Certificate of Need, a form of state government regulation designed to keep mortality rates and health care costs down, appears to do neither for heart bypass surgery, according to a health economics researcher at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Her findings are reported in an article appearing in today's online edition of the journal Medical Care Research and Review. Lead author Vivian Ho, the chair in health economics at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and a professor of medicine at BCM, found that states that removed Certificate ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The colorful leaves piling up in your backyard this fall can be thought of as natural stores of carbon. In the springtime, leaves soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, converting the gas into organic carbon compounds. Come autumn, trees shed their leaves, leaving them to decompose in the soil as they are eaten by microbes. Over time, decaying leaves release carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In fact, the natural decay of organic carbon contributes more than 90 percent of the yearly carbon dioxide released into Earth's atmosphere ...

After a series of Philadelphia hospitals started closing their maternity units in 1997, infant mortality rates increased by nearly 50 percent over the next three years. The mortality rates subsequently leveled off to the same rate as before the closures, but pediatric researchers say their results underscore the need for careful oversight and planning by public health agencies in communities experiencing serious reductions in obstetric services. Between 1997 and 2007, 9 of 19 obstetric units closed in Philadelphia, resulting in 40 percent fewer obstetric beds. Other research ...

A simple new test, in which the patient swallows a string, can monitor treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis as effectively as an invasive, expensive and uncomfortable procedure that risks complications, particularly in children. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, working in collaboration with clinician-investigators at the University of Colorado Denver/Children's Hospital Colorado and Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, reported their findings in a study published recently online in the journal Gut. Eosinophilic esophagitis, ...

MAYWOOD, Ill. – Gender-specific group therapy is effective for treating depressed women with Type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the latest issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine and funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research. Evidence suggests that antidepressants may disrupt blood-sugar control and can be associated with increased weight gain; therefore, other treatment options are needed for depression. "Using antidepressants to treat depression, although important, can be associated with side effects that make compliance an issue for people ...

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, October 3, 2012 – Milk consumption has been linked to improved health, with decreased risks of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and colon cancer. A group of scientists in Sweden found that lactoferricin4-14 (Lfcin4-14), a milk protein with known health effects, significantly reduces the growth rate of colon cancer cells over time by prolonging the period of the cell cycle before chromosomes are replicated. In a new study, investigators report that treatment with Lfcin4-14 reduced DNA damage in colon cancer cells exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. ...

STANFORD, Calif. — Not everyone is able to be hypnotized, and new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine shows how the brains of such people differ from those who can easily be. The study, published in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, uses data from functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging to identify how the areas of the brain associated with executive control and attention tend to have less activity in people who cannot be put into a hypnotic trance. "There's never been a brain signature of being hypnotized, and we're ...

The fifteenth tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean hurricane season was born on Oct. 3 an NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of it as it came to be. NASA's Terra satellite passed over newborn Tropical Depression 15 on Oct. 3 at 8:52 a.m. EDT in the central Atlantic Ocean and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured an image of the storm. Shortly after the image was created, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center looking at the MODIS and other satellite data determined that the low pressure area had become a depression. On ...

NASA's Aqua satellite took an infrared "picture" of Tropical Storm Maliksi in the western North Pacific Ocean and identified the strongest part of the storm being east of its center. On Oct. 3 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT), Tropical storm Maliksi had maximum sustained winds of 45 knots (51.7 mph/83.3 kph). It was located about 470 nautical miles (541 miles/870.4 km) south-southeast of Tokyo, Japan, near 29.4 North and 143.1 East. Maliksi was speeding to the north-northeast at 21 knots (24.1 mph/38.8 kph). The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies ...

VIDEO: On Oct. 2 at 11:43 p.m. EDT, heavy convective thunderstorms were found in Nadine's northeastern quadrant by NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. Wind shear had separated the center... Click here for more information. NASA satellites continue to gather data from Tropical Storm Nadine on its twenty-second day of life in the eastern Atlantic as it threatens the Azores again. NASA data has shown that wind shear is pushing the bulk of clouds and ...

Tropical Storm Gaemi is packing a lot of power around its middle and on one side of the storm, and that was apparent in NASA satellite imagery. NASA's Terra satellite passed over Tropical Storm Gaemi on Oct. 3 at 0300 UTC (11:00 p.m. EDT, Oct. 2) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured a true-color image of the storm. The image showed a bright white, rounded area around the center that indicated higher, stronger thunderstorms. Higher, stronger thunderstorms also wrapped around the center in a wide band that stretches from north ...

JUPITER, FL, October 3, 2012 – Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have developed a novel technology that can identify, in animal models, potential biomarkers of ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the colon. The study was published October 3, 2012, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The new research focuses on the protein arginine deiminases (PAD), which have been implicated in a number of diseases, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. PADs participate ...

Berkeley — Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like compound that has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years, has been linked to changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Normal thyroid function is essential to the healthy growth and cognitive development of fetuses and children. Yet, until this study, to be published Thursday, Oct. 4, in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, little was known about the effects of BPA exposure on thyroid hormones in pregnant ...

A compassion-based meditation program can significantly improve a person's ability to read the facial expressions of others, finds a study published by Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. This boost in empathic accuracy was detected through both behavioral testing of the study participants and through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of their brain activity. "It's an intriguing result, suggesting that a behavioral intervention could enhance a key aspect of empathy," says lead author Jennifer Mascaro, a post-doctoral fellow in anthropology at ...

DatingMashup.com is proud to announce its sponsorship of Phoenix Fashion Week. Dale P. Ballard, Founder and CEO of DatingMashup.com explains, "We'll be providing a special gift that will be found inside various VIP "swag" bags. We think this is a wonderful event not only for DatingMashup.com members, but for anyone who loves fashion and enjoys donating to charitable causes." This exciting event is taking place at The Talking Stick Resort Casino in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event will house thousands of people over four days and will include a ...

New Harmony Soap Company, a maker of natural, nutrient-rich soaps and skin health products, will introduce a pair of Artisan Wine Soaps this weekend at the 10th Annual Wabash Valley Wine & Art Festival in historic Palestine, Illinois. As an artisan vendor at the popular Fall festival 45 miles southwest of Terre Haute,Indiana, New Harmony Soap Company will debut a Red Wine Soap and a Honey Wine Soap. The red wine soap is crafted using Reggae Red table wine vinted by Easley Winery of Indianapolis. The honey wine soap uses Camelot Mead Honey Wine vinted by Oliver Winery ...

The boys are, literally, back in town (flying in from Finland, Norway and the US) to appear in a video by renowned film director Tony Klinger (Get Carter, Shout At The Devil, Deep Purple Over Japan, The Kids are Alright - The Who). The A list of rock's greatest are appearing in the promotional video for 'Honest' John Plain's single 'Never Listen To Rumours' are Michael Monroe and Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks/New York Dolls) Martin Chambers (The Pretenders), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Casino Steel (The Boys, Johnny Cash, Carlene Carter), Darrell Bath (The Crybabys and Dogs D'Amour) ...

[Gigi Capone PR] Canada - The world's top 3 sound systems are set to share the stage together Thanksgiving weekend in both Ottawa on at the St. Anthony Banquet Hall on the 6th; then at E.B.Club Lounge in Montreal on the 7th. A Stone Love, Bass Odyssey and Wyclef Refugee All-Star Sound (WRAS) concert for the first time ever; this grandiose event is sure to make a deep mark in reggae history. The buzz surrounding this event has made major waves in the industry since WRAS first started promoting the show in August. Top selecta for the sound Sean "Da Entertainer" ...

Anyone can make a difference by giving a child a book. In celebration of national Make A Difference Day, Assistance League of Phoenix is holding a children's-book drive on Saturday, October 27 at the organization's Thrift Shop at 7044 N. 7th Street, just north of Glendale Avenue. Individuals may drop books off between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. "We are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to donate children's books by setting up a drop-off station in our Thrift Shop parking lot," said Linda Killmer of Scottsdale, chairman of the project and past national ...

Los Angeles Huntmakers want to challenge you and your friends to a game. Santa Clarita, CA (October 2, 2012) - The creators of The Hunger Runs 5K adventure race want to challenge those brave enough to face The Hunt. Coming to Rowher Flats Angeles National Forest on January 12, 2013, the 5K race will include various obstacles dubbed "challenge centers". Challenge centers will range from a collection of tests, including archery, spear throw, and weight toss. Jonathan Li, Operations Manager for The Hunger Runs and self-dubbed Huntmaker, looks forward to The ...

The Asian Heritage Festival set for Saturday, October 6, 2012, in St. Louis promises a glorious day of colorful amusements, fresh food choices, cultural demonstrations and a variety of entertainments for children and adults, plus a showcase Asian goods, cultural treasures and merchandise from many countries. The Asian Heritage Festival will feature a dozen different entertainments and demonstrations including authentic Kung Fu, Thai Boxing, Japanese flower arranging and a Kimono show, plus Asian dance and musical performances, and displays of Asian arts and crafts. The ...

Daymond and other well-known panelist will talk to entrepreneurs about what investors look for in attractive startup companies. The event will also introduce equity crowdfunding as a new avenue of funding for entrepreneurs. "With the growing popularity of the equity crowdfunding industry and the launch of SME, now is the perfect time to match up entrepreneurs with potential investors, whether they be traditional or the crowd" says SME Founder & CEO, Jeremy Andrews. Event attendees will have time to network, and meet Daymond John. The event will take place ...

Today, ALO Drink, a fast-growing aloe vera-based drink brand debuts two full-length music videos following the release of ALOtones, an album created in collaboration with Mikronesia featuring the music inside the drink's original flavors. Agency Magma, ALO's Agency of Record, helped to construct a real-life experiment on two acclaimed New York City ArtistsâEUR"Sara Blake (ZSO) and Peter Hamlin (Hambot). Each one-take, improvisational experiment was captured and edited to create music videos for both ALO's flagship flavor ALO Exposed, which contains the single, New ...

WHO: SCOTT STAPP, Grammy Award-winning front man for the mega band, CREED. WHAT: Scott Stapp's tell-all memoir," Sinner's Creed," written with David Ritz, released on Oct. 2, 2012, for the first time Scott has revealed intimate details about his abusive childhood, struggle with fame and bouts with drugs and depression. For a limited time, anyone who purchases the book will receive a free download of his new song, "Sinner's Creed: Pray for Sunrise." WHEN: The book, "Sinner's Creed" on sale October 2, 2012 WHERE: "Sinner's Creed" ...

Next to purchasing a home, funding a college education is often the biggest expenditure in the lives of most middle-class Americans. With some students and their parents being saddled by debt that can take years to repay, financial expert Jeff Motske, president of Trilogy Financial Services, has announced the biggest financial mistakes college students and their parents could make and how to avoid them: 1. NOT APPLYING FOR STUDENT LOANS - There's cheap and even free money out there and people are just too lazy or uninformed on how to get it. The U.S. Department of Education ...