Author Archives: Science Media Centre
the long-term impacts of childhood bullying
Traditionally childhood bullying has been seen by many as a common and almost inevitable part of growing up, with lasting consequences fortunately happening rarely. However, there has been growing evidence of long-term impacts that can last far into adulthood. Now researchers have assessed whether there are not only psychological impacts, but also physical ones – specifically in relation to obesity and inflammation. read more
expert reaction to paper on iron levels and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
A link between levels of the body’s main iron-storing protein (ferratin) and Alzheimer’s disease has been investigated in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, with the researchers reporting that the more ferratin in a person’s cerebrospinal fluid, the earlier the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. read more
expert reaction to study investigating effect of cholesterol lowering drugs on stroke risk
Cholesterol-lowering drugs are often prescribed with the aim of preventing cardiovascular problems, and a paper published in The BMJ has reported that the use of such drugs was associated with a 30% lower risk of stroke in a group of people over the age of 65. read more
expert reaction to study investigating opioid synthesis by an engineered yeast, and comment
The production of pharmaceutical compounds from microorganisms is potentially cheaper and more effective than current methods, but there are obstacles which need to be overcome. These include increasing yields of the product, and such a result for the production of opiods in yeast has been reported by scientists publishing in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. read more
expert reaction to study investigating single motherhood and health in later life
Publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, researchers have attempted to examine an association between single motherhood (defined in this study as being an unmarried mother, not taking cohabitation into consideration) and health later in life. They report that single mothers were at risk of poorer health, but that this risk varied between countries. read more
single motherhood and health in later life
Publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, researchers have attempted to examine an association between being a single mother and possible poor health later in life. They report that single mothers were at risk of poorer health, but that this risk varied between countries. read more
clinical research with children: ethical issues
Without well-conducted medical research with children, our understanding of childhood disorders and evidence base for treatments will remain limited. The benefits of research can be seen in areas such as childhood leukemia, but overall, health research with children lags behind that with adults. In everyday practice, doctors still need to prescribe medicines that are often only tested in adults. Despite this, researchers and parents are worried about asking children to take part in research because of ethical and practical concerns. Following a two year inquiry, which has heard from hundreds of children and parents, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics is publishing its report, ‘Children and clinical research: ethical issues’. read more
expert reaction to announcement of changes in the provision of independent scientific advice to the European Commission
It has been announced that rather than having a chief scientific adviser to the president of the European Commission as in the past, a panel of experts will be appointed to provide scientific advice to the Commission. read more
expert reaction to debate on harm of psychiatric drugs
The positive and negative effects of psychiatric drugs are the subject of a discussion in The BMJ, with two professors and a patient debating their merits. read more
expert reaction to the University of Edinburgh’s announcement on fossil fuel investment policy
Following a consultation with its staff and students, the University of Edinburgh has announced changes to its policy on fossil fuel investment with the aim of promoting responsible investment. read more
gene editing of human embryos
As some in science circles have been predicting, gene-editing techniques which are already widely used in plants and animals have now been applied to human embryos. In what is thought to be a world first, Chinese scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 to modify the DNA of human embryos, thereby attracting global headlines about science fiction becoming science fact, as well as warnings about slippery slopes and designer babies. read more
expert reaction to second major earthquake in Nepal
Another major earthquake has struck Nepal, two weeks after a slightly larger earthquake killed thousands. read more
expert reaction to abstract of research on wine intake and type 2 diabetes
The association between red or white wine intake and the metabolic profiles of those with type 2 diabetes is the subject of a presentation given at the European Congress on Obesity in Prague, with the scientists involved in the presentation reporting that in patients with type 2 diabetes, moderate wine intake as part of a healthy diet could improve markers of metabolic function such as levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol. read more
expert reaction to study investigating body weight in type 2 diabetes, and mortality
A relationship between BMI of patients with type 2 diabetes and prognosis was investigated in a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, where the authors reported that those who were overweight or obese were more likely to be hospitalised for cardiovascular events, but that those who were overweight (but not obese) had a lower mortality risk. read more
expert reaction to new research on exceptionally warm years in England
The weather in central England is the focus of research published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. The authors report an increase in the likelihood of exceptionally warm years in the region, and attribute some of the blame for these changes in climate to the influence of human activities. read more
expert reaction to study investigating sugary drinks and type 2 diabetes
Publishing in the journal Diabetologia, research based on more than 25,000 people in the UK has reported a link between a person’s energy intake provided by sweet drinks, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The authors suggest that replacing sugary drinks with unsweetened drinks such as water or tea could help prevent developing the disease. read more
expert reaction to paper on mechanisms of ageing
A paper published in the journal Science has reported changes in the structure of heterochromatin, a tightly packed form of DNA, as a potential cause of human ageing. Building on previous research, the authors used a model of premature ageing and put forward a number of specific protein which may be responsible for the changes. read more
expert reaction to study forecasting life expectancy changes in England and Wales
Publishing in the Lancet journal, a team of researchers has estimated mortality and life expectancy in England and Wales, reporting that previous measures may have underestimated the expected rise in life expectancy, particularly in men. read more
expert reaction to bullying, maltreatment and mental health
The effect on mental health in later life of bullying and maltreatment in childhood has been examined by a team of researchers publishing in The Lancet Psychiatry. They report that bullying by one’s peers in childhood has a greater negative impact on mental health than maltreatment, leading to higher levels of outcomes such as anxiety, depression and self-harm. read more
expert reaction to iodine in milk and IQ
A paper published in the journal Food Chemistry has analysed the levels of iodine in supermarket milk, reporting lower levels in milk labelled as organic compared with conventional milk. The authors suggest that this may increase the risk of iodine deficiencies in at-risk groups such as pregnant women. read more