Session Synopsis

The role of the Gabanoids in Acute and Chronic Pain Management
Anticonvulsants have always played a role in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. The gabapenoids gabapentin and pregabalin have not only become the preferred compounds for this indication, but are increasingly seen as an important component of the multimodal treatment of acute pain. A.Prof. David Cherry MBBS, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at the Flinders University, Director of Pain Management Unit at the Flinders Medical Centre.

Chronic Kidney Disease update – using eGFR and managing CKD effectively
This presentation will discuss eGFR interpretation – when to use it and when not to use; CKD in the elderly – when does it matter and how to manage; drug dosing in people with CKD – can you use eGFR; and action plans for anaemia and calcium/phosphate/bone disease in CKD stages 3 and 4. Dr. Toby Coates MBBS FRACP PhD Renal Transplant Nephrologist The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Melanoma and Litigation
Melanoma is a high profile but relatively low frequency condition in general practice. What stage in the consultation represents a danger time for missing a melanoma? Where do punch biopsies fit in to the clinical guidelines? When is using a dermatoscope a risk? What interferes with follow-up? How can GPs help pathologists? Are pathology reports infallible? What is wrong with annual review of the site of excision of a elanoma? Dr. Paul Nisselle AM General Manager Clinical Risk Management

Diet and the Metabolic Syndrome
The seminar aims to clarify the science behind dietary intake and its association with the metabolic syndrome (the deadly quartet of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity) and provide practical advice on how to provide dietary advice to your patient population.  Dr. Catherine Itsiopoulos BSc(Hons) Grad Dip Diet MPH PhD APD

Dermoscopy for gp – accurate skin cancer diagnosis
Skin cancer is increasing in incidence and prevalence in Australia. Accurate diagnosis is important, especially to avoid unnecessary excision and related procedures. Dermoscopy is an excellent tool to augment current methods of diagnosis. This program will focus on the use of hand-held dermatoscope, being used more by GP’s, using the three point checklist. The three point checklist has been proven to be a sensitive tool for early diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions suspicious for skin cancer. Dr. Damien Foong MMBS (Qld) MD FACSCM

Obesity Mx , options , and the role of surgery
This seminar will look at the management of obesity and the various options available, and in particular the increasing role of bariatric surgery. In Australia, an estimated 2.5 million adults were obese in 2004-05. If
rates continue to soar, there could be as many as 7.2 million obese Australians by 2025. This seminar will look at the co-morbidities associated with obesity, who is suitable for bariatric surgery, long term weight loss results & the importance of a multidisciplinary bariatric team. Included will be an overview of statistics; a review of “real” patient case studies & results; and a video of a gastric band adjustment or surgery. Prof. James Toouli MBBS, B(Med)Sci, FRACS, PhD Professor of surgery at Flinders University of South Australia; Councillor of the Asia Pacific Surgical Group; Member of national and international Associations on Bariatric, Digestive and Endoscopic/Laparoscopic Surgery
Speaker: Dr. Lilian Kow BMBS PhD, FRACS Senior consultant surgeon at Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia; Senior lecturer at Flinders University of South Australia; Councillor of the Obesity Society of
Australia and New Zealand; Member of national and international Associations on Bariatric, Digestive and Endoscopic/Laparoscopic Surgery

Ageing, Metabolic Function and the Genetic Code
Ageing is a universal process to all life forms. The most current and widely accepted definition for aging in humans is that there is a progressive loss of function and energy production that is accompanied by decreasing fertility and increasing mortality with advancing age. The most obvious and commonly recognised consequence of ageing and energy decline is a decrease in skeletal muscle function which affects every aspect of human life from the ability to play games, walk and run to chew, swallow and digest food. There is hence a recognised overall decline of an individuals fitness for the environment that they occupy. In Westernised countries this decline is gradual and the signs become mostly noticeable after the 5th decade of life and henceforth, where the individual slowly progresses to death over the next three to four decades. Given that the ageing process is slow and gradual, it presents with opportunities and options that may ameliorate and improve the overall functional capacity of the organism. Small changes in function may be more amenable and likely to further slow down and possibly reverse some of the deleterious effects of ageing, rather, than when the incremental changes are large. This overall effect may then translate into a significant
compression of the deleterious aspects of human ageing with a resultant increase in human life expectancy. A/Prof. Luis Vitetta Principal Research Fellow for the Unit of Health Integration, School of Medicine, University of Queensland