Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

You might have heard of dogs that look like their owners - now Swedish research has shown some owners eat and exercise like their dogs. The study found people who had a dog with diabetes were 38 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes Read more about Too many treats? Dogs and owners share diabetes risk

Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Conservation Letters

Scientists urge that a clear, unambiguous goal for preventing human-induced species extinctions and stabilising populations must be front and centre in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – currently formulated draft iterations carry a Read more about Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0743 AEDT | 0943 NZDT

Frontiers in Psychology

University of Otago researchers have identified sleep quality as the biggest predictor of depressive symptoms and wellbeing among young adults, compared to diet and physical activity. The research team surveyed 1100 young adults in New Zealand and Read more about Sleep, food, or exercise: which has the biggest impact on mental health?

The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

People who live in poverty are often disproportionately affected by mental illness, with those on the lowest incomes typically 1. 5 to 3 times more likely than the well-off to experience depression or anxiety. This review looks at ways in which Read more about The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

New early-stage research shows faecal transplants may show some promise in making cancer immunotherapy more effective. This phase 1 clinical trial transplanted the faecal matter  of two melanoma patients who had responded well to earlier Read more about Faecal transplants may help immunotherapy for cancer patients

Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, a study released this week has some good news about a wildlife pandemic, which may help scientists better understand how other emerging diseases evolve. Griffith University researchers were part of an international Read more about Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Detection dogs could also be able to be trained to smell COVID-19 in infected people, according to early research. French and Lebanese researchers trained six working detection dogs -- who were already pros in other fields like explosives detection Read more about Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Aussie and US researchers say that young Indigenous Australians were overrepresented in both the mental health and prison systems from their examination of 23- and 24-year-olds born in Queensland in 1990. The team looked at population data from Read more about How common are mental heath issues in our incarcerated Indigenous Aussies?

Developing a safe inhalable vaccine system

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Med

Researchers have designed a system that allows vaccines and drugs to be inhaled. A 10 amino acid peptide that helps molecules or particles to move from the lungs to the blood was attached to a bacterial virus. When this was given to mice and Read more about Developing a safe inhalable vaccine system

Isolation among the elderly linked to increase risk of falling

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Loneliness and social isolation may be an important predictor of falls among the elderly, according to new research. A study that analysed the health data of over 13,000 British people over the age of 60 found that people who lived alone had an 18% Read more about Isolation among the elderly linked to increase risk of falling