Volume 6, Issue 3 PolioOz News S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6 — Spring Edition A Taste Of Things To Come The following abstract is one of the presentations which make up the Program for the Australasia-Pacific Post-Polio Conference — Polio: Life Stage Matters from 20-22 September in Sydney. Check the website for all details: www.postpolioconference.org.au. PolioAustralia ’sResearch Database – AUnique Resource By Gillian Thomas Polio Australia Polio Australia set up its Polio Health website in the database’s last update is not a reflection on 2015 as a dedicated resource for health the value of that paper. professionals to learn about the diagnosis and management of the late effects of polio. The The research is assembled under 44 categories: website includes sections about polio and its late activity levels, acute flaccid paralysis, ageing, effects, professional development opportunities, anaerobic threshold, anaesthesia, assistive post-polio publications and videos, a health technology, brain, cardiorespiratory, professionals register, post-polio conferences, the cardiovascular, clinical evaluation, cold Australian Polio Register, and post-polio research. intolerance, complementary therapies, This poster gives insights into the research continence, coping styles and strategies, cultural database. context, diagnosis and management, differential diagnosis, drugs, dysphagia, dysphonia, The inspiration to set up a searchable database epidemiology, exercise, falls, fatigue, fractures, that focuses on post-polio research, and is readily gender differences, immune response, accessible to all, came from Post-Polio Health inflammation, late effects of polio, muscle International’s Medical Articles listing. Since the strength, muscle atrophy, orthoses, pain, polio 1980s there has been considerable research into immunisation, post-polio motor unit, psychology, the causes and effects of, and diagnosis, quality of life, renal complications, respiratory treatment and therapies for, the late effects of management, restless legs syndrome, sleep polio and post-polio syndrome. Sadly, in analysis, surgery, vitality, and vocational Australia, there has been little interest or implications. For clinical trials, based on their research in this area. results their efficacy is classified as effective, more research required, or not effective. For ease The post-polio research database seeks to bring of locating papers of interest, they may be relevant, credible, peer-reviewed, research recorded in more than one relevant category. papers to the attention of health professionals working with post-polio patients. In this As well as being categorised, there is an endeavour, Polio Australia is grateful to Post-Polio alphabetical list of all papers, as well as lists Health International, Dr Mary Westbrook, and Dr sorted by author, category, journal, publication Farid Khan, for their assistance in developing the date, or title. The database is also fully database. searchable by author, category, journal, or title, or by any word within the abstracts. There are currently around 200 research papers, including their abstracts, recorded in the Finally, around 100 journals and other database. The majority of the papers are publications (to date) from which the research available online, although a paid subscription may papers are drawn are listed separately in be required to view or download the full text. alphabetical order, each including a brief With research papers being added on an ongoing description. Each journal is linked to its website. basis, the absence of any particular paper as at National Patron: Dr John Tierney, PhD, OAM Page 2 Polio Oz News Polio Australia From the President Representing polio survivors I can their future, now that they have throughout A u s t r a l i a remember employed Gordon Jackman as a when the full-time Program Manager – Polio countdown NZ’s answer to Mary-ann. Polio NZ Suite 119C, 89 High Street clock on the has implemented a number of Kew Victoria 3101 Australasia- similar programs to us but thanks PO Box 500 Pacific Post- to their wonderful Duncan Kew East Victoria 3102 Polio Foundation, they have been able Phone: +61 3 9016 7678 Conference to strike out in a number of new E-mail: [email protected] website directions. We will follow these Websites: www.polioaustralia.org.au showed almost programs with interest at Polio www.poliohealth.org.au two years to Australia. www.australianpolioregister.org.au Dr John Tierney OAM go. By the time President you receive this By the time you read this, I will Contacts edition of Polio have already addressed the President—John Tierney OAM OZ News there will be less than Rotary Zone 7B / Zone 8 [email protected] two weeks to go. This will be your Conference in Penrith (NSW). This best opportunity ever to attend a Zone covers eastern Australia and Vice President—Gillian Thomas world best-practice Conference to New Zealand. This is a gathering [email protected] learn how to better manage the of 400 Rotary Governors, past, post-polio condition from the present and future, and other Secretary—Jenny Jones outstanding panel of international Rotary leaders. They have asked [email protected] and Australian experts who have me to speak on the Late Effects of Treasurer—Brett Howard agreed to take part in our Polio (LEoP). [email protected] conference pro bono. This is a once in a lifetime Conference! One of the matters that I will National Program Manager Register Now on the cover is Polio Australia’s recent Mary-ann Liethof Conference website: highly successful partnership with [email protected] www.postpolioconference.org.au. Rotary District 9685 to train health professionals in the I recently travelled to New differences that they should take Inside this issue: Zealand to speak at Polio NZ’s into account when treating annual Retreat which, this year, someone with the LEoP. We are A Unique Resource Abstract 1 was held in Rotorua. The Retreat hoping that other Rotary Districts Conference Update 4 was held in the former World War will follow the example of Rotary Health Professional Listing 4 2 Queen Elizabeth Rehabilitation District 9685, and in my talk I will Hospital which continues to offer be pitching for supported central Walk With Me Events 5 therapies, and has wonderful funding at the Rotary Zone level. Congratulations Tessa Jupp 6 thermal pools which I took advantage of each day of the Following our international Heart Attack at Sea 7 Retreat. At their general meeting Conference, our next big event Rio Paralympics 8 on day two, Polio NZ decided to will be the annual Walk with Me base all of their future Retreats at fundraiser. Usually this event is Mother Teresa’s Work 9 the QE2 on the shores of Lake held in September, but because of An Unexpected Journey 10 Rotorua. the Australasia-Pacific Post-Polio Conference in Sydney at that A Balanced Way of Living 11 In my talk to Polio NZ, I provided time, we have deferred the Walk an update of the work of Polio with Me events to later in the 3rd Case of Polio in Nigeria 12 Australia and took the opportunity year. As explained in the Winter Polio This Week 13 to put in a major sales pitch for edition of Polio Oz News, Polio the kiwis to attend our Australia will be less dependent on international post-polio outside organisations for this conference in September. Sixteen event in 2016, which should were coming at the time to the reduce our costs. Conference, and following my talk, I followed up with a number So, for the first time, we will have of other polio survivors who a Brisbane-based Walk with Me expressed an interest. event on Sunday 29th October to fit in with Polio Awareness Month. I also took the opportunity to catch up on Polio NZ plans for Cont’d P3 Unless otherwise stated, the articles in Polio Oz News may be reprinted provided that they are reproduced in full (including any references) and the author, the source and Polio Australia Inc are acknowledged in full. Articles may not be edited or summarised without the prior written approval of Polio Australia. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Polio Australia, and any products, services or treatments described are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Polio Australia. Page 3 Polio Oz News From the Editor What can I say? Busy, busy, Any interested health professionals can read busy!!! This is an incredibly more about how to Register themselves on page exciting time for Polio Australia 4. and more than 220 delegates who are planning to attend the Even though it’s a little difficult to believe at this Australasia-Pacific Post-Polio point in time, there are other activities in the Conference in a couple of planning, including a couple of ‘Walk With Me’ weeks. fundraising events in Brisbane and Canberra, mentioned in John’s ‘President’s Report’. Polio Due to this increased workload Australia has a brand-new logo for our ‘Walk Mary-ann Liethof (with no increase in With Me’ activities (below), and we have Editor resources), this edition of Polio freelance artist, Angela Casabene, to thank for Oz News will be a ‘mini’ version designing this logo pro-bono. of what regular readers are used to. However, there will be much to report post-Conference, so We are also in the process of producing five two stay tuned! I have already received numerous minute promotional videos for our websites, and queries about the availability of presentations, a ten minute video for health professionals. This videos, etc, from the Conference, and I am will focus on how to assess and manage the post pleased to advise that everything we have -polio body, and we are grateful to Mt Wilga permission to ‘share’ will be uploaded to the Private Hospital for providing the venue and Conference website in the weeks following the organising staff to be involved.