Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to the results of the 5 year project to develop wheat that is genetically engineered to repel aphids
The full results of the controversial GM wheat field trial held by Rothamsted Research in 2012-2013 have been published in the journal Scientific Reports. read more
publication of the results of the 5 year project to develop for the first time wheat that is genetically engineered to repel aphids
The full results of the controversial GM wheat field trial held by Rothamsted Research in 2012-2013 are published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. The first year of the trial, labelled by journalists as ‘the whiffy wheat’ trial, caused significant public attention when Take the Flour Back was formed to campaign against the field trial and held a protest at the site. The campaign became a something of a cause célèbre when the Rothamsted Researchers fought back with a YouTube video and petition appealing to activists not to destroy the trial site. In the event the campaigners did not disrupt the research and had no bearing on the performance of the trial or the gathering of results. read more
expert reaction to effect of road traffic noise on stroke and death
A new study has been published that examines possible effects of long-term exposure to road traffic noise on life expectancy and risk of strokes. read more
expert reaction to dietary fibre in pregnancy and asthma in offspring
A new study performed on mice, published in Nature Communications, has looked at the effect of a mother’s fibre intake on the likelihood of her offspring developing asthma. read more
expert reaction to erectile dysfunction medicine and melanoma
A study has been published in the journal JAMA which investigates a potential link between medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and skin cancer. read more
new report from the Lancet Climate Health Commission
A new report from the Lancet Climate Health Commission has declared climate change a ‘medical emergency’. Its authors state that the threat to human health posed by climate change is so great that it could undermine the last fifty years of gains in development and global health. It also presents new evidence suggesting that the health benefits of mitigation/adaptation – from reducing air pollution to improving diet – represent one of the greatest opportunities to improve global health this century. read more
expert reaction to news of meningitis vaccination programmes to begin this summer
The government has announced the launch of MenB and MenACWY vaccine programmes to protect babies and young people against the meningococcal bacterium. read more
expert reaction to potential chlamydia vaccine in mice
A study done in mice and published in Science appeared to identify a potential vaccine against chlamydia. read more
expert reaction to effects of fasting diet in mice and humans
A study looked at the effects of a calorie-restricted diet in both mice and humans. read more
expert reaction to the Pope’s statements on climate change
The Pope issued an encyclical on climate change calling. read more
pre – ESHRE preview press briefing followed by news conference for first study
This briefing gave journalists the chance to hear a preview of the main studies to be presented at ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) in Lisbon, Portugal. Also at the briefing was an announcement of which is a nationwide analysis of more than 14,000 subjects in Scotland analysing rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy in women with a history of endometriosis. read more
expert reaction to new study on bees and crop pollination
The extent of the contribution of bees to crop pollination and factors which affect their health and survival are active areas of research. Publishing in the journal Nature Communications, researchers have reported that the significant contribution of bees to aiding human crop production is limited to a subset of all species, and suggest that conservation and management projects should be more targeted. read more
chocolate consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease
A number of types of food have been suggested to have beneficial effects on health, and a team publishing in the journal Heart have investigated an association between chocolate consumption and cardiovascular disease. Based on a meta-analysis, the researchers report that higher intake of chocolate was associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events. read more
expert reaction to study on chocolate consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease
A number of types of food have been suggested to have beneficial effects on health, and a team publishing in the journal Heart have investigated an association between chocolate consumption and cardiovascular disease. Based on a meta-analysis, the researchers report that higher intake of chocolate was associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events. read more
expert reaction to exposure to green spaces at school and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren
A study of schoolchildren in Spain has been published in the journal PNAS, in which the authors aimed to examine the effects of exposure to green spaces on cognitive development. The authors report beneficial effects on aspects including memory and attentiveness with increasing levels of green space, which the partially attribute to reduction in exposure to air pollution. read more
expert reaction to existing licensed drugs used to treat depression in mice
The use of drugs which are already prescribed for certain diseases in the treatment of other conditions is an active area of research, and a paper published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has done just that to treat depressive symptoms in mice. read more
call off the hunt
Am I the only one who feels sorry for Tim Hunt? Judging from my inbox, I’m not. I can’t help … read more
expert reaction to study reporting on drug promoting tissue regeneration in mice
A team of scientists have described their efforts to find compounds which can promote the regeneration of tissue, publishing in the journal Science. Using mouse models, the researchers report the identification of a drug which through targeting a specific protein was able to help tissue regeneration after colon and liver injury, and also of blood cells after bone marrow transplant. read more
expert reaction to study on nut and peanut consumption and mortality rates
Diet is known to play a large part in various diseases, and possible effects of nuts on mortality has been examined in a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Looking at a Dutch group, the researchers report that peanut and tree nut intake was associated with lower mortality rates, but that this effect wasn’t seen for peanut butter. read more
expert reaction to additives in low-tar cigarettes and addiction
Publishing in the journal Tobacco Control, researchers have examined inclusion of various compounds in ‘light’ cigarette products reporting that they were used to enhance acceptance and sales of the products through addiction and appeal. read more