Behind the Headlines

Molecule limits heart attack damage in mice

Tuesday May 28 2013

"Heart attack drug may reduce tissue damage," says the BBC. This headline was based on new research in mice. The research showed that a molecule called MitoSNO may be able to reduce the tissue damage that can occur...

Research could lead to 'universal' flu vaccine

Thursday May 23 2013

“Scientists create new flu vaccine that works against many different strains of the virus,” The Independent reports. This headline, and several others like it, is based on early stage research into the development of alternative flu vaccine technologies…

Vitamin D may help treat severe asthma

Monday May 20 2013

”Sunshine vitamin 'may treat asthma'”, BBC News informs us, as a new lab-based study suggests vitamin D could help control symptoms of severe asthma. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways, related to malfunctioning…

Drug combination offers hope for osteoporosis

Wednesday May 15 2013

“Double drug hope for brittle bone sufferers”, reports the Daily Mail. This headline follows a small but well-designed trial of treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis…

Antibiotics may help ease chronic back pain

Wednesday May 8 2013

News that back pain could be "cured" by antibiotics has prompted wide media coverage, with The Independent reporting that, "Half a million sufferers of back pain 'could be cured with antibiotics'." The headlines are based on…

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No evidence of cure to prevent hair going grey

Tuesday May 7 2013

'Cure for grey hair is on its way say scientists' the Daily Mirror reports. It is just one of many headlines that failed to reveal that the research in question had nothing to do with hair colouring – but the skin condition vitiligo…

Hormone drugs can cut breast cancer

Tuesday Apr 30 2013

“Hormone treatments can cut breast cancer rates in at-risk women by 38%,” reports the Daily Mirror. The news, covered by much of the media, is based on...

MMR catch-up campaign targets a million children

Thursday Apr 25 2013

The MMR vaccine should be given to all unvaccinated schoolchildren aged from 10 to16 as part of a national catch-up campaign, the government has announced. This MMR vaccination catch-up campaign aims to prevent further…

Statins may help impotence – but only to limited extent

Tuesday Apr 23 2013

"Statins could be a cheap and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction," reports the Daily Mail. Sadly, for those affected by erectile dysfunction (impotence), the Mail’s claim is not supported by the evidence presented by the study...

Don't take paracetamol for emotional pain

Monday Apr 22 2013

"Popping paracetamol could also help treat EMOTIONAL pain," is the surprising suggestion on the Mail Online website. In this study, "emotional pain", also referred to as "existential dread", was taken to be distress experienced...