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A significant proportion of patients who recovered from acute COVID-19 illness are now reporting post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), a lingering ailment also known as “long COVID” or “post-COVID syndrome”. Patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome generally experience COVID-like symptoms lasting weeks after their acute COVID-19 illness. Symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, as well as some neurologic and psychiatric manifestations including anxiety, headache, loss of taste or smell, and cognitive impairment (i.e. “brain fog”). These symptoms are vague and difficult to quantify, making unbiased study of this syndrome a challenge.

A Monash University study has uncovered for the first time a way to prevent and reverse damage caused by broken-heart syndrome, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

While safety concerns have dominated the recent discussion about the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, it’s useful to understand the mechanisms behind these types of adenovirus-vectored vaccines that have been in use since the 1950s.

Soft tissues can be easily torn resulting from sporting injuries or through various accidents. Binding the tissue back together can prove problematic for surgeons, as stitches often do more harm than good. Swiss scientists have developed an injectable gel that can attach to various kinds of soft internal tissues and repair tears resulting from an accident or trauma.

Female nurses are roughly twice as likely to commit suicide than the general female population and 70% more likely than female doctors, according to a US study examining suicide among physicians and nurses.

It’s our birthday! This month Queensland Health’s very own clinical information portal, CKN, celebrates a remarkable 20 years supporting the state’s clinicians with world-class evidence for patient care. Since 2001 CKN has quietly toiled behind the scenes to become a uniquely invaluable state-wide resource. Used by Queensland Health’s doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners and paramedics tens of thousands of times each day, CKN is the envy of other public health services around the country.

To mark the occasion, we spoke with some of the key people who have helped CKN to flourish over the past two decades and asked them to offer their thoughts on how far CKN has come.

Chronic conditions make the largest contribution to premature death in western societies. It is estimated that in the next 20 years the burden of chronic conditions will account for 80% of Australia’s ill health and represent more than 70% of all health care expenditure, straining national health infrastructure and valuable resources.

Having access to concise nationally accepted management guidelines to address chronic conditions - especially for our most vulnerable First Nations people - in a clear, consistent and evidence-based manner, is a vital part of the patient's journey to a healthier life. Since 2006 the Chronic Conditions Manual - Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote Australia has met this need. 

A regular gluten-free diet might not be sufficient to completely curb gluten-induced inflammation in all coeliac disease patients. A new study provides insights into the curative effects of gluten-free diets in coeliac patients. Results from the proteomics-based research suggests not.

A Queensland study has found the routine use of genomic testing could prevent a significant number of hospital-acquired infections and related deaths every year. 

For 20 years CKN has provided the Queensland public health system with world-class, evidence-based resources - helping clinicians transition research into practice and improve patient outcomes. Since 2008 Queensland Health committed to provide healthcare staff with access to a leading range of full text nursing and allied health journals and resources through the CINAHL Complete database. Following CKN’s lead, the NHS Wales has this month provided CINAHL to all Welsh public health clinicians via their online clinical library.