Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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
expert reaction to bisphenol-A and obesity
A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has examined exposure to bisphenol-A in the womb and early childhood and report an association with increased weight at age 7. read more
expert reaction to US National Academies of Science report on 30 years of GM crops
The US National Academies of Science has published a report on genetically modified crops looking at their impact since their introduction a three decades ago. read more
expert reaction to psilocybin and treatment-resistant depression
Psilocybin, the active component of magic mushrooms, is being seriously considered as a therapy for people with treatment-resistant depression. Publishing in The Lancet Psychiatry journal a group researchers have now gone on to test the safety of psilocybin in a small group of patients with treatment-resistant depression. read more
expert reaction to bacterial immunisation and PTSD-like symptoms in mice
The relationship between inflammatory diseases, stress and immunisation with dead bacteria is explored in a paper published in the journal PNAS in which the authors report that such immunisation in mice reduced effects associated with stress and fear. read more
expert reaction to review article on epigenetics, father’s lifestyle and offspring health
A group of scientists publishing in the American Journal of Stem Cells have looked at the evidence of the contribution of the father’s genes and their modification (epigenetics), environmental and lifestyle factors, and the effects on any offspring. read more
expert reaction to experimental evidence on Zika virus and birth defects in a mouse model
The Zika virus is still spreading through the Americas with information on its effects emerging, and a paper published in the journal Nature has reported experimental evidence for the first time that it can cause signs of microcephaly in mice. read more
expert reaction to supplements during pregnancy and autism as presented at the 2016 International Meeting for Autism Research
In work not peer reviewed but presented at the 2016 International Meeting for Autism Research a group of scientists have reported a possible link between high levels of folate during pregnancy and a child’s risk of autism. read more
expert reaction to BMI and risk of death
The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality is the subject of a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which reports that the BMI associated with the lowest risk of death has increased by 3.3 from studies in 1976-1978 to 2003-2008. read more
expert reaction to study reporting an association between cumulative pesticide exposure and risk of developing ALS (a form of motor neuron disease)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a form of motor neuron disease and is the subject of a paper in JAMA Neurology which reports that environmental pollutants measured in the blood were associated with the disease. read more
expert reaction to study looking at artificially sweetened drinks in pregnancy and body mass index of infants
Publishing in JAMA Pediatrics a group of researchers have reported that a mother’s consumption of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy may influence the BMI of the infant. read more