Publishing half-truths worsens treatment for patients
“I am a doctor who reveals idiots as a hobby,” says Ben Goldacre. If so, it’s become a pretty comprehensive hobby.
Health
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App improves quality of life for hard-hit patient group
A recently developed app with an in-built “enzyme calculator” reduces stomach pains and intestinal problems among patients with cystic fibrosis – a disease of the lungs and intestinal tract.
Exposing bad science in medical research publishing
Some medical research data never get published because they don’t fit in with the pharmaceutical industry’s desired results. Profiled researcher and social commentator Ben Goldacre will shed some light on this very topic when he takes part in NTNU’s The Big Challenge science festival in Trondheim in June.
Mission control: Norwegian SciTech News has landed!
We’ve changed our name to Norwegian SciTech News — so readers know immediately what they will find here.
The magic behind the medals
The most successful winter Olympian ever opened nearly two decades of training logs to researchers to shed light on how she achieved her goals. Now researchers have looked at two methods she used for her high-intensity training sessions to see how they compare.
Clean water eliminated effects of discharged drugs in fish
The discharge of pharmaceutical drugs is a major problem around the world, but a new study of the freshwater fish burbot shows that there is hope.
What makes everyone sick?
The world’s best-known doctor is coming to the Big Challenge to talk about the world’s biggest challenge, and one that thousands of scientists are trying to figure out: what makes us sick? Norway is among the challenge participants.
How stores can throw out less food
Grocery stores throw out 75 000 tons of food annually. By adding date tagging to the barcode, food waste could be dramatically reduced, say two NTNU students.
Higher weight increases risk of psoriasis
The higher a person’s BMI, the greater the chance of getting psoriasis. But researchers are still uncertain as to why.
New drones check ships for cracks and rust
Inspecting ship tanks and storage spaces underwater is a challenging task for humans. A start-up company that originated at NTNU is manufacturing autonomous drones that can take over the job – and do it more cheaply.
Well-known drug has less risk for preterm delivery in PCOS
Metformin significantly reduces the risk of late miscarriages and preterm births for women with PCOS. But the drug does not work to prevent gestational diabetes, according to a large Nordic study from NTNU and St. Olavs hospital.
Common medication may lead to obesity
Metformin has several benefits when the mother has PCOS. But children are at greater risk for obesity later in life.
To abort or not to abort – making difficult choices alone
Some pregnant women are so conflicted about abortion that they don’t even talk about it with their own mother.
How genes affect tobacco and alcohol use
Data from 1.2 million people reveal how tobacco and alcohol use may be linked to your genes and to various diseases.
C-sections by trained health officers a safe alternative
Sierra Leone has few doctors and even fewer surgeons to serve its seven million people. Since 2011, a non-profit group called CapaCare has been training community health officers to perform basic lifesaving surgeries. A new study shows the programme is working well when it comes to the most common surgery in the country — Caesarean sections.
Eight myths about your brain
Do we have a dominant brain hemisphere? Do we use our whole brain? Can we train our brains to be smarter? Does our ability to learn depend only on our genetic inheritance?
How you can reduce your pain
Are you bothered by persistent pain? Here’s a pain physician’s advice on how to change your perceptions of pain and get a grip on it.
Cooking fumes can create respiratory problems for chefs
Cooks live less long on average than people in most other occupational groups. Changes in their working environment could result in better health for many.
Staying fit can halve your risk of heart attack
According to a new NTNU study, poor cardiorespiratory fitness could increase your risk of a future heart attack, even if you have no symptoms of a lifestyle illness today.
The most important hair on your head is on the inside
Miniscule wavy hairs called cilia in the cavities of your brain help keep it healthy and function well.
Atrial fibrillation affected by your genes
Researchers have observed a connection between certain genes and atrial fibrillation. Their study makes an important contribution to understanding different risk factors.
Immune cells sacrifice themselves to protect against invading bacteria
Our immune systems are working overtime this time of year. Knowing that a bunch of dedicated immune cells are willing to explode themselves to inform other cells about the danger may offer a bit of consolation.
Advice for parents who struggle with picky eaters
Children have to taste a food at least ten times before knowing whether they like it or not. Pickiness is hereditary, says an NTNU professor. She has nine tips for parents with picky eaters.
Getting more older adults more physically active
What needs to happen to entice more seniors up and out of their easy chairs? The Generation 100 study found some answers by combing through 70 000 exercise logs.