Author Archives: Science Media Centre
GM maize and tumours in rats
A toxicology study in Food and Chemical Toxicology into the health impact of a GM tolerant maize crop and the herbicide Roundup suggested lab rats developed mammary tumours and were more likely to die prematurely. read more
expert reaction to GM maize and tumours in rats
A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology purported to show that rats fed on GM maize were more likely to develop cancerous tumours and to die prematurely. read more
expert reaction to self-harm and risk of premature death
People who have a history of self-harm are more than three times as likely to die prematurely as the general population, with the risk also much higher for individuals living in socially deprived areas, according to a UK study published in The Lancet. read more
expert reaction to bisphenol A and childhood obesity
A study in JAMA showed children who had higher concentrations of urinary bisphenol A (BPA), a manufactured chemical found in consumer products, had significantly increased odds of being obese. read more
Alzheimer’s disease: causes, treatments, diagnosis, prevention
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses a great challenge both to society and the scientific community. Recent stage III clinical trials have returned negative results. Despite hundreds of papers studying AD, it can feel like to we are not getting anywhere – but researchers disagree. read more
HFEA launch of the public consultation – Medical Frontiers: Debating Mitochondrial Replacement
On Monday 17 September the HFEA launched a public consultation to gather people’s views about the social and ethical impact of new IVF-based techniques to avoid mitochondrial disease being passed down the maternal line. read more
top tips for media work
This leaflet is designed to give you information about how to deal with the situation when contacted by a news … read more
expert reaction to psychotropic drugs and driving risk
Drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may increase patients’ risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents, according to a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. read more
making deaf gerbils hear
Deafness is primarily caused by the loss of sensory hair cells in the ear and their associated auditory neurons.
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acupuncture for chronic pain
Archives of Internal Medicine published a meta-review of 29 randomized controlled trials, suggesting that acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the treatment of some chronic pain. read more
marijuana and testicular cancer
A study published in found a link between recreational marijuana use and an increased risk of developing subtypes of testicular cancer that tend to carry a somewhat worse prognosis. read more
developing diabetes – the SABRE study
According to Diabetes UK, type II diabetes and its complications costs the NHS over £1m an hour.
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expert reaction to marijuana use and testicular cancer
A study published in CANCER found a link between recreational marijuana use and an increased risk of developing subtypes of testicular cancer that tend to carry a somewhat worse prognosis. Before the Headlines analysis was also sent out. read more
expert reaction to meta-analysis of studies into acupuncture and chronic pain
Archives of Internal Medicine published a meta-review of 29 randomized controlled trials, suggesting that acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the treatment of some chronic pain. A Before the Headlines analysis was also sent out. read more
expert reaction to announcement from David Willetts on open access funding
David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science, announced the government would be providing £10m of extra funding for UK academics to publish in open access journals. read more
expert reaction to new research into sleep disturbance and Alzheimer’s in mice
Scientists writing in Science Translational Medicine found that mice with the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease have disrupted sleep. read more
expert reaction to Jeremy Hunt being appointed health secretary in the cabinet reshuffle
The appointment of Jeremy Hunt to the post of Health Secretary prompted reaction from members of the scientific community regarding Hunt’s previous statements on homeopathy. read more
expert reaction to paper on patient safety incidents from acupuncture treatments
The International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine published a paper detailing risks associated with acupuncture treatments. read more
expert reaction to new study showing benefits of freezing embryos
An analysis of 13,000 IVF pregnancies suggested the freezing process might be better for the mother and the baby’s health. It reported a lower chance of haemorrhage, premature birth and deaths in the first few weeks of life.
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expert reaction to link between chemical exposure and heart disease
A paper in Archives of Internal Medicine found a link between cardiovascular disease and higher blood levels of a chemical used in manufacture of products such as lubricants, polishes, paper and textile coatings, and food packaging. The Australian Science Media Centre also issued comments. read more