Author Archives: Science Media Centre
Antibiotics in farming
Future dangers of antimicrobial resistance are widely acknowledged, with farming practices often blamed for the rise in resistance to common antibiotics in human diseases. read more
expert reaction to first reported case of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in a patient with MV genotype
In a Correspondence article published in the NEJM researchers report the first case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in a patient with a methionine valine (MV) heterozygous genotype for a prion protein. Prior to this all definite diagnoses were in humans with a homozygous genotype (MM). read more
expert reaction to confirmation that 2016 was the warmest on record
2016 was the warmest year on record according to a consolidated analysis by the World Meteorological Organization. read more
expert reaction to news of the birth of a baby in Ukraine through pronuclear transfer as a treatment for infertility
A baby has been born to a previously infertile couple in Ukraine using pronuclear transfer, a new type of “three-person IVF”. read more
expert reaction to eating disorders in middle-aged women
A population-based study published in BMC Medicine has examined lifetime and 12-month prevalence of eating disorders (ED) among women in mid-life. It claimed that a significant proportion of women will experience an ED by mid-life. read more
expert reaction to acupuncture to treat colic
Scientists publishing in Acupuncture in Medicine claim acupuncture appears to safely reduce crying in infants with colic. read more
acupuncture and colic
New research published in Acupuncture in Medicine reported that acupuncture appears to safely reduce crying in infants with colic. Roundup comments accompanied this analysis. read more
Climate change and the Trump presidency
Donald Trump has said that no-one really knows whether climate change is real. Scientists tend to disagree. But what will the new presidency have in store for the US approach to climate change? read more
expert reaction to study investigating screen time and well-being in teenagers
A study published in Psychological Science reported that the relationships between digital-screen time and mental well-being are nonlinear and that moderate engagement in digital activities is not harmful. read more
expert reaction to reports that a US woman died of infection resistant to all antibiotics available in the US
A woman from the US has died from multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacterium was resistant to all antibiotics available in the US. read more
Global overfishing: what is the world’s true catch?
Two leading marine biologists, Prof Daniel Pauly and Dr Dirk Zeller from the University of British Columbia’s Sea Around Us project, published findings last year that challenged fundamental assumptions about global fisheries. read more
expert reaction to expected approval of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon later today
Plans for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay are to be backed in a government-commissioned review. read more
the facts about antidepressants
Antidepressants are a constant source of controversy. Concerns are raised that these drugs are not safe, that the side-effects are being overlooked, that they are being over-prescribed and are part of a trend of over-medicalisation. read more
expert reaction to stem cell therapy in blind mice with end-stage retinal degeneration
Publishing in Stem Cell Reports, a group of researchers have reported that retinal tissue derived from mouse induced pluriopotent stem cells (iPSCs) established connections with neighbouring cells and responded to light stimulation, restoring visual fuction in half of mice with end-stage retinal degeneration. read more
expert reaction to a study investigating breast cancer screening, tumour size, and over-diagnosis
The findings of a Danish 30-year cohort study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, with the authors reporting that breast cancer screening was not associated with a reduction in the incidence of advanced cancers but was associated with over-diagnosis of small tumours. read more
expert reaction to a review of the association between heartburn medication in pregnancy and risk of childhood asthma
A review of studies, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, reported a possible association between mothers taking heartburn medication during pregnancy and the risk of their children developing childhood asthma.
expert reaction to Theresa May’s pledge to overhaul mental health care
The government is to announce measures aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, the Prime Minister has said. read more
expert reaction to reports that Brixton Road has measured 19 breaches of the hourly nitrogen dioxide threshold, exceeding the number of allowed breaches in a year
Brixton Road has become the first place in London to breach objectives for nitrogen dioxide for 2017. UK objectives and EU limits stipulate a maximum nitrogen dioxide concentration that must not be exceeded for more than 18 hours over the whole year. read more
expert reaction to new US guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States, published by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has published new guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States, in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. read more
expert reaction to study investigating the association between stomach acid suppression medications and risk of gastrointestinal infections
Scientists publishing in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology have looked into whether acid suppression medicines increase the risk of bacterial gastroenteritis. read more