Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to new study on bisphenol-A and children’s lung function
Researchers have published a paper in Jama Pediatrics suggesting a link between exposure to bisphenol-A and asthma symptoms in children. read more
Prof John O’Keefe, winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
Prof John O’Keefe, Director of the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour at UCL, was the joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine along with May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. read more
expert reaction to 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine being awarded to Prof John O’Keefe
The Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine for 2014 has been awarded to Professor John O’Keefe of UCL’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, jointly with Professor May-Britt Moser and Professor Edvard Moser at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. read more
expert reaction to alcohol consumption and HPV infections in men
A study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections has reported a link between high alcohol intake and an increased risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection infection in men in the US. read more
expert reaction to alcohol consumption and sperm and semen quality
A paper on the effect of alcohol consumption and aspects of fertility has been published in the BMJ Open. The researchers found that sperm levels and quality were particularly reduced in men consuming above the recommended guidelines for intake of alcohol. read more
expert reaction to media coverage questioning whether Ebola could become airborne
Media coverage around the continuing Ebola outbreak has questioned whether or not the virus could in future change its mode of transmission to become airborne, though this is thought to be unlikely. read more
expert reaction to NICE recommendation for nalmefene to help people reduce their dependence on alcohol
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has given final draft guidance for the use of the drug nalmefene as a treatment for people with alcohol dependence. read more
expert reaction to Home Office investigations into animal welfare standards following BUAV infiltrations
The Home Office has published reports on investigations into compliance with animal welfare regulations at three facilities. Inquiries were launched after BUAV infiltrations at Imperial College London, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and separate issues at Harlan Laboratories. read more
expert reaction to midlife personality and Alzheimer’s
Researchers have published a study in the journal Neurology, suggesting a link between levels of stress in women and development of Alzheimer’s in later life. read more
expert reaction to the first case of Ebola diagnosed on US soil
The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the US has been announced in a patient recently returned from Liberia. West Africa has seen thousands of deaths from the disease, and two aid workers previously flown back to the US from the area for treatment recovered fully. read more
expert reaction to maternal cigarette smoking and male offspring fertility
In an article published in the journal Human Reproduction, researchers have reported that exposure to cigarette smoke in mice while before, during and after pregnancy reduced fertility through impaired development of the testes, and lower sperm counts. read more
the problem with brain tumours
Brain cancer is the chief cause of cancer deaths in everyone under the age of 35, with nearly 60% of men and women diagnosed with brain cancer dying within a year. Yet despite having some of the worst outcomes, brain cancer research receives less than 1% of the national spend on cancer research and as an issue it is largely ignored except when it comes to controversy over the different forms of therapies in children. read more
expert reaction to broad-spectrum antibiotics in infants and obesity in children
A paper published in JAMA Paediatrics has reported an association between treatment of infants with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and obesity later in childhood, with a greater effect from cumulative antibiotic use. The authors suggest that the effect may be limited by the use of more narrow antibiotics. read more
expert reaction to study on antibiotic treatment failure
Researchers publishing in The BMJ have reported an increase in failure rate of antibiotics in four common infections within the UK from 1991 to 2012. There is growing concern around antimicrobial resistance, and the chief medical officer and others have expressed worry in the scale of the issue. read more
expert reaction to CDC estimates of numbers of future Ebola cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released figures of their estimates of the number of future Ebola cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone for 2014 to early 15. read more
expert reaction to new statins study
In an article published in the journal the Lancet, researchers have investigated the effect of statins use, a gene polymorphism, metabolic factors, and incidence of type 2 diabetes. They suggest that the polymorphism may partially explain the observation of an increased risk of type 2 diabetes through statins use. read more
smc in a nutshell
Summary: The Science Media Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012, and undertook a strategic review to assess the demand … read more
smc strategic review
Full Report: The Science Media Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012, and undertook a strategic review to assess the … read more
Ebola – what next?
The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in its size and spread. We’ve heard how the WHO plan to tackle it, about the potential of various treatments and vaccines, but that it is unlikely to be brought under control before the end of 2014. But where are we now, is enough being done, and what is expected to happen next? read more
expert encounter: Prof Sir Michael Marmot and Dr Angela Donkin, Institute of Health Equity
The gap in life expectancy between affluent and deprived areas in England has been growing year on year. In February 2010, Professor Sir Michael Marmot launched his government review on inequalities in health for England.
A year later, Sir Michael published a set of indicators that have been used to monitor health inequalities, which have since been updated. read more