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

Giving US police military weapons doesn't appear to reduce crime

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

New research appears to refute former studies that were used to justify supplying military equipment to local police in the US. Two separate analyses reveal that previous data used to justify supplying law enforcement agencies with surplus Read more about Giving US police military weapons doesn't appear to reduce crime

808s & Heartbreaks: Rapping about the blues is on the rise

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

JAMA Pediatrics

References to mental health struggles, including suicide and depression, have increased significantly in popular rap music over the last 20 years, according to US research. Researchers analysed lyric sheets from the 25 most popular rap songs in the Read more about 808s & Heartbreaks: Rapping about the blues is on the rise

Rheumatic heart disease patients among those to benefit from new research funding for DHBs

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

An all-new approach for the early detection of rheumatic heart disease will be developed and tested as part of a suite of new research to be carried out by some of New Zealand’s district health boards (DHBs). With its brand new Health Sector Read more about Rheumatic heart disease patients among those to benefit from new research funding for DHBs