Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to Ebola virus outbreak
Concern over the largest Ebola outbreak in history has increased, prompting Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond to convene COBRA. read more
expert reaction to alcohol, memory and dementia
A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reported a correlation between middle-aged adults having a history of problem drinking and severe memory impairment in later life. read more
expert reaction to Energy and Climate Change Committee report on IPCC
The Energy and Climate Change Committee published a report on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report, reviewing Working Group I. read more
expert reaction to exclusive in the Independent on mitochondrial DNA replacement babies
Experts responded to an exclusive in the Independent on mitochondrial DNA replacement accusing the Government of the dishonesty over regulation of the process. read more
expert reaction to shift work and type 2 diabetes, as published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine
A study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine reported that shift work was linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with men reported to be at heightened risk. read more
expert reaction to study reporting that monkeys near Fukushima, Japan have lower blood cell counts
A study published in Scientific Reports reported that wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forest area of Fukushima City have lower blood cell counts than monkeys from North Japan read more
expert reaction to DECC biomass calculator
The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) have launched a scientific calculator that investigates the impact on carbon emissions of biomass sourced from North America to produce electricity. read more
expert reaction to new report from the Science and Technology Committee on vCJD and UK blood safety
The Commons Science and Technology Committee published a report saying more action is needed to ensure that variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is not inadvertently transmitted from person-to-person through medical procedures. read more
expert reaction to Government response to consultation on draft regulations for mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy
The Government responded to a public consultation on draft regulations for legalising new techniques for mitochondrial DNA replacement therapy, announcing that plans to change the regulations will progress. read more
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