Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

International travel restrictions may only be effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19 when applied in a targeted way, say UK researchers, and they were most effective at limiting local transmission of the virus during earlier stages of the Read more about Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

National Health and Medical Research Council has released new national guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol. The guidelines say healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines - No more than 10 a week and 4 a day

Teens who dislike their looks could be at greater risk of depression

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Male teens who aren’t happy with their physical appearance could have up to a 285% greater risk of severe depression when they become young adults. More than 3700 English 14-year-olds were asked to rate how they felt about their physical Read more about Teens who dislike their looks could be at greater risk of depression

Suppressing testosterone for a year may not be enough to level playing field for trans athletes

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

A year of hormone therapy among transgender women athletes may not be enough to remove the competitive advantage of testosterone, according to new research. US researchers looked at the fitness abilities and medical data of 29 trans men and 46 trans Read more about Suppressing testosterone for a year may not be enough to level playing field for trans athletes

A third of NZ’s radiation therapists thinking of changing careers

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0948 AEDT | 1148 NZDT

Technical Innovations & Patient Support in Radiation Oncology

A significant portion of New Zealand’s radiation therapists are thinking of quitting their jobs or leaving the field altogether. The finding is from a survey of more than 350 radiation therapists. A third of those surveyed said they wanted to leave Read more about A third of NZ’s radiation therapists thinking of changing careers

Numbness in your foot may be a step towards the grave

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

People with numbness or decreased sensation in their foot, known as peripheral neuropathy, may be at higher risk of dying over the next 13 years, according to US research. The study of over 7,000 adults found that just over one in ten experienced Read more about Numbness in your foot may be a step towards the grave

AI could help identify depression

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Machine learning has helped researchers better identify and understand what the brains of people with major depressive disorder look like. Researchers initially scanned the brains of 731 people, 149 of which had major depression. When tested on Read more about AI could help identify depression

Heart patients who live near fracking sites may be more likely to end up in hospital

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Heart failure patients who live in communities affected by fracking are more likely to end up in hospital than patients in non-fracking communities, according to US and Irish researchers. They looked at 12,330 heart failure patients from 37 Read more about Heart patients who live near fracking sites may be more likely to end up in hospital

The brain may prioritise 'facts' over uncertainties

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

eNeuro

If a statement is made as if it is a known fact, rather than uncertain, the brain boost its activity, according to researchers from the US and the UAE. They scanned the brains of people as they were exposed to short narratives, which were either Read more about The brain may prioritise 'facts' over uncertainties

Palm oil may be bad, but other oils could turn out to be worse

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Plants

The expansion of palm oil plantations continues to cause deforestation in some regions, but there is an urgent need to better study the alternatives, as demand for vegetable oils is expected to increase by 46 per cent by 2050, say Australian and Read more about Palm oil may be bad, but other oils could turn out to be worse