A weekly round-up of news affecting your health.
SHAME AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Men in rural indigenous communities are put off from seeking medical help for sexually transmitted infections because they feel ashamed to be treated by women at health clinics, a Charles Darwin University researcher says.
Associate professor Suzanne Belton made the claim after leading a study into why men are less likely than women to be treated for STIs in remote indigenous communities.
She found that some men don't get tested for STIs because they can't see male clinicians.
"Culturally appropriate sexuality education and health promotion to men and boys would improve understanding of their own sexual health needs," she wrote in an article published in the international journal Culture, Health and Sexuality.
MYSTERY OF MS
Researchers at James Cook University will analyse gene 'networks' to hopefully unravel some of the mysteries of multiple sclerosis.
Professor Alan Baxter and Dr Margaret Jordan will manipulate genes within networks of cells rather than looking at cells in isolation.
They hope to determine whether there is a difference in MS blood cells compared to others, as well as gain a better understanding of individual risk factors.
MALARIA MARKERS
Scientists from the CSIRO have been given a $1.4 million research grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to field test breath markers for malaria in Malawi, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sudan.
The field tests follow the discovery last year, by scientists at the CSIRO, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the Australian National University, of distinctive chemicals that can be detected in the breath of patients infected with malaria.
Research group leader at CSIRO Dr Stephen Trowell said researchers would now test the accuracy and effectiveness of the breath markers under real world conditions.
"If this phase of the research pans out, we intend to move onto developing a simple, painless and cheap breath test to help identify people who have malaria but don't know it," he said.
CANCER HELP FOR RURAL FAMILIES
How rural families manage various financial, social, practical and emotional issues that arise when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer is the subject of new research by the University of Adelaide.
Psychology honours student Eleanor Garrard wants to hear from families in rural South Australia who have had a close relative diagnosed with cancer in the past three years, particularly those with children aged under 18.
Her project aims to identify strategies that rural families adopt to manage the cancer experience, as well as the community and family-based support outlets that are of most use.
Eleanor can be contacted at eleanor.garrard@student.adelaide.edu.au.
PANCREATIC CANCER INITIATIVE
Australia's Pancreatic Cancer Alliance has secured a spot on the first global advocacy group for the disease.
Alliance members Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Pancare Foundation and #PurpleOurWorld have joined the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition to help drive awareness.
"It is a fantastic opportunity for three of the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Alliance members to be involved in this global initiative and be a part of a strategic vision for improving awareness of pancreatic cancer and ultimately benefiting all those affected by the disease," Pancare's Angelia Dixon said.
