Gene protects brain-eaters from mad cow-type disease Nov 19, 2009
That could lead to treatments for CJD, which occurs randomly in about one in a million people, Mead said. "If you could find a drug or a molecule or an antibody that binds to that site, you could interfere with that process," he said. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Landlord law over the top Nov 19, 2009
We should do the inspections randomly and frequently enough to assure that our goal of protecting and helping our citizens is met. It may take a little more time and effort to do the job right, but hey, what price can you put on good health and safety. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Text Message Reminders May Encourage Sunscreen Use Nov 19, 2009
Half were randomly assigned to receive text-message reminders, while the other half did not receive any reminders. The text-messages consisted of two components: a text detailing daily local weather information and a text reminding users to apply sunscreen. (Science Daily)
Transcendental Meditation Helped Heart Disease Patients Lower Cardiac Disease Risks by 50 Percent Nov 18, 2009
The nine-year, randomized control trial followed 201African American men and women, average age 59 years, with narrowing of arteries in their hearts who were randomly assigned to either practice the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique or to participate in a control group which received health education classes in traditional risk factors, including dietary modification and exercise. All participants continued standard medications and other usual medical care. (Science Daily)
Folic Acid Fortification Might Boost Cancer Risk Nov 18, 2009
In the studies, patients were randomly assigned to receive folic acid plus vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid plus B12, or B6 alone, or a placebo. These trials ran from 1998 to 2005, and were followed through the end of 2007. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Female Sexual Dysfunction: Myth or Malady? Nov 18, 2009
The women were randomly assigned to take 100 mg of flibanserin or a placebo daily and to record daily whether they had sex and whether it was satisfying. The women were screened for depression and other medical conditions, and all had a diagnosis of HSDD.. (Time.com)
Monetary Gain and High-Risk Tactics Stimulate Activity in the Brain Nov 18, 2009
The volunteers were given an initial stock of money and then required repetitively to press one of two buttons, which resulted in either an increase or decrease of the money stock, depending on whether their choice agreed or disagreed with a number that appeared randomly after the button had been pressed. One button was a low-risk option and the other involved high-risk, so that more money was gained or lost when choosing the high-risk option. (Science Daily)
Beware of cruise ships public restrooms Nov 18, 2009
Carling's group enlisted 46 health professionals to check 273 randomly selected public restrooms daily during cruises between July 2005 and August 2008. The ships, most originating from U.S. ports and 82 percent from the 5 largest cruise lines, accommodated up to 3600 passengers each. (MSNBC -- Travel)
At-risk college students reduce HBP, anxiety, depression through Transcendental Meditation Nov 18, 2009
This study was conducted at American University with 298 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation technique or wait-list control over a three-month intervention period. A subgroup of 159 subjects at risk for hypertension was analyzed separately. (EurekAlert!)
No-Callback Hotlines Don't Help Smokers Quit Nov 17, 2009
To investigate the "real world" effectiveness of the reactive approach, Sood and his team randomly assigned 990 men and women who called a telephone helpline between 2003 and 2006 to receive self-help information on quitting by mail or the mailed information plus telephone counseling. Each person in the phone counseling group had at least one counseling session, but the schedule for calls was at the smokers' discretion. (MEDLINEplus)
Alternative to Warfarin May Cut Risk of Bleeding Nov 17, 2009
This study included 18,113 atrial fibrillation patients in 44 countries who were randomly selected to receive either oral treatment with standard warfarin (6,022 patients) or dabigatran etexilate at either 110 milligrams (6,015 patients) or 150 milligrams (6,076 patients). After one to three years of follow-up, 1. (MEDLINEplus)
Meditation 'eases heart disease' Nov 17, 2009
At a meeting of the American Heart Association they said they had randomly assigned 201 African Americans to meditate or to make lifestyle changes. After nine years, the meditation group had a 47% reduction in deaths, heart attacks and strokes. (BBC News -- Americas)
(Vetted) Question Time: Obama's Chinese Town Hall Nov 17, 2009
"What measures will you take to deepen this close relationship between cities of the United States and China?" asked the first questioner, a young woman whom Obama picked randomly from the crowd ... U.S. ambassador Jon Huntsman read an additional question, which the White House said had been randomly selected from a group of online submissions acquired by the U.S. government. (Time.com)
Enemy of the State Nov 17, 2009
Citing the evidence of opinion surveys, Higgs reveals, During the past twenty-five years increasing proportions of the randomly sampled respondents have had no opinion at all about the size and power of the national government in the United States. They evidently view it either as a fact of nature or as beyond conceivable change. (The American Conservative)
Braves could add to roster by Friday Nov 17, 2009
But I did this note because I have a photo of Schafer taken this week at an Atlanta furniture store, Huff s Furniture, where the young center fielder supposedly just randomly ran into an old Braves center fielder, Otis Nixon. We got the photo from a relative of store owner Jim Huff, who was in the photo with his grandson Peyton (I had to crop them out to make it fit). (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Nigeria: Over Age Scandal - How NFF Bigwigs Helped Eaglets Evade 2nd MRI Test Nov 16, 2009
The team captain presently is not amongst those randomly picked for test", Adokie said in a text message forwarded to Saturday Sports. "I have nothing against anybody, but I am worried that we are cheating ourselves, our children because we want to win a competition by all means. I have always been motivated by the best interests of my country, but the people at the NFF do not see it that way. (allAfrica.com)
Bloggers' challenge: Is common courtesy lacking in Cache Valley? Nov 16, 2009
bassplayer wrote on Nov 8, 2009 11:35 PM:" just look at these threads and you will get your answer.Here is a nice pretty story for you: Christmas time 4 years ago. Had a little Hyundai that didnt like the snow/cold and would randomly die on me. Me and my baby son were heading to Smithfield when the car died at an intersection in LOGAN. I was mortified. I was afraid to get out for fear of being ran over, but knew I couldnt just sit in the middle of the intersection, so I turned on my hazards and... (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Methodology for AP poll on health care Nov 16, 2009
Digits in the phone numbers dialed were generated randomly to reach households with unlisted and listed landline and cell phone numbers. More business news. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Study says drug does little, proving need for more testing Nov 16, 2009
The result of a randomly assigned clinical trial of more than 4,000 patients in 24 countries. Aranesp did no better than a placebo in preventing heart disease, reduced fatigue only modestly, and nearly doubled a patient s risk of a stroke. (Boston Globe)
Routine Evaluation of Prostate Size Not as Effective in Cancer Screening, Study Finds Nov 15, 2009
Researchers randomly selected 616 men between the ages of 40 and 79 who did not have prostate disease. Patients participated in examinations every two years for 17 years, which included PSA and prostate volume measurements using ultrasound, to determine changes in prostate disease. (Science Daily)
Seeley draws map of future Nov 14, 2009
Invoices will be randomly audited biweekly by the Clerk beginning in December. Seeley will schedule early next year a followup audit with the Comptroller s Office and public financial information sessions. (Catskill Daily Mail, NY)
Beacon Hill Roll Call: Patrick signs bill to extend veterans beneifts Nov 14, 2009
The speaker or acting speaker sometimes randomly chooses and then announces the name of a representative who made a motion that the leadership favors. The problem is that sometimes that legislator who "makes" the motion is not even in the chamber and technically could not make the motion. (Cambridge Chronicle, MA)
Army: Morale Eroding in Afghanistan Nov 14, 2009
In Iraq, some 2,400 soldiers in randomly selected platoons filled out surveys from December 2008 through March 2009, and a mental health assessment team went to the warfront for a month starting in late February to analyze the results and hold interviews and focus groups. In Afghanistan, more than 1,500 troops in more than 50 platoons filled out the surveys from April to June, and the assessment team went through the same process from May through June. (Time.com)
Mood Improves On Low-fat, But Not Low-carb, Diet Plan Nov 13, 2009
Of these, 55 had been randomly assigned to follow a very-low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and 51 to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet for one year. Changes in body weight, mood and well-being, and cognitive functioning (thinking, learning and memory skills) were assessed periodically during and following the one-year intervention. (Science Daily)
Old method of heart bypass better than 'off-pump' Nov 13, 2009
About half were randomly assigned to bypass surgery with a heart-lung machine, half without. A month after surgery, there was no difference in the number of deaths or other complications in the two groups. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Surgery Not Always Best for Narrowed Kidney Arteries Nov 13, 2009
For the study, the researchers randomly assigned 806 people with atherosclerotic renovascular disease to have revascularization surgery plus medical treatment or medical treatment alone. In the next five years, the study found no difference between the groups in blood pressure control or kidney function. (MEDLINEplus)
Chinese who complain to government risk kidnap, report says Nov 13, 2009
Black jails emerged in China about six years ago after police were barred from randomly detaining vagrants. The jails, usually makeshift lockups in hostels, apartment buildings, or abandoned factories, have been well documented by human rights groups, lawyers, and the international media. (Boston Globe)
Effects of Immobilization on the Sh... Nov 13, 2009
However, when a joint is immobilized this collagen is laid down randomly in and between the different fibers effectively gluing down the tissues (Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries, 2005). Collagen fibers are not only laid down in the injured area, but also between surrounding tissues including ligaments, joint capsule, and muscle fibers restricting their ability to glide and move. (Suite101.com)
Atkins Fares Best in Study Of Four Weight-Loss Regimens Nov 13, 2009
The 311 overweight and obese women in the study were randomly assigned to one of the four groups. Each received a book detailing her prescribed diet. (Yahoo News -- Diet and Nutrition)
Healing Health Care: Dealing with health care fraud head-on Nov 13, 2009
In 2006, the Government Accountability Office reported to Congress that a review of the anti-fraud programs in Medicare s prescription drug providers showed that only two of five randomly chosen providers had evidence they complied with the requirement to have fraud control procedures in place. The other three had not done anything. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Ventilation Positions Comparable in Lung Syndrome Patients Nov 13, 2009
The patients were randomly selected to be prone or supine (face up) during ventilation. Death rates for the prone and supine patients after 28 days were 31 percent and 32. (MEDLINEplus)
Poll: Southerners Want Federal Help, Fear for Jobs Nov 12, 2009
The Winthrop Poll involved randomly dialed land and cellular telephone interviews with 886 people 18 and older in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The interviews were conducted between Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. (Newsmax)
‘Bordering' on great Nov 12, 2009
The game's content generation system randomly creates hundreds of thousands of shotguns, machine guns, rocket launchers and more arms of varying power, magazine size and fire rate. But guns aren't all that players will relentlessly upgrade. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
The ABCs on Caesarean sections Nov 12, 2009
" Macones, who led a large study on VBACs last year that found it was impossible to determine whether a vaginal delivery would be safe for women who had had a prior Caesarean, seconds Spong's assessment. "It is hard to get a great comparison of vaginal versus Caesarean, mainly because there are so many factors that go into the decision to have one or the other," he explains. Scientists have batted around the idea of conducting a study that would compare a planned vaginal birth with a planned... (CNN)
Rice sociologist looks at pediatric physicians' views on religion, spirituality Nov 12, 2009
The survey's data were gathered through lengthy interviews with 30 randomly selected pediatric physicians (14 pediatricians and 16 pediatric oncologists) at top U.S. teaching hospitals, including Stanford Hospital and Clinics, The Johns Hopkins Children's Center, UCLA Medical Center, the University of Michigan Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, New York-Presbyterian Medical Center, Massachusetts General... (EurekAlert!)
Avatars Can Surreptitiously And Negatively Affect User In Video Games, Virtual Worlds Nov 12, 2009
In two separate experiments, research participants were randomly assigned a dark- or white-cloaked avatar, or to avatars wearing physician or Ku Klux Klan-like uniforms or a transparent avatar. The participants were assigned tasks including writing a story about a picture, or playing a video game on a virtual team and then coming to consensus on how to deal with infractions. (Science Daily)
Random police stops increasing fast Nov 12, 2009
Police are randomly stopping more than one million people, mostly minorities, throughout major U.S. cities each year ... The fact that only a very small percentage of people who are being randomly stopped and questioned by police are ever arrested for an actual offense, appears to matter little to many police departments (or to many citizens, who too willingly submit to such actions because it may offer them a sense of security) ... Citizens have a right to know what their police are... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
How the poll was conducted Nov 12, 2009
Digits in the phone numbers dialed were generated randomly to reach households with unlisted and listed landline and cell phone numbers ... Digits in the phone numbers dialed were generated randomly to reach households with unlisted and listed landline and cell phone numbers. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Nerve myelination and ascorbic acid Nov 12, 2009
Patients below age 25 years were randomly assigned to receive placebo or ascorbic acid (one gram twice daily) in a double-blind fashion during one year. The primary outcome measure was the change over time in motor nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve. (BioMed Central)
911 tapes in Orlando shooting show chaos, panic Nov 11, 2009
Mark Davidson, a vice president at the engineering firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills, said Monday that his co-workers stayed calm Friday and didn't scream as Jason Rodriguez entered a reception area of the eighth-floor office and began shooting randomly. "Nobody was screaming or yelling," Davidson said. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Compare hospitals near you Nov 11, 2009
If a patient is admitted more than once, one admission is randomly plucked out for analysis. CMS chose to include all deaths for any cause so that no death is missed that might be meaningful. (USA Today -- News)
Words, Gestures Are Translated By Same Brain Regions Nov 11, 2009
As controls, volunteers also watched clips of the person using meaningless gestures or speaking pseudowords that had been chopped up and randomly reorganized so the brain would not interpret them as language. Volunteers watched 60 video clips for each of the six stimuli, with the clips presented in 45-second time blocks at a rate of 15 clips per block. (Science Daily)
The Young Pro Nov 11, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009 2:28 PM EST. Harkins is The Citizen's innovation coordinator, an active member of the IGNITE young professionals group in Cayuga County and is always happy to hear from fellow young pros. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
- H1N1 flu vaccine clinics begin at El Centro elementary schools, lottery in place to decide who gets it 0 Nov 11, 2009
Students will be randomly selected from each of the four schools chosen for the first clinic, Martin Luther King Jr., McKinley, Sunflower and Lincoln elementary schools. Mother Judith Davis said she hopes her two children, a second-grader and fourth-grader at Lincoln Elementary School, are chosen from the drawing. (El Centro Imperial Valley Press, CA)
Does the Diet You Choose Affect Your Mood? Nov 11, 2009
Researchers had 106 participants follow , but randomly assigned participants to a regimen that was higher in fat and very low in carbohydrates or but with cutbacks on the amount of fat. Participants met with a dietician twice a month to help them stay on track and researchers assessed participants' feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, and fatigue before the diet began, after eight weeks of dieting, 24 weeks, and at the end of the year. (ABC News)
Which diet puts you in a better mood? Nov 11, 2009
Grant D. Brinkworth, of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Association in Adelaide, Australia, and colleagues randomly assigned 106 obese and overweight people to either a low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet. Eight weeks after starting the calorie-restricted diets (1,433 to 1,672 calories daily), the dieters felt happier than they did before the diet, whether they cut out carbs or reduced their fat intake. (CNN)
Newt Gingrich's Religious Overhaul Nov 11, 2009
Further, he said, "I believe the most important question in the United States for the next decade is: 'Who are we?' Are we in fact a people who claim that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights?" Or, are we "just randomly gathered protoplasm -- and lucky for us we're not rhinoceroses -- but that in the end our power is defined by politicians and their appointees? Once you decide on this, almost everything else gets easier.". Gingrich is calculating that everything will get... (CBS News -- US)
A Jewish Mother in Your Cell Phone Nov 11, 2009
When people opened accounts and encouraged to commit to saving certain amounts, the banks randomly assigned some customers to receive reminders via text. Some notes reminded customers that they had focused on a particular goal, others reminded savers that there were incentives for saving (like higher interest rates), and some did both. (Slate)
Kenneth Knepper: Amazingly lame excuses for missing work Nov 10, 2009
A recent survey found 32 percent of people who randomly called in sick, simply didn t feel like going to work. That was followed by 28 percent who needed a day to relax and 16 percent who wanted to catch up on sleep. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
Study shows yoga gives relief for low back pain Nov 10, 2009
They were randomly split into two groups one did hatha yoga for 12 weeks, taking classes that included poses and breathing techniques. They were also encouraged to practice at home and were given a yoga CD and handbook, plus a mat, strap and block, and were told to continue their regular medical routine. (Montana Standard, MT)
To Feel Better, Low-Fat Diet May Be Best Nov 10, 2009
For the new study, 106 overweight and obese adults, who averaged 50 years old, were randomly assigned to one of two diets -- a low-calorie, low-carb, high-fat plan or a high-carb, low-fat diet -- for one year. Both diets restricted calories to about 1,433 to 1,672 a day. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Should you get a colonoscopy early in the day? Nov 9, 2009
Fifteen patients were randomly enrolled in hatha yoga classes and 15 were assigned to usual care for back pain, including doctor s visits and pain medications, while they waited to take the yoga classes. The yoga group came to weekly classes that included relaxation, posture, and breathing exercises. (Boston Globe)
Making medical decisions Nov 9, 2009
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involve patients being randomly assigned to have either the investigation or treatment being tested or a dummy one ... By randomly assigning people to different groups, the problem of bias or chance is reduced ... Randomised controlled trials involve patients being randomly given the treatment being tested or a placebo. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Guns, Bombs Found In Shooting Suspect's Apartment Nov 8, 2009
Pugel said the two officers who were fired upon Halloween night appeared to have been chosen randomly. A profile released by SPD before a suspect was identified said the shooter had some sort of grievance that was bothering him and he may admire or act like a police officer. (KIRO TV, WA)
Exercise Is Good Medicine For Lymphoma Patients Nov 8, 2009
Participants were randomly assigned to an exercise program designed to maximize cardiovascular fitness or to usual care, which did not include an exercise component. Exercisers trained three times a week for 12 weeks and were encouraged to stay the course with behavioural support techniques that included perks like free parking, a well-equipped gym, flexible exercise schedules, variation in exercises, follow-up phone calls reminders and positive reinforcement by staff. (Science Daily)
5 Ways To Reform Your Needy Girlfriend Nov 7, 2009
Randomly Clue Her In. Share what you re thinking at spontaneous times. (Fox News)
NHLBI stops enrollment in study on resuscitation methods for cardiac arrest Nov 7, 2009
To test the ITD strategy, patients were randomly assigned to receive standard CPR from participating EMS providers either with an ITD or with a non-working replica (sham) of an ITD. ... For patients randomly assigned to the Analyze Early group, EMS providers were instructed to perform CPR until they were able to analyze the patient's heart rhythm (approximately 30 to 90 seconds) ... Participating EMS providers receive intensive training, and give standard emergency care to all patients, with... (EurekAlert!)
It's So Hard To Say I'm Sorry Nov 7, 2009
Dr. Albert Wu of Johns Hopkins and his colleagues showed 200 volunteers randomly selected videos simulating doctors disclosing an error to a patient. Wu and his team varied the extent of the apology (full, nonspecific, none at all) and acceptance of responsibility (full, none). (Slate)
Cousin: Fort Hood suspect a war critic Nov 6, 2009
" He said he did not know whether the gunman had shot randomly or targeted certain people or units. Ten of the shooting victims were taken to Scott and White Health System in nearby Temple. All arrived with gunshot wounds, said hospital spokesman Glen Couchman. He said four were in surgery late Thursday. The other six were in the emergency room and all would wind up in intensive care, he said. He said hundreds of people had answered the hospital's request for blood donations immediately after... (USA Today)
CopBlog: Portsmouth N.H. Police Blog Nov 6, 2009
EACH PATROL CAR IS ALREADY AT THE CHECKPOINT, A CLUSTER OF OCCUPIED PATROLLERS DECREASES LIKELIHOOD OF AN OFFICER MAKING DUI OBSERVATIONS. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE BEEN MORE ENDANGERED BY DRIVER ERROR AND THOSE WITH POOR SIGHT, WOULDN T IT FOLLOW TO INCREASE ROAD SAFETY TO THESE TO CREATE VISION CHECKPOINTS AND DRIVER SKILL TESTING RANDOMLY. Wed, Aug 12, 2009 4:06 PM 163. I FULLY SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPTS EFFORTS IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Some vitamins may be harmful Nov 6, 2009
Randomly selecting a handful of vitamins and minerals under the assumption that they reduce cancers, then taking extra amounts of them is unnatural and may throw off the balance of what we get naturally in the correct proportions in foods, abnormally changing dozens of biochemical reactions in our cells and causing harm. Now younger women should take at least 0. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Butterflies: How One Species Can Become Two Nov 6, 2009
But, by studying the Ecuadorian population in captivity, the scientists found the two colors do not mate randomly. Despite the genetic similarity between the groups -- white and yellow varieties differ only at the color-determining gene -- yellow Ecuadorian individuals show a preference for those of the same color. (Science Daily)
Do kids still love Sesame Street 40 years on? Nov 6, 2009
I wouldnt have known about this major anniversary in childrens programming if I hadnt randomly used Google yesterday. The Google doodle featured Big Bird, which made me search Sesame Street news to find out what was up. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Whats the future hold for Kingsley Field? Nov 6, 2009
Scotty wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:16 PM:" No need to thank me at all, but your welcome =) It is a good idea. Its a good idea if the guard unit never goes anywhere. I just truely hope for the unit to never go anywhere. This community, admit it or not, needs that unit. The Unit is full of folks who choose to call this home. The guard is not like active, you don't just get sent somewhere new randomly every 3 years. You choose where you want to serve your country, community, and still feel at home. No... (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
Yoga can reduce chronic back pain Nov 5, 2009
They were randomly assigned to either a standardized 12-week series of hatha yoga classes or standard treatment including doctors visits and medications. As part of the trial, the researchers asked participants to report their average pain intensity for the previous week, how their function is limited due to back pain, and how much pain medication they are taking. (India Times, India)
