Whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy boosts mums’ antibodies to protect babies

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Vaccine

A Phase IV randomized, placebo-controlled multi-country study has confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of a single dose diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in pregnant women. The studies showed the protective antibodies against Read more about Whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy boosts mums’ antibodies to protect babies - Scimex

Key risk factors for teenage suicide

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0101 AEDT | 0301 NZDT

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

New Australian research has found that young people who report suicidal thoughts and who also experience auditory hallucinations and psychological distress are at the greatest risk of future suicide attempts. Funder: Australian Research Council Read more about Key risk factors for teenage suicide - Scimex

Essential oil poisoning on the rise

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Poisoning by essential oil exposure is frequent and on the rise in Australia, with 63 per cent of cases occurring in children under 15, according to Australian research. The study of calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre between 2011 and 2018 Read more about Essential oil poisoning on the rise - Scimex

Christmas confetti killers: watch out for the sparkly stars

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

Celebrating the silly season with sparkly confetti stars might be fun, but researchers warn parents to keep an eye on their little ones this silly season, as the decorations can be a Christmassy choking hazard. In an MJA letter to the editor, the Read more about Christmas confetti killers: watch out for the sparkly stars - Scimex

Have your health and eat meat too: Making a Mediterranean diet work Down Under

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Nutrients

Barbecued, stir-fried or roasted, there’s no doubt that Aussies love their meat. Consuming on average nearly 100 kilograms of meat per person per year, Australians are among the top meat consumers worldwide. But with statistics showing that most Read more about Have your health and eat meat too: Making a Mediterranean diet work Down Under - Scimex

Alcohol floor price linked to drop in hospital admissions for acute alcohol misuse

Publicly released: Mon 9 Dec 2019 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

MJA

After an floor price was introduced in the Northern Territory, presentations for acute alcohol misuse at Alice Springs Hospital’s intensive care unit dropped more than half, according to Australian research. There was no significant decline in the Read more about Alcohol floor price linked to drop in hospital admissions for acute alcohol misuse - Scimex

Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa

Publicly released: Sun 8 Dec 2019 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

When it comes to reducing the environmental impact of plastic, there is no silver bullet – we need to pull every lever, write the authors of a new wide-ranging report. The 'Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand' report lays out a number of Read more about Rethinking plastics in Aotearoa - Scimex

Peace of mind for expectant parents

Publicly released: Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS

A team led by Adelaide-based researchers has taken an important step towards validating the safety of intravenous magnesium sulphate as a treatment during pregnancy. Funder: Research Foundation of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Australia. Media Release Read more about Peace of mind for expectant parents - Scimex

Hire more LGBTQ and disabled astronomers or risk falling behind, review finds

Publicly released: Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Astronomy

Analysis finds gender equity among star scientists improving, but big challenges remain. Ensuring research opportunities for indigenous, disabled and LGBTQ astronomers is essential if Australian research is to succeed in the new era of Read more about Hire more LGBTQ and disabled astronomers or risk falling behind, review finds - Scimex

Saving the ozone layer in 1987 slowed global warming

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 2300 AEDT | Sat 7 Dec 2019 at 0100 NZDT

Environmental Research Letters

It may have been an accidental side effect but new research shows that when the world's nations signed the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to ban CFCs and save the ozone layer they also signed an agreement that has already done more to slow global warming Read more about Saving the ozone layer in 1987 slowed global warming - Scimex

Symposium focuses on hot cities

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Adelaide – and cities around the world – are facing similar challenges: higher population density, reduced open spaces, rising urban heat, increasing need for cooling to combat the heat, and urban pollution. The Heat and Habitat in Cities Read more about Symposium focuses on hot cities - Scimex

Reducing chronic disease: we have the tools, but we're not using them

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Global Health

There are plenty of evidence-based policy options for reducing chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (like tobacco taxes or banning alcohol advertising). However, we are not doing a great job of using them, warns a new WHO Read more about Reducing chronic disease: we have the tools, but we're not using them - Scimex

Peanut allergy vaccine may help rewrite the immune system

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Peanut allergies could become a thing of the past as a new vaccine which has proved successful in human blood samples gets a boost towards human trials. The vaccine uniquely uses a virus-based platform to rewrite the body’s natural response to Read more about Peanut allergy vaccine may help rewrite the immune system - Scimex

Seahorse breeding project aims to recover endangered species from near extinction

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

To help recover declining populations of White’s seahorse, also known as the Sydney seahorse, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is implementing a breeding and conservation project in collaboration with organisations including the NSW Department of Primary Read more about Seahorse breeding project aims to recover endangered species from near extinction - Scimex

Changing eating behaviour may be as effective as drugs for reducing the nibbles, at least for rats

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Want to do less nibbling? Changing your diet and eating behaviour between meals could be as effective as drugs designed to reduce appetite, at least if you are a rat, according to researchers from the UK. The team investigated the effect of appetite Read more about Changing eating behaviour may be as effective as drugs for reducing the nibbles, at least for rats - Scimex

Measles deaths surged worldwide in 2018

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

Worldwide more than 140, 000 people died from measles in 2018, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization. These deaths–mostly children–occurred as measles cases surged globally, amidst devastating outbreaks in all regions. Read more about Measles deaths surged worldwide in 2018 - Scimex

Gene network sparks future autism treatment

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0400 AEDT | 0600 NZDT

Neuron

A mutated gene found in people with intellectual disabilities that could be targeted for treatment has been identified by an international team including University of Queensland researchers. Funder: This work was supported by R01MH107182 to P.P. We Read more about Gene network sparks future autism treatment - Scimex

Burnt forests benefit bats

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature

Some California bats thrive after wildfires, according to researchers who monitored bat populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for three years. Of the 17 bat species in the area, six species flourished after forest fires, which the researchers Read more about Burnt forests benefit bats - Scimex

Not eating for 14 hours a day may come with many benefits

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Cell Metabolism

Time restricted eating (TRE) has been known to help reduce weight and blood pressure in mice, but now researchers in America have done a trial in humans that shows that TRE can have many other benefits for those with an increased risk of developing Read more about Not eating for 14 hours a day may come with many benefits - Scimex

Smartphone zombies: Distracted phone users rack up the head and neck injuries

Publicly released: Fri 6 Dec 2019 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

The number of head and neck injuries has increased over the last 20 years with many cases resulting from distraction, especially after smartphones came into use around 2007, according to US research. The study of phone-related injuries found that Read more about Smartphone zombies: Distracted phone users rack up the head and neck injuries - Scimex