Articles by Rina Marie Doctor
Pfizer-Allergan Merger Raises Outcry Over Tax Issues
The Pfizer-Allergan deal has caused politicians to expressed their outcries over U.S. tax issues. The merger deal appears to fall under the category of tax inversion, yet analysts said it is not.
Climate Change A Cause Of Syrian Civil War: Prince Charles
Prince Charles said climate change may be one of the factors that caused the Syrian Civil war. He explained in an interview how environment, terrorism and wars are all interlinked.
Pets In The Bedroom May Help Those With Sleep Problems
Pets may give people various positive benefits. In a new study, researchers found that letting pets sleep in the bedroom results in better sleep quality.
College Women With At Least Four Tattoos Have Higher Self-Esteem But Increased Risk For Suicide
A new study found that while college women with multiple tattoos have higher self-esteem compared to their peers. They also have the highest rate of suicide attempts. The researchers suggest that body art may be females' way of compensating for emotional losses, which may explain why suicide is part of the picture.
New Law Will Take Passports Of Those With Overdue IRS Taxes
People with overdue taxes will have to give up their U.S. passports soon. In a proposed law, the Internal Revenue Service will compile the names of people with great tax debts so the state department can impose penalties, such confiscating passports.
Ebola Re-Emerges In Liberia: 153 People Under Surveillance
Health officials have put 153 people in Liberia under surveillance after three new cases of the virus were recently detected. The source of the new Ebola outbreak in the country has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Pfizer, Allergan Reportedly Close To $150 Billion Merger
Pfizer and Allergan are said to have closed a merger deal worth $150 billion. The move is said to be historic as it will deem Pfizer the largest drug maker in the world.
Experts Slam WHO Over Delayed Response To Ebola Outbreak
Global health experts slam the World Health Organization for its failure to effectively prevent Ebola outbreaks. A panel of experts said WHO should be stripped off of its role in Ebola management as it obviously exudes great inadequacies.
Natural Remedies May Pose Risks To Your Heart: Study
Natural remedies may not be as safe as they look like. In a recent report, a woman's cardiovascular health was placed at risk after drinking an alternative medicine for pain relief.
Turing To Lower Price Of Anti-Parasite Drug Daraprim By As Much As 50 Percent But Only For Hospitals
Turing Pharmaceuticals is set to lower the price of Daraprim by as much as 50 percent before Christmas. The discount, however, comes with a condition and not all patients will be able to enjoy the price drop.
People Are Born Gay Or Straight: Study Refutes Continuum Theory Of Sexual Orientation
A new study refutes the continuum theory of sexual orientation, which hypothesizes that people move along a path from homosexuality to heterosexuality. It turns out that gays and lesbians are part of an assemblage that is not part of the sexuality spectrum.
Ebola Returns To Liberia After Being Declared Virus Free
Health officials confirmed that Ebola has returned to Liberia after the country was declared free of the disease. Three family members tested positive for the virus and are now admitted at an Ebola treatment unit.
China Testing Its Largest, Most Powerful Rocket: Long March 5 To Launch By 2016
China is now in the midst of testing its largest, most powerful rocket to date called Long March 5. If the test runs become successful, officials said, the rocket will embark on its first flight by the end of 2016.
Ingestible Electronic Sensor Measures Breathing, Heart Rate From Inside Your Gut
People may soon be freed from pesky cable wires and bulky medical monitors as researchers were able to discover a wearable vital signs monitor that works inside the gastrointestinal tract. The ingestible electronic sensor can accurately measure heart and breathing rates, signifying a breakthrough in medical innovation.
NIH To Retire Last Batch Of Medical Research Chimps
NIH announced that it will retire its last batch of chimps for medical research. The decision garnered mixed reactions from animal welfare and research advocate groups.
Raisin Test May Predict How Well Your Toddler Will Do In School
A new study found that a simple raisin test could help predict a toddler's academic performance come school age. The authors said the results of the research could help explain underachievement among preterm children.
Billionaire Philanthropist Donates $177 Million To UCSF: How This Could Impact Fight Against Dementia
Billionaire philanthropist Chuck Feeny aims to step up dementia treatment and prevent cases from rising. With this, his group Atlantic Philanthropies has donated $177 million to two universities to build a health institute that will train world leaders in the field of medicine and beyond.
Biggest Diamond In 100 Years Discovered In Botswana: Tennis-Ball-Size Gem Is Second Largest Unearthed In History
Canadian firm Lucara was able to unearth an exceptional stone, which is said to be the largest diamond found in the last century and world's second biggest. The price of the precious stone is still being deliberated and assessed by the company.
Early Antibiotic Treatment May Reduce Severe Respiratory Illness In Children
Children commonly develop cough and colds, which may develop into serious illnesses later in life. A new study found that early antibiotic treatment may help reduce severe respiratory illness and slow down disease progress.
Archaeologists Unearth Lost Island In The Aegean Where Athenians, Spartans Fought In Battle Of Arginusae
Archaeologists claim that they have found the lost city of Kane after investigating underground rock samples of a nearby peninsula. The island located in the Aegean Sea is said to be the location of the famous Battle of Arginusae.
Reading Self-Help Books May Cause More Stress, Study Finds
The self-help industry is growing in popularity due to possible favorable outcomes on mental health. Researchers, however, found that some self-help books may actually induce more stress than help among its readers.
Amgen Cholesterol Drug Repatha Turned Down By UK Cost Watchdog
Amgen's Repatha has been turned down for NHS funding by NICE. The UK cost watchdog said that analyses presented for the anti-cholesterol drug exhibited a high level of uncertainty, and thus cannot be recommended for use in Britain's state health.
Genome Sequencing Reveals Slimy Seabed Worms Share 70 Percent Of Human Genes
Researchers found that humans share more genes with a slimy seabed worm, compared to any other animals. In a new study, acorn worms were found to have 70 percent of human genes, making the two species 'distant cousins.'
Scientists Refrigerate Water Using Laser For The First Time
Researchers were able to refrigerate water using laser — a material typically associated with heat production. After years of baffling scientists, the key to cooling liquid things was finally discovered, opening up possible applications to various industrial and medical fields.
Tyson Foods Recalls 52000 Pounds Of Chicken Wings For 'Off Odor'
Tyson Foods Inc. recalled its fully cooked chicken wings after receiving customer complaints that the product had an 'off odor'. No adverse reactions have been reported but the USDA has advised the public to throw away remaining products.
World’s Most Extensive Face Transplant Gets Hand From 3D Modeling: How 3D Printing Improves Facial Surgeries
Facial transplant surgery performed on a firefighter was a success. Through the use of 3D printing and modeling, the surgeons were able to plan the procedure well and improve outcomes.
Nigerian Professor Cracks Solution To 156-year-old Math Problem
A Nigerian professor claims that he was able to solve a 156-year-old math problem that has baffled a generation of scholars. The professor was said to have investigated and corrected previous misinterpretations to come up with the solution.
Cybersickness Affects Up To 80 Percent Of Smartphone, Tablet Users: Things To Know About This Digital Motion Illness
Researchers found that more and more people are suffering from a digital world problem: cybersickness. The condition is more than just feeling dizzy; it entails various conflicts in the sensory system and may cause disturbing symptoms.
France To Ban Rallies During UN Climate Summit But Activists Want To March Despite Paris Attacks
With the recent terrorist attacks, France has enforced tighter security measures, including a possible ban on rallies for the upcoming U.N. climate summit. Activists, however, say they still want to continue with their planned march.
Weighty Wings Hold Key To Upside-Down Landing In Bats
Researchers recognized bats to have remarkable flying and landing abilities that involve a pivot maneuver. In a new study, experts found that the secret is in the weighty wings.
