Monday, May 25, 2015

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Cognitive impairment predicts worse outcome in heart failure

Posted: 24 May 2015 10:07 AM PDT

Cognitive impairment predicts worse outcome in elderly heart failure patients, reveals research. Patients with cognitive impairment had a 7.5 times greater risk of call cause death and heart failure readmission. Heart failure patients with cognitive impairment may get progressively worse at adhering to medications, leading to poorer prognosis, the researchers say.

36-percent increase in pediatric patients treated with proton therapy, new survey shows

Posted: 23 May 2015 04:00 PM PDT

Results from an American survey indicate a steady increase in the number of pediatric patients who are being treated with proton radiation therapy for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. Based on a survey of all proton therapy centers in the United States, the number of pediatric patients treated with proton therapy grew to 722 in 2013, a 36-percent increase from the 465 patients treated in 2010.

Obesity, mood disorders increase peripartum cardiomyopathy risk

Posted: 23 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT

Anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder doubles the risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy during childbirth, while obesity leads to a 1.7-fold increase, researchers report. Women with common pregnancy-related symptoms such as shortness of breath and leg swelling plus five PPCM risk factors could benefit from screening, the experts say.

Parents are integral in stopping rise as teen e-cigarette usage triples

Posted: 22 May 2015 02:45 PM PDT

Though many think e-cigarettes are helping to reduce the number of smokers in the US, research is showing the opposite is true when it comes to teens. Experts recently released data showing that in just one year the number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes has tripled.

Deciphering clues to prehistoric climate changes locked in cave deposits

Posted: 22 May 2015 02:45 PM PDT

It turns out that the steady dripping of water deep underground can reveal a surprising amount of information about the constantly changing cycles of heat and cold, precipitation and drought in the turbulent atmosphere above. The analysis of a stalagmite from a cave in north east India can detect the link between El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian monsoon, a new study has found.

DNA samples from fungi collections provide key to mushroom 'tree of life'

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:13 AM PDT

Genetic material from fungi collections helped a team of researchers resolve the mushroom 'tree of life,' a map of the relationships between key mushroom species and their evolutionary history that scientists have struggled to piece together for more than 200 years.

New research leads to FDA approval of first drug to treat radiation sickness

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:13 AM PDT

New research has led to FDA approval of the use of a drug to treat the effects of radiation exposure following a nuclear incident. The drug, Neupogen, is the first ever approved for the treatment of acute radiation injury.

Visualizing how radiation bombardment boosts superconductivity

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:13 AM PDT

A new study shows how heavy-ion induced atomic-scale defects in iron-based superconductors "pin" potentially disruptive quantum vortices, enabling high currents to flow unimpeded. The study opens a new way forward for designing and understanding superconductors that can operate in demanding high-current, high magnetic field applications, such as zero-energy-loss power transmission lines and energy-generating turbines.

Beyond average: New platforms genetically barcode tens of thousands of cells at a time

Posted: 21 May 2015 01:05 PM PDT

Two separate research teams have developed high-throughput techniques to quickly, easily and inexpensively give every individual cell in a sample a unique genetic barcode. This allows scientists to analyze complex tissues by profiling each individual cell--no averaging required.