Scientists at Penn State Regrow Layer of Human Heart

A team at Penn State claim to have used stem cells to regenerate the cells that make up the epicardium, the outermost layer of the heart. Like all discoveries, this one “stemmed” of research in the past. In 2012, this same group discovered that if they expose cardiac stem cells to a certain chemical, the stem cells differentiated into myocardium cells (which make up the middle muscle layer of the heart). They can then transform the myocardium cells into epicardial cells. The team plans to continue researching how to manipulate these stem cells in with the goal creating all 3 muscle layers of the heart from the same cells.

For more information: http://newatlas.com/heart-disease-stem-cells-pennstate/47391/

Computer Model Can Predict When You Die

Scientists at the London Institute of Medical Services created an Artificial Intelligence system that analyzes the medical records, medical test results, and medical history of heart patients and then predict when the patient will die. Researchers studied over 250 patients with pulmonary hypertension, which kills 33% of patients within the first 5 years. The AI was also able to create a model of the patient’s heart and search for any abnormalities. The system predicted correctly if the patient would live past 1 year correctly about 80% of the time while humans were only able to predict with 60% accuracy. They are now trying to incorporate more factors in an effort to increase the accuracy rate further.

For more information:  http://newatlas.com/ai-predicts-lifespan-heart-patients/47408/?li_source=LI&li_medium=default-widget  

New Species Discovered and named After Donald Trump

Dr. Vazrick Nazari was going through specimens and found that something did not match any current species. After he and other scientists investigated further, they came to the realization that these species had never been classified before. The newly discovered species is a moth with a wingspan of less than one centimeter. The adult moths have a whitish yellow scales on the top of its head that resembles Trump’s hairstyle. That inspired the name Neopalpa donaldtrumpi. Ironically, the newly discovered species habitat is being affected by climate change and scientists believe that the Neopalpa donaldtrumpi might be endangered. Dr. Nazari hopes that the name will “bring wider public attention to the need to continue protecting fragile habitats in the US that still contain many undescribed species.”

For more information: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-01/pp-ns011617.php