Pregnant New Zealanders are eating unsafe foods

Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

NZMJ

A survey of 200 pregnant New Zealanders has found a concerning lack of knowledge of which foods are safe for them to eat. Three quarters of those surveyed incorrectly identified a potentially dangerous food as safe. It also highlighted that Māori Read more about Pregnant New Zealanders are eating unsafe foods

NZers toughed out appendicitis through lockdown

Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

NZMJ

The number of patients with appendicitis in New Zealand hospitals noticeably dropped over the national COVID-19 lockdown. However those who did go to hospital had been experiencing symptoms for longer, suffered more complications, and had to stay in Read more about NZers toughed out appendicitis through lockdown

Oxford's COVID-19 jab safer in older adults

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1800 AEDT | 2000 NZDT

The Lancet

Phase 2 trial results from Oxford’s ChAdOx1 vaccine shows it’s better tolerated in older people compared to younger adults, and produces a similar immune response in old and young adults. The study of 560 healthy adults – including 240 over 70 Read more about Oxford's COVID-19 jab safer in older adults

Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1618 AEDT | 1818 NZDT

EBioMedicine

An international team of researchers have uncovered a drug-like compound that blocks a crucial inflammatory pathway, potentially paving the way for a new treatment for a host of diseases – including COVID-19. WEHI’s Associate Professor Seth Read more about Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases

Smartwatches could help detect COVID before symptoms appear

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1508 AEDT | 1708 NZDT

Nature Biomedical Engineering

Smartwatches can detect changes in you body as much as nine days before COVID symptoms appear, according to US research. The researchers analysed data from 32 individuals infected with COVID-19, identified from a group of nearly 5,300 participants, Read more about Smartwatches could help detect COVID before symptoms appear

New report reveals chronic disadvantage among social housing tenants

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

The first report from a five-year study has found social housing tenants are more likely to have experienced chronic, often lifelong, disadvantage than other groups, revealing complex needs for which effective social housing is a crucial social Read more about New report reveals chronic disadvantage among social housing tenants

Trial questions how well masks actually work for COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

A randomised trial of more than 6,000 people in Denmark suggests masks have limited additional benefit in stopping COVID-19 spread for people already following social distancing and hygiene recommendations. The trial, known as the DANMASK-19 trial, Read more about Trial questions how well masks actually work for COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: Does Adelaide have a "super-strain" of COVID-19?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1249 AEDT | 1449 NZDT

As South Australia begins a 6-day "circuit-breaking" lockdown, questions have been raised about the particular strain that has caused a cluster in Adelaide's north-west. Premier Steven Marshall described it as "particularly sneaky", with SA's Chief Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Does Adelaide have a "super-strain" of COVID-19?

Scientists defy nature to make insta-bling at room temperature

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Small

An international team of scientists has defied nature to make diamonds in minutes in a laboratory at room temperature – a process that normally requires billions of years, huge amounts of pressure and super-hot temperatures. Read more about Scientists defy nature to make insta-bling at room temperature

Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

Trends in Ecology and Evolution

A new paper from the University of Melbourne reveals how animals use beautiful but unreliable iridescent colours as communication signals. Special adaptations enable animals to control how these shifting colours appear so that they can convey Read more about Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?