Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study investigating the effects of the pregnancy test hormone Primodos on zebrafish embryos
A new study, published in Scientific Reports, examines the effects of a pregnancy test hormone’s components on the embryos of zebrafish. read more
expert reaction to study looking at eating speed and obesity
Scientists investigate the association between effects of eating speed on obesity in patients with diabetes, in a new study, published in BMJ Open. read more
expert reaction to study looking at DNA nanorobots to target cancer in mice and pigs
A new study, in Nature Biotechnology, investigates the use of nanorobots to shrink tumours by cutting off their blood supply.
expert reaction to prenatal ultrasonography association with autism
A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, investigates whether prenatal ultransonography frequency, timing, duration, or strength are associated with later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. read more
expert reaction to impact of arthritis drug on dementia in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Researchers publishing a new study in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, report that users of classical disease modifying antirheumatic drugs were at reduced risk of dementia. read more
expert reaction to study attempting to create functioning human kidney tissue in mice
Scientists publishing in Stem Cell Reports attempt to create functioning human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine.
expert reaction to study on the development of human eggs in the lab
Researchers have developed fully grown human eggs – from small immature egg cells which were removed from ovary tissue – in the lab, in a new study, published in Molecular Human Reproduction. read more
expert reaction to study looking at e-cigarette vapour and a molecule produced by cells that can be implicated in bacterial infections such as pneumonia
A new study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, explores the association between e-cigarette vapour exposure and the susceptibility of cells to bacterial infection. read more
expert reaction to the opening of the London Power Tunnels
The London Power Tunnels, which are a new electricity superhighway supplying power to London were opened today. read more
expert reaction to study looking at invasive brain stimulation and memory and recall in people with epilepsy
In a new study, published in Nature Communications, researchers report that stimulating a region of the brain known as the lateral temporal cortex can improve memory.
‘Computer Bugs in Hospitals: A New Killer’ – IT, cybersecurity and risk to patients
Healthcare is increasingly dependent on computers: in the management of hospital systems, monitoring of patient health, diagnostics, and in medical devices and implants themselves. read more
expert reaction to study investigating hot tea consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking, and oesophageal cancer in China
Researchers examined whether high-temperature tea drinking, along with the established risk factors of alcohol consumption and smoking, is associated with esophageal cancer risk, in a study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. read more
expert reaction to news that doctors at Newcastle Fertility Centre are first in UK granted permission to use mitochondrial replacement therapy
The HFEA has granted doctors at Newcastle Fertility Centre permission to perform mitochondrial replacement therapy on two women who are at risk of passing on mitochondrial disease to their offspring. read more
expert reaction to study looking at ibuprofen exposure of foetal ovarian tissue in the lab, and survival and number of egg cells
Researchers publishing in Human Reproduction examine whether ibuprofen use during the first trimester of pregnancy interferes with the development of the human fetal ovary. read more
expert reaction to new report on Negative Emission Technologies
The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has published a new report that examines the future of negative emission technologies and whether they can really help us tackle climate change. read more
Negative emission technologies: What role in meeting Paris Agreement targets?
Roundup comments accompanied this briefing. Climate scenarios which keep global warming within Paris Agreement limits rely on large-scale application … read more
expert reaction to biomarkers for amyloid-beta in Alzheimer’s disease
A new study, published in Nature, investigate plasma biomarkers for predicting amyloid beta deposition in the brain.
expert reaction to paper commenting on fortifying flour with folic acid and preventing spina bifida and other neural tube defects
Researchers argue that setting an upper level of intake for folate has no scientific basis, in a new study, published in Public Health Reviews. read more
Scientists and experts claim new research strengthens the case for fortification
Roundup comments accompanied this briefing. Anencephaly and spina bifida (collectively referred to as neural tube defects) are serious and … read more
expert reaction to brain pacemaker for Alzheimer’s
Researchers look at deep brain stimulation of frontal lobe networks to treat Alzheimer’s disease in a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease. read more