Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to identification of 53 existing drugs that could potentially be effective against the Ebola virus
A study published in the journal Emerging Microbes and Infection has examined the use of existing drugs for the prevention of transmission of Ebola. They describe the use of a test to screen for effective drugs, and report the identification of 53 existing compounds which block the entry of Ebola virus-like particles into cells. read more
what’s the real truth behind e-cigarettes?
The first Cochrane Review on this subject will be published next week in the Cochrane Library. This new emerging evidence gives some early insights into how effective e-cigarettes are as an aid to stopping smoking. This is an active area of research and this review draws on the first randomised trials that have been done. read more
expert reaction to study reviewing the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as an aid to stopping smoking
Researchers publishing in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews journal have analysed randomised controlled trials in which the efficacy of e-cigarettes to aid smoking cessation was analysed. They report that e-cigarettes have a beneficial effect in terms of smoking cessation, and that they found no evidence of a health risk associated with short-term e-cigarette use. read more
expert reaction to Lima climate negotiations
The UN is holding a conference in Peru on climate change, with the aim of establishing a new treaty. read more
expert reaction to London flight disruption
A technical problem at the UK’s air traffic control centre has caused disruption to flights in and out of the country. read more
abandon hype, all
The main subject of discussion at this year’s SMC Christmas bash was a new study published the same day, claiming … read more
expert reaction to new study on human gene that modifies the immune response to the flu vaccine
A study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens has examined how using small portions of a specific protein can improve the efficacy of the seasonal flu vaccine. read more
comparing sugar with salt as causes of hypertension and CVD
Researchers publishing in the journal Open Heart have suggested that it might be sugar rather than salt which has greater effects on hypertension and cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to article comparing sugar with salt as causes of hypertension and CVD
Researchers publishing in the journal Open Heart have suggested that it might be sugar rather than salt which has greater effects on hypertension and cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to insulin for type 2 diabetes and risk of death
A paper published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism explored an association between treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes with insulin, and risk of death. They report an increased incidence of mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, and cancer in those treated with insulin, and suggest their results warrant further study. read more
expert reaction to increased BMI and cardiometabolic risk markers
Researchers publishing in the journal PLOS Medicine have studied metabolic markers and changes in weight, reporting variations in these markers with changes in weight, fat level, and BMI. read more
MBRRACE-UK: Report into maternal deaths
Whilst rates of maternal deaths in the UK have been declining over the last ten years, there are still around 80 deaths during or after childbirth each year and in the majority of cases these women had pre-existing medical or mental health conditions. Ensuring pregnant women receive flu jabs and closer monitoring for sepsis after birth could reduce the number of deaths. This will be the 60th consecutive year in which maternal deaths are reviewed through the MBRRACE-UK programme read more
expert reaction to death of mother, believed to have depression, and baby
The bodies of a mother and baby who went missing from hospital shortly after the baby’s birth have been found. read more
expert reaction to male fruit fly diets and obesity in their offspring
Researchers studying the effects of the paternal diet of male fruit flies on the metabolic epigenetic and phenotypic profiles of their offspring have published their findings in the journal Cell. They report that short-term changes to sugar intake of the father were able to influence obesity of future offspring. read more
expert reaction to new drug used to encourage nerve growth in rats with spinal cord injury
Researchers publishing in the journal Nature have described their work to treat spinal cord injury in mice. They report that by treating the mice with a small portion of a specific protein, they were able to recover function to parts affected by the injury. read more
expert reaction to 2014 temperature data from the WMO
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has said that 2014 is likely to be one of, if not the hottest year on record. This is the case for the UK and on a global scale, and they say that this is in part due to high global sea temperatures. read more
expert reaction to Mediterranean diet and telomere length
A study published in The BMJ has explored a link between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the length of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, which have in the past been associated with ageing. They report that telomeres were longer in those with greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet. read more
expert reaction to UK launch of 23andMe genetic testing service
A new personal genetic testing service, 23andMe, has been launched in the UK. The service provides the raw genome of the user as well as tools for deciphering it. read more
are Britain’s nuclear plants fit for purpose?
Most of Britain’s operating nuclear reactors are of a type that nobody else in the world has. Over recent months we have seen media reports about cracks in the reactor cores, problems with the boiler units and claims that the regulators are “moving the goalposts” to allow them to operate for longer than they should. Are the current nuclear plants fit for purpose, will they keep the lights on this winter, and for how long can we rely on them to soldier on? read more
expert reaction to the chief medical officer’s recommendation to vaccinate toddlers against flu virus
The UK’s chief medical officer, Prof. Dame Sally Davies, has recommended that toddlers be vaccinated against the influenza virus. read more