Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study on cannabis vaping using e-cigarettes
Cannabis is a class B drug in the UK but is in use for therapeutic purposes in a number of countries for various diseases, and a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports has reported that e-cigarette devices could be effective in administering therapeutic doses of the drug. read more
expert reaction to research on e-cigs and neutrophil cells
Publishing in the journal Respiratory Research researchers have reported that exposure to e-cigarette vapour extract triggers inflammatory responses from human neutrophils, a kind of immune cell. read more
evidence to select committee on CBRN emergencies
In May 2016 the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee conducted an inquiry into Science in emergencies: chemical, … read more
expert reaction to antibiotics and methane from cows
Agriculture contributes a large amount to greenhouse gase emissions and climate change from a range of sources and a research group publishing in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal has reported that antibiotics (used to improve livestock health and growth) can increase methane emissions. read more
expert reaction to review paper looking at air pollution and risk of stillbirth
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine on prenatal ambient air pollution exposure has reported an association between exposure to air pollution and the risk of stillbirth. read more
expert reaction to house of commons defence committee report on the use of mefloquine (also known as lariam) in the uk armed forces
A report by the House of Commons Defence Committee has looked at the use of the antimalarial mefloquine among military personnel and its associated risks. read more
expert reaction to statement on surgical intervention in the treatment of type 2 diabetes
New guidelines published in the journal Diabetes Care recommend that surgery be considered a standard option for appropriate candidates with type 2 diabetes, including in mildly obese people, and they call for health care regulators to introduce appropriate reimbursement policies. To date guidelines have been formally endorsed by 45 worldwide medical and scientific societies. read more
type 2 diabetes becomes an operable disease
A Joint Statement by leading diabetes organizations including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Diabetes UK, International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Chinese Diabetes Society and Diabetes India and endorsed by 45 worldwide scientific societies, formally recognize surgery as a standard treatment option for type 2 diabetes. This development may be one of the biggest and most significant changes in diabetes care since the introduction of insulin in 1920s. Obesity guidelines have recommended for years bariatric surgery for people with severe obesity including many with associated diabetes. It is the first time, however, that diabetes guidelines recommend surgery as a treatment option for the management of the disease itself. read more
the regulation of medicines and devices and the EU referendum
The debate about the pros and cons of remaining – or leaving – the EU continues unabated. One important area that has not been publicly explored – or explained – are the benefits of membership of the EU when it comes to the regulation of drugs and devices. read more
expert reaction to new report on diet as published by the National Obesity Forum
The National Obesity Forum has produced a report on diet and dietary guidelines. read more
expert reaction to global study on low salt diets
Publishing in The Lancet, a group of researchers have reported that high sodium intake is associated with an increased risk in cardiovascular events and death in hypertensive populations but not in normotensive populations. read more
expert reaction to brazilian zika strain in cape verde
The Zika virus strain responsible for the outbreaks in Brazil has been detected in Cape Verde in Africa. read more
expert reaction to study examining efficacy of mitochondrial donation techniques
Legislation which allows the replacement of faulty mitochondria in eggs of mothers with mitochondrial disorders has been passed in the UK, and a paper published in the journal Cell Stem Cell has explored the efficacy of such techniques. The authors report levels of mitochondrial carryover from the original egg which they suggest could have functional significance. read more
expert reaction to EU decision to delay a vote on glyphosate
The EU has delayed a vote which would determine whether it continues to allow sales of products containing the pesticide glyphosate. read more
expert reaction to plain packaging of cigarettes and the EU tobacco products directive
New EU and UK regulations are to come into place to standardise cigarette packaging and also phase out certain pack sizes and menthol cigarettes. read more
expert reaction to O’Neill report on antimicrobial resistance
The final report from a group chaired by Jim O’Neill which explores global solutions to drug resistance has been published alongside a set of recommendations. read more
expert reaction to study of ice loss from the Antarctic Totten Glacier
A study published in the journal Nature has reported the erosion of deep ice and related movements of an Antarctic glacier as well as modeling possible sea-level rises. read more
expert reaction to WHO comment on likely spread of Zika virus
The World Health Organization has assessed the risk of a Zika virus outbreak in Europe this summer as low to moderate. read more
expert reaction to potato consumption and high blood pressure
The effect of consumption of various kinds of cooked potatoes is the subject of a paper published in The BMJ in which the authors report that higher consumption was associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. read more
Psilocybin – an option for treatment-resistant depression?
Psilocybin, the active component of magic mushrooms, is being seriously considered as a therapy for people with treatment-resistant depression. One in five people suffer from depression at some point in their lives – a significant proportion of whom cannot be helped with any current psychotherapy or drugs. In 2012 researchers published a paper which used fMRI scans to show the effects of psilocybin on the brain. A related paper, published at the same time, suggested that psilocybin could be a useful tool in psychotherapy. The researchers have now gone on to test the safety of psilocybin in a small group of patients with treatment-resistant depression. They are publishing their new findings, funded by the Medical Research Council, in The Lancet Psychiatry. read more