Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to restoring faulty brain waves reduces amyloid protein in mice
Publishing in Nature, scientists reported that exposing mice to specific frequencies of LED light reduced the level of amyloid protein, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in the visual areas of the mouse brain. read more
expert reaction to drug target to prevent metastasis of cancer cells in mice
A study published in Nature reported the development in a mouse model of a drug that targets metastasis-promoting cells in cancer read more
expert reaction to draft legislation on a sugar tax
The government has drafted legislation on a sugar tax, first announced earlier in the year, that confirms a two-band levy for sugar-added soft drinks. read more
expert reaction to the government abandoning the anti-lobbying clause
The Cabinet Office announced new standards in government grants which confirm that the anti-lobbying clause, proposed earlier this year, has been abandoned. read more
expert reaction to phe’s alcohol evidence review
Public Health England (PHE) have published an evidence review that looks at the impact of alcohol on the public health and the effectiveness of alcohol control policies. read more
expert reaction to case study of a woman who drank too much water
BMJ Case Reports has reported a case of a woman who developed hyponatraemia (abnormally low sodium levels) after drinking an excessive amount of water in an attempt to help a recurrent urinary tract infection.
read more
expert reaction to study reporting the relationship between gut microbes and Parkinson’s disease symptoms in mice
Publishing in the journal Cell, researchers have reported that the function of a key protein associated with Parkinson’s disease may be modified by gut bacteria. The researchers report that alterations in gut microbes may signify a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. read more
expert reaction to first likely uk case of sexual transmission of zika from partner who had recently visited a country with active zika transmission
Pubic Health England (PHE) reported the news that there has been a first suspected case in the UK of sexual transmission of Zika from a partner who had recently visited a country with active ZIka transmission. read more
alzheimer’s treatments – what now?
Following the failure of the recent solanezumab trial the question now is where does Alzheimer’s research go from here? We have brought together four top experts to discuss:
Is the solanezumab trial a complete failure? Can we learn anything from it?
Is this the end for the amyloid hypothesis? Could we be going about this all wrong? Is Tau the answer?
What other drugs are in the pipeline? Do the solanezumab results lower our hopes for their success?
Are there other non-drug therapies on the horizon that might offer success?
Will we not progress until we get better at detecting and diagnosing this disease?
Do we think we will ever find a treatment? Is our only hope to reduce lifestyle risks as much as possible? read more
nice draft guideline on outdoor air pollution and health
Air pollution has been in and out of the headlines recently due to the diesel emissions scandal and proposed Heathrow airport expansion. We’ve heard that the UK has been exceeding EU limits for nitrogen oxide emissions, and we’ve heard estimates of the numbers of people in the UK whose deaths are partly attributable to particulate air pollution.
NICE are publishing a draft guideline on road-traffic-related air pollution. The guideline aims to improve air quality and therefore prevent illnesses and deaths related to air pollution. The draft guideline will outline recommendations to government and local authorities.
expert reaction to draft nice guideline on outdoor air pollution and health
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have drafted guidelines on outdoor air pollution and health. These comments accompanied a press briefing. read more
expert reaction to study on mitochondrial replacement in human ooctyes that carry pathogenic mitochondrial dna mutations
Researchers, publishing in the journal Nature, have reported on a study which used mitochondrial donation therapy to replace pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations in human ooctyes with mitochondrial DNA from healthy donor eggs. The researchers report the potential of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) to reduce the transfer of mitochondrial disease from mother to child. read more
expert reaction to fourth scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception
An independent expert panel, convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), have published their fourth scientific review into the latest evidence on the safety and efficacy of mitochondrial donation techniques, recommending that those techniques be approved for “cautious use” in “specific circumstances”. These comments accompanied a press briefing. read more
report of fourth hfea independent science review panel on mitochondrial donation
After Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing mitochondrial donation last year the UK regulatory process for this new treatment has moved on. The Newcastle based scientists ready to offer the treatment have answered more of the scientific questions raised and the HFEA commissioned a fourth independent science panel to review this and other research. Meanwhile stories emerge of babies being born around the world with the same technique but under very different regulatory oversight.
Now this incredible treatment takes a very significant step closer to the clinic as the science review panel delivers its fourth and possibly final report on the state of the science and makes recommendations as to whether it is safe and effective in order to proceed to treating patients.
expert reaction to study reporting associations between different types of sports and mortality
Publishing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers looked at the associations of six different types of sport with cardiovascular disease mortality risk. They reported that specific types of sport are associated with differing risk levels. read more
expert reaction to media coverage of ivf add-ons
In a paper published in BMJ Open, researchers looked at claims of benefit for interventions offered by fertility centres in the UK via the information on the centres’ websites. They then looked at what evidence was cited for these claims. They report that while many fertility centres in the UK offer a range of IVF add-on procedures, and provide claims of benefit for many of these interventions, in most cases the claims are not quantified and evidence is not cited to support them.
The Panorama documentary on BBC One (Panorama: Inside Britain’s Fertility Business) also looks at this issue. read more
expert reaction to safeguarding pollinators
Published in Nature, this review looks into the values of different pollinators on issues including food secutiry and biodiversity, their status and trends, risks from environmental pressures and the consequent management and policy response options to safeguard pollinators.
expert reaction to article about statins
An article published in the journal Prescriber has argued that the benefits and harms of statins may not have been accurately reported. read more
expert reaction to the Heart Cells Foundation launching The Compassionate Treatment Programme which will treat heart disease patients with their own stem cells
Researchers publishing in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle launch The Compassionate Treatment Programme which will treat heart disease patients with their own stem cells. read more
expert reaction to study looking at saturated fats and coronary heart disease risk
Scientists publishing in the British Medical Journal have reported a high intake of saturated fats could be linked to increased coronary heart disease risk. read more