Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study outlining genetic risk factors in schizophrenia
Results of the largest genome-wide association study of schizophrenia ever conducted were published in Nature this week, identifying more than 100 genetic variants associated with the condition. read more
expert reaction to environmental costs of meat, egg, and dairy production
A study in PNAS reported that the environmental burdens imposed by beef production far exceed the burdens imposed by other types of livestock and plant staples. read more
new crop breeding technologies: genome engineering and beyond
Recent advances in genome engineering make it possible to precisely alter DNA sequences in living cells, providing unprecedented control over a plant’s genetic material. This briefing enabled journalists to find out about molecular genetic techniques for genome editingand tools for epigenetic modification. read more
expert reaction to kisspeptin and ovarian stimulation
Research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reported that kisspeptin can be used to trigger ovulation after ovarian stimulation in IVF, and that the substance may reduce ovarian hyper stimulation; a serious complication of IVF associated with use of an alternative hormone. read more
expert reaction to the loss of HIV/AIDS researchers in the Malaysian plane crash
At least six attendees of a major AIDS conference are reported to be among the 298 people who died when Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashed in the Ukraine, including leading researcher Professoe Joep Lange. read more
expert reaction to final NICE guidance on cardiovascular disease and statin use
NICE published its final updated guidance on starting preventive treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) advising that the threshold for starting treatment should be halved from a 20% risk of developing CVD over 10 years to a 10% risk, and that once lifestyle factors have been addressed high intensity statin therapy should be offered. read more
expert reaction to two reviews on asthma and children’s growth
Two systematic reviews published in The Cochrane Library looked at the effects of inhaled corticosteroid drugs, given by inhalers to children with asthma, on growth rates, reporting growth slowed in the first year of treatment but effects were minimised by using lower doses. read more
expert reaction to whether labelling people with moderate blood glucose levels as having ‘pre-diabetes’ is helpful
Authors of an analysis article in the BMJ argued that diagnosing patients with moderately high blood sugar as having pre-diabetes is unhelpful and unnecessary, reporting that blood sugar reduction treatments resulting from a diagnosis of pre-diabetes delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes only by few years and there was no evidence of long-term health benefits. read more
expert reaction to cannabis and paranoia
A study in Schizophrenia Bulletin of the effects of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, reported strong evidence that it can cause short-term paranoia and identified psychological factors that can lead to feelings of paranoia in cannabis users. read more
expert reaction to news that David Willetts has stepped down as Science Minister
During a major cabinet reshuffle David Willetts stepped down as Minister of State for Universities and Science. read more
nutritional content of organic and conventional foods
A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition looked at 343 studies into compositional differences between organic and conventional crops, reporting differences including higher levels of certain anti-oxidants and lower levels of cadmium in organic crops. read more
expert reaction to study comparing the nutritional content of organic and conventional foods
A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition looked at 343 studies into compositional differences between organic and conventional crops, reporting differences including higher levels of certain anti-oxidants and lower levels of cadmium in organic crops. read more
expert reaction to alcohol intake and cardiovascular health
Research published in the BMJ reported an association between lower alcohol consumption and better cardiovascular health. read more
expert reaction to annual Home Office statistics on animal research
The Home Office published its 2013 statistics on animals used in scientific procedures as well as the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) annual report for 2013. read more
annual Home Office statistics on animal research
The Home Office published its 2013 statistics on animals used in scientific procedures as well as the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) annual report for 2013. read more
decline in population of some birds and a neonicotinoid pesticide
Nature published a study reporting a correlation between declines in farmland bird populations in the Netherlands and use of the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid. read more
expert reaction to new study associating use of a neonicotinoid with decline in population of some birds
Nature published a study reporting a correlation between declines in farmland bird populations in the Netherlands and use of the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid. read more
biomarkers for Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s drug trials have not been promising and one suggested reason for this is that we are spotting and treating the disease too late. A group of UK researchers, publishing in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, have been looking to see how accurate indicator proteins in people’s blood may be for predicting who is likely to develop the condition. read more
expert reaction to biomarkers for Alzheimer’s
A group of researchers publishing in Alzheimer’s & Dementia looked at how accurate indicator proteins in people’s blood may be for predicting who is likely to develop the Alzheimer’s disease. read more
expert reaction to genetics of psychiatric illnesses
Investigators reporting in the journal Cell Stem Cell describe a method that may help reveal how genetic variants that may increase risk of psychiatric disorders, but are insufficient to cause disease, interact with other risk factors or environmental exposures to affect the development of the nervous system. read more