Supermarkets are getting closer to home in poorer areas

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1648 AEDT | 1848 NZDT

Social Science & Medicine

The average urban-dwelling Kiwi has a shorter drive to their nearest fast-food outlet and supermarket than they did a decade ago, according to new research. However, in the most deprived areas, there has been an even more notable decrease in the Read more about Supermarkets are getting closer to home in poorer areas

COVID-19 stigma could lead to more infections

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1631 AEDT | 1831 NZDT

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine

A comprehensive guide to dealing with stigma around contracting COVID-19 has been developed by a team of researchers including a New Zealander. They say shame associated with the virus could result in more cases as people become reluctant to report Read more about COVID-19 stigma could lead to more infections

Southland skaters confident but concerned

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1617 AEDT | 1817 NZDT

Journal of Transport & Health

A survey of 775 Southland teenagers has found seven per cent hop on a skateboard to get around - with more than a third of skaters reporting it was their main mode of transport. Skaters also reported doing more physical exercise and had higher Read more about Southland skaters confident but concerned

Truffle munching wallabies shed new light on forest conservation

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

Ecology and Evolution

Feeding truffles to wallabies may sound like a madcap whim of the jet-setting elite, but it may give researchers clues to preserving remnant forest systems. Edith Cowan University researcher Dr Melissa Danks led an investigation into how swamp Read more about Truffle munching wallabies shed new light on forest conservation

New drug research for prostate cancer could also fight COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

Endocrine-Related Cancer

Two drugs under development to treat aggressive prostate cancer will now be tested to combat the deadliest response to COVID-19 infection - acute respiratory distress syndrome. Read more about New drug research for prostate cancer could also fight COVID-19

Get fit with HIIT in time for summer

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Short bursts of intense exercise – known as HIIT – could help you get back into shape by summer and stay that way, a UNSW Sydney exercise physiology researcher says. Read more about Get fit with HIIT in time for summer

Orbits of ancient stars prompt rethink on Milky Way evolution

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Australian telescopes and a European satellite have combined to reveal unexpected motions among the Galaxy’s rarest objects. Read more about Orbits of ancient stars prompt rethink on Milky Way evolution

Almost 1 in 10 university students may be misusing prescription medication as 'study drugs'

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

A survey of university students has found that in the last year almost 1 in 10 used misused prescription drugs in an effort to help them study, with most students getting them from friends or from the internet. The survey of around 2,000 university Read more about Almost 1 in 10 university students may be misusing prescription medication as 'study drugs'

Do efforts to get more women in STEM actually work?

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

We know there is a gender gap in science, but do programs designed to close this gap actually work? A review of initiatives offered across Australia focused on women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), has found little Read more about Do efforts to get more women in STEM actually work?

Strict COVID-19 measures in the NT have smashed the curve

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

The Northern Territory’s strict public health measures in response to COVID-19 have so far proved successful in containing community transmission and preventing any deaths, despite the NT hospital system often operating “beyond capacity”, Read more about Strict COVID-19 measures in the NT have smashed the curve

Lived experience of Indigenous Aussies crucial to eliminating rheumatic heart disease by 2031

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

Updated guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease have been published, and experts say that cultural appropriateness and lived experience are crucial to eliminating the disease from Read more about Lived experience of Indigenous Aussies crucial to eliminating rheumatic heart disease by 2031

How the Royal Melbourne Hospital controlled Australia's biggest outbreak of COVID in health care workers

Publicly released: Mon 16 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

Royal Melbourne Hospital had the largest institutional outbreak of COVID-19 in health care workers in Australia to date, and used a range of approaches to control the spread of the virus, say Australian experts. The Royal Park Campus had 40 per cent Read more about How the Royal Melbourne Hospital controlled Australia's biggest outbreak of COVID in health care workers

Go (over) easy on the eggs: ‘Egg-cess’ consumption linked to diabetes

Publicly released: Sat 14 Nov 2020 at 1930 AEDT | 2130 NZDT

British Journal of Nutrition

Scrambled, poached or boiled, eggs are a popular breakfast food the world over. Yet the health benefits of the humble egg might not be all they’re cracked up to be as new research from the University of South Australia shows that excess egg Read more about Go (over) easy on the eggs: ‘Egg-cess’ consumption linked to diabetes

NZ scientist helps keep track of half the world’s fishing

Publicly released: Sat 14 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Small-scale fisheries are estimated to land half the world’s fish catch, and a research team including a Kiwi has created a software program to help them keep track of their activities. The team tested the software in Timor-Leste and found it can Read more about NZ scientist helps keep track of half the world’s fishing

Poor diet could be linked to erectile dysfunction

Publicly released: Sat 14 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

A healthy diet could also help maintain erectile function in men, according to US researchers. The study used data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up study, which included information about the diet and health of 21,469 male health professionals Read more about Poor diet could be linked to erectile dysfunction

EXPERT REACTION: Preliminary results from University of Queensland's phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial

Publicly released: Fri 13 Nov 2020 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has this morning announced that the University of Queensland's COVID-19 vaccine is so far proving "safe and effective", based on phase 1 trials. Various media reports have included that the vaccine is producing virus Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Preliminary results from University of Queensland's phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial

Ahead of World Diabetes Day, experts call for urgent action to address global diabetes epidemic

Publicly released: Fri 13 Nov 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Lancet

Ahead of World Diabetes Day on Saturday 14 November, a new report is calling for action to close the gap in diabetes prevention and care. Worldwide, 463 million people have diabetes, with 80 per cent from low-income and middle-income countries. In Read more about Ahead of World Diabetes Day, experts call for urgent action to address global diabetes epidemic

Covid treatment gets hospital patients back on their feet

Publicly released: Fri 13 Nov 2020 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

A clinical trial suggests interferon beta-1a is an effective treatment for hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Those who inhaled the immune response protein were more than twice as likely to recover from their infection to a point where everyday Read more about Covid treatment gets hospital patients back on their feet

COVID-19 takes a year off life expectancy in Spain

Publicly released: Fri 13 Nov 2020 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

PLOS One

Spain’s annual life expectancy at birth dropped by 0. 9 years between 2019 and July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. It also shows that in the hard-hit city of Madrid weekly life expectancy dropped by 15 years, during Read more about COVID-19 takes a year off life expectancy in Spain

Rapid COVID-19 test could be misleading

Publicly released: Fri 13 Nov 2020 at 0915 AEDT | 1115 NZDT

The BMJ

As many as one in five people who receive a positive result from a finger-prick antibody test might have never had a Covid infection, new research suggests. The study authors say the AbC-19 Rapid Test is accurate enough to give a good estimate of Read more about Rapid COVID-19 test could be misleading