Author Archives: Science Media Centre
comments ahead of the one year anniversary of the confirmation of the Ebola outbreak by the WHO, on 23 March 2014
The first anniversary of the current Ebola outbreak is on the 23rd of March. read more
expert reaction to study on dietary omega-3 supplements and attention in boys with and without ADHD
A paper published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology has studied the use of omega-3 supplements as a possible treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The authors report that in their cohort of forty boys, dietary omega-3 supplements reduced symptoms of ADHD. read more
expert reaction to the appointment of Prof Venki Ramakrishnan as the next President of the Royal Society
It has been announced that Professor Venki Ramakrishnan will be the next president of the Royal Society. Based at the University of Cambridge, Prof. Ramakrishnan won a Nobel Prize in 2009 for his work on ribosomes. read more
expert reaction to opinion piece on the use of rosuvastatin
A feature in The BMJ has argued that one particular type of statin should be withdrawn from use in the US, citing concerns around the evidence for health benefits and side effects. read more
expert reaction to study on diet soda consumption and abdominal fat in older adults
A study published in the journal Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has attempted to establish a link between waist circumference and intake of “diet” soft drinks in a population Americans over the age of 65. They report that those who consumed higher levels of these drinks were more likely to gain more weight over the follow up period. read more
expert reaction to Cyclone Pam, Vanuatu and climate change
The president of Vanuatu, Baldwin Lonsdale, has said that climate change is contributing to the extreme weather conditions seen by his country. read more
expert reaction to announcement that Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advises immunisation for 14 to 18 year-olds against meningococcal group W (MenW) disease
The UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised that immunisation for meningococcal group W disease be offered to 14-18 year olds, following a Public Health England report showing a rise in cases since 2009. read more
launch of East London community genome sequencing project
Bangladeshi and Pakistani people in East London have some of the highest rates of poor health in the UK and are disproportionately affected by diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. Experts from Queen Mary University of London are launching a large-scale medical research study – called East London Genes & Health – which aims to improve the health of these local communities by gathering information, for the first time, about their genetic makeup. read more
expert reaction to EFSA report on pesticide residues and food safety
The European Food Safety Authority has released a report on the levels of pesticide residues in foods, reporting that more than 97% of food analysed had pesticide levels which fell within legal limits, and around 55% of food analysed had undetectable levels of pesticides. read more
expert reaction to new paper studying pandemic potential of second wave of H7N9 influenza in China
A paper published in the journal Nature has reported the spread of the H7N9 strain of avian influenza from eastern to southern China, and the establishment of distinct variations in different regions. The authors suggest that these findings have relevance for wider disease monitoring and control. read more
expert reaction to news that a UK military healthcare worker in Sierra Leone has tested positive for Ebola
A British military healthcare worker has tested positive for the Ebola virus while working in Sierra Leone. It is being reported that they are receiving treatment but that no decision has yet been made on repatriation. read more
expert reaction to Commons vote for standardised cigarette packaging
The House of Commons has voted by 357 votes to 113 to introduce standardised packaging for all cigarettes from 2016. read more
expert reaction to trial of potential Ebola therapeutic treatment (TKM-Ebola-Guinea) starting today in Sierra Leone
A phase II clinical trial for a treatment of Ebola has started in Sierra Leone, led by the University of Oxford. read more
expert reaction to review of hormone replacement therapy and cardiovascular disease in women
An update to a review of the evidence around hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and incidence of cardiovascular disease in women has been published in the Cochrane Library. The authors report that there was no overall protective effect of HRT related to cardiovascular disease, but an increase in risk of stroke. However they report a lower risk for coronary heart disease and mortality for a subgroup of women who started treatment less than ten years after the onset of menopause. read more
the latest evidence on HRT and cardiovascular health
Hormone replacement therapy has long been a controversial subject, with different studies demonstrating complex benefits and risks associated with women taking HRT. The latest review into the evidence has been published in the Cochrane Library. The new evidence on HRT now suggests different benefits and risks according to the age of women, or how long since their menopause that they started treatment. This review adds a few more pieces to a complicated jigsaw of evidence relating to the use of HRT to treat symptoms of the menopause helping to inform women about their HRT choices. read more
expert reaction to series of studies reporting estimated cost to the EU of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
A series of papers have been published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism which have estimated the cost of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to the European Union. read more
expert reaction to case of post-exposure vaccination with the VSV-EBOV experimental Ebola vaccine, following needle-stick injury of US medic
A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the effects of the experimental Ebola vaccine VSVΔG-ZEBOV, given to a health-care worker who experienced a needle stick while treating patients in Sierra Leone. The researchers report that the physician did not develop Ebola and showed Ebola-specific immune responses, but warn that questions about safety and efficacy of the vaccine cannot be answered from a single case. read more
expert reaction to announcement that efficacy trials of the VSV-EBOV Ebola vaccine will begin in Guinea
The World Health Organisation has announced that a phase III trial of the VSV-EBOV vaccine will begin in Guinea on the 7th March, to test its efficacy against Ebola. read more
crowdfunding for LSD
Illegal drugs are gaining increased attention in the research community. A combination of complex regulations, differing requirements for clinical versus scientific research and limited funding opportunities have provided many obstacles for the research community, but some still feel it is worth attempting. Prof. David Nutt, former Chair of the ACMD, has been one of the most vocal proponents of research with psychedelic drugs. He and his team are now resorting to crowdfunding to get sufficient money to finish their basic research into the impact of LSD. read more
statins and diabetes
A paper published in the journal Diabetologia has attempted to analyse the effect of taking statins on incidence of type 2 diabetes in men, reporting a small increase in absolute risk. read more