COVID-19 antibody test helps select donor blood samples for therapeutic use

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Pathogens

Argentinian and US researchers have developed and applied an antibody test to assist health authorities in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detects immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) Read more about COVID-19 antibody test helps select donor blood samples for therapeutic use

Screening people for genetic risk could help prevent heart attacks and strokes

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

Screening people for their genetic heart disease risk could help detect those likely to suffer a heart attack or stoke, allowing doctors to begin preventative treatment, say Australian and UK researchers. They found that, for those already with Read more about Screening people for genetic risk could help prevent heart attacks and strokes

Retinal cell transplants in monkeys show promise for treating blindness

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Stem Cell Reports

Retinal cells derived from adult human eye stem cells survived when transplanted into the eyes of monkeys, an important early step in the validation of this approach for treating blindness, according to international scientists. They extracted Read more about Retinal cell transplants in monkeys show promise for treating blindness

Seagrass meadows could be sweeping the ocean of plastic waste

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Seagrass meadows along coastal waters may trap, extract and carry plastics in our waters up to the shore, helping clear our seas of microplastics and other plastic pollution, say Spanish researchers. The team found plastic debris among half of their Read more about Seagrass meadows could be sweeping the ocean of plastic waste

Project maps 'astronomical' number of celestial objects

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nearly 700 million astronomical objects have been carefully catalogued and made public as part of a major international collaboration involving researchers from The Australian National University. Nearly 700 million astronomical objects have been Read more about Project maps 'astronomical' number of celestial objects

COVID-19 lockdowns may be making more kids near-sighted

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

US and Chinese scientists say being stuck indoors during the pandemic may be affecting some kids' eyesight, making them more near-sighted. They looked at eye tests of more than 120,000 children aged 6 to 13 years from 10 Chinese elementary schools, Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns may be making more kids near-sighted

Notifications to child protection services fell under COVID-19 lockdowns

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Notifications to authorities of suspected child abuse fell in Australia during COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ in 2020 and increased again as restrictions were eased, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The Read more about Notifications to child protection services fell under COVID-19 lockdowns

Funding and access to contraception in NZ still 'variable'

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Funding and access to contraception is still "variable and inconsistent" across New Zealand despite a $6 million government initiative to increase its access, according to a new Viewpoint article. New Zealand researchers looked at how DHBs and Read more about Funding and access to contraception in NZ still 'variable'

The high cost of major infections and sepsis in NZ

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Sepsis is life-threatening organ failure that happens as a complication of infection, and is a leading cause of healthcare spending. Researchers analysed New Zealand data from 2016 and found that almost a quarter of all hospital discharges that Read more about The high cost of major infections and sepsis in NZ

Perth has distinct dolphin communities and they each need different protections

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1731 AEDT | 1931 NZDT

Frontiers in Marine Science

There are distinct ecological communities of dolphins living in Perth waters requiring separate protection measures from anthropogenic threats, and climate change. Research out of Murdoch University has identified distinct ecological communities of Read more about Perth has distinct dolphin communities and they each need different protections