Articles by Katrina Pascual
Marketplace Silver Plans Offer AIDS, HIV Patients Limited Access To Drugs
A mere 16 percent of silver insurance plans – the most popular in the marketplace – fully cover the top 10 HIV/AIDS drug therapies and charge customers less than $100 in a given month. An expert warned that HIV is an exception in insurers' usually unified formulas.
Extinction Of One Predator Species Triggers Demise Of Other Carnivores: Study
Conservation biologists from the University of Exeter backed previous research demonstrating horizontal extinction cascades. In their study, annihilating one wasp species led to a higher extinction rate in fellow wasp species.
Gamma-Ray Pulsar Glows Outside Milky Way Galaxy
Imaged by NASA’s Fermi telescope, the gamma-ray pulsar lies in the Tarantula Nebula’s outskirts. Called PSR J0540-6919, it is responsible for around half of the gamma-ray brightness originally believed to come from the nebula.
Infection Risks Prompt FDA To Recall Endoscope Washers
In the latest of FDA safety warnings, the agency said Custom Ultrasonics failed to validate that its AERs can sufficiently wash and disinfect endoscopes. The AERs were implicated in recent CRE outbreaks in hospitals.
Mindfulness Meditation Eases Emotional Pain By 44 Percent, Study Finds
A new study found that subjects who practiced mindfulness meditation had a 44 percent greater pain relief than placebo. Past research indicated that opioid morphine decreased physical pain by 22 percent - outperformed by meditation in this study.
NASA Captures Giant Ice Clouds On Saturn Moon Titan
The new ice cloud in Saturn moon Titan was imaged by Cassini spacecraft’s camera at an altitude of about 186 miles or in the low to middle stratosphere. Its size, composition, and altitude help scientists further understand Titan winters.
Smaller Species Dominate After Mass Extinction Events: Why?
Researchers found that for a minimum of 40 million years after a die-off, notably smaller fish dominated the oceans. They pointed to natural selection as one reason for this newfound post-mass extinction dominance.
Turkey Price May Increase Up To 20 Percent This Thanksgiving
Although turkey prices in 2015 will vary in stores and regions, consumers may see price hikes of up to 20 percent compared to 2014 costs due to the avian flu. The good news is that the rest of the Thanksgiving meal will generally have stable prices.
Number Of US Smokers Plummets But Cigarette Smoking Rate Remains High In Low-Income Communities
The number of American smokers decreased by almost 20 percent in the last decade. In the latest CDC report on smoking rates in the U.S., however, individuals on Medicaid and the uninsured smoked at rates that were much higher than the rest.
Diabetes Experts Call On World Leaders To Tax Sugar To Save Lives And Cut Healthcare Costs
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) sought for the growing epidemics of obesity and diabetes to be placed on the global agenda. IDF chief executive Petra Wilson affirmed the push for a sugar tax in various world economies.
UCLA Scientist Develops New Definition Of Planet But Pluto Still Flunked It
UCLA professor Jean-Luc Margot proposed a simple test to expand the current official planet definition from the International Astronomical Union, which demoted Pluto to dwarf-planet status in 2006. Unfortunately, Pluto still flunked it based on Margot's formula.
One In Five Adults In New York City Has Mental Health Problems
One in five adults in New York City has depression symptoms and other psychological issues every year. The report was released ahead of NYC Thrive, the mayor's initiative targeting better mental health among the city's kids and adults.
Manhattan Project National Historical Park Commemorates Development Of Atomic Bomb
Work on the Manhattan Project, which conceived the atomic bomb, was commemorated in three sites: Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Hanford, Washington. The bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and heralded the end of WWII.
Study Reveals Dispersants Did Not Help Degrade BP Oil Spill, Hurt Oil-Degrading Bacteria
Researchers lab-simulated the conditions of the 2010 BP oil spill that released over 172 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. After the incident, chemical dispersant Corexit 9500 was applied to break down surface and deep-water oil.
Mom Saves Own Life After Attempting To Donate Liver To Son
Wisconsin-based Kerri Evensen was undergoing an MRI to see if she could donate part of her liver to Auden, her 4-year-old son stricken with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency. During the test, doctors found an aneurysm near her kidney.
Ancient Indian Ocean Microplate Reveals Formation Date Of The Himalayas
A team of Australian and American scientists claimed to find the first ancient Indian Ocean microplate, which helped them identify the time of the initial collision of India and Eurasia. This event about 47 million years ago led to the formation of the 2,900-kilometer long Himalayan mountain range.
Twisted Sense Of Humor A Sign Of Impending Dementia: Study
Patients of behavioral-type frontotemporal dementia (FTD) inappropriately laughed at tragic situations or those not normally funny, and tended to favor slapstick more than satire. Researchers said the study of dementia needs to move from pure memory loss to behavioral shifts.
Alaska Mom Designs Disney Princess Wigs For Kids With Cancer
Former cancer nurse Holly Christensen started her ‘Magic Yarn Project’ after her friend’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She has created Disney princess wigs and spurred an active volunteer base for the cause.
Jimmy Carter Responding Well To Cancer Treatment: Doctors Say Former US President's Melanoma Has Stopped Spreading
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter showed no evidence of new malignancy and is responding well to his cancer treatment. Carter remains active in his nonprofit organization, including helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Researchers Grow Super Corals To Save Reefs From Global Warming: How This Could Impact Marine Life
Using selective breeding, American researchers began their experiment with “super corals," which are aimed to withstand future ocean conditions and climate change. Target corals will be those strong and resilient enough to pass desirable traits on to succeeding generations.
FDA Sends Warning To Three Companies Over Direct-To-Consumer Gene Tests
FDA warning letters were sent to diagnostic companies DNA4Life, DNA-CardioCheck, Inc. and Interleukin Genetics, Inc. The notifications had to do with direct-to-consumer genetic tests believed to be marketed to the public without FDA clearance.
Cholesterol Vaccine Could End Need For Daily Statins
The new cholesterol vaccine targets PCSK9, a cholesterol-regulating protein. It is positioned as an alternative to statins, which are taken by many of the 73.5 million Americans with high LDL cholesterol and are deemed at risk for heart attack and stroke.
Nanoparticles Increase Growth And Antioxidant Levels Of Tomato Plants
Researchers discovered that using nanoparticles led tomato plants to better absorb light and minerals and exhibit higher antioxidant properties. They used new aerosolization methods in their study holding promise for improved use of resources and global food security.
Squats, Walking Can Keep You Mentally Young: Strong Legs Linked To Healthier Brain In Old Age
In a study of over 300 healthy female twins, the twin with better leg power better sustained cognition and brain aging outcomes. The research linked physical fitness with healthy brain aging, showing how simple walking or running makes vast changes.
Dementia Causes Over A Tenth Of Deaths In England And Wales, Cancer Remains Biggest Killer
Based on official records of England and Wales death rates, heart disease remains the top killer, with all types combined accounting for nearly one-third of deaths. Dementia, however, is on the rise and claims 51,000 lives per year.
Cooking Meat At High Temperatures Increases Kidney Cancer Risk
Another study adds to the growing research on the link between consumption of meats cooked at high temperatures and an increased cancer risk. The particular danger: kidney cancer, believed to be increasing due to the meat-loving Western diet.
Cryptic Pregnancy: Why Some Women Do Not Know They Are Pregnant And About To Give Birth
Doctors confirmed that it is rare but actually possible for a woman to not realize she is pregnant until she is on the verge of labor. Some factors behind cryptic pregnancy include inaccuracy of home tests, minimal pregnancy symptoms, irregular menstrual cycle, and psychiatric conditions.
Leonardo DiCaprio Visits India To Witness Impact Of Climate Change
Leo Dicaprio discussed climate change and poverty with local townsfolk in India. Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment also hit the US for its increasing consumption and called for a greater commitment at the Paris climate change conference for reduced emissions.
Vitamin D Can Reduce Heart Disease Risks In Kidney Disease Patients
Researchers in India linked vitamin D supplementation with the cardiovascular health benefits in early-stage chronic kidney disease. About one in 10 individuals worldwide is affected by this kidney condition, with most patients likely developing premature cardiovascular disease.
New Book Reveals Why We Always Line Up In The Slower Queue
In a new book to be published in December, David Andrews argues that people appear to often choose slower lines because they only notice how fast the other queues are when theirs is moving slowly. The book also ventures into the history and psychology of queuing in the modern world.
