A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Publicly released: Mon 27 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

The long wait for cataract surgery in the Australian public health system could be leaving vulnerable people at risk of falls and subsequent injuries while their eyesight is compromised, according to Australian research. The team looked at a group Read more about A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Understanding the current monkeypox outbreak

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Medicine

The strain of monkeypox behind the current outbreak in several countries - with more than 2,500 confirmed cases worldwide as of 18 June - is closely related to the strain responsible for a 2018-19 outbreak in Nigeria, where the disease is endemic, Read more about Understanding the current monkeypox outbreak

Organ storage a step closer with cryopreservation discovery

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

Journal of Materials Chemistry B

Australian scientists have taken the first step towards improved storage of human cells, which may lead to the safe storage of organs such as hearts and lungs. Australian scientists have taken the first step towards improved storage of human cells, Read more about Organ storage a step closer with cryopreservation discovery

Revisiting the past and imagining the future is harder with a blind mind's eye

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0945 AEST | 1145 NZST

Cognition

Imagine this - a warm sunny day from your childhood playing at the beach. Can you picture it? If you can't you might have a condition called aphantasia – which is a lack of visual imagination ability, and researchers at UNSW have found that people Read more about Revisiting the past and imagining the future is harder with a blind mind's eye

Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Lancet Infectious Diseases

The first modelling study to quantify the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on a global scale estimates that 19. 8 million out of a potential 31. 4 million deaths were prevented in the first year after vaccines were introduced, according to international Read more about Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

Cold-blooded facts of long life

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science

The secrets of ageing have been revealed in largest study on longevity and ageing in reptiles and amphibians. The US-led research by a team of 114 scientists is the most comprehensive study of ageing and longevity to date – comprising data Read more about Cold-blooded facts of long life

Australia’s African youth are using social media to find racial dignity

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Social media offers Black African young people in Australia safe spaces to engage in positive expressions of their Afro-blackness, according to a new study led by Southern Cross University. Dr Kathomi Gatwiri of Southern Cross University and PhD Read more about Australia’s African youth are using social media to find racial dignity

COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Aussie scientists used survey data from 2065 participants to investigate the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on loneliness in Australia. In general, the surveys reported increases in loneliness caused by isolation, health anxieties, reduced Read more about COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Feeling socially rejected may lead to risky behaviour among the LGBTQ+ community

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Drug & Alcohol Review

A UK-based scientist says feeling socially rejected by friends, educators, employers or medical professionals may lead to increases in risky behaviour among the LGBTQ+ community. He found perceived social rejection was linked to increased Read more about Feeling socially rejected may lead to risky behaviour among the LGBTQ+ community

Fourth dose of COVID vaccine increases protection against severe disease and death in aged care

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

Compared to only 3 doses, a fourth dose of the Pfizer vaccine gave aged care residents good extra protection against hospitalisation and death from the Omicron wave, but only moderate protection against infection, according to data out of Israel. Read more about Fourth dose of COVID vaccine increases protection against severe disease and death in aged care

Could a neck patch detect concussion in athletes mid-game?

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Scientific Reports

A sensor patch worn on the back of the neck could one day help diagnose concussions during sporting matches, according to international researchers who developed a device that can detect whiplash at 90% accuracy when tested on a crash dummy. Current Read more about Could a neck patch detect concussion in athletes mid-game?

Restoring men’s fertility after cancer

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1200 AEST | 1400 NZST

Nature Communications

The joy of overcoming cancer is often tempered by the huge impact chemotherapy can have on fertility - in many cases, leaving men unable to become fathers. Those effects were thought to be permanent, but now researchers in Melbourne have identified Read more about Restoring men’s fertility after cancer

Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Tourism Management

Many of us will have heard of music therapy or art therapy. But what about travel therapy? Many of us will have likely heard of music therapy and art therapy — but what about ‘travel therapy’? A new cross-disciplinary paper from Edith Cowan Read more about Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

National survey data from kids aged 0-14 years in Denmark has found that children who have received a COVID-19 diagnosis can experience symptoms of long COVID lasting at least two months. The study found that kids who had COVID-19 experienced at Read more about Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Depression best treated by nonpharmacological approaches in people living with dementia

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Ageing Research Reviews

This review and meta-analysis, published in Ageing Research Reviews, investigated a range of nonpharmacological approaches for symptoms of depression in dementia, with findings supporting a positive link between nonpharmacological approaches and Read more about Depression best treated by nonpharmacological approaches in people living with dementia

Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Social media became the home of an "infodemic" of misinformation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and international researchers have tracked how users with tweets using the hashtags "Scamdemic" and "Plandemic" contributed to the disinformation storm. Read more about Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Hormones are linked with sleep apnea, snoring in postmenopausal women

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Middle-aged women with low levels of oestrogen and progesterone are more likely to snore and to report symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, according to international and Australian scientists. The researchers analysed data from 774 women aged 40 to Read more about Hormones are linked with sleep apnea, snoring in postmenopausal women

EXPERT REACTION: First quantum integrated circuit manufactured at the atomic scale

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

In a world first, Australian quantum computing manufacturer, Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), has today announced they have developed a quantum computing chip that integrates all the necessary components found on a classical computer chip but at the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: First quantum integrated circuit manufactured at the atomic scale

Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 1701 AEST | 1901 NZST

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports

Online classes during COVID lockdowns may have helped students' mental health according to a Japanese study. The researchers conducted anonymous surveys over one month in late 2020 at 21 junior and senior high schools in Japan. From 5,000 responses Read more about Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Topological superconductors: fertile ground for elusive 'angel' particle

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 1400 AEST | 1600 NZST

Matter

A new University of Wollongong led review investigates the search for Majorana fermions in iron-based superconductors. The elusive Majorana fermion, or ‘angel particle’ simultaneously behaves like a particle and an antiparticle – and Read more about Topological superconductors: fertile ground for elusive 'angel' particle