Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1334 AEDT | 1534 NZDT

Social Science and Medicine

Rates of sexual abuse by an intimate partner over one’s lifetime have not changed, according to new estimates by New Zealand researchers. The study authors analysed data from face-to-face interviews with more than 4300 New Zealand women born as Read more about Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1159 AEDT | 1359 NZDT

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health

Government targets designed to lower the salt content of packaged foods will make little difference to the health of Australians, according to a new analysis published today. George Institute researchers found that even if the voluntary targets Read more about Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app. The app, produced by the Menzies School of Health Research’s (Menzies) Read more about What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

A wild Australian sea lion has been reported with tuberculosis in South Australia. The type of disease is not the typical presentation of tuberculosis, as this was not found in the animal’s lungs, but in its abdomen. Researchers from the Read more about Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

BMJ

Scientists have found that after six months, patients who followed a low carb diet containing less than 26 per cent of daily calories from carbohydrates achieved greater rates of type 2 diabetes remission than those who followed other diets Read more about Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Science Advances

A new type of stem cell – that is, a cell with regenerative abilities – could be closer on the horizon, a new animal study using human cells shows. These new, adaptive stem cells can lie dormant until needed. A new type of stem cell – that is, Read more about Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

COVID patients who receive blood plasma with higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels had a lower risk of death than those who received plasma with lower antibody levels, according to US research. This sort of treatment, known as convalescent plasma, has Read more about Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies

Another COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

NEJM

Interim results of a phase 1-2a trial of a COVID-19 candidate vaccine, Ad26. COV2. S, suggest it can provoke a neutralising antibody response in 90 per cent of recipients 29 days after administration, reaching 100 per cent after 57 days. And white Read more about Another COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Early warning sign for heart disease

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

Journal of the American Heart Foundation

The build-up of calcium in a major artery outside of the heart could predict future heart attack or stroke, a new Edith Cowan University led study has demonstrated. The research could help doctors identify people at risk of cardiovascular disease Read more about Early warning sign for heart disease

Clinical trial finds vitamin D does not ward off colds and flu

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0759 AEDT | 0959 NZDT

The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology

An Australian randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplements has found they do not protect most people from developing colds, flus and other acute respiratory infections, but may slightly shorten the length of infection and ease the severity Read more about Clinical trial finds vitamin D does not ward off colds and flu