Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study modelling Ebola virus transmission in Liberia
Researchers publishing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal have modelled the spread of Ebola in Montserrado, Liberia. They put forward the likely effects of different levels of intervention and at different time points, in terms of number of cases averted, in relation to the current healthcare efforts. read more
expert reaction to obesity, diabetes and UV light
A study in the journal Diabetes has looked at the effects of vitamin D supplements or exposure to UV light on metabolic phenotypes in mice, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The researchers suggest that while vitamin D supplements are often taken to combat deficiency, they do not reproduce the positive effects of exposure to UV radiation in sunlight in terms of these disorders. read more
expert reaction to new study on bisphenol-A and till receipts
A study published in the journal PLOS ONE has investigated the levels of exposure to bisphenol-A through the handling of till receipts, eating, and use of hand sanitiser. read more
bisphenol-A and till receipts
A study published in the journal PLOS ONE has investigated the levels of exposure to bisphenol-A through the handling of till receipts, eating, and use of hand sanitiser. read more
what can animals tell us about psychiatry?
Psychiatry has made huge leaps in recent years as it has become ever more scientific in nature. Our understanding of disorders, drugs and therapies has grown dramatically, much of it through research with animals. But are mice and rats good models for these complex diseases, can depression in dogs really equate with depression in people, and how much does that matter? read more
expert reaction to story on spinal cord repair
Researchers publishing in the journal Cell Transplantation have described the treatment of a paralysed patient, using cells transplanted from his own nose into his spinal cord. read more
expert reaction to paper modelling the risk of the international spread of Ebola via air travel
A study in The Lancet has modelled the potential for the spread of the Ebola virus via air travel of infected persons from affected areas. They emphasise the need for balancing these risks with potential harms due to imposition of restrictions on air travel from these areas. read more
expert reaction to new study on traffic pollution and unborn children’s lungs
A study published in the journal Thorax has examined the effect of exposure to traffic-related pollution during pregnancy, and development of the lungs in infants. They suggest that exposure to pollutants during, but not after, pregnancy negatively impacted on lung function of children before the age of 5. read more
expert reaction to side-effects of Parkinson’s drug
Researchers investigating previously known side effects of pharmaceuticals used to treat neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease have suggested that more warning labels should be included in packaging of these medicines. read more
gain-of-function flu research – what is it for?
We’ve heard about lab experiments on influenza that mutate the virus to investigate how genetic changes could alter how infectious or deadly it is. But what are these gain-of-function experiments, how and where are they conducted, and what have we learned from them so far? read more
expert reaction to news that the WHO have officially declared the Ebola outbreak in Senegal over
The World Health Organization (WHO) have declared the outbreak of Ebola in Senegal to be over. read more
expert reaction to continued development of an Ebola vaccine by GSK
The pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has said that the vaccine which it is producing against Ebola is likely to be ready in late 2015, “too late” for the current outbreak. read more
expert reaction to rapid vs gradual weight loss and long-term weight management
In an article published in the The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, researchers have suggested that there is little difference in the ability of people to maintain their weight after losing weight either gradually or rapidly. read more
expert reaction to latest expert review on the science of preventing mitochondrial disease
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has issued an addendum to their report on mitochondrial donation techniques, reviewing polar body transfer (PBT). read more
expert encounter: why are young people born in the UK attracted to supporting terrorism?
As one set of parents continue to issue heartfelt pleas to their daughter to come back from Syria, politicians and community leaders struggle to understand why young people would be tempted to leave comfortable secure homes and travel to war zones to lend support to a variety of fighting groups. Few people in the UK can give answers but one academic is attempting to understand the roots of radicalisation and psychology behind it, so we may begin to take a public health approach and prevent it before it happens. read more
expert reaction to exercise and depression
Researchers studying exercise and depression have published their findings in JAMA Pediatrics that physical activity is not a predictive marker for levels of depression in teenagers. read more
expert reaction to new study on plants and CO2
A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has suggested that differences in carbon dioxide concentrations inside plants may account for errors in estimations of their capacity for carbon storage. read more
expert reaction to broccoli and autism
Researchers publishing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences have reported beneficial effects of the use of a broccoli extract on a small number of patients with autism spectrum disorder. read more
expert reaction to Jeremy Hunt’s statement on Ebola and the government’s response in the UK
The health secretary Jeremy Hunt made a statement to the House of Commons on the response of the government to the possibility of cases of Ebola within the UK, including screening the border. read more
expert reaction to research on the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment
Researchers writing in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B have reported on the effect of discharge and build up of pharmaceutical substances in the environment, and on wildlife populations. read more