How sharks and shark - human interactions are reported in major Australian newspapers

Few phrases evoke more negative emotion, or generate more media coverage, than ‘shark attack’ despite the few deaths that have been attributed to shark bite. Typically, tabloids are considered to provide more sensational coverage than broadsheets. We investigated how sharks and shark–human interactions were portrayed in four major Australian newspapers during a period of a record number of shark attacks in Australian waters. There was strong focus on human risk from sharks, and over-reportage of negative aspects. Thirty incidents were recorded: two fatal, 20 injury, and eight ‘near-miss’. Of 309 ‘shark’ articles surveyed, 24% mentioned fatalities (65% occurred prior to the study, some decades earlier). Injury was reported in 40% of articles, and “near-miss” in 33% (89% related to an incident in South Africa involving an Australian surfing celebrity). The tabloid, Telegraph, published substantially more shark-related articles and photographs than other newspapers. There was otherwise no consistent pattern of difference between genre or newspapers

Efficacy of trabeculectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation for refractory glaucoma

AIM: To evaluatethe clinical efficacy of trabeculectomy combined with amniotic membrane transplantation for refractory glaucoma. <p>METHODS: This study included 29 cases(29 eyes)with developmental refractory glaucoma at such high risks as neovascular,uveitis,aphakia, pseudophakic.Trabeculectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation was performed in 13 cases and trabeculectomy without amniotic membrane transplantation in 16 cases. The outcome measurements included postoperative intraocular pressure(IOP), the used quantity of antiglaucoma medications, the morphologic characteristics of the filtering blebs and complications. All patients were followed for 12mo.<p>RESULTS: Complete success was seen 11/13(84.6%)in study eyes and 10/16(62.5%)in aontrol eyes at 6mo postoperatively(<i>P</i><0.05), and 10/13(76.9%)in study eyes and 10/16(62.5%)in control eyes at 12mo after surgery, respectively(<i>P</i><0.05). IOP decreased from 50.3±11.3mmHg and 49.7±10.7mmHg preoperatively in study and control groups to 15.7±1.1mmHg and 19.8±2.3mmHg respectively at 12mo of postoperation(<i>P</i><0.05). Early postoperative ocular hypotony developed in 3(18.8%)control eyes owing to excessive filtration but none of them in study eyes. Encapsulated bleb occurred in 6(37.5%)control eyes but only in 1(7.7%)study eyes.<p>CONCLUSION: In refractory glaucoma,trabeculectomy combined with amniotic membrane transplantation compared to trabeculectomy without amniotic membrane transplantation has higher success rates, better control of postoperative IOP, and less complication rates