In a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it was considering anonymity in the review of grant applications. (Found at: http://chronicle.com/article/NIH-Considers-Anonymity-for/136227/?cid=pm&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en ) Ge Wang, adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, and seven of his colleagues do not believe this action is necessary if taken to counteract a charge of "racial bias." For Wang, their study ...

Belmont, MA—In a study examining the impact of a parity policy for mental health insurance benefits, researchers have concluded that parity had a different impact on spending and service utilization for enrollees with illnesses that are more severe and chronic. As a result of the parity policy, individuals seeking treatment for major depression or bipolar disorder had lower out-of-pocket spending, despite no significant difference in the amount of behavioral health services they used. However, individuals with adjustment disorder (a less severe, acute illness) had lower ...

New York, NY, February 1, 2013—Only 11 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or issued regulations to implement the Affordable Care Act's major health insurance market reforms that go into effect in 2014, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Thirty-nine states have not yet taken action to implement these requirements, potentially limiting their ability to fully enforce the new reforms and ensure that consumers receive the full protections of the law. These reforms include bans on denying people health insurance due to preexisting conditions, a minimum ...

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (February 1, 2013) Biologists at Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences have discovered a bioelectric signal that can identify cells that are likely to develop into tumors. The researchers also found that they could lower the incidence of cancerous cells by manipulating the electrical charge across cells' membranes. "The news here is that we've established a bioelectric basis for the early detection of cancer," says Brook Chernet, doctoral student and the first author of a newly published research paper co-authored with Michael Levin, ...

According to a study in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, primary care physicians prefer to deliver the results of radiology examinations themselves and feel medico-legally obligated by recommendations within radiology reports. The radiology report is the primary means of communication between the radiologist, the patient, and the patient care team and serves an important role in facilitating patient care, especially for primary care physicians in the outpatient setting. "There is considerable interest in improving radiology ...

Man Charged in Connection to Blagojevich Scandal Gets Minimal Sentence Cooperation can pay. That appears to be the theme of a recent sentence issued by a judge in Illinois for a case connected with the Gov. Rob Blagojevich's corruption charges. The judge recently sentenced Mr. Stuart Levine, a political campaign contributor who provided key information leading to the prosecution of former Gov. Blagojevich. Not only did Mr. Levine receive a much shorter sentence than anticipated, according to the Associated Press he also received praise for his cooperation in helping ...

Grand Rapids marijuana decriminalization effort in jeopardy In November 2012, voters in Grand Rapids approved an initiative that amended the city charter to decriminalize the possession of a small amount of marijuana. The amendment makes the personal possession of marijuana a civil infraction (as opposed to a misdemeanor crime). Though the amendment itself did not specify a cutoff point for when marijuana possession becomes a crime, the city has said that it plans to use a 2.5 ounce threshold, since that is the same limit used under Michigan's medical marijuana law. The ...

Drowsy driving a major safety hazard for young people For many young people, the ability to function on limited sleep is a badge of honor. Whether it's staying up all night to finish a paper, working a late shift or just hanging out late with friends, burning the candle at both ends is a pretty common part of being a young adult in America. Of course, keeping up this behavior for too long can start to take a toll on a person's health. However, there is also a short-term danger that many people are not aware of -- even if the driver is sober, getting behind the wheel ...

When things go awry on a construction site who is responsible? In January 2013, a 380-foot crane collapsed at a construction site behind the iconic Pepsi sign on the East River shoreline in Long Island City, New York. The crane had been assembled just four days earlier at the site of a luxury apartment tower build. As workers loaded the crane with wood planks, it came crashing to the ground, smashing scaffolding and plywood. Fortunately, only seven workers were injured despite around 70 people being on site at the time. Three workers were trapped under the crane, ...

How to Reduce Risk: Elderly Drivers and Serious Car Accidents The importance of being mobile and independent often grow with age and a part of remaining mobile is the ability to drive, especially for elderly drivers in suburban and rural areas of Pennsylvania. However, drivers age 80 and older have the second highest rate of fatal traffic accidents of any group. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, it's important that driving safety for older drivers is addressed for the well-being of all age groups on the road. Whether a Doctor Should Have Reported a Medical ...

NLRB ruling provides new guidance for employers' social media policies These days, a good online reputation is an invaluable asset for any business. So, employers often -- and rightfully -- find themselves wanting to prevent their employees from making disparaging or negative comments online. To this end, many companies have drafted policies that use preventative strategies govern what their employees can say and do on the Internet, especially with regard to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Increasingly, though, these policies are being struck down by ...

U.S. Supreme Court ruling may impact DWI law in New York The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments on whether police should be allowed to force drinking and driving suspects to submit to warrantless blood tests without consent. While it is illegal for police in New York to force drivers suspected of DWI to submit to a warrantless blood draw without the driver's consent, half of the states favor the policy and a decision in favor of a warrantless blood test without consent would change New York law. During oral arguments, the Court took issue with the amount of ...

U.S. Supreme Court to decide legality of warrantless DUI blood draws In Arizona it's against the law for police to conduct a warrantless blood draw on a DUI suspect without the suspect's consent. That could change when the U.S. Supreme Court makes a ruling on the issue sometime this year because half of U.S. states follow a law similar to Arizona's and the other half allow warrantless blood draws without a DUI suspect's consent. Law enforcement is in favor of warrantless blood draws without consent because it allows police to gather blood alcohol levels in a timely manner. ...

Texas man receives prison sentence for repeat DWI offense A man who had been on probation after four misdemeanor DWI convictions in Washington State found that his luck ran out in Texas when he was arrested in early 2012 with a blood alcohol content of 0.28 -- more than three times the legal limit. Texas authorities charged the man with third-degree felony driving while intoxicated, his fifth DWI charge since 2001, ABC News reported. Explaining that alcohol addiction was the reason for his repeated DWI arrests, the man requested probation and placement in a substance ...

US Supreme Court to rule on DWI blood test issue The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case addressing whether police are required to obtain a warrant before drawing blood samples from people suspected of driving while intoxicated. Courts and law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are divided on whether warrantless blood draws violate the ban on unreasonable searches and seizures set forth in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourth Amendment requires police to obtain permission from a judge before conducting most searches and seizures ...

Dividing a military pension in a divorce If you or your spouse is in the military or has a military pension, the property division in your divorce is more complex than most. The Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, or USFSPA, governs how a military pension and other military benefits are distributed or used in the event of a divorce. Basics of the USFSPA Military disposable retired pay is the service member's monthly retirement benefit -- a military pension. The USFSPA allows state courts to treat a military pension just like any other pension plan ...

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements With more and more people marrying later in life and the increase in second marriages, prenuptial agreements are becoming more popular. A prenuptial agreement is a marital contract that is entered between a couple prior to their marriage. Generally a prenup ensures that the assets a person brings into a marriage remain their own if the marriage ends in divorce. The prenuptial agreement circumvents the idea of "what is mine is yours." Benefits of a prenuptial agreement Couples choose to enter into a pre-martial contract ...

Women and children may face lapses in insurance coverage after divorce A new study discovered many women become uninsured every year after divorce. Sadly, lapses in insurance also affect the children of divorcing parents. Spouses should plan for their health, automotive, life and homeowners insurance coverage during divorce proceedings. Divorcing women may lose health insurance coverage A study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that every year about 115,000 women in the United States lose their health insurance coverage due to divorce. For the ...

The dangers of athletics: High school football and brain damage All sports involve some risk of injury. The nature of athletics coupled with the fearlessness of many children leads to thousands of sports-related accidents yearly. Yet, a recent study has brought forth disturbing data concerning long-term brain damage in football players, even those who only play at an amateur level. High school football may lead to long-term brain damage The Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy recently conducted a study which found evidence that playing ...

MN legislator may introduce bill to require paid sick leave If you live and work in Minnesota, the chances are high that you either know someone or have personally been infected with one of the flu strains prevalent in the state this year. Minnesota is currently in the midst of flu season, with hospitals in Southern Minnesota recently reporting a sharp increase in the number of flu cases. According to health officials, over 900 people in Minnesota have been admitted to the hospital due to the flu. The flu season got off to an early start this year. A health official ...

Three steps in rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy It goes without saying that the economy has been tough for the past four years. As a result of these economic difficulties, more South Carolinians and Americans in general have been through a bankruptcy. However, once the bankruptcy is completed, many do not know what to do to rebuild their credit. It is important to return to financial heath after bankruptcy. Once a bankruptcy is filed, it stays on your credit report for up to 10 years, which can lower your credit score dramatically. Since lenders use your credit ...

Former Miami police sergeant convicted of drug conspiracy A former Miami police sergeant was recently convicted by a federal jury on several charges, including drug conspiracy and civil rights violations. According to an FBI press release dated January 18, 2013, Raul Iglesias of Miami was convicted on eight counts, including conspiracy to possess cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, obstruction of justice and other charges. Earlier in January, the Miami Herald reported that Iglesias had testified in his own defense at trial, denying allegations that he had ...

New law may decrease nursing home abuse in California A new California health care law makes all employees, supervisors or administrators at nursing homes or assisted living facilities mandated reporters. As mandated reporters, they are legally required to report any physical abuse, abandonment, neglect, isolation or financial abuse of residents in long-term care centers to local law enforcement and the care center's ombudsman. The new legislation is a welcome response to elder abuse. Napa County's Health and Human Services department investigated 295 abuse and neglect ...

Nursing home director sentenced to prison for drugging elderly residents A California nursing director at a Kern County hospital was sentenced to three years in prison for drugging elderly patients with potent and medically unnecessary anti-psychotic medication to make them easier to control. According to the California Attorney General, the nursing director convinced others to prescribe the drugs to the noisier and more argumentative patients, so that she could keep them quiet and more manageable. The unnecessary drugs killed three patients and many more suffered serious ...

Church van crash victims' families sue driver who crossed center line The families of a teenage girl and a youth pastor who died when their church van was struck head on by another vehicle on Chapman Highway have sued the driver they say is responsible for causing the crash. The 21-year-old man was allegedly driving under the influence when police say he crossed the center line in his sport utility vehicle and struck the church van head-on, killing a 16-year-old and a 45-year-old, and injuring 12 others. Investigators reported that they found drugs in the man's SUV. ...