Author Archives: Science Media Centre
benefits of statins in elderly patients with no pre-existing heart disease
Scientists publishing in JAMA Internal Medicine examine statin treatment among adults aged 65 to 74 years and 75 years and older when used for primary prevention in the Lipid-Lowering Trial (LLT) component of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT-LLT).
expert reaction to study investigating the benefits of statins in elderly patients with no pre-existing heart disease
Scientists publishing in JAMA Internal Medicine examine statin treatment among adults aged 65 to 74 years and 75 years and older when used for primary prevention in the Lipid-Lowering Trial (LLT) component of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT-LLT). read more
expert reaction to conference talk about high protein intake in early childhood and body fat mass, being presented at the european congress on obesity
At the European Conference on Obesity, scientists presented work on how the level of protein in early childhood diet is related to growth and body composition. The reported that high protein intake was associated with higher body fat mass. read more
expert reaction to Times Square driver ‘heard voices’
A man who drove a car along three blocks of pavement in New York’s Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring 22 people, said he had “heard voices”, according to law enforcement sources. read more
expert reaction to study looking at fertility after fallopian tube flushing as part of a screening test (hysterosalpingogram) for infertility
A new study publishing in the New England Journal of Medicine investigates the different outcomes when using either an oil-based or water-based contrast for hysterosalpingography in infertile women.
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letter to Sir Jeremy Heywood asking for clarification of purdah rules for scientists
Writing to the Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Civil Service today, the SMC, Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), Royal … read more
expert reaction to conference poster about a swallowable gastric balloon for weight loss
Presenting at the European Congress on Obesity scientists introduce study using swallowable intragastric balloon for weight loss.
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expert reaction to conference poster about children’s sugary drink consumption and obesity, and commenting on a sugary drinks tax
In a poster presentation at the European Congress on Obesity scientists report finding an association between body mass index and sugar-sweetened soft drinks. read more
expert reaction to fluoxetine and birth defects
Publishing in the British Journal of Pharmacology scientists report an association between slightly increased risk of cardiovascular malformations in infants and maternal fluoxetine use. read more
expert reaction to NASA temperature data for April 2017
NASA have released their temperature data for April 2017. read more
expert reaction to study looking at diesel emissions, nitrogen oxides and premature deaths
In a new study, publishing in Nature, scientists report that almost one-third of emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles, and over half of emissions from light-duty vehicles, in 11 markets around the world exceed certification limits for nitrogen oxides.
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expert reaction to reports that some NHS services have been hit by a cyber-attack
The UK’s National Health Service has been hit by a global cyber-attack. read more
expert reaction to study looking at NSAID painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and heart attack risk
A new observational study published in the BMJ investigates the association between painkillers and myocardial infarction risk. read more
expert reaction to cannabinoid may improve learning and memory in old mice
Publishing in Nature Medicine researchers report low-dose administration of the cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can improve age-related learning and memory deficits in mice. read more
expert reaction to government’s draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide
DEFRA and the Department of Transport have published their new strategy to improve air quality in the UK. read more
why is science subject to purdah?
Can someone please explain to me why science is covered by purdah? read more
expert reaction to study investigating statins, adverse events, and the ‘nocebo effect’
Publishing in The Lancet researchers investigate the potential adverse events of statin therapy. The study is an analysis of 26 types of side effects including erectile dysfunction, muscle-related symptoms, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment and reports that cases of muscle pain and weakness are unlikely to be directly cause by statins, but may instead be due to the so-called nocebo effect. read more
Statins and side-effects
Muscle-related symptoms linked to statins have been a controversial topic, with some observational studies reporting symptoms in up to a fifth of patients, in contrast to evidence from blinded randomised trials where rates are much lower. read more
The Cancer Drugs Fund: was it worth it?
The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) was launched in England in 2010 to provide patients with access to anti-cancer drugs not available through the NHS because the drugs had not been appraised, were in the process of being appraised, or had been appraised but not recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). read more