Testing tuberculosis vaccine combinations for COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Sydney researchers are taking an innovative approach to designing potential COVID-19 vaccines - using a tuberculosis vaccine to deliver components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Early results from pre-clinical testing in mice are promising. Read more about Testing tuberculosis vaccine combinations for COVID-19

It's a dog's life: our furry friends are much older than we think

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 0500 AEST | 0700 NZST

Cell Systems

Scientists in the US have debunked the well-known 'rule of paw' that one dog year is the equivalent of seven human years. Instead, the researchers have devised a more accurate formula to calculate your pooch's age based on the chemical changes in Read more about It's a dog's life: our furry friends are much older than we think

Those with COVID-19 could also be at increased risk of stroke

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Neurology

Patients with COVID-19 may also be at heightened risk of stroke, according to international researchers who looked at 3,402 patients at two hospitals in New York City. The researchers compared patients with COVID-19 at these hospitals to patients Read more about Those with COVID-19 could also be at increased risk of stroke

Compulsive internet use by teens linked to emotional issues

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Emotion

A new study has found internet addiction in teenagers leads to difficulty regulating emotions. However there was no evidence that pre-existing emotional issues are a predictor of obsessive internet use. The paper is the first longitudinal study to Read more about Compulsive internet use by teens linked to emotional issues

Social distancing superstars helped slow US COVID-19 spread

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

People who proactively started social distancing before government policies were in place may have helped slow the spread of COVID-19 in the US, according to international researchers who looked at real-world mobile phone data between January and Read more about Social distancing superstars helped slow US COVID-19 spread

Mothering in domestic violence: protecting children behind closed doors

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

Qualitative Social Work

As emerging data shows an alarming rise of domestic violence during the pandemic, researchers at the University of South Australia are urging practitioners to look beyond clinical observations and focus on the strengths that mothers exercise to Read more about Mothering in domestic violence: protecting children behind closed doors

Hot flushes and night sweats linked to 70% increase in cardiovascular disease

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 1051 AEST | 1251 NZST

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

New research from The University of Queensland has found that women who have hot flushes and night sweats after menopause are 70 per cent more likely to have heart attacks, angina and strokes. Read more about Hot flushes and night sweats linked to 70% increase in cardiovascular disease

Review raises questions about family violence therapies

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 1000 AEST | 1200 NZST

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

A major University of Melbourne-led review has questioned whether women's ongoing need for safety, support and holistic healing following family violence are adequately addressed by current therapies. Read more about Review raises questions about family violence therapies

Climate change threat to tropical plants

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0930 AEST | 1130 NZST

Global Ecology and Biogeography

Half of the world’s tropical plant species may struggle to germinate by 2070 because of global warming, a new UNSW study predicts. Their study analysed almost 10,000 records for more than 1300 species from the Kew Gardens’ global seed Read more about Climate change threat to tropical plants

'Immunity passport' test misses one in three COVID-19 cases on average

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

An international team of researchers have reviewed the evidence for using COVID-19 antibody tests, based on 40 published studies. When test results were pooled together, they ranged from 66 to 97. 8 per cent accurate at correctly detecting COVID-19 Read more about 'Immunity passport' test misses one in three COVID-19 cases on average

Meeting exercise guidelines may lower your risk of death

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

Meeting weekly exercise recommendations is linked to a lower risk of death, say international and Aussie researchers. The authors looked at the link between meeting the 2018 US physical activity guidelines – 150 minutes of moderate-intensity Read more about Meeting exercise guidelines may lower your risk of death

CSIRO uses lab-grown 'lungs' to fight respiratory viruses

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Viruses

Scientists have found that human airway cells grown in a laboratory can reliably be used to study respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, which could help to minimise animal testing and fast-track drugs for human clinical trials. Read more about CSIRO uses lab-grown 'lungs' to fight respiratory viruses

Deadly parrot virus rife in Aussie birds

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Aussie researchers have found wild Australian parrots - including Crimson Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas, Galahs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Blue-winged Parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets and Red-rumped Parrots - to be rife with a dangerous virus called Beak Read more about Deadly parrot virus rife in Aussie birds

Aboriginal artefacts reveal first ancient underwater cultural sites in Australia

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The first underwater Aboriginal archaeological sites have been discovered off northwest Australia dating back thousands of years ago when the current seabed was dry land. Aboriginal artefacts discovered off the Plibara coast in WA represent Read more about Aboriginal artefacts reveal first ancient underwater cultural sites in Australia

Being told someone looks 'grumpy' makes them seem even grumpier

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Australian and US researchers say telling us which emotion someone's face is expressing affects our judgement of that facial expression, partiuclarly for sad, angry and scared faces. The researchers say this suggests we don't simply read emotions Read more about Being told someone looks 'grumpy' makes them seem even grumpier

New weapons for fighting Devil disease

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Science Advances

Researchers at the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research and the School of Medicine have added an arsenal of new tools to their repertoire for fighting the insidious Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Read more about New weapons for fighting Devil disease

Small study suggests Kawasaki-like COVID-19 syndrome may damage 1 in 7 kids' brains

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Neurology

UK scientists investigated 27 children with COVID-19-related pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome - the Kawasaki disease-like symptoms that can affect kids with the virus - and found four who were previously healthy developed nerve and brain Read more about Small study suggests Kawasaki-like COVID-19 syndrome may damage 1 in 7 kids' brains

Official US count may underestimate COVID-19 deaths by 28 per cent

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

US and Danish scientists have estimated the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 in the USA between 1st March and 30th May 2020, and say there were 122,300 more deaths that would be expected were there no pandemic. That's 28 per cent higher than the Read more about Official US count may underestimate COVID-19 deaths by 28 per cent

Got a kid who doesn't sleep? They may be at higher risk of psychosis in their teens

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Kids with certain sleep problems in childhood may be at higher risk of developing psychosis and border-line personality disorder in adolescence, say international researchers. The study followed around 13,000 kids over 13 years and found that kids Read more about Got a kid who doesn't sleep? They may be at higher risk of psychosis in their teens

Long-acting HIV treatment shows potential

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

A trial of a new, long-acting antiretroviral agent has shown potential for the treatment of HIV. The clinical study in 40 healthy people found that a single dose of the agent containing the small molecule, GS-6207, was well-tolerated in humans and Read more about Long-acting HIV treatment shows potential