design inspirer and ideas man for this edition, I appreciate/10. For all those eager holding substantial amounts of untapped talent be sure to submit to PULSE in the future; a wonderful opportunity to be published and ‘start getting yo name out there’. Only prerequisites are sass, intrigue and fun, so get around that. The term of the current HMSA committee ends this week! The team will be free of PHYSICAL planning, Wednesday night meetings and well respected food rosters. Please help us throw a farewell party by attending AMNESIA; the annual opportunity for an all-inclusive cocktail event. Best wishes for the next committee, I hope your experience is as wild and wacky as our term was! A hug of good luck for upcoming barriers and end of semester exams, but more luck for staying indoors studying with the current summer weather. I have truly loved the opportunity to be your slightly mad editor of PULSE, thank you for all contributors, the love, the reads, the respect for the past year – it’s been a blast!

Mucho love amigos, Laura

Publications Director Laura.macdougall@student.bond.edu.au

hello from the president It has been a wonderful time with such a great team on the HMSA this year. Over three semesters, we’ve made a considerable effort to improve the student experience in the faculty. In Semester One, we brought some old and new events to the calendar. With a great deal of enthusiasm and creativity, the HMSA brought you The Physical 141: WOODSTOCK 1969, a great night for all hippy, free-loving folk involved. The success of the night was reflected by students from all faculties of the university voting it Best FSA Event of the semester. In terms of new events, the committee also ran Karaoke for a Cure, a very fun night with the aim of fundraising for the Cancer Council. We also brought those students wishing to pursue post-graduate studies GAMSAT support through an introductory session and mock exam. In the second semester of this year, the committee maintained its fervour and enthusiasm to provide great support to all students in the faculty, in particular our new medicine students. The Physical 142 went “Out of this World” in all ways, with extreme dedication seen in the costume department, Dons came alive with extra-terrestrial life! This semester we supported the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Education program with Karaoke for an Education. Additionally, the annual Staff vs Student Netball Tournament was held with an excessive amount of pizza provided, as always, for our teams. This semester, as always, the HMSA brought all efforts to deliver buckets of fun for a great night at The Physical 143: FULL MOON PARTY. In terms of academics, GAMSAT support was continued for those students aiming for postgraduate medicine and dentistry. We also introduced the annual cocktail event Amnesia, providing the perfect opportunity for a night of class and to announce the new committee of 2015. I’ve tried to be brief and as a result have definitely missed the smaller, continued efforts that have been made by our committee members, but overall, I think we’ve had a very successful term achieving our aim of increased awareness about the services the HMSA offers. I would like to say the biggest thank you to my team; you’ve truly made this year so enjoyable and pleasant. Best of luck to the new committee for next year, I’m sure you will do great things! NIAHM RAMSAY

from the dean’s office.

hank you to Laura and the Pulse team for giving me the opportunity to write a few words to introduce myself. This is the beginning of my 8th week at Bond University, so by your internal calendar, I have moved past mid-semester and should be getting myself prepared for some serious exams soon! So – first impressions. I’ve landed in an amazing University that, like all fine institutions, is great and does good because of the calibre of its people. Talented academics, fine researchers, exceptional professional support and students who are engaged , smart and committed to their studies and building a better future for our health system. I’ve met and spoken with a number of students and student groups now. Faculty Awards night and Graduation day last month were special because there we celebrated achievement and success. A great privilege for me to be invited to attend the Welcome to Country of the two-day Cultural Immersion program for our first year Medical students. Did you know that Bond University is the only university in Australia to have a program of this significance? How many people have told me not to think of swimming in Lake Orr? Do I look like I would? Truly impressed with our Institute students – physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics and sports/exercise science. Lots of good interdisciplinary work going on there (especially around the table tennis table which is great!) and opportunities to do more also.

Biomed Science students hunched over microscopes and using machines with multisyllabic names are firmly on a pathway to career success – been great to meet some of you. Great sushi on campus, love the Adco Amphitheatre events. And thank you for BondStock fireworks that welcomed me to campus on my first night in South Tower. Big hello to the group there – and thanks for helping me with suitcases on move-in day. They were full of books – not shoes. I am privileged to work in a building where every day I am moved by the Indigenous art collection on loan from the Patrick Corrigan collection – our Faculty is the custodian of a unique collection. Great use of the informal study spaces on level 3 and thanks to the students who humour me as I ask them a little about themselves and their studies (but please – where do the coffee cups go? Yes, I have two grown-up children so can’t get that “clean” gene out of me). I have been advised to start reading the newspaper from the back – apparently the Vice Chancellor was not impressed when I asked what sport was played at the big field at Carrara. Yes – I know – it’s um the GC Suns who play er AFL. No need to check my Internet meta data – I looked it up to make sure I was correct….

Lots to do to ensure we maintain the excellence of our current health system whilst also finding new ways of meeting future challenges as our population ages and we see an increasing prevalence of life-style related illnesses. Our Faculty is well-positioned to lead innovation in interdisciplinary models of healthcare, evidence-based practice, social determinates of disease, technology-enabled integrated care, understanding and addressing inequalities in healthcare - well the list goes on. We have an important mission to fulfil. Finally, two sentences about me. I am a speech pathologist by training and have come from UQ where I was previously Director of a translational research centre in neuromodulation (specifically deep brain stimulation) and, before that, Deputy Executive Dean of their Faculty of Health Sciences. I research in the area of language neuroscience and technology-enabled, integrated health care. As mentioned, two children, no pets, love ABC British crime series and strangely, a show called The Great British Bake Off. Strangely, because I am well known for my ability to provide excellent food for my guests – cooked by someone else. Ok – you’re right. That’s four sentences. But I’m a speech pathologist. We love communicating. I look forward to meeting more of you over coming months. Good luck with your exams. And thank you for being excellent ambassadors for our Faculty at Bond. Regards

Helen

laters from the hmsa. 1. Things you’ve most enjoyed about HMSA, what you will/wont miss & advice to the upcoming crew. 2. Plans for the future/ what are you doing with your life? 3. Last words from the HMSA

1 - My favourite thing about the HMSA is that it makes you get to know people in the faculty that you wouldn’t normally meet. I’m definitely going to miss Melad’s extreme generosity when it comes to ordering pizza. 2 - I’m starting post-grad medicine next year at Notredame Sydney - finally! 3 - Once a bondie, always a bondie

1 - Most enjoyed the food roster, and obviously our fantastic physical results every semester. Won’t miss the last minute panic but will miss watching everyone have a great time and drinking in Niamh’s car during the actual event... 2. To graduate and hopefully get into dentistry, so I can make everyone’s teeth pearly white 3. Good luck finding a mascot as cute/annoying/loud as Loki

1 - My favourite thing about the HMSA has been the people, its been a lot of fun to work with such a great committee! I’ll definitely miss the Physical and Laura bringing her amazing baking to meetings! I won’t miss chasing people’s timetables at the start (or middle - Melad I’m looking at you) of the semester. 2 - I’m moving to the University of Sydney next year to study Medicine but will definitely be back to visit 3 - Good luck to the incoming committee - you have big shoes to fill!

1 - Ive enjoyed the drinks cards once we get out at the club after the Physical the most. I wont miss Melad. 2 - Meeting Drake and becoming wordwide hip-hop/deep house senstation DJ Gads. Also got a photoshoot with GQ India coming up. 3 - HMSA. The FSA that consistently punches above its weight. Pickup line: i used to be treasurer of the HMSA.

1 - The best thing about the HMSA was organisng the Physical, and seeing how much of a wild party it can be 2 - In the future I plan to finish my degree and potentially do further study, 3 - Physical - best event for 2014

1 - From my time on HMSA, I’ve most enjoyed getting to know the people of Bond at a deeper level, through the meetings in the HSM building, the kind security guards who often attempt to kick us out and of course the specimens dwelling in the Bat Labs at hideous times. 2 - What I am doing with my life still remains a fairly good mystery, however I have managed to secure a spot in the Dr of Physiotherapy cohort so will start in 2015 3- Last words, for the next Pulse editor, I hope you know how to use a computer better than I do, r e s p e c t. 1 - Favourite thing about HMSA was meeting all the awesome people, and of course the free food. 2 - Plans for the future is to finish med (lol) 3 - Gratata

1- Managing the Physical and the party was great fun, I won’t miss the meetings and disagreements we had though, hahaha. 2- Planning to finish my bachelor successfully would be a great thing, then I will go where life will take me 3- HMSA is more than a FSA, it is a wonderful group of individuals from different back grounds where we share sad and happy moments, where connections are made and conflicts are resolved. VIVE LA FRANCE ET VIVE HSMA

1 - The HMSA has been 1 - It has been amazing great to have some 1 - Mostly enjoyed the food and getting to meet new people great laughs and banter during meetings. I’ll through being a part of the opportunities to go miss Melad HMSA. I’ve thoroughly encrazy at the Physical 2 - Still have a semester left at joyed every second of it. 2In the future I’d like bond, then hopefully get a bit 2 - For the future I hope to to continue with phar of travelling in next year keep trekking along through maceutical law 3 - “Have you met Melad?” medicine, and take every year 3 - Good luck to the next as it comes HMSA 3 - All the best for the next HMSA!

1. I’ve most enjoyed meeting new people aaaaaand the food at meetings. I will not miss spending hours on posters and then having the printer fail on me. My advice for the next crew would be to just have fun. 2. I’m not sure what I’m doing next year, but hopefully honours or something along those lines. 3. Good luck for the next HMSA!

ALCOHOL UNDER THE MICROSCOPE B

evShots is an ingenious collection of products created through the mix of alcohol + science = art.

Michael W. Davidson founder of the company ‘BevShots’, started his 25yr science career in the science lab. During this time he was mainly involved in microscopy in which he photographed a collection of items including; DNA, biochemical and vitamins. It wasn’t until Davidson had decided he wanted to expand his business and career horizons that he saw the opportunity for commercial use of his microphotographs. After presenting his pictures to several retail companies, his first collection of merchandise, neckties, arose from just one word, ‘cocktails’. With this new creative direction Davidson took his microphotography a step further. He began photographing alcohol under the microscope. WRITTEN BY MICHAELA ROBERTS

With this new muse, Davidson produced high-quality images of many of the favorites such as beers, wines, liquors, cocktails and mixers. The microphotographs were taken after the beverage had crystalised on a slide and had been shot under a polarized light microscope. The magnificently abstract colours and compositions of the images are naturally produced as the light refracts through the beverage crystals. These one of a kind art pieces can be showcased as wrapped canvas’, metallic prints, bar coasters, shot glasses, hip flasks, pocket squares, nectkties, neck scarves & beach sarongs. BevShots are a perfect feature piece when decorating at home or in the workplace and they also make unique gift ideas for occasions such as housewarming parties, wedding gifts & birthdays etc. If you’d like to see more please visit their website at http://bevshots. com

EBOLA. I

ts been at the forefront of news for the past few months and the interest surrounding it only looks like increasing as the hysteria that is Ebola spreads. What exactly is Ebola though? There are in fact five species of Ebola virus, four of these known to cause Ebola virus disease in humans. The first recorded outbreaks occurred simultaneously in Sudan and The Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, the latter occurring in a village near the Ebola River, hence where the disease takes its name. The Zaire ebolavirus is the species that is associated with the most recent outbreaks in West Africa. A particular species of fruit bats are thought to be the natural hosts for this virus and transmission to humans may have occurred through close contact with blood and other bodily secretions. Human transmission occurs through the same pathways however it occurs much more easily, such as through contact with surfaces contaminated with these fluids (bedding, clothes). Transmission is possible once an individual has become symptomatic. The incubation period, that is the period between infection and the onset of symptoms, is between 2-21 days. The first set of symptoms includes fever, muscle pain, fatigue and sore throat. These symptoms will develop into vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired liver and kidney function, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding. Currently there is no vaccine or curative treatment for the virus, however extensive research is being conducted. The virus is classified at biosafety level 4 agent, which is the highest classification. It has also been classified as a category A bioterrorism agent that has the potential to be weaponized for use in biological warfare, by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. WRITTEN BY JAMES WIFFEN

y this stage, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible not to have heard of Ebola. With the Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever (or Ebola Virus Disease) claiming almost 5,000 lives across Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, as well as more recently Mali and Nigeria, the hysteria surrounding the virus has increased exponentially. The input of ill-informed celebrities such as Donald Trump has perpetuated numerous myths that have been circulating in the media

MYTH 1

Ebola is airborne, waterborne, or spreads through casual contact This is false, the Ebola virus only spreads when the bodily fluids of an infected person come into direct contact with the mucous membranes or broken skin of an uninfected disease. This means that whilst Ebola is infectious, it is less contagious than other common illnesses such as measles or the common cold.

In Western hospitals, transmission could be easily prevented with precautionary measures such as facemasks, gloves, protective gowns and isolation units. However, individuals who have been infected with Ebola can remain contagious even after they pass away. This is problematic as traditional West African burial ceremonies for patients who have died of Ebola are a major source of infection.

MYTH 2

Brining Ebola patients back to the U.S. (or potentially Australia) puts civilians at risk Recently, Drs Kent Brantley and Nancy Writebol became infected with Ebola whilst volunteering with Samaritanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse in Liberia. They were flown back to America in a plane specially equipped with an isolation unit, and received treatment at Emory

University Hospital, before making a full recovery and being discharged. However, the decision to bring the doctors back to the US was highly contentious. Similarly, the Australian Government recently reached a deal with Britain to ensure that any Australian workers who became infected whilst working in West Africa would be transported to and treated in Britain. Despite the controversy surrounding this issue, the World Health Organisation has asserted that it would be highly unlikely for an outbreak to occur in countries such as the U.S. or Australia, which are far better equipped to handle an outbreak. Years of war and poverty have decimated the healthcare systems of nations such as Sierra Leone and Liberia, leaving them extremely vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola.

Whilst Ebola is a devastating disease and should not be downplayed, it is not necessarily as dangerous as it is made out to be in the media. To put it in perspective, whilst this Ebola outbreak has killed almost 5,000 people, it is estimated that in the same period of time over 350,000 people have died of malaria and over 700,000 from tuberculosis. To make matters worse, peak season for Lassa fever, a haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, is about to begin in West Africa, with 300,000-500,000 people being infected by the virus each year. As a result, there are numerous other potentially devastating diseases that also require attention, even more so than Ebola.

WRITTEN BY IMOGEN THOMSON

T H E P H

Y S I C A L

The Physical 143 gave Bondies their very own Full Moon Party. Complete with buckets, play pools and blow up toys – this Physical was not one to forget. Knowing this was our committees last Physical, we all wanted to go out with a bang.

The Physical Recap

After a huge day decorating Don’s with all of our beach needs we opened the doors to eager guests. They were greeted with party tunes supplied by DJ Bonka, making sure the dance floor was pumping the entire night. Faces were painted with spectacular UV patterns, complementing everyone’s already amazing costumes. Buses then took students to Platinum Nightclub in Broadbeach where everyone continued partying until early hours of the morning. As this is the last time I will be writing in Pulse I would like to thank everyone on this fabulous committee for all the hard work they have put in over the year. You guys have made running the Physical an absolute pleasure, putting up with my crazy ideas from bringing in an Elephant to making hundreds of crepe paper flowers to reversing a Kombi van into Dons (thanks again Fletchy). I wish the future committee all the best for the next year and I hope they have as much fun as I did running this awesome event. Stay tuned guys, I’m sure the Physical will come back bigger and brighter in 151! ANNA THORLEY

8 Stages of Blood donation If

you’re anything like me, you’re probably getting a little tired of seeing bad news on a daily basis. Channel surfing during the news hour is an ordeal, with every program offering up a fresh story of violence, illness or bankruptcy. Surrounded by negativity in mainstream media, you find yourself turning to videos of cats on YouTube just so you can tune out the bad vibes and crack a smile. What if I told you that there’s something you can do, on any normal day, that’s worth more smiles than cat videos? When you donate blood, you give three people, their families and yourself something to smile about. There are so many everyday Australians who are in desperate need of blood, but not nearly enough donations to go around. I’ve decided to be part of the good news, and saved three lives with one quick, easy and relatively painless donation. But I didn’t just save three people’s lives; I became the best possible news for three families who can now welcome home a loved one. The best thing? It only took me a couple hours. This is the breakdown of my first ever blood donation, to show how easy it really was, in the hope that it will encourage other people to donate too.

WRITTEN BY LILY EDWARDS

Feeling generous.

The first stage is the feeling. It’s where you want to do something for the community, that doesn’t involve too much hard work. So you start thinking, and you realize that – oh damn – isn’t giving blood a great idea?

Prep.

Now they have a few prep things they’d like you to do before your appointment. The first was to drink lots of water beforehand. Which meant for an entire day I just carried a water bottle around and drunk like I was in the Sahara. Not too hard. Also they’d like you to eat a big meal before you come in. Definitely not a problem.

Oh joy…forms.

The more boring part of the process = the forms. Because if you’ve been to Papua New Guinea in the last 3 years, they’d like to know. Seriously they would. Afterwards they’ll ask you a few questions in person. Just to make sure you’re eligible and don’t have Mad Cow Disease. Just in case you didn’t realize you do.

Recovery phase.

YES! You did it! You gave blood. No fainting required. The needle comes out and the blood goes off to save a life (hopefully). You also get a bandage on your arm, at which point you can tell all your friends about how you injured your arm in a fight with a bear. Or some other violent animal. Maybe a kangaroo.

Booking your appointment.

So you’ve made your decision. You’re going to donate blood and save lives. Now you’ve just got to book your appointment. The main challenge here is finding the phone number, which may be harder than you think. I’ve listed it at the bottom just in case.

Turning up.

The time is right. You’ve drunk your water and eaten your big meal. So now just push through the nerves (because everyone tells you it won’t hurt anyway) and get to the Red Cross location. Once you’ve arrived you will likely be greeted (as I was) by a lovely receptionist and a quiet café area. Very relaxing. Food is provided.

Blood out. Juice boxes in. Did I mention how keen they are for you to drink juice boxes? Because they are really keen. It’s almost enough to distract you from when they put the needle in your arm and start taking the blood. You also get a blanket, just in case you get a bit cold. At this point you can just sit back and watch

Food. Juice. Appointments.

Once you’re out and about the free food comes out. Along with more juice boxes. They suggest you hang around in the café area for at least 15 minutes, just to make sure you don’t feel faint. After that you’re free to go, but don’t forget to make another appointment! So give blood today, and be a part of the good news.

To donate, don’t hesitate and call the Red Cross Blood Service on this number (13 95 96)

MOVING ON OUT, AND UP? I started my time at Bond in the May semester of

2012. That means I’ve been here for a long time. People that started after me have already graduated and that’s a weird feeling… Having said that I only just moved of campus. I spent 7 semesters in the one room of B-block. When I tell people this they are invariably surprised and shocked that I could last that long. The most common questions are “didn’t you get sick of the food?” or “Didn’t you just want your own space.” Personally, these things weren’t big issues but I could understand how they were problems for others. I saw living on campus as much more as just a place where I lived, it was an opportunity for social interactions and meeting people that I would have otherwise never met. This is why I managed to stay for so long. This is why I enjoyed my time in the blocks so much. Sure there were times when girls in Bennetto’s room got a bit much, but it was all worth it in the end. I think it’s vital for people to start of their time on campus. Even though Bond is such a small and open place, it can be difficult at times to meet these new people. I was given this piece of advice by an older student that I only completely understand now. He said “leave the blocks when you know for sure, you’re ready to leave, not when you’re unsure, because you can never come back.” When I decided to move I was over the on campus experience. Being enclosed in a small room for 2 years can take its toll.

When is the right time to call it quits to your time on campus?

‘So if you can take anything away from this, let it be, enjoy your time on campus and don’t move off too hastily’ - Angad Singh

what’s up from medsoc It’s nearly the end of Week 7, and it seems absolutely ridiculous how time flies so quickly, with so many events been jam packed into this semester from MedSoc; and in a couple of weeks, many of us will be sitting our barriers (some for the first time as well)! However, although this may be the case, Semester 143 has yet again, been a brilliant semester due to a number of new initiatives and events held by the Medical Students’ Society of Bond University. These events included our ‘semesterly’ event MedEagle 143, the ‘Hand Over Party’, Jazz Night and of course, elections for the 2015 committee for MedSoc (more of which be found out in the latest issue of our magazine, Synapse). Of particular note is the organisation and creation of a ‘Jazz Night’ event, an event which was brought up by Theo Constantopoulous’ (3rd year MBBS) own initiative,

and I would like to thank him for organising this very unique event, which we hope to continue next year as well! Finally, I would like to thank Rehan, our immediate-past President and his committee for the absolutely brilliant leadership and actions they have displayed, taking charge of MedSoc and bringing forth new ideas, and policies for 2014. These are factors which I hope to continue as President of MedSoc for 2015, in order to allow our organisation to grow.

Douglas Brown

Furthermore, I also look forward to working with the new executive of HMSA, to allow our strong relations to continue prospering as a whole.

President of the Medical Students’ Society of Bond University (MSSBU)

Amnesia Thursday Week 10

Join the HMSA in a night you’ll never forget.

Week 10 Cocktail Party 7:30pm I Black Coffee Lyrics

~ ALL INCLUSIVE ~

TICKETS $30 Do not remove before 14/11/14

CHARITY EVENT ~ in support of Bond Children’s Holiday Camp

TRAINSPOTTING

A REVIEW

(1969)

eroin. Lots of it.

This is the general premise of Danny Boyle’s dark, confronting and ultimately hilarious drama-comedy. Set in the culturally beautiful but poverty stricken Edinburgh, we meet Mark “Rent Boy” Renton (Ewan McGregor), a charming yet troubled 20-something heroin addict, as he navigates his way through 1990’s England. Along the journey, we are introduced to the others in the gang of misfits the movie centres around: Spud, the harmless but good-natured addict, clean-cut athlete Tommy McKenzie, criminal and con artist Simon Williamson, and finally the ultra-violent sociopath Francis Begbie. Make no mistake, this movie is no easy watch. The film at times glorifies hard drug use, but balances this with showing the side-effects of such activities: time-warping, psychedelic depictions of drug withdrawal, mixed in with the hardcore reality of HIV. Combine this with the ultra-graphic violence and crime scenes, and you’re left with a movie that is at times too hard to watch. There is no doubting, however, the absolute masterpiece of a flick that Boyle has created in Trainspotting. Every facet of a drug user’s daily life is beautifully captured and documented in this movie. From the pure bliss of a heroin trip, to the gut-wrenching, demonic-like comedown and everything in between, you’ll be guaranteed to stay captivated, and for 2 hours Boyle traps you in saturated, nostalgic Britain. The other feature that has moved this movie from great into the genre of a cult-classic is undoubtedly to absolutely quality that is the soundtrack. With the quality hard-rock of Iggy Pop, the peaceful ambience of Brian Eno, to the Eurodance sounds of Ice MC, your ears are treated to the misty and churning beats of the 1990’s. Ultimately, Trainspotting accomplishes what every movie should do; enthral you in the moment. I couldn’t relate any less to some British Junkie from the 1990’s, and yet for 93 amazing minutes I felt like I too was waiting for my next smack hit. Do yourself a favour and give this a go. WRITTEN BY ELLIOT DUONG

obese.

CHILDREN CAN”T HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

ustralia is renowned for its beautiful beaches and iconic bikini babes, promoting the tourism industry and projecting a ‘healthy’ image to the rest of the world. So is this really reality or just a blast from the past? Statistics show that over the last 20 years, obesity rates have doubled, propelling Australia to be one of the fattest countries in the developed world (Australian Bureau of Statisics, 2013). Almost one in every 2 Australians are classed as either overweight or obese, and yet on all the billboards we see these picturesque, fit and healthy men and woman promoting our “healthy” way of life (Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institue, 2013). It is this arrogance in promoting Australia that begs the question of whether or not Australia as a whole, is even addressing the number one cause of premature death. The burden of obesity in adults in Australia is not only on the individual but also on society as a whole and on the governments in power.

Adults who are armed with education, have the knowledge and ability to change their life, it is merely a question of if they want to. This is the major difference in attacking the issue of obesity in adults, in comparison to obesity in children. Children are not equip to make a rational decision about their own welfare, and with a quarter of all children being classed as obese or overweight, our future is not looking good. Steps need to be taken to reduce the prevalence of obesity as a whole, with special consideration to groups who cannot control this themselves, such as children. If the government can implement more effective strategies in reducing obesity in schools, then we can break the modern Australian culture of fast food diets and mass consumption of unhealthy convenience food. If we want to get back our bikini bodies, and stand true to the ‘healthy’ Australian image, then strides must be taken both by the government and families to reduce obesity in our future generations.

WRITTEN BY JORDI KOPITTIKE

Sexually Transmitted Infections in Indigenous Communities: A Review A

boriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations have long been overrepresented in elements of health in the Australian community. Sexual health is a major health issue impacting contemporary society, with the main risk group being young people. Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a term used to describe a group of infections that are passed via unprotected sexual contact. The most commonly spread STIs in contemporary Australia are chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, with Chlamydia showing 82,707 incidences in 2012 alone. The prevalence of STIs in the Australian community is only increasing, however it is not yet considered a National Health Priority Area from the continued initiatives set by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 1996. If untreated these infections can lead to severities such as pelvic inflammatory disease, premature delivery, infertility and the facilitation of HIV transmission. As well as higher general expression of STIs, Indigenous communities have a large level of underreporting, with only symptomatic individuals seeking help. This gap in statistics allows for a large under-representation, as well as a large group of un-treated individuals facilitating the continued transmission of STIs.

WRITTEN BY STEPH ROCKETT

A lack of medical facilities available to, and utilised by, remote and transient Indigenous populations is a major factor in the continued transmission of STIs. Limited access to these services is only exacerbated by a low socioeconomic status and social disadvantage. Another determinant of such prevalence is the lower level of education regarding the diseases as well as practices in order to prevent their transmission, and the correlation between substance abuse and unsafe sexual behaviours. Results have shown higher rates of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis in rural areas than in inner regional and major Australian cities. In 2012, the chlamydia notification rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities residing in inner cities was 1 039 individuals per 100 000. As well as being three times larger than the non-Indigenous population this value only increased as data was collected further away from inner regional areas and major cities. These statistics are only the pinnacle of the problem, with a great number of people simply never reporting such infections and therefore never becoming a statistic. Chlamydia testing by the Kirby Institute in NSW found it to be the most common STI in 2012 with a total of 82 707 notifications for that year. Of these sufferers, 8% were shown to be Indigenous Australians that had reported their disease to a medical practitioner.

A shocking 49% (41 153) of chlamydia diagnoses were Indigenous and did not report their disease to anyone. Incomplete diagnostics of Indigenous groups has left for a large gap in the ability to diagnose and therefore a large underestimation in the full extent of the prevalence of these infections. In summary, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections in the Indigenous Australian community is at an intolerable level. There is an urgent need for it to be addressed as a National Health Priority Area, and for the implementation of sufficient educative programs in appropriate rural areas. The negative connotations of sexual discussion should also be discouraged, in order to promote the continual increase of safe sexual knowledge and reproductive health. Appropriate health centres and support facilities must be made accessible, and improved along with that of the drug and alcohol centres. In order to prevent the factors of socioeconomic status, cultural difference, substance abuse and education the government must implement these strategies at a people-based level, making sure that they are available for all Indigenous persons, and that their improved knowledge is able to be continued for generations to come.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK (MHAW) Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW)

took place between Sunday 5th of October till the 11th of October. This week is meant to represent the importance in increasing awareness and education in communities to remove the stigma associated with mental health illness. Mental health illnesses are a term used to describe anything from anxiety to clinical depression, and represent a range of illnesses afflicting approximately 20% of Australia’s population every year.

Despite the fact that it is so common within our population, there is still so much stigma and discrimination that is associated with it. It seems that because mental illnesses in general are not as easily tangible to observe and acknowledge in comparison to other medical problems, that the people suffering from them are unfairly perceived as ‘weak’.

As a medical student, I can easily see the misconception in this argument, however I can understand how people can reach this conclusion. This perfectly illustrates the importance of events like MHAW, which play a part in increasing societal awareness to mental health. It also illustrates how important it is for people to advocate on behalf of people who may be affected by mental health illnesses, so that they may have a voice as well. A lot of people suffer in silence, and end up not receiving the treatment they need, until it’s too late. It’s important to recognize the signs earlier, and take action against them as soon as possible.

Check out MHAW New Zealand’s 5 ways to Wellbeing below: - Connect - Give - Take Notice, - Keep Learning - Be Active

WRITTEN BY MELAD SYED

JANEY COOKS

We’ve all heard the saying you are what you eat but, are you really? Experience tells us that if you eat too much beta-carotene (carrot juice lovers I’m talking to you) you will turn orange. On a broader scale though, your weight & health are largely determined by the amount and quality of the food you eat. It’s not quite as simple as just balancing energy in and energy out but that’s a good starting point for most people (unless of course you have a medical condition or other special consideration). Improving the amount and quality of the food I ate is how I started to improve my weight as well as my general health and well-being.

If we go back in time to 2012, I’d just spent 6 months on exchange in France eating all ze cheese, macrons, bread and pastries that I possibly could. I then moved into South Tower and was forced to eat bra food and, being a typical fresher, consumed an unhealthy amount of alcohol. I was far from overweight or obese but I was certainly not healthy either. Wind the tape forward to May 2013 when I moved off campus and started cooking the sort of wholesome, nutritious food that I’ve always loved. At the same time I slowly became more active (yay for social netty and NUG). This really weird thing also happened where I kinda got sick of being hungover so decided to cut back on the boos. The result: I lost about 6kgs without even noticing. Ok I did sort of notice when my clothes stopped fitting properly but what I mean to say is that I didn’t make any real effort. The little less alcohol, healthier food and more exercise was all it took!

I’ve always loved cooking and just food, Brown Rice Sushi full stop! The longer I was off campus, the more opportunities I had to expand 1 cup brown rice 2 cups water my culinary repertoire. Once I got Instagram, started to share my food and got positive comments I thought hmm maybe its time I start sharing my recipes. This is how my blog and Instagram ‘Janey Cooks’ was born. I share the snaps and recipes of the (mainly) healthy food that I eat and cook. My recipes are simple and cost effective so that other povvo students & people learning to cook can use them to improve the quality of the food they eat. Before I share a couple of easy ‘no-cook’ recipes I’d just like to say that healthy food does not have to be expensive. With a kilo of mince for $5, a tin of 89c tomatoes and a carrot, zucchini or two you can create a delicious and nutritious spaghetti bolognese that will feed you for almost a week. Please, please don’t let the fear of it being expense or the idea that cooking is hard stop you from eating great food! Now my mum who is a self described ‘basic country cook’ would probably not approve of this recipe but as a student with slightly more exotic tastes I give it a big thumbs up! A healthy take on classic recipes that are cost effective and require practically no cooking , so yes you will be able to make them in the Blocks!

WRITTEN BY JANE CORNISH

3 tbsp sushi vinegar 1-2 nori (seewead) sheets Filling* ½ avocado, sliced into strips 1 small carrot cut into matchsticks 1 small cucumber cut into matchsticks Shredded lettuce 1-2 slices reduced fat cheese Rice: Cook the brown rice according to the packet instructions or in the microwave. Combine water and rice in a microwave safe dish (v. important!), cover and cook on high for 8-10mins. Reduce microwave power to 75% and cook for a further 13-15mins until the water is absorbed. Keep an eye on the rice while its cooking in case it boils over. Sushi: Place nori sheet shiny side down on a bamboo sushi mat (or a teatowel & glad wrap)**. Cover the nori with a 1-2cm layer of rice. Leave a 1-2cm border around the edge of the nori sheet. Arrange the veges on the bottom half of the nori sheet. Roll the sushi, pulling the mat out as you go. Wet the edge of the sushi so it sticks together. Give the roll a good squeeze at the end to make sure its nice and compact and easy to cut. ** Cut your sushi into bite-sized pieces and serve with soy sauce

BULLSHARKS Following the lead of Bull-Sharks to the Pirates, some thoughts. ‘ The universities of Gold Coast join forces as the students from Bond University and Griffith come along to play the Thursday comp of the Gold Coast Water Polo League. “A new season always means a new challenge, and this year is the get the rivals together in order to reach the finals and hopefully the Gold”, said the Bond University Water Polo club’s secretary Xavier Demaneuf. After facing problem to keep up the numbers through the semesters, the Pirates from Griffith and the Bull Sharks from Bond are coming along for the 2014-15 season. WRITTEN BY XAVIER DEMANEUF

The challenge was “first to agree on the conditions which would bring us to a win-win situation” explains Xavier. Since then, you can find the team training at the Bond Pool every Monday and at the new aquatic centre in Southport on Wednesday. With the weekly games hold at Pizzey Park in Miami, it offers the player the chance to train in different conditions and places. All the levels of the league are cover (social, first division and girls), with player in the top league of the coast, the A Grade, some in the more social and fun B Grade and finally, the girls team were set up due to the important demand from the ladies to join the game. With only two weeks down in the season, a first win and a lost, we can only encourage and whish all the best to all the students who are involved for this 2014-15 season.

‘The Effect of Cold Water Swimming on Core Temperature and Strategies to Improve Tolerance’ Vanessa Franks-Kardum

AIM

To investigate the core temperature changes in cold water endurance swimmers, over a six hour swim and to determine any factors (i.e. body fat %) that correlate with lower core temperatures.

SUMMARY The English Channel is the “Mount Everest” of swimming events and is at the shortest distance ~32km from England to France. Most swimmers will take over 13 hours to complete the swim, in 13-15ºC water temperatures (similar to an ice bath). The overall successfulness in 2013 was ~40% meaning failure is more likely. In addition, hypothermia is a serious medical risk to English Channel swimmers who are not permitted thermal aids (i.e. wetsuits). Hypothermia leads to symptoms that include shivering, fatigue and decreased heart rate which can result in complications such as abnormal behaviour, altered consciousness and even coma or death. Currently, to improve cold tolerance swimmers are advised to maintain an ‘overweight’ standard of body fat for insulation and hypothermia protection. However, being ‘overweight’ can increase risk future health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancers (i.e. colorectal and breast cancer). Another frequent suggestion is cold adaption, for example, training in water ‘cold water’ (<21ºC). However, the mechanisms of cold water adaption or tolerance are poorly understood. Therefore, more research is needed to improve swimmers risk of hypothermia and to further knowledge of cold water tolerance strategies. The current study recruited nine cold water swimmers aged 26 to 74 years, who would attempt the English Channel swim this year (2014). The participants completed a six hour swim in ~15ºC water, at Balmoral beach during July of this year. Participants swallowed a CorTemp ingestible pill sensor (approximately size of a multivitamin) between 10pm and 2am the night befor e there swim. Using the CorTemp data recorder each swimmer had their core temperature (deep body temperature) read every hour of the six hour swim.

RESULTS Of the swimmers that participated in the study 7 out of 9 were successful in there English Channel attempt. Figure 1, shows the S-shaped crossings of the swimmers from Dover Coast (England) to Calais coast (France) and their corresponding channel crossing time.

Pre-implementation of Point of Care Testing in a General Practice Surgery Niamh Ramsay1, Tracey Johnson2, Tony Badrick1

1Faculty 2

of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Robina, QLD. 4229 Inala Primary Care, Inala, QLD, 4007

INTRODUCTION The burden of chronic disease on the individual and community needs to be addressed in terms of implementing a better means of patient management. In Australia, a considerable proportion of the population is affected by chronic disease, with specifically 4% of people affected by Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) (Bayram 2009). There are serious health risks associated with this disease, such as coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease, as well as the risk of mortality being substantially increased in patients with T2D (Ali, Narayan & Tandon 2010; Shephard 2011). !

There is a widespread acceptance that glycaemic control provides long-term benefits for affected diabetic patients (St John 2010). As such, it is considered essential for diabetes care to include regular recall and review of patients. In particular, measurements of HbA1c, ACR and lipids should be reviewed as these biochemical markers best represent the condition of the disease (Bayram 2009; St John 2010). It is considered that Point-of-Care Testing (PocT) has the potential to address these issues (Gialamas et al. 2009; Laurence et al. 2008; Shephard & Gill 2010). If implemented effectively, PoCT could aid primary care management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome (Gill & Shephard 2010). As a result, this could alleviate stress on general practice and improve patient compliance with disease management, potentially leading to better health outcomes. !

This study aims to examine the different aspects of introducing PoCT in three general practice (GP) clinics of lower socioeconomic areas with particular focus on patient pathology request compliance and staff perceptions of this new way to perform testing.

METHODS This study focused on the pre-implementation of PoCT in a general practice. !

Firstly, the rate of patient compliance with pathology testing was examined. Three general practice clinics were involved in this part of the study and over the course of three months several factors pertaining to patient compliance of completing pathology testing was recorded. Specifically, gender, the number of times each patient was contacted, nationality, first language and, in the cases that applied, the reasons for not completing requested pathology were recorded. These results were then compared amongst the involved clinics. !

Following this, a value stream map of each clinic was performed to determine the time spent by staff when ensuring pathology requests had been completed by patients prior to their follow-up appointment. From these results, a cost analysis was conducted to determine the economic impact of this task on staff. !

Interviews were next conducted with several staff members from each clinic to examine the different approaches to patient recall, preconceptions of patient medication and pathology request compliance, views on PoCT, workplace culture and concerns of specific patient groups.

GP RECRUITMENT

HYPOTHESES This study aimed to examine the different aspects of introducing PoCT in a GP practice. It is novel to previous research in that it assessed the pathology request compliance, workflow and effectiveness of patient recall in a GP clinic setting in three areas of lower socio-economic status. It was hypothesised that the following with be seen: •It is expected that a significant number of patients in low socio-economic areas of disadvantage do not comply with completing pathology request forms. •It is considered that following the introduction of PoCT in a GP practice, no impact on workflow will be observed.

Data regarding from the four clinics involved in the study. This shows the different features the locations have on the general practices.

•

Specifically, it is considered that the attitudes of medical staff will respond positively to the new testing process, whereas, there may be some issues presented to nursing staff in terms of their time management.

•

Additionally, it is expected that patients will find this method of patient care beneficial to their treatment and disease management.

•

Finally, it is considered that costs may increase for the clinic with the introduction of PocT, however, it is expected that these costs should be offset by the long-term health benefits of PocT on patient care.

REFERENCES

Ali, MK, Narayan, KM & Tandon, N 2010, 'Diabetes & coronary heart disease: current perspectives', Indian J Med Res, vol. 132, pp. 584-97 School of Public Health 2009, Evidence-practice gap in GP pathology test ordering: A comparison of BEACH pathology data and recommended testing, by Bayram, C, The University of Sydney. Gialamas, A, Yelland, LN, Ryan, P, Willson, K, Laurence, CO, Bubner, TK, Tideman, P & Beilby, JJ 2009, 'Does point-of-care testing lead to the same or better adherence to medication? A randomised controlled trial: the PoCT in General Practice Trial', Med J Aust, vol. 191, no. 9, pp. 487-91. Gill, JP & Shephard, MD 2010, 'The Conduct of Quality Control and Quality Assurance Testing for PoCT Outside the Laboratory', Clin Biochem Rev, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 85-8. Laurence, C, Gialamas, A, Bubner, T, Yelland, L, Willson, K, Ryan, P, Beilby, J & Point of Care Testing in General Practice Trial Management, G 2010, 'Patient satisfaction with point-of-care testing in general practice', Br J Gen Pract, vol. 60, no. 572, pp. e98-104. Shephard, MD 2011, 'Point-of-Care Testing and Creatinine Measurement', Clin Biochem Rev, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 109-14. St John, A 2010, 'The Evidence to Support Point-of-Care Testing', Clin Biochem Rev, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 111-9.

Identifying dysregulated microRNA in regenerating regions of the Multiple Sclerosis brain Kimberly Barker1, Christian Moro1 and Lotti Tajouri1 1Faculty

of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Robina, QLD. 4229

INTRODUCTION Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological inflammatory disease that affects mostly young caucasian individuals typically between 20 and 40 years of age with a higher prevalence in women (Koch-Henriksen & Sorensen, 2010). MS involves the demyelination of regions of the central nervous system (CNS) leading to degeneration and disability however, regeneration has been observed in some lesions relieving some disability and reducing relapses (Koch, Metz & Kovalchuk, 2013). Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells are the primary regulators for remyelination in the MS affected CNS (Zhao et al. 2008). Mature oligodendrocytes produce myelin, which repairs demyelinated axons by coating the axon in a new myelin sheath (Chang et al. 2002). The aetiology of MS is unknown but may involve environmental factors such as, Epstein barr virus, smoking and vitamin D levels. Additionally, there is a significant genetic contribution involving the association between MS and microRNA (Walsh et al, 2003). The presence of microRNAs in MS brains and the stability of microRNAs, suggest there is great potential for them as biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease (Keller et al, 2013). This project will be a novel study investigating the association between microRNA expression and the mechanisms of regeneration in the CNS after damage from multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, the study will increase understanding of MS brain regeneration, microRNA expression and microRNA biomarkers. Candidate genes identified could be utilised for improved diagnoses, monitoring and treatment of MS.

Figure 1. Brain tissue sections (stained)

METHODS Pathologically-characterised FFPE brain samples from MS individuals will be deparaffinised. The brain samples consist of 51 identified regions of remyelination from 24 individuals and 68 identified chronic regions from 34 different individuals. Chronic lesions and regions demonstrating remyelination will be excised from the samples using laser capture micro-dissection and total RNA will be extracted utilising Qiagen extraction kit. Optimisation procedures will consist of reverse transcription to convert RNA template to cDNA. Furthermore, real-time PCR will assess yield, quality and presence of published microRNA candidates in MS brain tissue. Differences in microRNA expression between remyelinating neuronal tissue and chronic demyelinated tissue will be analysed using microarray technology and confirmed by real-time PCR. MicroRNAs to be screened include; miR-326, miR-146a, miR-629, miR155 and miR-34a. These microRNAs were selected due to presence in recent literature and their involvement in phagocytocis, cellular regulation and the inflammatory immune response (Keller et al, 2013; Junker et al, 2009).

Table 1. Regenerating brain tissue accessible for microRNA profiling MS case #

Figure 2. PCR machine - for RT

Section Type Collected

Age at Death

Gender

Duration of MS (years)

Course of MS

Plaque Type

MS22 Chronic & 5 Remyelina ting

SPMS

Acute

MS10 6

Acute

MS47 Chronic & 3 Remyelina ting

PPMS

Acute

MS24 Chronic & 0 Remyelina ting

SPMS

Acute

MS24 3

SPMS

Acute

MS36 Remyelina 1 ting

SPMS

Acute

MS24 Chronic & 5 Remyelina ting

SPMS

Chronic Acute

Chronic

Figure 3. Real-time PCR

Chronic lesion tissue, no myelin

HYPOTHESES This study aims to investigate microRNA expression differences in MS regenerative lesions. The hypotheses are: 1- Significant microRNA dysregulation observed in the remyelinating lesions and chronic lesions of MS patients. This will be evident in the differential regulation of microRNA profiles of specific neuronal tissue.

Active remyelination

Remyelinated tissue

Figure 4. MS brain tissue section under 400x magnification with Luxol fast blue staining, highlighting myelin in blue.

REFERENCES Chang, A., Tourtellotte, W.W., Rudick, R., & Trapp, B.D. (2002). Premyelinating oligodendrocytes in chronic lesions of multiple sclerosis. The New England Journal of Medicine, 346 (3), 165-73 Junker, A., Krumbholz, M., Eisele, S., Mohan, H., Augstein, F., Bittner, R., Lassmann, H., Wekerle, H., Hohlfeld, R., & Meinl, E. (2009). MicroRNA profiling of multiple sclerosis lesions identifies modulators of the regulatory protein CD47. Brain, 132, 334252. Keller, A., Leidinger, P., Steinmeyer, F., Stahler, C., Franke, A., Hemmrich-Stanisak, G., Kappel, A., Wright, I., Dorr, J., Paul, F., Diem, R., Tocariu-Krick, B., Meder, B., Backes, C., Meese, E., & Ruprecht, K. (2013). Comprehensive analysis of microRNA profiles in multiple sclerosis including next-generation sequencing. Mult Scler. Koch-Henriksen, N., & Sorensen, P. S. (2010). The changing demographic pattern of multiple sclerosis epidemiology . Lancet Neurol, 9, 520-32. Koch, M.W., Metz, L.M., & Kovalchuk, O. (2013). Epigenetic changes in patients with multiple sclerosis. Nature Reviews: Neurology, 9, 35-43. Walsh, E. C., Guschwan-McMahon, S., Daly, M. J., Hafler, D. A., & Rioux, J. D. (2003). Genetic analysis of multiple sclerosis. J Autoimmun., 21(2), 111-6. Zhao, C., Zawadzka, M., Roulois, A.J.A., Bruce, C.C., & Franklin, R.J. (2008). Promoting remyelination in multiple sclerosis by endogenous adult neural stem/precursor cells: defining cellular targets. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 265, 12-6.

2- Further study on the effects of specific microRNA dysregulation will increase understanding of the mechanisms of MS.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES • Specific microRNAs, miR-326, miR-146a, miR-629, miR-155 and miR-34a, will be significantly up or down regulated in the regenerated tissue compared to the chronic lesions • Dysregulation will be observed to contribute to the pathogenesis of MS • Differentially expressed microRNAs could be targeted to stimulate and enhance neural tissue regeneration. kimberly.barker@student.bond.edu.au