Author Archives: Science Media Centre
Association between anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia
Anticholinergic drugs act on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system and are used to treat a range of conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, urinary incontinence, depression, and allergies. read more
expert reaction to research on microplastics in Arctic sea ice
A study in Nature Communications suggests that Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic. read more
expert reaction to the ongoing Alfie Evans case
Alfie Evans has been in Alder Hey hospital, in Liverpool, since December 2016 with a rare undiagnosed degenerative neurological condition. His father has reported that Alfie’s life support has been turned off.
expert reaction to study looking at caffeine in pregnancy and weight gain in children
A new study, published in BMJ Open, researchers study the association between maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and the child’s weight gain and overweigh risk up to 8 years.
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expert reaction to observational study of vigorous physical activity and motor neurone disease
Researchers publishing in The Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in population-based case-control studies in three European countries using a validated and harmonised questionnaire read more
expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis on alcohol intake and premenstrual syndrome
A systematic review and meta-analysis examines the role of alcohol in the occurrence of PMS, published in BMJ Open. read more
expert reaction to Defra comments about the ‘hotspots’ of nerve agent undergoing decontamination in Salisbury
DEFRA has said that toxic nerve agent ‘hotspots’ could still be in the city of Salisbury following the novichok attack on an ex-Russian spy and his daughter.
expert reaction to House of Commons S&T committee report on Genomics and Genome Editing in the NHS
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has published a new report: Genomics and Genome Editing in the NHS. read more
expert reaction to research on the resilience of coral to climate change
Researchers publishing in PLoS Genetics examine the potential and limits for rapid genetic adaptation to warming in a Great Barrier Reef coral. read more
expert reaction to study looking at genome editing of stem cells for HIV in non-human primates
A new study, published in PLOS Pathogens, investigates the genome editing of bone-morrow stem cells in pigtail macaques as a potential treatment for simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV).
expert reaction to study investigating whether Hans Asperger actively assisted the Nazi euthanasia program
A new study, published in Molecular Autism, explores whether Hans Asperger – the doctor whom the condition Asperger’s syndrome was named after – actively cooperated with the Nazi regime. read more
The increasing burden of multiple illnesses
Rising numbers of people are living with two or more long-term health conditions – known as multimorbidity. Physical and mental … read more
expert reaction to study on gene therapy for beta-thalassaemia
Researchers use gene therapy – via a lentiviral vector – for patients with beta-thalassaemia, in a new study, published in the NEJM. read more
expert reaction to study looking at blood pressure measurement method and predicting risk of heart disease
Researchers assessed 63,000 doctors’ patients, and found that measuring blood pressure using an ABPM device was 50% more accurate than the traditional way blood pressure is measured in the clinic, this study is published in the New England Journal Medicine. read more
expert reaction to enzyme to digest plastic
Researchers publishing in PNAS have engineered an enzyme which can digest some of our most commonly polluting plastics. read more
expert reaction to study looking at effects of paracetamol and ibuprofen on tissue samples of human foetal testes and ovaries, and in mice
A study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, investigates the side-effects of taking painkillers during pregnancy, specifically examining whether it affects the fertility of future generations. read more
expert reaction to study looking at drinking alcohol, life expectancy and alcohol limits
A new analysis of data, published in The Lancet, reports that recommended alcohol limits in many countries should be lowered to around 100g/week for men and women.
expert reaction to OPCW confirming that Novichok was the chemical used in the Salisbury spy poisoning
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has completed its independent analysis of the chemical substance used in the Salisbury attack and has confirmed it was from the novichok family of nerve agents. read more
expert reaction to increased volcanic activity as a result of climate change
Researchers, presenting at the European Geosciences Union conference, investigate whether glacial retreat-related landslides trigger volcanic eruptions. read more
expert reaction to study on traumatic brain injury and risk of dementia
A new study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, examines the association between sustaining a traumatic brain injury and increased risk of developing both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.