Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

JAMA Insights

Severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine are rare, with around 11 cases for every million doses administered, say US scientists. During December 14 to 23, 2020, there were 1,893,360 first doses of Read more about Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine

Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

Genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the cornea of patients with COVID-19, according to German research. But despite this, the authors say the risk of COVID-19 infection via corneal transplant is low Read more about Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

With reports of new COVID-19 strains emerging in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, an Australian expert answers key questions about the new strains and how they might impact the current COVID-19 vaccines. Read more about EXPERT Q&A: Answering your questions about COVID-19 variants

Social pressure vs doing the right thing - what matters more for social distancing?

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Psychology

Social pressure may be more influential than personal belief when it comes to following COVID-19 guidelines, according to an international study of over 6,500 people in 114 countries. The study found that people followed social distancing guidelines Read more about Social pressure vs doing the right thing - what matters more for social distancing?

Watch those sanitiser squirts! Reports of hand sanitiser in the eye up 7 fold

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

French researchers report a 7 fold increase in eye exposures to alcohol-based hand sanitisers in 2020 compared to 2019, with one hospital reporting 13 per cent of patients required surgery for severe lesions. The authors warn about the positioning Read more about Watch those sanitiser squirts! Reports of hand sanitiser in the eye up 7 fold

Human pancreatic cancer model offers new opportunities for testing drugs

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

Scientific Reports

UNSW scientists have grown human pancreatic cancer tumours in the lab – their model is the first of its kind, with important future clinical implications. Crucially, the team’s model stays intact for 12 days and offers a complete view of the Read more about Human pancreatic cancer model offers new opportunities for testing drugs

Sliding life expectancy poses gender, inequity questions

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Life expectancy gain is slowing in Australia – and figures show these figures are already sliding backwards in both the US and UK – yet little is being done by policy makers to understand specific gender and inequity reasons why this slip is Read more about Sliding life expectancy poses gender, inequity questions

Squid-inspired robot is a good swimmer

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0738 AEDT | 0938 NZDT

Engineers are increasingly looking to nature when designing robots and other machines. Traditional mechanical approaches to designing swimming robots are usually inefficient. Using the pulse-jet mode that squid and jellyfish use to propel themselves, Read more about Squid-inspired robot is a good swimmer

Leadership or luck? The influence of coaches, politicians and CEOs on performance

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0706 AEDT | 0906 NZDT

Science Advances

How much influence does luck - rather than effectiveness - play in leadership? Using a statistical method to assess whether differences in performance come down to leadership (or just luck or other factors beyond the leader’s control), researchers Read more about Leadership or luck? The influence of coaches, politicians and CEOs on performance

Salmonella's judo move - turning host metabolism to its advantage

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

In an infection, there is a continual battle between the pathogen and the cells it's invading. An Israeli study finds that the bacterium Salmonella enterica can sense when cells it has infected are changing their metabolism as they prepare to Read more about Salmonella's judo move - turning host metabolism to its advantage

Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Venom from spitting cobras has evolved as a form of self-defence, rather than for capturing prey, and is more effective at causing pain than venom from non-spitting snakes. Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain Venom from spitting Read more about Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain

Males are often the weaker sex when it comes to infectious diseases

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

Males are more likely to have severe COVID-19 and die than females, and this difference between sexes is also seen in some other infectious diseases. While differences in behaviour may contribute, Yale researchers describe underlying physiological Read more about Males are often the weaker sex when it comes to infectious diseases

Fossils reveal ancient lives of giant predatory seaworms

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

In case you didn’t think the depths of the ocean was terrifying enough, researchers have found evidence of a giant ambush-predator worm that may have dwelled the seafloor of the Eurasian continent around 20 million years ago. International Read more about Fossils reveal ancient lives of giant predatory seaworms

Barriers preventing high-quality mental health care for children revealed

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

Fragmented services, long wait times and inadequate training are among the barriers preventing adolescents and children from receiving high-quality mental health care in Australia, according to clinicians in a new study. Fragmented services, long Read more about Barriers preventing high-quality mental health care for children revealed

Pioneering technique to fast-track pain research

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1730 AEDT | 1930 NZDT

Molecular Pain

Scientists have for the first time established a sensory neuron model able to mass-reproduce two key sensory neuron types involved in pain sensation, enabling the easy generation of large numbers of the cells to fast-track chronic pain research. Read more about Pioneering technique to fast-track pain research

Arthritis drug tocilizumab no better than standard care for severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1606 AEDT | 1806 NZDT

The BMJ

Adding the arthritis drug tocilizumab to standard care does not appear to improve clinical outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 at 15 days, according to a Brazilian trial which was stopped early due to an increase in the number of deaths in Read more about Arthritis drug tocilizumab no better than standard care for severe COVID-19

COVID-19 lockdowns increase meth exposure risks in former home labs

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

ANZJPH

Families unwittingly living in houses used as methamphetamine labs could be exposed to significantly higher levels of the drug ice during Covid-19 lockdowns, as financial pressures brought on by the pandemic prevent relocation and limit resources Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns increase meth exposure risks in former home labs

Rugby league should invest in young players’ diets

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1300 AEDT | 1500 NZDT

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

New QUT study recommends NRL rugby league clubs 'invest' in young players' diets to aid performance and recovery with the research outlining specific nutritional needs for the high-impact sport. Young rugby league players could benefit from Read more about Rugby league should invest in young players’ diets

Do antidepressants help chronic back pain and osteoarthritis?

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

Antidepressants are commonly used worldwide to treat pain, however new research from the University of Sydney shows they offer little to no help for people suffering chronic back pain and osteoarthritis and may even cause harm. Antidepressants are Read more about Do antidepressants help chronic back pain and osteoarthritis?

Indigenous lands: a haven for wildlife

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jan 2021 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Conservation Biology

Indigenous peoples’ lands may harbour a significant proportion of threatened and endangered species globally, according to University of Queensland-led research. Indigenous peoples’ lands may harbour a significant proportion of threatened and Read more about Indigenous lands: a haven for wildlife