Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to fipronil-contaminated egg scandal in Europe
A number of countries in Europe have received eggs contaminated with the insecticide fipronil.
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expert reaction to study reporting that air pollution nanoparticles can affect peptides in the immune system
Researchers publishing in The Journal of Immunology report that air pollution nanoparticles can affect peptides in the immune system and they suggest they could potentially lead to an increased susceptibility to infection.
expert reaction to reports of the presence of a Japanese fungus (Candida auris) in multiple UK hospitals
More than 200 patients in England have been contaminated or infected with a drug-resistant fungus first found in Japan, health officials have confirmed. read more
expert reaction to study looking at obesity, metabolic health and coronary heart disease
Publishing in European Heart Journal, researchers looked at the ‘metabolically healthy obesity’ hypothesis in a large European prospective study. They reported that irrespective of BMI, those classed as ‘metabolically unhealthy’ had a higher risk of coronary heart disease. They also reported that those who were overweight and obese had a higher risk of coronary heart disease, irrespective of their metabolic health. read more
expert reaction to study looking at the use of the pesticide thiamethoxam and its effect on bumblebee populations
Publishing in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers looked at the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam and its impact on bumblebee colonies. They reported that exposure to thiamethoxam resulted in a reduction in the proportion of queen bees laying eggs and from this modelled possible effects on population dynamics. read more
expert reaction to study on the use of genome editing to inactivate endogenous retroviruses in pigs
A study published in the journal Science looks at the use of gene-editing to inactivate endogenous retroviruses in pigs. read more
expert reaction to study looking at climate change and flooding in Europe
A new study published in the journal Science looks at climate change and river flooding in Europe. read more
expert reaction to fipronil-contaminated egg scandal in Europe
Experts react to the developing news story that some eggs contaminated with fipronil reached the UK earlier this year. read more
expert reaction to vitamin B3 supplements and birth defects in mice
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) investigated vitamin B3 supplements and genetic birth defects in mice. read more
expert reaction to study looking at marijuana use and various measures of heart disease
Publishing in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, researchers looked at the effect of marijuana on cardiovascular
and cerebrovascular mortality and reported that longer duration of marijuana use is associated with an increased risk of death from hypotension. read more
expert reaction to fipronil-contaminated egg scandal in Europe
Experts react to the news story that a small number of eggs contaminated with fipronil reached the UK earlier this year. read more
expert comments about greenhouse gas data and the Paris climate agreements, the subject of a BBC investigation
A BBC investigation looks at how countries are measuring levels greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the issues that arise from trying to record this data. read more
expert reaction to study on playing action video games and hippocampal grey matter
Publishing in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers have looked at the plasticity of the hippocampus in those who play video games. They report that different types of games, depending on the type of navigational strategy are associated with different effects on the hippocampal system.
expert reaction to study projecting numbers of extreme weather events in Europe in 2100
Publishing in the Lancet Planetary Health scientists report that weather-related disasters could affect about two-thirds of the European population annually by the year 2100.
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expert reaction to joint policy statement on human germline genome editing
Publishing in The American Journal of Human Genetics, 11 organisations issued a joint policy statement on human germline genome editing.
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expert reaction to editorial commenting on the ethics around disputes over the medical treatment of children, with reference to the Charlie Gard case
In a new BMJ editorial an expert argues that much of the public discussion about the Charlie Gard case has been distinctly unbalanced.
expert reaction to genome editing a disease-causing mutation in human embryos
A genetic mutation implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a common heritable heart condition – has been corrected in preimplantation human embryos using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique, as reported by scientists in Nature. read more
expert reaction to deaths from Fentanyl
The National Crime Agency reported that at least 60 people have died in the UK in the last eight months after taking the strong painkiller fentanyl.
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expert reaction to Mediterranean diet only works for wealthy people
Researchers publishing in the International Journal of Epidemiology state that mediterranean diet is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk but this relationship is confined to higher socioeconomic groups.
expert reaction to study looking at estimates of prescribing rates of statins according to the NICE statin guidelines
A new cross-sectional analysis, published in the British Journal of General Practice, reports that under the 2014 NICE guidelines, 11.8 million (37%) adults in England aged 30-84 years, require statin therapy. read more