Articles by Katrina Pascual
Ebola Outbreak Not Yet Over: WHO Reports New Infections In Guinea
Guinea authorities have pinpointed two new Ebola virus cases. One is in Forecariah, western Guinea and appears to be associated with a previously established chain of infection; the other is in Conakry, considered a new infection.
Vitamin D and Calcium Do Not Prevent Colon Cancer
New research offered strong evidence against vitamin D and calcium in preventing polyps in the future. This is despite optimistic results from previous, smaller trials vouching for the supplements' effectiveness.
NASA's Kepler Telescope Finds Unusual Star With Strange Light Patterns
The star KIC 8462852 dims inexplicably every couple of years, and even such activity is not attributed by an astronomy team to orbiting planets. The astronomers say they have never seen anything like it, while others speculate the presence of an 'alien megastructure.'
Fewer U.S. Teens Smoke Cigarettes But More Than Double Use Pot
According to a new CDC report, there was lower cigarette and cigar use but increased marijuana use among American teenagers. The battle to significantly reduce teen smoking was considered far from over.
Lamar Odom Collapse Linked To Herbal Viagra Pills: What To Know About This Sexual Enhancement Supplement
Lamar Odom remains comatose at a Las Vegas hospital while the spotlight is once again on the male sexual enhancer 'herbal Viagra'. Many of these supplements are neither FDA-approved nor always reveal their complete ingredient list.
Cambridge Consultants Develops Robot That Can Pick And Sort Out Fruits
A new fruit-picking robot was developed by UK-based design and development company Cambridge Consultants. The robot can sort fruits and vegetables, and even pick out the weeds among plants.
Rising Sea Level Threatens To Submerge Mangrove Forests By 2070
Mangrove forests around the Indo-Pacific areas could be submerged by 2070. Mangroves in Thailand, Java, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands could suffer the same fate within the next 45 years.
Bubble Plumes Off Washington, Oregon Hint Warming Ocean May Be Releasing Frozen Methane
Off the Washington and Oregon coast, 168 bubble plumes had been detected in the past 10 years, a disproportionate number of which were found at a critical depth for methane hydrates’ stability. The methane bubbles are a potent greenhouse gas.
Energy, Mining Companies Support International Climate Change Deal
Corporations from some of the most carbon-intensive industries signed a statement pushing for the Paris climate change conference. They are said to support the Paris agreement to achieve “stronger long-term direction” in the fight against climate change.
Newly Unraveled Dynamic Structure Of DNA Could Pave Way For Better Medicines
New simulations revealed that the molecule of life is more than the rigid, static double helix structure highlighted by Watson and Crick in 1953. Researchers uncovered the three-dimensional structure of supercoiled DNA - a more dynamic shape and deemed an ally in creating better medicines.
Earth's Gravity Helps Shape The Moon, NASA's LRO Reveals
Using images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scientists found that the Earth’s pull is opening up faults on the moon. The extent of investigation on the moon made possible by the LRO is not yet doable for any other entity in the solar system.
Synthetic Diamonds Offer Hope For Early And Effective Treatment Of Deadly Cancers
Scientists devised a way to use nanodiamonds in lighting up early-stage cancers during magnetic resonance imaging scans. These diamonds were found to be nontoxic, noninvasive and more readily available.
Sexually Transmitted Virus Could Surpass Smoking And Drinking As Cancer Cause: Incidence Of HPV-Related Throat And Tongue Cancers Increasing
More Australians with oropharyngeal cancer tested positive for the human papillomavirus, suggesting that the virus and not smoking or heavy alcohol consumption caused their illness. Oral sex was identified as a likely culprit.
Breast Cancer Drug Tamoxifen Boosts Immune Response Against MRSA
Tamoxifen was found in a recent study to power up white blood cells and make them better in killing bacteria. Treating mice with the breast cancer drug also led to enhanced clearance of MRSA and reduced death.
Lithium Is Safe And Effective For Short-Term Treatment Of Children With Bipolar Disorder
In a new study on children with bipolar disorder, almost half of study participants placed on lithium - a long-established medication for the condition in adults - significantly improved their symptoms. Only a fifth of those on placebo achieved the same results.
Research Reveals Why Caramel Apples Are A Magnet For Listeria
New research argued that apples are too acidic for the bacteria to live and the caramel does not contain enough water for bacteria to typically grow. So what made caramel apples Listeria-friendly and potentially deadly?
Insect Experts Ask Public Not To Kill Deadly Funnel-Web Spiders
Australian experts called for only trapping the funnel-web spider instead of killing it, delivering it to New South Wales’ Australian Reptile Park afterwards. This is to ensure supply of the critter's life-saving antivenene.
Delivery Of 3,000 Ebola Treatment Beds Prevented 40,000 Deaths In Sierra Leone: Study
Almost 3,000 Ebola treatment beds were sent by the UK and Sierra Leone governments and aid agencies between September 2014 to February this year to Sierra Leone. According to researchers of a new study, the epidemic would have turned out to be much worse if the beds were not delivered.
Scientists Find Immune System Biomarkers That Can Predict HIV Relapse
Researchers identified three immune system biomarkers as 'statistically significant predictors' of where the human immunodeficiency virus would rebound. High levels of these biomarkers were linked to earlier relapse once antiretroviral therapy was interrupted.
Family Doctors Treat One In Three U.S. Children With Mental Health Issues
New research discovered that 34.8 percent of kids seeking outpatient mental health care are treated only by a primary care physician. A collaboration between primary care providers and mental health specialists is called for to properly address children's mental health issues.
Gastric Bypass Elevates Suicide Attempt Risks: Patients Most Vulnerable Within Three Years After Weight Loss Surgery
Canadian researchers studied more than 8,800 individuals and tracked self-harm emergencies three years before and after patients underwent gastric bypass surgery. Self-harm rates rose in three years following the operation.
Fifteen Ebola Suspects Released From Quarantine As Nigerian Government Denies Resurgence
The medical staff of a Nigerian hospital – including one doctor, nine nurses, four health workers, and one patient – was quarantined on Oct. 7 following the death of a patient from a suspected Ebola virus case.
Got Tattoo? Get Your Skin Art Framed After You Die
'Save my Ink' allows people to have their tattoo or skin art cut when they die and framed for their loved ones. It is run by the nonprofit National Association for the Preservation of Skin Art (NAPSA) as a member-exclusive service.
Online Booking Problems Delay Hundreds Of Southwest Airlines Flights
Technology issues in Southwest Airlines that started Sunday morning are continuing. According to official statement, these are affecting in-airport customer service tech systems across its online platforms.
Social Media Can Motivate People To Exercise More: Here's How
New research published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports showed that 'health buddies' on social media can positively affect exercise habits. The health buddies provided motivating effects and produced 'a substantial growth' in enrollment rates among peer networks.
Scottish Airport Uses Star Wars-Inspired 'Lightsabers' To Prevent Bird Strike
Dundee Airport tried out laser technology to prevent bird strikes. The Aerolaser system served as an alternative to pyrotechnic bangers and other conventional bird-scaring techniques, which are loud and can disrupt the local community.
Transgender Teen Takes Selfies Every Day For Three Years to Document Transition
Twenty-one-year-old Jamie Raines began taking testosterone when he was 17 years old to jumpstart his physical transition, which he tracked through a daily selfie. He took more than 1,400 self-portraits that show his facial hair growth, change in bone structure and other developments.
Everybody Urged To Get Flu Shots: Vaccine Expected To Provide More Protection Than Last Year’s
CDC said at least 171 million doses of flu vaccine are expected in 2015. CDC director Tom Frieden urged Americans to “just get one” for protection.
Smoking Will Kill 1 In 3 Young Men In China: Study
A team of researchers conducted two national studies 15 years apart to track smoking’s health effects in a large group of Chinese people. It found that one in three of China's young men is set to get killed by tobacco.
Teens Who Spend Hours On The Internet At Greater Risk For High Blood Pressure
A new study established a link between time spent online and high blood pressure. It added to mounting research that associates heavy Internet use with addiction, depression, anxiety, obesity and other health risks.
