Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study looking at proton pump inhibitors (acid reflux drugs), gut infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria
Publishing in Gut, researchers report that long term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is linked to a more than doubling in the risk of developing stomach cancer. read more
expert reaction to the 2017 UN Emissions Gap Report
The UN has published the 2017 Emissions Gap Report. read more
expert reaction to The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change is an annual, comprehensive analysis of progress across 40 indicators on climate change and health. read more
expert reaction to study looking at nutrient drink and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease
The Lancet Neurology has published the results of the European LipiDiDiet clinical trial which examines the effect of a once-daily medical drink in people with the pre-dementia stage of Alzheimer’s. read more
2017 Report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change
Climate change is already having an impact on health around the world, impacting on labour productivity, the spread of infectious disease and exposure to air pollution and heatwaves, and affecting countries worldwide, according to the first report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. read more
expert reaction to Alzheimer’s protein passing from blood to brain in mice
In a new study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers investigate whether an Alzheimer’s protein can spread between mice that share a blood supply.
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expert reaction to using machine-learning to identify suicidal patients
A new study in Nature Human Behaviour used machine-learning algorithms to identify individuals who engage in suicidal thinking.
expert reaction to study investigating association between exposure to pesticide residues on fruit and veg and pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing IVF
New research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examines the association of preconception intake of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables with outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies. read more
expert reaction to WMO report that greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere increased at a record-breaking speed in 2016
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that concentrations of CO2 – and other greenhouse gases – in the Earth’s atmosphere surged to a record high in 2016. read more
expert reaction to conference abstract (unpublished work) on red wine and ovarian reserve
An abstract presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine investigates whether alcohol intake impacts ovarian reserve.
expert reaction to research on timing of heart surgery
New research, published in The Lancet, combines observational study, randomised trial, tissue analysis and research in mice to investigate the link between time of day of surgery and health outcomes. read more
expert reaction to genome editing study on new class of base editors
A new study, published in Nature, presents a new class of ‘base editors’ – programmable protein machines that rearrange the atoms of one DNA to resemble a different base in the genome of living cells – that make it possible to individually replace all four bases of DNA selectively and efficiently, without causing any double-stranded DNA breaks. read more
expert reaction to study looking at CRISPR for RNA editing
Publishing in Science, researchers report a new version of the genome editing tool CRISPR – using Cas13 – which can target and edit RNA. read more
expert reaction to study looking at statins and type 2 diabetes risk
A new study, published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, examines the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes from long-term statin use. read more
expert reaction to World Health Organisation rescinding President Robert Mugabe’s goodwill ambassadorship
On Saturday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, was to be a WHO goodwill ambassador. After a worldwide backlash, the WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, revoked this appointment. read more
expert reaction to appointment of President Robert Mugabe as World Health Organisation ambassador
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, is to be a WHO goodwill ambassador. read more
Food Safety after Brexit
The row over chlorine washed chickens earlier this year was prompted by concerns that following Brexit the UK will be forced into trade deals with countries with lower food safety and animal welfare standards than the EU. read more
expert reaction to study looking at HPV vaccine safety in adult women in Sweden and Denmark
In a new multi cohort study, researchers publishing in the Journal of Internal Medicine report that in more than 3 million Danish and Swedish adult women, the human papillomavirus (HPC) vaccine was not linked with 44 serious chronic diseases. read more
expert reaction to study looking at blood transfusions from previously-pregnant women and risk of death in men
Researchers, publishing in JAMA, aim to quantify the association between red blood cell transfusion from female donors with and without a history of pregnancy and mortality of red blood cell recipients. read more
expert reaction to study looking at sugary drinks levy and sales of sugary drinks in jamie’s italian restaurants
Publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, researchers have evaluated the changes in sales of non-alcoholic beverages in Jamie’s Italian restaurants in the UK following the introduction of the sugar tax on sugar sweetened drinks. read more