�
Increased coordination between CMS and the Indian Health Service could improve the quality of health precaution provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives, according to a Government Accountability Office account released on Monday, CQ HealthBeat reports. For the report, GAO examined documents, interviewed government officials and visited some American Indian tribes and facilities funded by IHS to decide the grade of coordination between CMS and IHS. The reputation also examined problems with Medicare and Medicaid enrollment for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
According to the report, CMS could improve communication of policy changes that would affect facilities funded by IHS. The report recommended that CMS inform IHS about insurance policy changes early in the development process to permit time for review of proposed rules before public comment periods end. CMS has begun to better efforts to identify policy changes that would affect facilities funded by IHS, the paper found. In addition, the report launch that some coordination occurs between CMS and IHS, such as an effort by the agency to train faculty at facilities funded by IHS on Medicare and Medicaid issues.
In a argument, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said, "This report card shows us that thither are noneffervescent hurdles that keep all Americans from getting the best wellness care available, regardless of which agencies help them get it," adding, "We shouldn't have the distance between IHS and CMS get in the way of lineament, affordable wellness care for American Indians and Alaska Natives" (Blair Wyckoff, CQ HealthBeat, 8/11).
The report is available on-line (.pdf).
Reprinted with kind license from hypertext transfer protocol://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, hunting the archives, or preindication up for email rescue at hTTP://www.kaisernetwork.
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Washington Post, WSJ Examine Reaction To Draft HHS Rule That Could Limit Birth Control Access
�The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post on Thursday examined debate over an HHS rule existence developed by the Bush administration. According to the Journal, a draft of the proposed rule has "ignited rage with a proposed definition of gestation that has the
Fighting The Plague With Pathogens That Mimic The Infection
�Bacteria that cause pulmonic plague potty evade our first-line defences, making it difficult for the consistence to scrap infection. In fact, a signature of the plague is the lack of an inflammatory response. Now, scientists have discovered a way to protect against death following infection with plague bacterium, by victimization molecules that can mimic the pathogens. According to research published in the July issuing of Microbiology, these molecules make antibiotics more effective and canful even be used to protect against other diseases.
The plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, has killed an estimated cc million the great unwashed worldwide. Although treatments have improved, it remains a threat to public health. It can be transmitted from human to human in aerosols and is therefore listed as a Category A bioterrorism agent.
"Yersinia pestis is successful in causing disease in mammals because it can deaden the normal non-specific immune response to infection," said Dr Scott Minnich from the University of Idaho, USA. "We found an intranasal therapy that stimulates the innate immune response and protects against pulmonic plague."
Following infection, lipid A (which is part of the bacterial surface) binds to receptors on our immune cells, triggering an immune response. Yersinia pestilence circumvents this, stopping our cells from taking action. Molecules have been developed that mimic lipid A, eliciting a strong immune response that can prevent death in infected animals. Dr Minnich and his colleagues studied the effect of a nasal spray containing deuce such molecules, CRX-524 and CRX-527, on mice septic with Yersinia pestis.
"Treatment with synthetic modified lipid A molecules privy directly protect animals against pneumonic plague infections," said Dr Minnich. "We also found that stimulating innate immunity exploitation this nasal consonant spray enhanced conventional antibiotic drug therapy. When it is given along with antibiotics, fewer doses and less antibiotic protects against pneumonic plague."
The results of this study intimate that synthetic modified lipid A compounds may provide a new therapeutic cock against plague infection. In a control group that did non receive the treatment, only 23% of mice survived for 3 days. When given the mimic molecules, up to 93% of mice survived for 3 days, 70% for 4 days and 34% cured completely. This highlights the importance of the nonspecific, first-line immune defences during the critical early phase angle of infection. Stimulating this response canful over-ride a microorganism's counter measures to evade or disable the immune response.
Other studies own shown related to therapeutic compounds are as well effective against influenza and Listeria monocytogenes. "This work is still at a very basic animal model testing level with regards to pestis," said Dr Minnich. "What is exciting is that these studies provide perceptivity into bacterial/host interactions in the disease process and promise new strategies to combat a variety of infectious agents.
Source: Lucy Goodchild
Society for General Microbiology
More info
The plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, has killed an estimated cc million the great unwashed worldwide. Although treatments have improved, it remains a threat to public health. It can be transmitted from human to human in aerosols and is therefore listed as a Category A bioterrorism agent.
"Yersinia pestis is successful in causing disease in mammals because it can deaden the normal non-specific immune response to infection," said Dr Scott Minnich from the University of Idaho, USA. "We found an intranasal therapy that stimulates the innate immune response and protects against pulmonic plague."
Following infection, lipid A (which is part of the bacterial surface) binds to receptors on our immune cells, triggering an immune response. Yersinia pestilence circumvents this, stopping our cells from taking action. Molecules have been developed that mimic lipid A, eliciting a strong immune response that can prevent death in infected animals. Dr Minnich and his colleagues studied the effect of a nasal spray containing deuce such molecules, CRX-524 and CRX-527, on mice septic with Yersinia pestis.
"Treatment with synthetic modified lipid A molecules privy directly protect animals against pneumonic plague infections," said Dr Minnich. "We also found that stimulating innate immunity exploitation this nasal consonant spray enhanced conventional antibiotic drug therapy. When it is given along with antibiotics, fewer doses and less antibiotic protects against pneumonic plague."
The results of this study intimate that synthetic modified lipid A compounds may provide a new therapeutic cock against plague infection. In a control group that did non receive the treatment, only 23% of mice survived for 3 days. When given the mimic molecules, up to 93% of mice survived for 3 days, 70% for 4 days and 34% cured completely. This highlights the importance of the nonspecific, first-line immune defences during the critical early phase angle of infection. Stimulating this response canful over-ride a microorganism's counter measures to evade or disable the immune response.
Other studies own shown related to therapeutic compounds are as well effective against influenza and Listeria monocytogenes. "This work is still at a very basic animal model testing level with regards to pestis," said Dr Minnich. "What is exciting is that these studies provide perceptivity into bacterial/host interactions in the disease process and promise new strategies to combat a variety of infectious agents.
Source: Lucy Goodchild
Society for General Microbiology
More info
Dr. Jeffrey D. Thompson
Artist: Dr. Jeffrey D. Thompson
Genre(s):
New Age
Easy Listening
Discography:
Breathe
Year: 2007
Tracks: 4
Unwind
Year: 2006
Tracks: 4
Awakened Mind System Program 2
Year: 2004
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Suite Cd4 Theta
Year: 2003
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Suite Cd3 Delta
Year: 2003
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Suite Cd2 Alpha-Theta
Year: 2003
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Suite Cd1 Alpha
Year: 2003
Tracks: 2
Awakened Mind System Program 1
Year: 2003
Tracks: 2
Natural Music For Sleep Harmonix Ensemble
Year: 2001
Tracks: 2
Theta Meditation System (cd1)
Year: 1999
Tracks: 2
Alpha Relaxation System Disc 1
Year: 1999
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Journey Cd4 Journey Of The Spirit
Year: 1996
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Journey Cd3 Journey Of The Heart
Year: 1996
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Journey Cd2 Journey Of The Body
Year: 1996
Tracks: 2
Brainwave Journey Cd1 Journey Of The Mind
Year: 1996
Tracks: 2
Inner Dance
Year: 1995
Tracks: 2
Delta Sleep System
Year: 1995
Tracks: 1
Sri Yantra
Year: 1994
Tracks: 2
Disc6 Deep Level Emotional Balancing
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Disc5 Deep Trance And Dream-Visualization Enhancement
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Disc4 Very Deep Psychoactive Sounds For Self Discovery
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Disc3 Beautiful, Lyrical Melodies, Peaceful Harmony, Deeply Relaxing
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Disc2 For Loosening Deep Seated Psychological Material From The Subconscios Mind
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Disc1 Cathartic, Healing Tones And Sounds
Year: 1993
Tracks: 1
Egg Of Time
Year: 1990
Tracks: 8
Windows
Year:
Tracks: 2
Theta Meditation System Renewal 2
Year:
Tracks: 2
Theta Meditation System Renewal 1
Year:
Tracks: 2
Epsilon Meditation
Year:
Tracks: 1
Creative Mind System
Year:
Tracks: 2
Alpha Relaxation System
Year:
Tracks: 1
Faux Real? Star Photos Tweak Obsession
Friday, 11 July 2008
Tammy Cochran
Artist: Tammy Cochran
Genre(s):
Country
Discography:
Where I Am
Year: 2007
Tracks: 12
Singer Tammy Cochran was innate and raised in Ohio, in a little rural town called Austinburg. Its calm setting would be just right for a land song. She knew all of her neighbors and the great unwashed smiled and waved when soul walked by. There was besides sufficiency sorrowfulness and infliction in Cochran's life to write a rural area vocal some. She was the last innate of tierce children, the simply girl of Mabel and Delmar Cochran. Cochran had deuce elderly brothers, Shawn and Alan, both tragically born with cystic fibrosis. Shawn was entirely 14 when he lost his battle with the disease in 1980. Alan made it to 1991, to the geezerhood of 23. Her brothers' lives, illness, and deaths touched Cochran in a way that shows in her medicine. Especially in a touch call she co-wrote, called "Angels in Waiting."
Cochran's sire taught her the words to her first-class honours degree vocal, "Heartaches by the Numbers," when she was about vIII years old. A short time later she was granted a child's record player that came with a mike and that was that. Her favorite pursuit at once became vocalizing along with country tunes by artists like Barbara Mandrell and Loretta Lynn. She rather panax quinquefolius in front of an audience, with her brothers' help. The history is that they charged their parents a whole 50 cents to hang each of those early performances.
Over the next few geezerhood young Cochran gained go through telling at her family's christian church. By the time she was 12 she entered her first natural endowment competition, a local matchless, that she won. With a newfound confidence, she entered more than contests, winning o'er and over. The following step was to conjoin a ring, and she did, a figure of them. While still in her teens, she place together a band of her own called TC Country. The group appeared at fairs, weddings, and clubs.
Planning for a future that might never live up to her dreams of musical fame, Cochran finished high school day and took vocational training so she could be a secretary. That responsible thing through with, she went right on struggling to pass that dream. In 1991, total of conclusion, she picked up and touched to Nashville, TN, with her supportive parents as well. For old age Cochran tested to make a name for herself, to find a label that would back her. In 1996 she matrimonial, and more often than not gave up her hopes of making a living with her voice and songs. The marriage only lasted a match of old age, and so did her time away from tattle.
In 1998 all of the years of hard work began to bear off at last. It started when she was introduced to Shane Decker after one of her performances. Decker worked for Warner-Chappell Music as a songster. He offered to help her engender a demonstration ready. He likewise helped her land a caper writing songs at Warner-Chappell. Good things seemed to bechance cursorily subsequently that. In no sentence Cochran's music was organism showcased for labels, and when the dust settled, she had a signed condense with the major label Sony.
In May 2001, Tammy Cochran's self-titled debut album pip the stores. Her low gear individual was already burning up the airwaves, and its euphony video appearance on CMT to rave reviews. Suddenly Cochran was unitary of those overnight achiever stories you hear around -- that was only years of concentrated work in the making. Living Happened, her soph liberation, dropped the following year, with Where I Am arriving via the Shanachie mark in 2007.
Speakerwrath
Artist: Speakerwrath
Genre(s):
Drum & Bass
Discography:
HLINE17
Year: 2006
Tracks: 2
Eastenders - Brooke Kinsella Remembers Beautiful Brother
Los Lunnis
Artist: Los Lunnis
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
Dame Tu Mano, El Baile Del Verano
Year: 2007
Tracks: 14
Los Lunnis is a children's television usher produced for TV Cataluna. On the air since September of 2003, the register follows the instance of slap-up children's computer programming like Benny Street and The Muppet Show. The main characters are puppets, with a goal of providing educational content for kids all over the Spanish-speaking public. Promoting values of respectful coexistence and tolerance, the show is well-known not only for its superiority capacity, just its production values as good. The show's characters ar extraterrestrials world Health Organization populate a world called Luna Lunera. Their purpose on that satellite is to purpose all types of problems that loretta Young people encounter. With a host of colorful protagonists and freakish villains (all of whom get name calling beginning with "Lu"), entertainment and didactics become one. Los Lunnis released record book albums near from the identical beginning, starting with Despierta Ya! With sise recordings on the marketplace by 2007, Los Lunnis is a honey fixedness on Latin American children's television, not to mention a substantial market force.
Warners picks up 'Sticks' remake rights
Overbrook, Will Smith to redo French blockbuster
France's biggest movie is getting the American treatment courtesy of Will Smith.
Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up the film rights option to remake "Welcome to the Sticks" (Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis) for Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment to produce.
"Sticks," starring Kad Merad and Dany Boon, who also directed and co-wrote, follows a postal employee from the sunny south of France who gets an unwanted transfer to the rain-soaked north, known as "the sticks," where he is eventually won over by the locals warm-hearted ways and impenetrable dialect.
Produced and distributed by Pathe, "Sticks" opened late February and has gone on to break all box office records in France. It has grossed over $180 million and is poised to overtake "Titanic" in the coming weeks to become the highest grossing movie ever released in Gaul.
Warner optioned the rights from Pathe International.
James Lassiter and Smith will produce for Overbrook with Agnes Mentre. Lynn Harris will oversee for Warners.
See Also
'Jacob the Jeweler' to be sentenced in Detroit for lying to investigators
DETROIT - A New York businessman known in the hip-hop world as "Jacob the Jeweler" is to be sentenced in Detroit federal court for lying to investigators looking into a multi-state drug ring.
Jacob Arabov pleaded guilty in October to falsifying records and giving false statements. A plea agreement calls for him to serve up to 46 months in prison and pay a $2 million penalty.
Arabov was arrested in June 2006 at his Manhattan jewelry shop. Authorities accused him and others of conspiring to launder about $270 million in drug profits.
The money laundering charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.
See Also
Ron Perlman on Hellboy, Nicaraguan Cigars, and His Next-Door Neighbor Selma Blair
Courtesy of Universal
Ron Perlman’s three-decade career has been as consistently charming as it is veiled. To all but the most hard-core of cinephiles, he was “that guy”: the lion-faced beast of TV’s Beauty and the Beast, Wesley Snipes’s skinhead nemesis in Blade II, and yet another “manimal” in The Island of Dr. Moreau — not to mention his extensive career as a voice actor courtesy of Perlman’s distinctive northeastern baritone. But it was not until the first Hellboy film in 2004 that the now-58-year-old actor finally got a taste of the Hollywood spotlight. The film made Perlman something of a bona fide action hero, despite being outfitted in prosthetics, latex, yellow contact lenses, and fake teeth. Now, Perlman will appear this week in the much-anticipated sequel, which promises more of the Dalí-esque Surrealism of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan Labyrinth than the pulp of the first film. Vulture caught up with Perlman to discuss Hellboy, Selma Blair, and the joys of a finely rolled Nicaraguan cigar.
Where does the Hellboy performance come from?
So much of my aesthetic was formed by my dad. He was into Cagney, Bogart, and Errol Flynn, Gabel, Spencer Tracy and John Garfield. To this day, I have one TV in the room that I occupy most in my house exclusively on Turner Classic Movies — when it’s not on MSNBC, because the political process is quite epic and entertaining at this juncture.
So … Cagney’s a model?
Not Cagney, though there is somebody that Del Toro accuses me of channeling. But I prefer not to name him because once I do, you’re going to start looking for it and everyone’s going to go “Perlman’s a plagiarizer!” So, I’m just not going to go there if it's okay with you. But he was an Academy Award winner and he was truly my favorite. He was tied for first. He’s tied with Cary Grant. You’ll never think of it in a million years. Although you might — all you have to do is look at Hellboy and you’ll see it everywhere!
Our first thought was Ernest Borgnine.
That’s not even close! Although I do love Ernest Borgnine.
It seems as if this specific character was made to make you an action star. That’s certainly how it feels when we watch it. We heard the studio wanted Vin Diesel…
I just think I’m really lucky that at the end of the day it was me. That Guillermo cared enough about his vision that he wouldn’t compromise or do it any other way. I thought that was a battle he was going to lose, frankly, so I just relish the triumphant aspect of winning that fight.
What’s it like trying to enunciate with that cigar in your mouth?
That was nothing compared to the teeth. Hellboy has uppers and lowers. They look so good and painless and so well executed that you don’t even know.
We're guessing Hellboy’s trademark cigar isn’t actually made of tobacco. Is it one of those herbal “stunt cigars” they use on TV?
Oh, I’m smoking a real cigar! Real cigars and real good cigars. I smoke the same cigars in the movie that I smoke in real life. Just because I smoke a lot of them and you may as well … you gotta get your little pleasures through while you can.
Really. What kind of cigar?
These days I’m smoking a Nicaraguan, which is beautifully blended and rolled.
Maybe we're a lightweight, but how can you do take after take smoking a cigar without puking?
Dude, I smoke so many cigars in the course of a day that it’s not dramatically different.
We heard you’re neighbors with Selma Blair. May we ask what kind of neighbor she is?
I was neighbors with her in Budapest. They had just renovated this building so a number of beautiful apartments had just become available for the six months we were going to be there, so we were neighbors then. But she’s so frickin' quiet and keeps her curtains so frickin' drawn! I wish I had juicy stories not only to impart to you but to keep me going on those cold, lonely nights. No juice, pal.
In this film, Selma Blair’s character is the superheroine to your superhero, right?
This one, it’s much more even-handed. The focus is spread out among four, maybe it's even more than that, four … five freaks. And each of these characters is given almost identical amounts of screen time so it's no longer any one single character’s film. Particularly Selma: I must say having seen the film a couple of weeks ago, she is sensational. Liz is so well realized and well drawn in this film, and so knows her own heart that she’s completely fucking Hellboy around. Which precipitates him starting to drink. He’s a heavy lover of cheap Mexican beer.
We’re going to see Hellboy get wasted?
Yes, you’re also going to see him fighting the forces of evil in a slightly compromised physical condition. We’re seeing Hellboy in kind of a much more emotionally vulnerable capacity than in the first film.
We interviewed Del Toro earlier this week, and he said Hellboy III was contingent upon you staying healthy and taking your vitamins. What’re you going to do to stay in shape?
I think at this point in my life, when you’re talking about numbers, the thing I have to do most is pray.
—Connor Kilpatrick
Earlier: Guillermo del Toro on ‘Hellboy II’ and Impressing a Girl on a First Date
Ron Perlman’s three-decade career has been as consistently charming as it is veiled. To all but the most hard-core of cinephiles, he was “that guy”: the lion-faced beast of TV’s Beauty and the Beast, Wesley Snipes’s skinhead nemesis in Blade II, and yet another “manimal” in The Island of Dr. Moreau — not to mention his extensive career as a voice actor courtesy of Perlman’s distinctive northeastern baritone. But it was not until the first Hellboy film in 2004 that the now-58-year-old actor finally got a taste of the Hollywood spotlight. The film made Perlman something of a bona fide action hero, despite being outfitted in prosthetics, latex, yellow contact lenses, and fake teeth. Now, Perlman will appear this week in the much-anticipated sequel, which promises more of the Dalí-esque Surrealism of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan Labyrinth than the pulp of the first film. Vulture caught up with Perlman to discuss Hellboy, Selma Blair, and the joys of a finely rolled Nicaraguan cigar.
Where does the Hellboy performance come from?
So much of my aesthetic was formed by my dad. He was into Cagney, Bogart, and Errol Flynn, Gabel, Spencer Tracy and John Garfield. To this day, I have one TV in the room that I occupy most in my house exclusively on Turner Classic Movies — when it’s not on MSNBC, because the political process is quite epic and entertaining at this juncture.
So … Cagney’s a model?
Not Cagney, though there is somebody that Del Toro accuses me of channeling. But I prefer not to name him because once I do, you’re going to start looking for it and everyone’s going to go “Perlman’s a plagiarizer!” So, I’m just not going to go there if it's okay with you. But he was an Academy Award winner and he was truly my favorite. He was tied for first. He’s tied with Cary Grant. You’ll never think of it in a million years. Although you might — all you have to do is look at Hellboy and you’ll see it everywhere!
Our first thought was Ernest Borgnine.
That’s not even close! Although I do love Ernest Borgnine.
It seems as if this specific character was made to make you an action star. That’s certainly how it feels when we watch it. We heard the studio wanted Vin Diesel…
I just think I’m really lucky that at the end of the day it was me. That Guillermo cared enough about his vision that he wouldn’t compromise or do it any other way. I thought that was a battle he was going to lose, frankly, so I just relish the triumphant aspect of winning that fight.
What’s it like trying to enunciate with that cigar in your mouth?
That was nothing compared to the teeth. Hellboy has uppers and lowers. They look so good and painless and so well executed that you don’t even know.
We're guessing Hellboy’s trademark cigar isn’t actually made of tobacco. Is it one of those herbal “stunt cigars” they use on TV?
Oh, I’m smoking a real cigar! Real cigars and real good cigars. I smoke the same cigars in the movie that I smoke in real life. Just because I smoke a lot of them and you may as well … you gotta get your little pleasures through while you can.
Really. What kind of cigar?
These days I’m smoking a Nicaraguan, which is beautifully blended and rolled.
Maybe we're a lightweight, but how can you do take after take smoking a cigar without puking?
Dude, I smoke so many cigars in the course of a day that it’s not dramatically different.
We heard you’re neighbors with Selma Blair. May we ask what kind of neighbor she is?
I was neighbors with her in Budapest. They had just renovated this building so a number of beautiful apartments had just become available for the six months we were going to be there, so we were neighbors then. But she’s so frickin' quiet and keeps her curtains so frickin' drawn! I wish I had juicy stories not only to impart to you but to keep me going on those cold, lonely nights. No juice, pal.
In this film, Selma Blair’s character is the superheroine to your superhero, right?
This one, it’s much more even-handed. The focus is spread out among four, maybe it's even more than that, four … five freaks. And each of these characters is given almost identical amounts of screen time so it's no longer any one single character’s film. Particularly Selma: I must say having seen the film a couple of weeks ago, she is sensational. Liz is so well realized and well drawn in this film, and so knows her own heart that she’s completely fucking Hellboy around. Which precipitates him starting to drink. He’s a heavy lover of cheap Mexican beer.
We’re going to see Hellboy get wasted?
Yes, you’re also going to see him fighting the forces of evil in a slightly compromised physical condition. We’re seeing Hellboy in kind of a much more emotionally vulnerable capacity than in the first film.
We interviewed Del Toro earlier this week, and he said Hellboy III was contingent upon you staying healthy and taking your vitamins. What’re you going to do to stay in shape?
I think at this point in my life, when you’re talking about numbers, the thing I have to do most is pray.
—Connor Kilpatrick
Earlier: Guillermo del Toro on ‘Hellboy II’ and Impressing a Girl on a First Date
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