The Scifi Products Blog.: 04/01/19

Monday, 1 April 2019

Higher circulating sex hormone regulator (SHBG) levels linked to lower asthma risk

Higher circulating levels of the sex hormone regulator, SHBG, seem to be causally linked to a lower risk of asthma-at least in women-suggests the first study of its kind, published online in the journal Thorax.

* This article was originally published here

New study measures UV-filters in seawater and corals from Hawaii

Scientists have completed the first comprehensive assessment of UV-filters in surface seawater, sediment, and coral tissue from multiple coral reefs around the island of Oahu, Hawaii. UV-filters are active ingredients in sunscreens, but are also added to many other products, including textile, plastics, and paint to prevent photo degradation. The UV-filters oxybenzone and octinoxate have received attention by policy makers regarding their potential impact on corals. The research will help provide a baseline for future risk assessments.

* This article was originally published here

'Smart' pajamas could monitor and help improve sleep

If you've ever dreamed about getting a good night's sleep, your answer may someday lie in data generated by your sleepwear. Researchers have developed pajamas embedded with self-powered sensors that provide unobtrusive and continuous monitoring of heartbeat, breathing and sleep posture—all factors that play a role in how well a person slumbers. The "smart" garments could give ordinary people, as well as clinicians, useful information to help improve sleep patterns.

* This article was originally published here

Tiger geckos in Vietnam could be the next species sold into extinction, shows a new survey

While proper information about the conservation status of tiger gecko species is largely missing, these Asian lizards are already particularly vulnerable to extinction, as most of them have extremely restricted distribution. Furthermore, they have been facing severe declines over the last two decades, mostly due to overcollection for the international exotic pet market. Such is the case of the Cat Ba Tiger Gecko, whose tiny populations can only be found on Cat Ba Island and a few islands in the Ha Long Bay (Vietnam).

* This article was originally published here

Scientists discover potential sustainable energy technology for the household refrigerator

While many advancements have been in improving its efficiency, the refrigerator still consumes considerable amounts of energy each year.

* This article was originally published here

How common are advanced care planning conversations with hospitalized, older patients?

As the U.S. population ages, hospitals and health systems around the country have been grappling with how to integrate advance care planning (ACP) into routine practice. In 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began paying physicians for ACP by introducing two new billing codes which allowed them to bill for up to 60 minutes of advance care planning conversations with their patients. At the time, some lawmakers expressed concern that the ACP billing codes could be overused and become a burden to the Medicare program. A team of researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice investigated the early uptake of the ACP billing codes by analyzing billing for seriously ill, hospitalized adults over 65 who were treated by a large national physician practice. They found that despite the fact that physicians employed by the practice received ACP training and small financial incentives for ACP documentation, the rate of billed ACP conversations was very low and that there was wide variation among physicians and practice sites.

* This article was originally published here

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Monday, 1 April 2019