Increasing cigarette prices could prompt uni students to quit

Publicly released: Fri 22 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

A PhD student at the University of Canterbury investigated how different cigarette price points would have an impact on the smoking behaviour of university students. The sample comprised 187 current smokers, who were asked how their smoking Read more about Increasing cigarette prices could prompt uni students to quit

Researchers investigate medicinal use of cannabis in NZ

Publicly released: Fri 22 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

A team of researchers at Massey University's Shore & Whāriki Research Centre has explored the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes in New Zealand, prior to implementation of the new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme. The team created an anonymous survey, Read more about Researchers investigate medicinal use of cannabis in NZ

Doctors suggest five actions to improve the health of all NZers post-pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 22 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Encouraged by Government efforts to protect public health in recent weeks, a team of medical professional from across New Zealand is now calling for five key actions that they argue could dramatically improve the nation's wellbeing beyond the Read more about Doctors suggest five actions to improve the health of all NZers post-pandemic

Most middle-aged Kiwis support legalising medicinal cannabis, but not recreational use

Publicly released: Fri 22 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Researchers at the University of Otago have assessed attitudes towards cannabis in a sample of 40-year-old Kiwis living in Christchurch. Nearly 900 participants were interviewed about the perceived harmfulness of cannabis use, opinions on Read more about Most middle-aged Kiwis support legalising medicinal cannabis, but not recreational use

Challenges of online therapy to help with substance misuse

Publicly released: Fri 22 May 2020 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

In a new viewpoint article, researchers in Auckland discuss how virtual therapy approaches might work for people who use alcohol and other drugs in New Zealand. ‘Talking therapies’ for substance misuse are generally provided face-to-face, either Read more about Challenges of online therapy to help with substance misuse

EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government releases roadmap for climate/energy policy

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 1730 AEST | 1930 NZST

This week the Federal Government released two important climate and energy policy documents - the King Review, in which a panel of experts reviewed the ways Australia can lower its emissions, and the Technology Investment Roadmap discussion paper Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Federal Government releases roadmap for climate/energy policy

EXPERT Q&A: What is hydroxychloroquine?

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 1700 AEST | 1900 NZST

It's been touted by Donald Trump and is the subject of a number of trials around the world and now in Australia - but what exactly is hydroxychloroquine and what can it do in the fight against COVID-19? Dr Ian Musgrave from the University of Read more about EXPERT Q&A: What is hydroxychloroquine?

New model predicts the spread of COVID-19 – and how to manage financial and economic risks

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 1500 AEST | 1700 NZST

SSRN

A new study shows mathematical models normally reserved for the world of finance can very accurately predict the spread of COVID-19. Read more about New model predicts the spread of COVID-19 – and how to manage financial and economic risks

Developing a collaborative approach to data and analytics

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 1344 AEST | 1544 NZST

Nature

A Swinburne research team involved in an international study with almost 200 researchers from across the world is pushing for a more collaborative future in scientific research. Read more about Developing a collaborative approach to data and analytics

New velvet gecko discovered on one of Australia’s northern islands

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Zootaxa

Scientists from Queensland Museum, Griffith University, University of Melbourne and the Northern Territory Government have described a colourful new velvet gecko from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. This species only occurs on Groote, Read more about New velvet gecko discovered on one of Australia’s northern islands

Antibiotic use in remote communities contributing to the burden of disease

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

Plos One

A study of antibiotic prescription rates for Aboriginal children in remote communities in the Northern Territory (NT) has identified high rates of infections and antibiotic use in these communities. Read more about Antibiotic use in remote communities contributing to the burden of disease

Increasing number of lost pregnancies linked to higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

Diabetologia

The higher the number of pregnancy losses a woman has had, the higher her risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to Danish researchers. They studied around a quarter of a million Danish women, 24,774 of whom had type 2 diabetes, and found Read more about Increasing number of lost pregnancies linked to higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Lowering your blood pressure could reduce your risk of dementia

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

Irish and Scottish researchers say that the use of drugs to lower our blood pressure was significantly associated with a lower risk of dementia or issues with our cognition, in comparison to people who didn't take the medicines. The team analysed Read more about Lowering your blood pressure could reduce your risk of dementia

Preemie babies likely to develop teeny hearts

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Cardiology

Adolescents and young adults that were born prematurely were more likely to have smaller hearts, say US researchers investigating the reasons behind why being a preemie has a lifetime association with a substantially higher risk of heart disease. Read more about Preemie babies likely to develop teeny hearts

Keep trying! People with depression likely to find treatment helpful if they persist

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

The likelihood that people with major depressive disorder find treatment helpful is likely to increase if they persist with seeking help after a previous 'unhelpful' treatment, say Australian and international researchers. The team found that people Read more about Keep trying! People with depression likely to find treatment helpful if they persist

People are terrible at using facemasks properly

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

US and Singaporean scientists have surveyed 714 people in Singapore to determine whether or not people are wearing facemasks properly in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, finding just one in eight was actually applying their mask correctly. The Read more about People are terrible at using facemasks properly

Scientists see potential in artificial eye

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

A team of scientists in the USA and Hong Kong have created an artificial eye which mimics the shape and composition of the human retina. Their hemispherical design contains densely packed nanowires made from a light-sensitive material called Read more about Scientists see potential in artificial eye

Pregnant women given corticosteroids may be more likely to have kids with behavioural and mental issues

Publicly released: Thu 21 May 2020 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA

International scientists say mums-to-be given corticosteroid treatment are more likely to have kids with mental and behavioural problems than women who did not take the drugs while pregnant. Corticosteroids are given to accelerate fetal Read more about Pregnant women given corticosteroids may be more likely to have kids with behavioural and mental issues

3D-printed system speeds up solar cell testing from hours to minutes

Publicly released: Wed 20 May 2020 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Solar RRL

Tests on new designs for next-gen solar cells can now be done in hours instead of days thanks to a new system built by scientists at Australia’s Monash University, incorporating 3D-printed key components. Read more about 3D-printed system speeds up solar cell testing from hours to minutes

Scientists identify factors linked to severity of COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 20 May 2020 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature

Researchers in China have analysed data from 326 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shanghai to identify key factors linked to how severe an infection is. Genomic sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were taken from more than 100 samples, and the results Read more about Scientists identify factors linked to severity of COVID-19