Author Archives: Science Media Centre
air pollution and health
Thanks to the additional component of Saharan dust we were all recently very aware of the pollution in the air that surrounds us. But how much is usually there, what is it made of and how does it affect our health? read more
expert reaction to antidepressants and self-harm
An observational study in JAMA Internal Medicine reported that children and young adults who start antidepressant therapy at high doses, rather than the most commonly prescribed doses, appeared to be at greater risk for suicidal behavior during the first 90 days of treatment. read more
expert reaction to news of possible Pfizer takeover of AstraZeneca
The pharmaceutical company Pfizer is reported to have been in contact with AstraZeneca regarding a possible takeover. read more
nitrogen pollution, climate and land use: why what we eat matters
A new report on nitrogen and food, to be published in May by the ‘Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen’ of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, calculates what would happen if Europe were to decrease its consumption of meat and dairy products. Some of the report’s authors came to the SMC to describe their findings. read more
mapping diseases and environmental exposure: launch of the Environment & Health Atlas
Researchers at the UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) are launching an atlas that maps health outcomes and environmental agents at neighbourhood level across England and Wales. They came to the SMC to talk about the implications of their work. read more
expert reaction to The Environment and Health Atlas for England and Wales
Researchers at the UK Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) launched an atlas that maps health outcomes and environmental agents … read more
coffee intake and type II diabetes
Researchers publishing in Diabetologia reviewed three large observational studies and reported that increasing coffee consumption by an average of one and half cups per day over a four-year period was associated with an 11% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes. read more
expert reaction to identification of receptor on mouse egg cells that allows sperm cells to attach and fertilise egg
A receptor on mouse egg cells that allows sperm cells to attach to and fertilize the eggs was identified by researchers publishing in Nature. read more
expert reaction to Rothamsted omega-3 Camelina given field trial permission by Defra
Rothamsted Research has been granted permission by Defra to carry out a field trial to test whether seeds of GM Camelina plants are able to make significant quantities of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids under field conditions. read more
expert reaction to brain imaging and vegetative states
Researchers publishing in The Lancet reported using positron emission tomography (PET), a brain imaging technique, in clinical practice to determine which severely brain damaged individuals in vegetative states have the potential to recover consciousness. read more
expert reaction to cannabis and potential brain abnormalities
Researchers in the US found a correlation between casual use of cannabis and the size, shape, and structure of brain regions involved with motivation, emotion and reward in a small sample of young adults. The report was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. read more
expert reaction to glucose and aggression in married couples
A PNAS study of married couples reported that decreased blood glucose altered the way participants acted in activities such as sticking pins into a doll representing their spouse. The authors suggested low blood glucose is therefore correlated with increased aggressive behaviour between married couples. read more
expert reaction to new study on salt reduction and health
Researchers publishing in BMJ Open report the 15% fall in dietary salt intake over the past decade in England is likely to have had a key role in the 40% drop in deaths from heart disease and stroke over the same period. read more
salt reduction and health
Researchers publishing in BMJ Open report the 15% fall in dietary salt intake over the past decade in England is likely to have had a key role in the 40% drop in deaths from heart disease and stroke over the same period. read more
expert reaction to IPCC AR5 WG3
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its third and final report of the current series, looking at strategies for mitigating global warming and recommending a rapid move away from fossil fuels. read more
expert reaction to Public Health England estimates of mortality associated with air pollution
Public Health England (PHE) released estimates of the number of deaths in UK local authorities that can be attributed to long term exposure to air pollution. read more
Tamiflu and Relenza for treatment and prevention of influenza
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
expert reaction to Cochrane Review on Tamiflu and Relenza for treatment and prevention of influenza
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
wind energy: what are the limits?
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s new report, Wind energy: implications of large-scale deployment on the UK energy system, assesses the potential for wind energy to help meet the government‘s own target of 15% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. read more
new study on effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza
Authors of the latest updated ‘Cochrane Review: Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children’ came came to the SMC to outline their findings about the effectiveness of Tamilflu and Relenza. read more