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Five key things about the EMA’s vaccine decision
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will decide on Monday whether to give the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine within the EU. The Amsterdam-based regulator brought the decision forward by eight days under pressure from EU states, after Britain and the US approved the jab more quickly. Here are five key things to know […]
Key type of immune cell ‘self-renews’ in humans, new study finds
A team of scientists has shown that a key type of immune cell “self-renews” in humans. It is an unexpected discovery, as it was previously thought this specific type of “senescent” killer immune cell had reached “end-stage” and would die following one more stint at helping people fight off—or live with—certain infections. It suggests these […]
Why living in the future, rather than the past, is key to coping with lockdowns – new research
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a tough year for people across the globe, with billions facing at least one lockdown. And it’s not over—there may be further lockdowns needed in the new year. Luckily, researchers have been busy studying what effect they have—and how best to cope. Lockdowns are stressful because they create uncertainty, fear […]
Scientists discover a key genetic driver of lymphomas
Mutations in proteins called histone H1, which help package DNA in chromosomes, are a frequent cause of lymphomas, according to a study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and The Rockefeller University. The findings could lead to new approaches to treating these cancers. Scientists in recent years have observed that mutations in histone […]
30% of New Zealanders are ‘vaccine skeptics,’ so trust is key to COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
The emergency approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and the imminent roll-out of several other vaccines in 2021 raises serious questions about New Zealand’s likely uptake of this vital public health response. Recent research into New Zealanders’ attitudes to vaccination suggest positions have become more polarized over the last decade, with 60% […]
Postpartum care fails to provide women with key recommended services
Most women are receiving fewer than half the services recommended during their comprehensive postpartum medical checkup, according to a study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers. “These findings underscore the importance of efforts to reconceptualize postpartum care to ensure women have access to a range of supports to manage their health during this sensitive period,” […]
Studies outline key ethical questions surrounding brain-computer interface tech
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies are no longer hypothetical, yet there are fundamental aspects of the technology that remain unaddressed by both ethicists and policy-makers. Two new papers address these issues by outlining the outstanding ethical issues, offering guidance for addressing those issues, and offering particular insight into the field of BCI tech for cognitive enhancement. […]
Politics Key to Americans’ Views on COVID-19, Poll Shows
FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2020 — The new coronavirus holds no political views. The pathogen’s only aim is to infect, spread and thrive. But in what is surely no surprise in a deeply divided America, it turns out that your political views play a large role in your attitude towards COVID-19 prevention efforts. Republicans tend to […]
Researchers Identify Bacteria Responsible for Key Crohn’s Complication
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2020 — Leaking bacteria from the intestine triggers “creeping fat” that often occurs in people with Crohn’s disease, according to a new study. Creeping fat is abdominal fat that wraps around the intestines of patients with this type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was unknown what triggered the fat to do […]