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Science News Archive January 2015 - Page 28


Page 28 of 28

A healthy lifestyle may prevent heart disease in nearly 3 out of 4 women

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that adhering to six healthy lifestyle practices can significantly lower the risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease. The study followed nearly 70,000 women for two decades and found that three-quarters of heart attacks in young women could be prev...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 5, 2015

Public reporting on quality slows price increases for bypass surgery and other hospital procedures

A new study found that public reporting of hospital quality data can exert downward pressure on actual prices paid for common procedures. The study suggests that insurance companies are paying closer attention to quality scores, which has helped slow price increases for bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions.

Seeds out of season

Scientists created a new modeling framework to study the relationships between different stages of a plant's life cycle. The study found that changes in environmental factors can affect the duration of subsequent stages. This research has the potential to improve crop yields and conservation efforts amid climate change.

Hold your breath to protect your heart

Women undergoing left-side breast cancer radiation therapy can reduce heart exposure by holding their breath, resulting in a 90% disease-free survival rate and a median reduction of 62% in radiation dose. The breath-hold technique also shows a lower risk of ischemic heart disease after 8 years.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalPractical Radiation Oncology·DateJan 5, 2015

Predicting superbugs' countermoves to new drugs

Duke University researchers develop software to predict genetic changes in bacteria that will allow it to evade new experimental drugs. The team successfully identified four mutations that would confer resistance, with over half of surviving colonies carrying the predicted mutation.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 2, 2015

New analyses of Martian chemical maps suggest water bound to sulfates in soil

A new study suggests that water is bound to sulfates in Martian soil, a key finding with implications for the search for life on Mars. The research team analyzed elemental data from the Gamma Ray Spectrometer onboard the Mars Odyssey orbiter and found a spatial association between sulfur and hydrogen in the southern latitudes of Mars.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 2, 2015