Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to final stages of COP-21
It is being reported that talks in Paris which aim to produce a deal to curb climate change will end on Saturday, a day later than expected. read more
expert reaction to the publication of the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has published her annual report, this year focusing on women’s health and exploring common and taboo health issues. It emphasises the need to tackle obesity on a national scale in the hope of relieving strain on health services and improving quality of life for women. read more
media launch of Foundation for Responsible Robotics
Rapid developments in the automation of our everyday lives has prompted an internationally renowned multidisciplinary group of 25 technology scholars to form the Foundation for Responsible Robotics (FRR). We are on the cusp of a robotics revolution with governments and corporations looking to robotics as a powerful new economic driver. Despite the disruptive impact of the increasing automation in our work places, our streets and our homes, only lip service is being paid to the long list of potential societal hazards including human rights violations and the potential for mass unemployment. read more
expert reaction to draft agreement in Paris
A draft text for agreement of those involved in the UN climate talks in Paris has been published. read more
expert reaction to ‘no treatment difference’ between some antidepressants and CBT for severe depression
The use of second generation antidepressants or cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) to treat severe depression in adults is the subject of a paper published in The BMJ, with the authors reporting no difference in the effectiveness of the two treatments. read more
expert reaction to molecule that may remove amyloid plaques in mice
A group of scientists has published their work in mice in the journal Nature Communications, reporting the use a molecule capable of separating clumps of proteins which are a feature of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. read more
expert reaction to MBRRACE-UK report citing mental health as main cause of perinatal death
Whilst the number of direct pregnancy-related deaths has been steadily falling, the same cannot be said for indirect deaths linked to mental health. In fact almost a quarter of women who died due to indirect effects were due to mental health reasons and experts argue that these deaths were often unnecessary. Using data from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (MBRRACE-UK), experts have assessed pregnancy-related deaths from 2009-2013 including reviews of more than 100 women who committed suicide during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. read more
perinatal depression and suicide
Whilst the number of direct pregnancy-related deaths has been steadily falling, the same cannot be said for indirect deaths linked to mental health. In fact almost a quarter of women who died due to indirect effects were due to mental health reasons and experts argue that these deaths were often unnecessary. Using data from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (MBRRACE-UK), experts have assessed pregnancy-related deaths from 2009-2013 including reviews of more than 100 women who committed suicide during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. read more
expert reaction to the latest Jim O’Neill review on AMR, specifically whether resistant bacteria in poorly cooked meat could pose a health risk
The Review On Antimicrobial Resistance chaired by Jim O’Neill has produced a report which sets out a number of suggestions in order to reduce the use of antibiotics in agriculture. read more
expert reaction to global carbon emissions
Publishing in the journal Nature Climate Change a group of scientists has reported that the growth in global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry since 2000 has slowed in the past two years. read more
expert reaction to the flooding
Areas of the UK, mainly the North of England including Cumbria, have seen severe flooding due to heavier than usual rainfall. read more
expert reaction to reports that the gene that enables bacteria to be resistant to polymyxins (last line of antibiotic defence such as colistin) have been detected in Denmark
It has been reported that samples of E.coli which are resistant to an antibiotic of last resort have been found in Denmark. read more
expert reaction to study investigating epigenetic changes in the sperm of fat and lean men
The effect of a man’s weight on the markers which regulate activity of genes in their sperm is the subject of a paper published in the journal Cell Metabolism, with the authors reporting differences in the profile of such epigenetic markers between lean and obese men, and also following weight loss surgery. read more
Prof Sir John Tooke and Prof Sir Robert Lechler, outgoing President and President-elect of the Academy of Medical Sciences
This briefing was the final chance for a discussion with John Tooke as President of the Academy and an opportunity to meet Robert Lechler who begins his five-year term as President on December 3, taking over from John Tooke who was elected in 2011. read more
expert reaction to paper reporting a link between maternal weight gain, and increased risk of stillbirths and infant deaths
Researchers publishing in The Lancet journal have examined whether change in a woman’s BMI between two pregnancies impacts on mortality of the second child, and report that an increase in BMI may be a risk factor for stillbirth and infant mortality. read more
expert reaction to conference poster presentation (unpublished work) on caffeinated energy drink consumption and blood sugar and insulin levels in teenagers
A group of scientists have presented their unpublished work at the World Diabetes Congress which investigates the metabolic impacts of caffeinated and decaffeinated energy drinks. read more
expert reaction to screen time and physical activity during early adulthood linked to midlife cognition
Levels of physical activity and patterns of television viewing and their effect on a person’s cognition is the subject of a paper published in the JAMA Psychiatry, with the authors reporting that high levels of inactivity and low levels of television viewing were associated with poorer cognitive function. read more
statins news stories and continuation of statins
The effect of statin-related news stories on people continuing with statin prescriptions and health outcomes in a Danish population is the subject of a paper published in the European Heart Journal. The authors report an association between discontinuing statin use early and heart attack and risk of death from cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to Danish study investigating negative news stories about statins, continuation of statin treatment, heart attacks and early deaths
The effect of statin-related news stories on people continuing with statin prescriptions and health outcomes in a Danish population is the subject of a paper published in the European Heart Journal. The authors report an association between discontinuing statin use early and heart attack and risk of death from cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to study investigating lifespan, ageing, and gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans nematode roundworm
Publishing in the journal eLife a group of scientists have investigated mechanisms of ageing in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans worm, reporting a process which regulates the effects of genes involved in ageing as well as treatments which could change this regulation to alter lifespan of the worm. read more