Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to paracetamol and ADHD
A preliminary study in JAMA Pediatrics found children of women who used paracetamol during pregnancy appear to be at higher risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like behavioral problems. read more
expert reaction to diet, diabetes and dementia
Research in PNAS found a potential causal link between compounds present in the Western diet and the accumulation of amyloid, a component of the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The compounds – advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) -have been previously linked to diabetes and neurodegenerative disease. read more
expert reaction to volcanic contribution to slow surface warming
Nature Geoscience published an article showing volcanic eruptions over the past decade or so have cooled global lower-atmosphere temperatures to a statistically significant degree, which can partly explain the slowdown in temperature rise since 1998. read more
climate change and winter deaths
Nature Climate Change published research showing socio-economic and health-care conditions factors in England and Wales may be a better explanation for the decreasing numbers of winter deaths than milder winters due to climate change. read more
expert reaction to climate change and winter deaths
Nature Climate Change published research showing socio-economic and health-care conditions factors in England and Wales may be a better explanation for the decreasing numbers of winter deaths than milder winters due to climate change. read more
expert reaction to food packaging chemicals and health
Environmental scientists commenting in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health raised concerns over long term health impacts of chemicals used in the packaging, storage, and processing of foods. read more
expert reaction to news stories that NHS medical records sharing programme care.data is being delayed for 6 months
The NHS medical records sharing programme care.data has been halted for 6 months due to concern that the plans have not been properly communicated. read more
expert reaction to new study on risk factors for miscarriage
Researchers publishing in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology looked at observational data to identify the modifiable risk factors for miscarriage and to estimate the proportion which were preventable. read more
expert reaction to new study demonstrating neural prostheses in temporarily paralysed primates
A study in Nature Communications found brain implants connected between two monkeys could be used to decode brain activity from an alert monkey to produce directed movements in a temporarily paralysed monkey. read more
expert reaction to suicide statistics from ONS
The Office of National Statistics has released data on suicide rates in the UK in 2012. read more
expert reaction to biomarkers for depression
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found evidence that suggests that cortisol levels in adolescent boys may be a biomarker for major depression. read more
biomarkers for depression
Around 1 in 6 people suffer from major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. Currently there is no way to predict the at-risk groups, but researchers at the University of Cambridge have been attempting to find biomarkers for use in adolescents. read more
expert reaction to industrial chemicals and neurodevelopmental disorders
Research published in Lancet Neurology called for an overhaul of industrial chemical regulations due to a suggested link between such chemicals and neurodevelopmental disorders. read more
expert reaction to blight-resistant GM potatoes
Work published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B outlines a trial of GM Desiree potatoes that are blight-resistant. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
Further reaction to the ongoing flooding and storm conditions hitting the UK, with a focus on hydrology and flood forecasting. read more
expert reaction to the government response to the review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions
The Government responded to a review of cosmetic interventions, led by NHS medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, by announcing a raft of new regulations. read more
expert reaction to the upgrade of ketamine to a Class B drug
The Government announced the recreational drug ketamine will be reclassified from a Class C to a Class B banned substance. read more
expert reaction to diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and self-harm
Research in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found common physical illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy and asthma were associated with a moderately elevated risk of self-harm. read more
expert reaction to study on nuclear fusion
Nature reported experiments that have succeeded in releasing more energy through a fusion reaction than is absorbed by the fuel, marking an important step towards nuclear fusion as a viable alternative energy source. read more
expert reaction to continued flooding
Further commentary on the flooding situation in the UK. read more