[Correspondence] Oseltamivir for influenza

Previously1 we called on Joanna Dobson and colleagues2 to make public the protocol for their meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of oseltamivir. This document could easily be uploaded to a repository such as Dryad, and linked to their research paper. We are alarmed that they neither did this nor explained their reasons for not doing so.3 We are taking this opportunity to reiterate our request.

[Correspondence] Systematic reviews and research waste

We share Ian Roberts’ and Katharine Ker’s frustration with the poor quality of much research (Oct 17, p 1536),1 and we are pleased that they agree in principle that waste could be avoided if all research was preceded by a systematic assessment of existing evidence. However, by dismissing systematic reviews they ignore both the contribution of systematic reviews to specific clinical research questions, and their broader role in improving our understanding of better research design and practice.

[Editorial] Obesity: we need to move beyond sugar

In January, discussions about diet, food, and obesity usually dominate the media. This year is no exception. New figures released last week by Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK underline the current, and likely future, effect of the obesity epidemic. Around 700 000 new cancers caused by being overweight or obese are predicted by 2035. And the estimated number of people living with diabetes worldwide has topped 4 million for the first time, an increase of 119 965 compared with the previous year, and a rise of 65% during the past decade.

[Perspectives] Promethean ambitions

Victor Frankenstein—a student at the Royal College of Physicians, and a master natural philosopher—pores over Leonardo-esque anatomy drawings in the chiaroscuro of his laboratory. His shadowy researches into the restoration and creation of life are illuminated by lightning flashes of inspiration and accompanied by hysterical, megalomaniac laughter—in which the audience is invited to join, for if this is horror, it’s of the rocky horror variety.

[Obituary] Henry Krum

Cardiovascular researcher and specialist in heart failure management and therapies. Born on June 3, 1958, in Melbourne, Australia, he died there on Nov 28, 2015, from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer aged 57 years.

[Perspectives] Samson Kinyanjui: pressing for more science in Africa, by Africans

It was during the years 2004 to 2006, while working in the Mill Hill laboratories of the UK National Institute for Medical Research, that Samson Kinyanjui began to think seriously beyond the study of malaria immunology that had brought him from Kenya to London. “We have a lot of African scientists working abroad. I looked at the facilities in Mill Hill and I asked myself why we couldn’t have similar facilities in Africa.” He’d already developed an interest in the need for training and capacity building back in his home country.

[Comment] Offline: When science met faith

“Moderate drinking is good.” The title of the post, on a public health listserver (it matters not exactly where), was teasing (and even seasonal). The person who submitted The New York Times link said only, “Drinking is good for you—apparently.” A colleague from WHO responded in similar spirit: “Of course it is—evidence-based!” The next post was sharper and more exacting. “Could you please provide published research on ‘moderate drinkers versus heavy drinkers vs never drinkers’ with regard to harmful and beneficial effects.” The person initiating the thread replied, perhaps rather too tersely in retrospect, “why not read the NYT piece…it cites several studies”.

Omega-3 supplements may not help with depression

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may not be as effective for treating major depressive disorder as originally thought.

Researchers have found the common supplement may offer only a small enhancement to mood.

Omega-3 fatty acids are widely thought to be essential for good health and are found naturally in fatty fish and some nuts and seeds.

Clinical trials have indicated that omega-3 can be effective as an adjunctive medication for people with treatment-resistant depression. Recent clinical trials are also suggesting the fatty acid may be effective treatment for childhood depression and for depressed mood in patients who engage in recurrent self-harm.

University of Bournemouth researchers analysed data from 26 randomised trials involving more than 1400 participants, which examined the impact of an omega-3 fatty acid capsule supplement compared with a placebo.

They found that while patients given omega-3 fatty acids reported lower symptom scores than patients on the placebo, the effect was small. The researchers also questioned the validity of the trials saying that most had limitations that undermined their confidence in the results. To understand the effects and risks of taking omega-3 fatty acids to enhance mood the researchers said more data was needed.

Lead author Associate Professor Katherine Appleton said there wasn’t enough high quality evidence to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids as a credible treatment for major depressive disorder.

“It’s important that people who suffer from depression are aware of this, so they can make more informed choices about treatment,” Associate Professor Appleton said.

“We found a small-to-modest positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids compared to placebo, but the size of this effect is unlikely to be meaningful to people with depression, and we considered the evidence to be of low or very low quality.”

The research was published by the Cochrane Library.

Kirsty Waterford

Infectious bacteria found in sticky situation

Sticky fingers are unavoidable when indulging in sugar coated sweets, but scientists have discovered that some infectious disease causing-bacteria use this sticky situation to their advantage.

Pathogenic bacteria has been found to initiate infection in a rather unique way – it uses its surface sugars to attach bacteria directly to sugars on the surface of human cells.

Researchers have found that four different types of bacteria pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri and Haemophilius influenzae, use this method to spread infection.

University of Adelaide researchers found that the Shingella flexneri bacteria, which causes millions of episodes of dysentery each year, use sugars of their surface lipopolysaccharide molecules to stick to human gut cells.

There is no Shingella vaccine currently available despite decades of research worldwide, and the bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics. The researchers hope their new understanding of how the bacteria spreads will advance progress towards a vaccine and other ways to block the sugars.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Renato Morona said that “as a result of the discovery we now have a better understanding of how bacteria initiate infections and how many current vaccines work”.

“It’s been known for a long time that sugars on the surface of bacteria can be involved in bacteria sticking to cells, to promote infections,” Associate Professor Morona told Adelaide Advertiser.

“What hasn’t been realised is that these sugars are often sticking to is sugars on the surface of cells.”

Associate Professor Morona said that while bacteria were known to use sugars to attach proteins, any sugar-to-sugar interaction was considered either impossible, weak, or irrelevant.

“The discovery is fundamental knowledge that is broadly applicable to many other bacteria and microbes, and could have other translational outcomes such as probes for studying human cells, and development of better infant milk formula,” Associate Professor Morona said.

The research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The team has received a four-year grant to explore the potential of their discovery.

The University of Adelaide in collaboration with Griffith University published the research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Kirsty Waterford

[Seminar] Prostate cancer

Much progress has been made in research for prostate cancer in the past decade. There is now greater understanding for the genetic basis of familial prostate cancer with identification of rare but high-risk mutations (eg, BRCA2, HOXB13) and low-risk but common alleles (77 identified so far by genome-wide association studies) that could lead to targeted screening of patients at risk. This is especially important because screening for prostate cancer based on prostate-specific antigen remains controversial due to the high rate of overdiagnosis and unnecessary prostate biopsies, despite evidence that it reduces mortality.