Women scientists specialising in infectious disease research have fewer studies funded than men, and receive less funding across most topic areas in the specialty than their male peers, finds a study published in BMJ Open. These gender discrepancies have remained broadly unchanged for more than a decade, the findings show. Attempts should be made to explore […]
Category: In the news
C-section rate for private patients double that of publicly funded patients
Differences in medical or obstetric risks don’t fully explain disparity. The rate of scheduled caesarean sections among private patients is around double that of publicly funded patients, indicates a study of more than 30,000 women in Ireland, published in BMJ Open. Differences in the medical and obstetric risks between the two groups don’t fully explain […]
NHS 111 increases ambulance and urgent and emergency care use
Call handling service did not reduce pressures during first year of operation, as intended. The call handling service NHS 111 increased the use of ambulance and urgent and emergency care services during its first year of operation, shows a detailed evaluation published in BMJ Open. This is despite the fact that NHS 111 was set […]
Large medical research funders committed to open access publishing
But smaller medical charities, although keen, fear impact on budgets and funded researchers. Large medical research funding bodies are fully committed to open access publishing. But although smaller charitable funders back the principle, they worry about the impact open access will have on their budgets and their funded researchers, reveals a qualitative study published in […]
New cases of autism in UK have levelled off after five-fold surge during 1990s
The number of newly diagnosed cases of autism has levelled off in the UK after a five-fold surge during the 1990s, finds research published in BMJ Open. The findings differ from widely publicised results issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year, which reported a 78% increase in the prevalence of […]
Plentiful mid-life stress linked to heightened risk of dementia in late life
Coping with a lot of stress in middle age may boost the risk of developing dementia in late life – at least among women – suggests research published in BMJ Open. The response to common life events may trigger long lasting physiological changes in the brain, say the authors. They base their findings on 800 […]
International “war” on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply
The international war on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply, despite the increasing amounts of resource being ploughed into law enforcement activities, finds research published in BMJ Open. Since 1990, the street price of illegal drugs has fallen in real terms while the purity/potency of what’s on offer has generally increased, both of which […]
Half of all UK 7 year olds sedentary for 6 to 7 hours every day and not exercising for recommended minimum
Half of all UK seven year olds are sedentary for six to seven hours every day, and only half clock up the recommended daily minimum of moderate to vigorous physical activity, indicates research published in BMJ Open. Click here to listen to the podcast Girls, children of Indian ethnic origin, and those living in Northern Ireland […]
Certain blood pressure drugs slow dementia deterioration
A class of drug, called ACE inhibitors, which are used to lower blood pressure, slow the rate of cognitive decline typical of dementia, suggests research published in BMJ Open. Furthermore, these drugs may even boost brain power, the research indicates. The researchers compared the rates of cognitive decline in 361 patients who had either been diagnosed […]
Plain packaging seems to make cigarettes less appealing and increase urgency to quit smoking
Early findings from Australia indicate that policy has an impact—at least in the short term. Plain packaging for cigarettes seems to make tobacco less appealing and increase the urgency to quit smoking, suggest early findings from Australia, published in BMJ Open. Australia formally introduced plain brown packaging, accompanied by graphic health warnings taking up three quarters […]