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

New insights into pancreatitis

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

Gut

Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases in the world. Associated with a considerable risk of morbidity and even death in patients who suffer a severe form of the disease, to date there is no specific treatment for it. Now, Read more about New insights into pancreatitis

Fast decisions of flying insects

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Australian scientists are homing in on the amazing flying skills of insects. How flying insects are able to respond rapidly and appropriately in fast-changing surroundings is a serious ambition of new Australian Research Council study. Led by Read more about Fast decisions of flying insects

Men more susceptible to COVID-19 than women

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1530 AEDT | 1730 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Men are more likely to test positive for COVID-19, more likely to have complications and more likely to die from the virus than women, independent of age, according to US scientists. They looked at the health records of almost 100,000 US adults and Read more about Men more susceptible to COVID-19 than women

COVID-19 virus can infect brain cells and cause brain damage

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

Journal of Experimental Medicine

Using both mouse and human brain tissue, US researchers found SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect the central nervous system. The team says the virus was able to infect neurons in human brain organoids - miniature 3D organs grown in the lab from human Read more about COVID-19 virus can infect brain cells and cause brain damage

Flight or fright: what is the future of the emus of east coast Australia?

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1348 AEDT | 1548 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Emu populations are projected to remain stable overall into the future under climate change scenarios, but east of the ranges, populations are likely to be further threatened by increasing urbanisation, and increasing losses from feral predators. Read more about Flight or fright: what is the future of the emus of east coast Australia?

Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1334 AEDT | 1534 NZDT

Social Science and Medicine

Rates of sexual abuse by an intimate partner over one’s lifetime have not changed, according to new estimates by New Zealand researchers. The study authors analysed data from face-to-face interviews with more than 4300 New Zealand women born as Read more about Researchers track a century of sexual abuse in NZ

Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1159 AEDT | 1359 NZDT

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health

Government targets designed to lower the salt content of packaged foods will make little difference to the health of Australians, according to a new analysis published today. George Institute researchers found that even if the voluntary targets Read more about Salt reformulation programs can substantially improve health, but not Australia’s

What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app. The app, produced by the Menzies School of Health Research’s (Menzies) Read more about What’s app-ening with my lungs?

Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

A wild Australian sea lion has been reported with tuberculosis in South Australia. The type of disease is not the typical presentation of tuberculosis, as this was not found in the animal’s lungs, but in its abdomen. Researchers from the Read more about Sea lion diagnosed with tuberculosis triggers public health concerns

Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

BMJ

Scientists have found that after six months, patients who followed a low carb diet containing less than 26 per cent of daily calories from carbohydrates achieved greater rates of type 2 diabetes remission than those who followed other diets Read more about Low carb diets can reverse type 2 diabetes

Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Science Advances

A new type of stem cell – that is, a cell with regenerative abilities – could be closer on the horizon, a new animal study using human cells shows. These new, adaptive stem cells can lie dormant until needed. A new type of stem cell – that is, Read more about Scientists are a step closer to developing ‘smart’ stem cells – and they’re made from human fat

Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

COVID patients who receive blood plasma with higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels had a lower risk of death than those who received plasma with lower antibody levels, according to US research. This sort of treatment, known as convalescent plasma, has Read more about Plasma from recovered COVID patients works better if it has more antibodies