Prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in metropolitan and rural Queensland: A general practice survey

The prevalence of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) in Australia is unclear. We estimated the prevalence of IPD, and other forms of parkinsonism, through the study of typical caseloads in general practice. A random sample of general practitioners (GPs) throughout Queensland (401 responses from 528 validated practice addresses) was asked to estimate the numbers of patients with IPD and parkinsonism seen in the preceding year. The estimated prevalence of diagnosed IPD in Queensland was 146 per 100 000 (95% CI = 136–155). A further 51 per 100 000 in the population were suspected by doctors to have IPD without formal diagnosis, whereas another 51 per 100 000 people may have non-idiopathic parkinsonism. Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease was more common in rural than metropolitan areas. Although most GPs were confident in making diagnoses of IPD, the majority had little or no confidence in their ability to treat the disease, especially in its later stages. Support from neurologists was perceived by GPs to be very good in cities, but poor in remote areas.

Passive smoking and Parkinson disease

This is the first report of an inverse relationship between passive smoking exposure and Parkinson's disease.

Thomas Parmeter: Poetaster and Rhymist

The life of Dr. Thomas Parmeter MD was one of astonishing complexity. Convicted of bigamy in London, he arrived in Sydney on 16 January 1816 and almost immediately resumed his medical practice. In England he had engaged in several literary activities and these too he soon resumed in New South Wales, contributing to contemporary newspapers. A riding accident in 1820 and a stroke in 1825 restricted his ability to practise medicine and so he turned to writing and farming for an income. Neither activity was a financial success and he died in poverty. Herein are collected together his poems, epigrams, aphorisms and quotations from poets and other writers. His contribution to the cultural life of Sydney, though not fully documented, was very likely significant.

A simple data logger for student-designed rocket experiments.

The final-year project for Mechanical & Space Engineering students at UQ often involves the design and flight testing of an experiment. This report describes the design and use of a simple data logger that should be suitable for collecting data from the students' flight experiments. The exercise here was taken as far as the construction of a prototype device that is suitable for ground-based testing, say, the static firing of a hybrid rocket motor.

H56 Standard House for PNG Housing Commission, Papua New Guinea

As seen from street.

L36 Standard House

Hand-drawn plan and elevation.

Three-bedroom townhouses, Air Niugini Staff Housing, Papua New Guinea

Street elevation, carports below entry balconies.

Two-bedroom townhouses, Air Niugini Staff Housing, Papua New Guinea

As seen from road.

Three-bedroom townhouse, Air Niugini Staff Housing, Papua New Guinea

Side elevation, showing upper level bedroom windows.

Street elevation, Prasser House, Buderim

South-West elevation, as seen from street.

South elevation, Prasser House, Buderim

As seen from adjacent property (roof irrigation system in use).

South-west elevation, Prasser House, Buderim

As seem from the street.

North elevation, Prasser House, Buderim

As seen from adjacent property.

Street elevation, Office and Shops Boroko

As seen from adjacent street corner.