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Chapter 13. Homeostasis: Active Regulation of the Internal Environment
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By JENNIFER CONLIN It is the moment "The Biggest Loser" viewers anticipate all season. That episode when the finalists emerge, one by one, to bare all — or rather less — to a waiting audience of millions. But on Tuesday night, when Rachel Frederickson, 24, walked onto the studio stage 155 pounds lighter than at the start of Season 15, the reaction was not one of awe, but shock, apparent even on the trainers' frozen faces. In the few months since Ms. Frederickson, 5 feet 4 inches tall, had left the ranch for her home, her body had radically changed from the athletic 150 pounds she had weighed upon her departure to a gaunt sliver of herself, obvious despite her shimmering silver dress, strappy sandals and big grin. Ms. Frederickson, as the scale would soon reveal, now weighed 105 pounds, and having lost 59.62 percent of her body weight would also be the competition's winner, making her $250,000 richer. But as confetti dropped all around her, few were celebrating on Twitter. "I feel like Rachel lost too much," one woman wrote. "I had to turn away." Another posted, "There needs to be a red line that disqualifies finalists for too much weight loss." Kai Hibbard, a finalist on Season 3, was at her home in Alaska when another former contestant, whom she declined to name, sent her a message. "Have you seen tonight's winner?" it read. "NBC is about to have a public-relations nightmare." When Ms. Hibbard pulled up Ms. Frederickson's winning photo, she promptly burst into tears. "Rachel doesn't know what damage she has done to her body and her mind, and sadly she won't until the spotlight goes away," said Ms. Hibbard, 35, who seven years ago lost 118 pounds during her competition but has since spoken out publicly against the show's extreme dieting and exercise regimen. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Anorexia & Bulimia; Obesity
Link ID: 19228 - Posted: 02.10.2014
Ewen Callaway A study in mice and rats suggests that an imbalance in chloride ions during a child's development in the womb could be a factor for autism. Children with autism typically begin showing obvious symptoms, such as trouble making eye contact and slow language development, a year or more after birth. A study in mice and rats now hints that prenatal drug treatment could head off these problems. The findings, reported today in Science1, do not suggest that autism spectrum disorders can be prevented in children. But researchers not involved in the study say that they add support to a controversial clinical trial suggesting that some children with autism benefited from taking a common diuretic medication called bumetanide2. In that trial, a team led by neuroscientist Yehezkel Ben-Ari at the Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology in Marseille gave 60 children bumetanide or a placebo daily for three months. Children who had less severe forms of autism showed mild improvements in social behaviour after taking the drug, and almost no adverse side effects were observed (see 'Diuretic drug improves symptoms of autism'). But autism researchers greeted the results with caution. Many pointed out that the study did not provide a clear biological mechanism that could explain how the drug improved the symptoms of the disorder. The latest study is an attempt to answer such criticisms by identifying a role for the neurotransmitter GABA. Studies in humans and animals have suggested that GABA, which in healthy people typically inhibits the activity in neurons, is altered in autism and instead activates some brain cells. © 2014 Nature Publishing Group,
Keyword: Autism
Link ID: 19225 - Posted: 02.08.2014
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS This winter's frigid temperatures could be having one desirable side effect. They may be revving up your metabolism. Shivering in the cold sparks a series of biochemical reactions deep within the body that alters fat cells and bolsters metabolism, much as formal exercise does, according to a fascinating series of new experiments. The findings intimate that exercise and shivering are related in ways not previously suspected. For the new study, which was published Tuesday in Cell Metabolism, scientists affiliated with several branches of the National Institutes of Health recruited 10 healthy adult men and women and invited them to the lab on three separate occasions. There, the researchers drew blood and obtained small samples of muscle and fat cells. During one lab visit, the volunteers completed a short but very intense session of stationary bicycling, riding as hard as they could until they were exhausted. Then, on another day, they rode the bike at a gentle, easily sustained pace for an hour. Throughout these workouts, the laboratory temperature was maintained at a moderate 65 degrees or so. On their final visit, though, the researchers had each volunteer lie in bed, lightly clad, for 30 minutes as the lab's temperature dropped from about 75 to a chilly 53 degrees. Monitors were placed on their skin to measure skin and muscle reactions, and by the end of the session, the volunteers were noticeably shivering. After each session, the scientists gathered more blood and other samples and started checking for changes. In particular, they wanted to see what was happening with the volunteers' white and brown fat. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19204 - Posted: 02.05.2014
By GINA KOLATA For many obese adults, the die was cast by the time they were 5 years old. A major new study of more than 7,000 children has found that a third of children who were overweight in kindergarten were obese by eighth grade. And almost every child who was very obese remained that way. Some obese or overweight kindergartners lost their excess weight, and some children of normal weight got fat over the years. But every year, the chances that a child would slide into or out of being overweight or obese diminished. By age 11, there were few additional changes: Those who were obese or overweight stayed that way, and those whose weight was normal did not become fat. "The main message is that obesity is established very early in life, and that it basically tracks through adolescence to adulthood," said Ruth Loos, a professor of preventive medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, who was not involved in the study. These results, surprising to many experts, arose from a rare study that tracked children's body weight for years, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Experts say they may reshape approaches to combating the nation's obesity epidemic, suggesting that efforts must start much earlier and focus more on the children at greatest risk. The findings, to be published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine, do not explain why the effect occurs. Researchers say it may be a combination of genetic predispositions to being heavy and environments that encourage overeating in those prone to it. But the results do provide a possible explanation for why efforts to help children lose weight have often had disappointing results. The steps may have aimed too broadly at all schoolchildren, rather than starting before children enrolled in kindergarten and concentrating on those who were already fat at very young ages. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity; Development of the Brain
Link ID: 19187 - Posted: 01.30.2014
"Everybody has won and all must have prizes," declared the dodo in Alice in Wonderland when asked to judge the winner of a race around a lake. As judgements go, it is admirably even-handed and optimistic. But in the world of mental health the dodo's decision has come to symbolise a bitter dispute that strikes at the very heart of psychotherapy. The "Dodo Bird Verdict", first suggested in the 1930s by the American psychologist Saul Rosenzweig, proposes that the many and various forms of psychological therapy are all equally effective. It makes no difference whether, for example, a person is being treated with techniques drawn from psychoanalysis, neurolinguistic programming, or cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). What really helps a patient to recover are straightforward factors such as the opportunity to discuss their worries with a skilled and sympathetic therapist or the degree to which they are prepared to engage with the treatment. Understandably, the Dodo Bird Verdict has ruffled many feathers within the profession, and provoked a slew of studies aiming to corroborate or disprove the idea. Are some types of psychotherapy really more effective than others for particular conditions? There is plentiful data to suggest that the answer to that question – contrary to Rosenzweig's theory – is "yes". But that data tends to come from research conducted by proponents of the ostensibly superior therapy, leaving sceptics to conclude that their conclusions are not impartial. This makes the results of a study of treatments for the eating disorder bulimia nervosa, published this month in the American Journal of Psychiatry, all the more convincing. Bulimia is characterised by binge eating, followed by attempts to compensate by making oneself vomit, taking laxatives or diuretics (water tablets), fasting, and/or exercising frantically. Underlying this behaviour is an intense concern – an obsession, even – with body shape and weight. © 2014 Guardian News
Keyword: Anorexia & Bulimia
Link ID: 19164 - Posted: 01.25.2014
By Eric Niiler, It may come as a surprise that Finland — one of the least polluted, wealthiest countries, where average life expectancy is among the world's highest — has the highest rate of Type 1 diabetes. Each year, there are about 58 cases diagnosed per 100,000 children; in the United States there are 24 cases per 100,000, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Some researchers suspect there may be a connection between Finland's cleanliness and the incidence of the disease there. They are investigating whether the lack of exposure to a specific group of bacteria found in the intestine may be causing weaker immune systems in Finnish children, making them more susceptible to Type 1 diabetes. This so-called hygiene hypothesis — that cleaner living can result in a weaker immune system — has also been linked to ailments such as asthma, allergies and other autoimmune diseases. "We are working along the idea that we have a trigger which most likely is an infectious agent," said Mikael Knip, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Helsinki who has been studying diabetes for 30 years. "There is an association between such infections and appearance of antibodies." Just as there are microbes that trigger the disease, Knip says there are also some bacterial or viral infections that, if they occur at an early age, can protect a young child from developing Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which affects approximately 37 million people worldwide, is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not produce sufficient insulin, a hormone needed to break down sugars. Typically diagnosed in children, teens and young adults, the disease can eventually damage the eyes and organs such as the kidneys, and it increases the likelihood of stroke and heart failure. © 1996-2014 The Washington Post
Keyword: Obesity; Neuroimmunology
Link ID: 19160 - Posted: 01.22.2014
Overweight and obese adults who drink diet pop also tend to eat more calories each day from food, a finding that hints at how relying on diet beverages for weight loss could be a mistake. In this week's issue of the American Journal of Public Health, researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore analyzed U.S. survey data for 24,000 people from 1999 to 2010. They looked for patterns in beverage consumption and calories. The sweet taste of beverages, whether from sugar or artificial sweeteners, seems to enhance our appetite and encourage cravings for sugar. (Rob Carr/Associated Press) Overweight consumers of diet beverages took in 1,965 in food calories a day compared with 1,874 calories among those in the same weight class who drank beverages sweetened with sugar, such as non-diet soda, sports drinks, fruit drinks and sweetened tea. As people increasingly switch to diet beverages, the focus on reducing sugar from drinks might not be enough to lose weight in the long term, the researchers concluded. "The switch from a sugary beverage to a diet beverage should be coupled with other changes in the diet, particularly reducing snacks," suggested lead author Sara Bleich. In the study, snacking patterns were generally the same between diet and sugary beverage drinkers. The researchers said the finding is consistent with evidence that the sweet taste of beverages, whether from sugar or artificial sweeteners, enhances our appetite and encourage cravings for sugar. © CBC 2014
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19148 - Posted: 01.18.2014
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR Scientists call it the obesity paradox, the notion that being overweight or moderately obese lowers the risk of an early death. They have documented the phenomenon in large population studies and in groups of patients with chronic diseases like hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. But now a new report, published on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, is calling the obesity paradox into question, at least for patients with Type 2 diabetes. The study, of nearly 12,000 people with the disease, found that there was no survival advantage for those who had a body mass index that put them in the overweight or obese categories. Instead, the researchers found that the diabetics with the lowest mortality rate were those who were considered normal weight. The study is among the largest to examine the obesity paradox among people with Type 2 diabetes, an illness that afflicts more than 25 million Americans. The authors argue that previous studies showing a protective effect of a high B.M.I. among diabetics were flawed because they were too small or failed to account for factors like smoking or undiagnosed illnesses that can contribute to low body weight but a shorter life span as well. The new study found that when smoking and other factors that can contribute to weight loss were accounted for, people in the highest B.M.I. groups had higher mortality rates. "I think the case is not necessarily closed," said Deirdre K. Tobias, the lead author of the paper and a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. "But at this point, there is no reason to believe that being overweight or obese would be protective for people with diabetes." © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19138 - Posted: 01.16.2014
By ANDREW POLLACK Launch media viewer Kristin Tremblay helps make dinner at home in Gainesville, Fla. She has a disorder that makes her uncontrollably hungry. Rob C. Witzel for The New York Times Lisa Tremblay still recalls in horror the time her daughter Kristin pulled a hot dog crawling with ants from the garbage at a cookout and prepared to swallow it. Kristin has a rare genetic abnormality that gives her an incessant, uncontrollable hunger. Some people with the condition, called Prader-Willi syndrome, will eat until their stomach ruptures and they die. And, not surprisingly, many are obese. "She's eaten dog food. She's eaten cat food," said Ms. Tremblay, who lives in Nokomis, Fla. When Kristin, now 28, was a child, neighbors once called social welfare authorities, thinking Kristin was not being fed because she complained of being hungry so much. Once an obscure and neglected disease, Prader-Willi is starting to attract more attention from scientists and pharmaceutical companies for a simple reason: It may shed some light on the much broader public health problems of overeating and obesity. "These are remarkable human models of severe obesity," said Dr. Steven B. Heymsfield, a professor and former executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. "When we discover the underlying mechanism of these very rare disorders, they will shed light on garden-variety obesity." One drug being developed to help obese people lose weight has shown some preliminary signs of success in patients with Prader-Willi. The drug, beloranib, is believed to work by reducing fat synthesis and increasing fat use. In a small trial, it reduced weight and body fat and lowered the food-seeking urge, according to the drug's developer, Zafgen. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity; Genes & Behavior
Link ID: 19136 - Posted: 01.15.2014
By Stephen L. Macknik Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar gets dangerously low, resulting in sweating, the feeling of weakness and dysphoria (the "don't touch me" feeling you have when you're sick and nauseous, possibly unconscious, as with the flu), and a variety of other symptoms. You basically go into a state similar to shock. The principal problem, however, arises from low blood sugar supply to the brain, resulting in impairment of function. It's a common problem in diabetic non-compliance (not eating low-carbohydrate foods while diabetic), which is especially prevalent in the poor. SABRINA TAVERNISE, of The New York Times reported on a new study in the journal Health Affairs, by Seligman and colleagues of the University of California, San Francisco, in which they analyzed the prevalence of hypoglycemia in low income populations at risk for hypoglycemia, as a function of time since the patients' households' last pay day. They found that hypoglycemia increases at the end of a pay cycle in low-income diabetics. They thus concluded that low-income diabetic patients have low access to food at the end of the month, resulting in frank starvation and thus low blood sugar. I find this to be an unlikely scenario. It's not that I don't believe that low-income is tied to diabetes and hypoglycemia at the end of the pay cycle. I do believe it, and the Centers for Disease Control have determined that 8% of the population has diabetes, and that the burden is carried by low-income families. So I think the main effect, increased hypoglycemia in the poor at the end of their pay cycle, is correct (and Ms. Tavernise reports that experts in the field are happy with the methods, so I'm happy with them too as a non-expert in this field). © 2014 Scientific American
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19114 - Posted: 01.09.2014
Just in time for all those New Year's resolutions to exercise more, scientists have a better idea of how the body turns pain into gain. Exertion stimulates muscles to release a molecule that modifies fat cells, turning them into calorie-burning machines, a research team has found. Exercise works the muscles but affects cells throughout the body, even in the brain. An important player in this process is a protein called PGC-1α. In exercising muscles, it activates genes that ramp up energy use. But its impact extends beyond these tissues. The protein somehow indirectly prompts, for example, white fat—the energy-storing variety that pads our hips and stomachs—to switch on genes that are characteristic of brown fat, a form that burns calories. PGC-1α doesn't travel outside muscle cells, so researchers aren't sure how its influence spreads, however. By sifting through the secretions of PGC-1α-making muscle cells, Robert Gerszten of Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues have nabbed one molecule that might be doing the protein's bidding: β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA). They found that BAIBA induces white fat cells to become more like brown fat cells, altering their gene activity patterns. And it stimulates other cell types, stoking fat metabolism in the liver, the team also reveals today in Cell Metabolism. These effects may translate into a healthier metabolism. When mice lapped up water laced with the molecule, the rodents lost weight and were better at absorbing glucose. © 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science
Keyword: Obesity; Muscles
Link ID: 19110 - Posted: 01.08.2014
By SABRINA TAVERNISE Poor people with diabetes are significantly more likely to go to the hospital for dangerously low blood sugar at the end of the month when food budgets are tight than at the beginning of the month, a new study has found. Researchers found no increase in such hospitalizations among higher-income people for the condition known as hypoglycemia, suggesting that poverty and exhausted food budgets may be a reason for the increased health risk. Hypoglycemia occurs when people with diabetes have not had enough to eat, but continue taking medications for the disease. To control diabetes, patients need to keep their blood sugar within a narrow band. Levels that are too low or too high (known as hyperglycemia) can be dangerous. Researchers found a clear pattern among low-income people: Hospital admissions for hypoglycemia were 27 percent higher at the end of the month than at the beginning. Researchers said they could not prove that the patients' economic circumstances were the reason for the admission, but the two things were highly correlated. The study, published online Monday in the journal Health Affairs, comes as Congress continues to debate legislation that includes the food stamp program for poor Americans. House Republicans are advocating $40 billion in cuts to the program, a step that Democrats oppose. About 25 million Americans, or 8 percent of the population, have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The poor are disproportionately affected. The United States spends more than $100 billion a year treating people with the disease, the agency estimates. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19103 - Posted: 01.07.2014
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR Are there good scientific studies that show that drinking sugar-sweetened soda increases the risk for obesity? The answer may vary depending on who is paying for the study. Researchers examined 17 large reviews of the subject (one review assessed results for adults and children separately, so there were 18 sets of study conclusions). Six of the studies reported receiving funds from industry groups, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, the American Beverage Association and others. The other 12 reviews claimed no conflicts of interest. The analysis appears in the December issue of PLOS Medicine. Among the reviews with no conflicts of interest, 10 of 12, or 83.3 percent, reported that sugary drinks were directly associated with weight gain or obesity. The conclusions of studies supported by industry were a mirror image: five of six — the same 83.3 percent — reported that there was insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion. "I wouldn't say that industry participation alone is enough to dismiss the study's results in the whole of nutrition research," said the lead author, Maira Bes-Rastrollo, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Navarra in Spain. "But I think that the general public and the scientific community should be aware that the food industry has vested interests that may influence their conclusions." Copyright 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19099 - Posted: 01.06.2014
JoNel Aleccia NBC News Surgery to remove a brain tumor two years ago has left a 12-year-old Texas girl with a heartbreaking condition that makes her gain massive amounts of weight — even though her body thinks it's starving. Doctors say a gastric bypass operation is the only thing that can help Alexis Shapiro, who is 4-foot-7 and weighs 198 pounds. But the U.S. military, which provides her family's health insurance, says it won't pay for the $50,000 weight-loss procedure because she's too young. "Our reviewers have denied your request for Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass," reads the rejection notice sent this month. Alexis' parents — and her doctor — are protesting the decision from insurer TRICARE, which they say sentences the child to a fate of dangerous health problems and social isolation caused by hypothalamic obesity, which is packing on at least 2 pounds every week. "It just keeps going up and up," said her mother, Jenny Shapiro, 34, of Cibolo, Texas. "She desperately needs this. I feel like she will die if she does not get this surgery." In just the past three months, Alexis was hospitalized for a kidney infection and developed Type 2 diabetes that requires nightly insulin injections, both related to her growing girth. Dr. Thomas H. Inge, a Cincinnati expert in pediatric obesity who is treating Alexis, acknowledged that there have been few cases like hers. But he said surgery may be the only way to stop weight gain that could top out at 400 pounds — and to cut the brain cravings that make Alexis want to eat an entire jar of peanut butter at one sitting.
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19076 - Posted: 12.28.2013
By MICHAEL MOSS WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — "Here are the nuts," said Drew Sayer, a graduate student in nutrition science, before shoving me into the M.R.I. machine, flat on my back. "Chew them. Swallow them. And don't move your head." I moved my head, which blurred the resulting images. But if all goes well in the coming weeks, researchers here at Purdue University will have stacks of brain scans with crystal-clear views inside the minds of their test subjects — while they were eating nuts. These images could help answer a timely question: Do nuts really merit the hype they've been getting as a guilt-free indulgence? The reports about their many benefits have come thick and fast: studies finding that people who eat nuts (tree nuts like cashews, almonds and pistachios, along with their legume pal, the peanut) live longer and healthier lives, with less risk of chronic ailments like heart disease, respiratory problems and Type 2 diabetes. But perhaps the most startling news is that nuts may help in maintaining a healthy weight. Research has found that people can snack on modest amounts of them without gaining pounds, and that nuts can even help in slimming down. This dieting power is particularly hard to fathom when you consider that nuts pack 160 to 200 calories in each tiny ounce, not even a handful. And most of those calories come from fat. Ounce for ounce, cashews and pecans and walnuts are loaded with more calories than many of the processed foods being blamed for the surge in obesity. In the conventional wisdom, a dieter's best friends are watery foods like celery and carrot sticks. One of the country's leading nutrition scientists, Richard Mattes of Purdue, has been exploring this seeming paradox and has some intriguing, if still uncertain, findings. His current work on nuts is being funded by a marketing group, the Almond Board of California, which would normally raise concerns about bias. But Dr. Mattes has a record of biting the hands that feed science, and challenging presumptions about nutrition. © 2013 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 19046 - Posted: 12.18.2013
by Bethany Brookshire "You are what you eat." We've all heard that one. What we eat can affect our growth, life span and whether we develop disease. These days, we know that we also are what our mother eats. Or rather, what our mothers ate while we were in the womb. But are we also what our father eats? A new study shows that in mice, a dietary deficiency in dad can be a big downer for baby. The dietary staple in the study was folic acid, or folate. Folate is one of the B vitamins and is found in dark leafy greens (eat your kale!) and has even been added to some foods like cereals. It is particularly essential to get in the diet because we cannot synthesize it on our own. And it plays roles in DNA repair and DNA synthesis, as well as methylation of DNA. It's particularly important during development. Without adequate folate, developing fetuses are prone to neural tube disorders, such as spina bifida. Some of the neural tube disorders caused by folate deficiency could result from breaks in the DNA itself. But folic acid is also important in the epigenome. Epigenetics is a mechanism that allows cells to change how genes are used without changing the genes themselves. Instead of altering the DNA itself, epigenetic alterations put chemical "marks" or "notes" —methyl or acetyl groups — on the DNA and the proteins associated with it. The marks can either make a gene more accessible (acetylation) or less accessible (methylation), making it more or less likely to be made into a protein. This means that each cell type can have a different epigenome, allowing a neuron to function differently than a muscle cell, even though they contain the same DNA. Folate affects DNA synthesis, but it can also affect DNA methylation. In fact, DNA methylation requires the presence of folate. So low folate could affect whether genes are turned off or on and by how much. In a developing fetus, that could contribute to developmental problems. © Society for Science & the Public 2000 - 2013.
Keyword: Epigenetics; Development of the Brain
Link ID: 19035 - Posted: 12.14.2013
Many physicians and parents report that their autistic children have unusually severe gastrointestinal problems, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea. These observations have led some researchers to speculate that an ailing gut contributes to the disorder in some cases, but scientific data has been lacking. Now, a provocative study claims that a probiotic treatment for gastrointestinal issues can reduce autismlike symptoms in mice and suggests that this treatment could work for humans, too. The reported incidence of gut maladies in people with autism varies wildly between published studies—from zero to more than 80%—making it difficult to establish just how commonly the two conditions go together, says principal investigator Sarkis Mazmanian, a microbiologist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. Overall, however, the evidence seems to point toward a connection. Last year, for example, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of thousands of children with developmental disabilities found that kids with autism were twice as likely as children with other types of disorders to have frequent diarrhea or colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine. For many years, Mazmanian and his and colleagues have been studying the effects of a nontoxic strain of the bacterium Bacteroides fragilis on diseases such as Crohn's disease, which causes intestinal inflammation and allows potentially harmful substances that should pass out of the body to leak through junctions between cells that are normally tight. Although the researchers don't understand the mechanism, the bacterium appears to restore the damaged gut, possibly by helping close these gaps. © 2013 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Keyword: Autism
Link ID: 19009 - Posted: 12.06.2013
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR A high body mass and a large waist are both associated with self-reported hearing loss, a new study has found. Researchers used data from a 20-year prospective study of 68,421 women who were25 to 42 years old at the start. After controlling for age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and other factors, they found that the higher the body mass index, the greater the risk for hearing loss. Compared with women with a B.M.I. under 25, those with an index of 25 to 29 had an 8 percent increased risk. The numbers kept going up in tandem: 11 percent for 30 to 34, 16 percent for 35 to 39 and 19 percent for those above 40. The increasing risk associated with larger waist circumference followed a similar pattern. The study, published in the December issue of The American Journal of Medicine, found that moderate physical activity — as little as four hours of walking a week — also reduced the risk for hearing loss. Researchers found no further advantage in more vigorous exercise. The lead author, Dr. Sharon G. Curhan, a clinical researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, suggested that obesity might compromise blood flow to the inner ear, and that exercise might improve it, which could explain the associations. "Hearing loss may not be an inevitable part of growing older," she said. "There may be things we can do to prevent it." Copyright 2013 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Hearing; Obesity
Link ID: 19004 - Posted: 12.06.2013
By KRISTIN WARTMAN THE solution to one of America's most vexing problems — our soaring rates of obesity and diet-related diseases — may have its roots in early childhood, and even in utero. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a nonprofit research organization in Philadelphia, have found that babies born to mothers who eat a diverse and varied diet while pregnant and breast-feeding are more open to a wide range of flavors. They've also found that babies who follow that diet after weaning carry those preferences into childhood and adulthood. Researchers believe that the taste preferences that develop at crucial periods in infancy have lasting effects for life. In fact, changing food preferences beyond toddlerhood appears to be extremely difficult. "What's really interesting about children is, the preferences they form during the first years of life actually predict what they'll eat later," said Julie Mennella, a biopsychologist and researcher at the Monell Center. "Dietary patterns track from early to later childhood but once they are formed, once they get older, it's really difficult to change — witness how hard it is to change the adult. You can, but it's just harder. Where you start, is where you end up." This may have profound implications for the future health of Americans. With some 70 percent of the United States population now overweight or obese and chronic diseases skyrocketing, many parents who are eating a diet high in processed, refined foods are feeding their babies as they feed themselves, and could be setting their children up for a lifetime of preferences for a narrow range of flavors. The Monell researchers have identified several sensitive periods for taste preference development. One is before three and a half months of age, which makes what the mother eats while pregnant and breast-feeding so important. "It's our fundamental belief that during evolution, we as humans are exposed to flavors both in utero and via mother's milk that are signals of things that will be in our diets as we grow up and learn about what flavors are acceptable based on those experiences," said Gary Beauchamp, the director of the Monell Center. © 2013 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Obesity; Development of the Brain
Link ID: 18991 - Posted: 12.02.2013
by Jessica Griggs HAVING type 2 diabetes may mean you are already on the path to Alzheimer's. This startling claim comes from a study linking the two diseases more intimately than ever before. There is some good news: the same research also offers a way to reverse memory problems associated with diabetes – albeit in rats – which may hint at a new treatment for Alzheimer's. "Perhaps you should use Alzheimer's drugs at the diabetes stage to prevent cognitive impairment in the first place," says Ewan McNay from the University at Albany in New York. Alzheimer's cost the US $130 billion in 2011 alone. One of the biggest risk factors is having type 2 diabetes. This kind of diabetes occurs when liver, muscle and fat cells stop responding efficiently to insulin, the hormone that tells them to absorb glucose from the blood. The illness is usually triggered by eating too many sugary and high-fat foods that cause insulin to spike, desensitising cells to its presence. As well as causing obesity, insulin resistance can also lead to cognitive problems such as memory loss and confusion. In 2005, a study by Susanne de la Monte's group at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, identified a reason why people with type 2 diabetes had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. In this kind of dementia, the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, seemed to be insensitive to insulin. Not only could your liver, muscle and fat cells be "diabetic" but so it seemed, could your brain. © Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd.
Keyword: Alzheimers; Obesity
Link ID: 18987 - Posted: 11.30.2013


text:
Peter Müller
+1Posted on Aug 26th | re: Songs: Ohia - "Ring The Bell - Working Title: Depression No. 42" (1 comments)
This is so touching. What a great musician.
0Posted on Jul 2nd | re: Stream Viet Cong Cassette (3 comments)
Haha listening to this I thought: this reminds me of Bauhaus and then the Dark Entries Cover comes in. Just great.
+1Posted on Aug 23rd, 2012 | re: Grimes - "Genesis" Video (51 comments)
+2Posted on Aug 22nd, 2012 | re: Grimes - "Genesis" Video (51 comments)
Yeah no narrative, that's what I thought too when I saw it. I prefer the music without the video in this case.
0Posted on Aug 20th, 2012 | re: Watch Grimes's "Genesis" Video Trailer (6 comments)
+1Posted on Aug 3rd, 2012 | re: Dinosaur Jr. Albums From Worst To Best (44 comments)
Since when is Bug their fourth album? And it's my personal #1 ;)
+1Posted on Jul 31st, 2012 | re: Watch Blur's Live BBC Webcast Right Now (4 comments)
0Posted on Aug 15th, 2011 | re: Win A Limited Edition Cymbals Eat Guitars Pedal/Prize Package (252 comments)
Living North
+1Posted on Jul 19th, 2011 | re: Mercury Prize 2011 Nominees (19 comments)
PJ and James deserve it the most.
+1Posted on Jul 1st, 2011 | re: Win 5 Limited Edition Indie Rock Tees From Soundscreen Design (164 comments)
Xiu Xiu – Suha
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1 post, 1 voice , Tagged: healthy Food quotes
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Everyone knows that at all the time is not perfect with us. Life's like instrument white essential aspects represent the enjoyably periods of the way of lifestyle other than dark-colored essential aspects represents unfortunately periods of way of lifestyle so it is important when you control it how you always grin. Experience your terrible situation with fulfillment then you will see how achievements comes in your way of lifestyle. Life crazy quotations are such kinds of quotes that will carry look on your encounter also in the bad it motivates to you as well to satisfy your objectives effectively. The


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Handling Tip - KEEP FROZEN is the number one handling instruction we have for you. Also, for maximum shelf life, store your Butter Braid pastry rolls in a chest freezer until you choose to use them.
For best product performance, we recommend that you use your pastry rolls within 6 weeks after receiving them.
BAKING DIRECTIONS for "Iced" Rolls - Blueberry, Cinnamon & Orange
BAKING DIRECTIONS for "Sticky" Rolls - Caramel & Maple Walnut
Baking Tip - If you would like to have your pastry rolls for breakfast, set them out the night before at bedtime so they will be ready to bake when you get up the next morning.
Or if you would like them for dessert or as an evening snack, set your pastry rolls out first thing in the morning so they are ready to bake during or after your evening meal.
Visit the FAQ's page for further product details.


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The MOF has recently approved the opening of three offices by KPMG Huazhen (Special General Partnership) in Chengdu, Xiamen and Qingdao. Localisation has been one of the basic strategies of KPMG China's operations.
The award recognises a select number of leading professional firms and advisers that have performed to exceptional levels, even during the most difficult period that the global economy has experienced for decades.
A brief guide summarising some valuable pointers, including what start-ups need to consider, where to get access to information and what events they can consider to attend.
This is KPMG China's 8th annual survey of 200 local and foreign banks in China for the year ended 31 December 2013. It analyses current trends and challenges facing the sector in the short term.
A global panel of independent industry experts have identified 100 of the world's most inspirational and innovative infrastructure projects. Which ones are selected for China? Click to learn more.
KPMG shares essential knowledge of transfer pricing practices through frequent thought leadership publications, including transfer pricing policy studies, sector-specific reports and China-related newsletters.
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We have a dedicated team to serve our clients both locally and overseas.
Transfer Pricing Forum, one of BNA International's special publications, provides detailed practical guidance on technical and often highly contested transfer pricing issues.
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The KPMG name, logo and "cutting through complexity" are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.
KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International") is a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.


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Bears, Steltz Agree To 2-Year Deal
March 16, 2012 5:10 PM
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(CBS) The Bears announced Friday they have agreed to terms with safety Craig Steltz on a two-year contract.
Steltz has appeared in 48 games, with seven starts, in four seasons with the Bears, gathering 71 tackles, one interception, one sack, two forced fumbles and 37 special teams stops.
He appeared in all 16 games in 2011 n 2011, with five starts, gathering 48 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three tackles for losses and 12 special teams stops.


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Full-sized iPhone keyboard lets you do some serious typing
The iPhone's virtual keyboard is okay if you want to type a short message, but it gets pretty frustrating if you want to create something more substantial. This full-sized keyboard lets you get away from pecking with your thumbs, turning the iPhone into a real typing monster.
This isn't the first iPhone keyboard we've seen, but it's certainly the most serious.
The WOW-Keys keyboard has a slot on the right side for your iPhone or iPod Touch, which you can operate as a numeric keypad if you need to do some serious number crunching with a PC connected.
WOW-Keys will be available from major retailers on May 24th for about $100.
WOW-Keys, via Coolest Gadgets


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27 July 2009
Nutella, Kinder Bueno & white chocolate cupcakes
Now, we're a fairly big company but even for us that was no small challenge, especially when half of them are women on diets (Ha! Their loss is my hips gain). Fortunately I have no such burden and as a responsible adult I knew the seriousness of the situation - I mean, my god, we were faced with actually having to toss some of them away *panicks* - and so I bravely stepped forward and scooped up a whole bunch of the little buggers.
However, now that I had them, what was I to do with them all? Enter stage left - our old friend Mr Cupcake.
I used a basic sponge cake recipe for these, in fact, almost identical to the one I used for the Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake. I then added the chopped up Bueno's and divided the mix in two before adding melted white chocolate to one half, and melted Nutella to the other portion.
While the name of the cupcakes might sound like a total choc-fest, the quantities of chocolate I used were fairly low as I don't really (very often at least) go for mass chocolate overload so if you want a more in your face chocolate experience you'll need to up the quantities because these babies are a more subtle prize.
I also didn't know how much of an effect the Bueno's would have on the mix. I have to be brutally honest here, if I hadn't seen them go in I'd have no idea they were present taste-wise - the hazelnut flavour just didn't survive the baking. I've left the recipe below exactly how I made it but it's either choc chips next time or maybe try 3 packets of Bueno's. They did add a nice speckle to the mix at least, haha!
Talking of which I am exceptionally chuffed with the effect these produce. I'm almost embarrassed to say that I'm a total sucker for novelty stuff and so this 2 tone effect pushes all my buttons. I just can't help but look at these and keep thinking about how cute they are.
What do you mean, a cupcake can't be cute? I beg to differ my friends, I beg to differ.
Nutella, Kinder Bueno & white chocolate cupcakes
175g caster sugar
175g butter or margarine
175g Self Raising Flour, sifted
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract
2xpack (86g) Kinder Bueno's, chopped
75g white chocolate, melted
75g Nutella, slightly warmed
1 Cream butter & sugar together till pale and fluffy
2 Mix in the egg, milk and Vanilla
3 Add chopped Bueno's and stir well
4 Gently fold in the flour and baking powder
5 Split the mix in half and stir in the melted white chocolate into one, the warm Nutella into the other.
6 Using different spoons to keep the colours from mixing, pop small amounts of both mixes into the bottom of each side of your cupcake papers. The batter moves across the cases fairly quickly so I alternated loading each one up with small amounts rather than just 2 big single dollops of mix. ie. small spoon of dark, then white beside, then added more dark, then more white.
7 Place in a pre-heated oven on Gas mark 4/350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until they spring back to the touch.
9 comments:
YUMM....MMMY... WOW! I could not resist and here I am. Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
What's not to love?ReplyDelete
Incidentally, this office of yours where you get so much free chocolate you can't eat it all....where did you say it was?
Haha, yes, was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled in to one when that free chocolate came my way ;)ReplyDelete
I really loved these cakes though, both taste and looks - will make again for sure.
Oh my goodness 'free chocolate'? Let me get my coat on and rush over to you to relieve you of a few bars ...... ;0DReplyDelete
Muffins look amazing Wonk :0p
Oh. my. goodness. a) you get free chocolate b) AMAZING cupcakes.ReplyDelete
Inspired! Loads of good stuff went into these, they must be amazing :)ReplyDelete
This looks amazing. I can't wait to try this recipe, but why is there a botle of vodka in the picture?ReplyDelete
We bumped into your blog and we really liked it - great recipes YUM YUM.
We would like to add it to the Petitchef.com.
We would be delighted if you could add your blog to Petitchef so that our users can, as us,
enjoy your recipes.
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Best regards,


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Affordable accommodations, daily dining service, expert staff, and great facilities make University Housing the best choice to host your summer camp. Contact us to plan a successful camp experience for your group.
Some upcoming summer camps to check out:
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Commander Nursing Center in Florence South Carolina has a 98% occupancy rate with 160 residents using its 163 beds. They are part of a multiple nursing home ownership and are a For Profit nursing home.
Commander Nursing Center has a below average registered nurse per resident per day of 29 minutes compared to the South Carolina state nursing home average of 51 minutes. They had 3 deficiencies in its past 2 state inspections compared to the SC average of 14 and complaints compared to the SC average of 4. Commander Nursing Center had 3 fire safety deficiencies in the past 2 state inspections which is better than the South Carolina state nursing home average of 12.
Below is general facility information for Commander Nursing Center in Florence, SC. More facility details are available on your free report.
Below are services offered at Commander Nursing Center Additional services details and additional information are available on your free nursing home report.


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» News
Obama's NLRB Gives Unions License To Intimidate & Retaliate Against Witnesses
It's a strange thing when, in a democracy*, dissent is stifled by those that presume to value dissent.
Notwithstanding the union-backed effort to end Senate filibusters, time and time again, both publicly and behind-the-scenes, Barack Obama and his union cronies and backers work to stifle–even purge and eradicate–any form of dissent if it does not benefit union bosses.
What's worse is the fact that this trend is becoming the official labor policy of the United States.
With an all-Democrat, three-member—two out of the three being union attorneys—National Labor Relations Board now running things without any dissent, workers and their employers in union-free workplaces are being bombarded with decisions that benefit big union bosses.
While this is not new, since unions officially gained control of the NLRB in 2010 with Barack Obama's unprecedented recess appointment of SEIU and AFL-CIO attorney Craig Becker, in ruling after ruling, the union-controlled NLRB has been trashing case precedents in favor of pro-union decisions.
In one significant area, and contrary to the purpose of the National Labor Relations Act, Barack Obama's union-controlled National Labor Relations Board has issued decisions that strip workers of their ability to thwart union intimidation, interference and coercion–as long as it benefits union bosses.
» 7 Comments
Interesting. In Whittaker Chambers' book,"Witness", he talks about the communists running the NLRB. And that was back in the 40′s.
Guess everything old is new again.+3
"If found guilty, a union trial board has the ability to subject him (or her) to possible fines, and possible expulsion from the union which, in some industries like construction, could lead to job loss as well."
Companies might as well close Human resource dept.
and let the Unions handle the pay, benefits, hiring and firing. Treat it like temp services.+3
Hitler co-opted the unions and then turned them over to the Party – they called it the 30 second coup – cause that's how long it took to seize their assets and replace the leadership.
The German unions proved to be toothless tigers when the socialists finally moved. I doubt the American unions will prove any hardier – they're too fat and lazy.+2
Tim, please educate me on how the unions are not already on team Communism. It looks to me like our modern Hitler already has them in his pocket and vice versa.
I see no conflict between them and this administration. On the contray, one protects the other depending on the source of aggravation to each.
They are an extension of the administration already, are they not?+2
BO can't steal enough from the regular taxpayers, seeing as we're out on the limb for some $200 Trillion in unfunded liabilities, so, eventually, he will have to steal from them to finance his socialist utopia. They'll end up working for slave wages, even though they believe, just as the German Unions did, that they're backing the winning ideology and will share in the spoils. Socialism destroys the will to produce, hence, production fails. As production fails, the gov't has to rely increasingly on force. Unions don't exist without corporations. As those corporations fail, the gov't must develop phony corporations which produce a bunch of nothing (see recent GM) to employ the Unions. This is exhausted after a while and the Unions become a bigger, and more dangerous, burden than the poor.
Thus, the gov't will consume them.
It's more involved than this, and I'm pretty sure I don't understand all of it, but there it is in a nutshell.+2
"Behemoth" by F. Neumann is an in-depth study of National Socialism's economics.
The similarities to Obamanomics are terrifying.+2
Has there ever been a bigger scumbag in the White House?
He and his royal family need every penny then can get from all his devoted followers who voted for him. The middle class union workers are not exempted. The loyal bosses and their emperor get to live the high life by stealing from the lowly peons at the bottom.+2


text: Alpha Kappa Alpha Donates $1 Million to Howard University Written by Sentinel Staff Writer 24 January 2008 Contribution caps emotional day of tributes during AKA's centennial celebration Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's International President Barbara A. McKinzie, donated $1 million to Howard University ... read more >> Man-to-Man Action Plan: Leaders Realizing King's Dream Through Community Engagement Written by Sentinel Staff Writer 17 January 2008 Start your New Year to unite and collaborate for change. As our nation pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a meeting of the minds will be addressing solutions to the problems within the Black ... read more >> Educational Center Enhances Learning Experience Written by Christine Sabathia 17 January 2008 Score Educational Center director Avianta Robertson helps kindergartener Kenneth Hunt sound out words on flash cards. Score's motto: When they love to learn, they'll learn Score Educational ... read more >> First Annual Carter-Huggins Commemoration at UCLA Written by Sentinel Staff Writer 10 January 2008 January 17, marks the 38th anniversary of the assassinations of Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins at UCLA. 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Written by Francis Taylor (Contributing Writer) 20 December 2007 State Assembly Member Curren Price participates in the health screening at the Black Barbershop Health Outreach.Let's face it. Black men, already among the leaders in acquiring many preventable ... read more >> The Meaning of Kwanzaa Written by Yussuf Simmonds (Managing Editor) 20 December 2007 The month of December has traditionally been regarded as the end of the calendar year and people often scramble to end it on a high note and prepare for the New Year. But there is more to the end of ... read more >> There are Many Ways to Celebrate Christmas Written by Brian W. 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Khiel, a beauty product ... read more >> Study: Kids Will Eat Healthy School Food Written by Steve Karnowski, Associated Press 29 November 2007 Maybe getting schoolchildren to eat healthy foods isn't a hopeless struggle. Bucking some common notions, a University of Minnesota study has found that school lunch sales don't decline when ... read more >> Nursing Homes to Receive Letter Grades Written by City News Service 29 November 2007 CNS - Letter grades similar to those posted in restaurants may be used soon at nursing and convalescent homes, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors said. The board has approved a motion by Supervisor ... read more >> Studies Continue to Link Red Wine to Heart Disease Prevention Written by Jennifer Bihm (Contributing Writer) 29 November 2007 Women who drink wine have less inflammation in their blood vessels, a new study shows. The findings were released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers studied women after four weeks ... read more >> 4 Patients Get HIV From Organ Donor Written by Associated Press 22 November 2007 A troubling case in which a high-risk organ donor infected four patients with the AIDS virus and hepatitis has led medical ethicists to warn that patients need to know more about whose organs they're ... read more >> City Schools Gain, Yet Still Lag Nation Written by Nancy Zuckerbrod, Associated Press 22 November 2007 AP - Students in selected city schools are making modest gains on math and reading tests, but they continue to lag behind their counterparts nationwide, scores released Nov. 15 show. 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Ray Allen would get surgery tomorrow if he could, now unlikely for playoff opener
Oh, Ray Allen's injury status does not ever seem to improve.
The shooting guard today told reporters he will require surgery at some point, and would have the surgery tomorrow if it weren't so close to the playoffs. He's taken his second cortisone shot of the last month and is no longer expected to return for tomorrow's playoff opener, though that remains a possibility. (WEEI)
"Yeah, no question. If I could I would get surgery tomorrow," Allen said before the team conducted practice. "If this was earlier in the season I probably would have had surgery on it." …
"Honestly I don't think he'll play [Sunday]," Doc Rivers said. "We'll find that out. He's just not moving well." …
"It feels a lot better as I stand here," Allen said. "Just moving around, walking around it feels great. Now transferring that on to the floor is the next thing." …
"These are extreme situations. Extreme times," he said. "Playoff basketball is a few notches above what we do in the regular season. It's really a matter of me getting my legs underneath me, running when I can, but that's the difficult thing."
This update is scary, obviously, but plus one to Jackie MacMullan, who reported weeks ago that Allen would require surgery at some point.
4 Responses to "Ray Allen would get surgery tomorrow if he could, now unlikely for playoff opener"
Don't need him really until Rnd 2 so let him rest. Better chance he comes back a Celtic with surgery which should keep him on track for 3-4 more years of 6th man play. Go Cs…
Like or Dislike: 0 1
Jay please write something about what you think of D Roses injury, and I hate to say this ( I Do love D Rose ), but how will this effect the C's run !!
Like or Dislike: 0 0
Anyone who thinks that Chandler is a nice guy who doesn't try to hurt people by taking advantage of 'legal' hits, and anyone who still thinks he didn't deliberately crush Rondo by going for the body and not the ball, check out what he did to Lebron.
Also notice the stunning difference between the way the officials protected Lebron, and the way they did not protect Rondo.
Like or Dislike: 0 0
Ray should only play if Ray feels good. Rest him otherwise and when he does play, I would play him not more than 20 mins a game and only at clutch moments like at the end of a guarter when Ray can shoot the 3 or for a game winner. This team can win some without Ray but if we drive deep into the playoffs, I would expect Ray to suit up.
Like or Dislike: 0 0


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Home Medway News Article
Helen Jones, 33, who lives in Colchester Close, Chatham, was arrested following the alleged confrontation between the Liverpool captain and a man near a Merseyside shop in August last year.
Jones faces a misconduct in a public office charge over allegations she picked up the Formby shop's CCTV footage while off-duty.
She appeared before South Selfton Magistates' Court last week for a brief appearance and the case against her was adjourned and Jones was granted bail.
She is next due to appear at Preston Crown Court on Thursday, January 23.
Jones was apparently on a career break from Merseyside Police at the time of the alleged incident, the force confirmed, but has since resigned.
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Here's How to Delete That U2 Album You Didn't Ask for From Your iTunes
Apple finally releases the instructions.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Apple finally releases the instructions.
Maybe rethink that marketing stunt next time!
Yet another spectacle of heavy-breathing bloggers succumbing to a letdown.
Defining a new low for civilization.
Or will it flop like its predecessors?
A Pandora clone, a R2D2 look-alike, and more.
But what will they talk about?
It's buying back a ton of stock.
To save it from breaking when dropped.
The subtle danger of charging more to some.
A judge blocked Apple's shareholder vote on preferred stock.
And Silicon Valley won't stand for it.
Kariem McFarlin will be spending some time in prison.
The Apple executive who oversaw the Maps disaster has reportedly been fired.
Analysts had expected it to out-earn two gods.


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The Best of This Week's Mad Men Recaps: 'To Have and To Hold'
Your recap of the recaps.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Skip to content, or skip to search.
Your recap of the recaps.
This week, we learned that the path to "maturity" in the Upper East Side is an incredibly nauseating one.
Commenters were ablaze with well-deserved Humphrey-bashing.
The commenters are unanimously anti-Sage.
For the season-five finale, it's out with the Dair and in with the Chair.
What happened in this episode again? We couldn't look away from the growing Humph-fro.
Gossip Girl writers of yester-season have risen from the dead, Bart Bass–style.
If Jack is Daddy Bass, it's proof the GG writers read the recap comments.
The commenter circuit is all for Nate's awkward new Mother Lover dynamic.
Of course Dan didn't back up his book proposal.
Faker than forgetting to silence your phone during a totally bush league blackmail job.
You commented. We listened.


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Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC v. Forest River Inc
Filing 99
REPLY to Response to Motion re 88 MOTION to Compel Production of Documents from Heartland and Baker & Daniels filed by Forest River Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex O - MPEP Section 2001.5, # 2 Exhibit P - Excerpt '817 Patent, # 3 Exhibit Q - Excerpt '979 Patent, # 4 Exhibit R - Excerpt '850 Patent, # 5 Exhibit S - Excerpt Cooper Deposition)(Fountain, Ryan)
Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC v. Forest River Inc Doc. 99 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 1 of 14 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Northern District of Indiana South Bend Division HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLC, Plaintiff, v. FOREST RIVER, INC., Defendant. ) ) ) ) CASE NO.:3:08-cv-490 TLS ) ) ) JURY DEMAND FOREST RIVER'S REPLY TO HEARTLAND AND BAKER & DANIELS RESPONSE TO FOREST RIVER'S MOTION TO COMPEL DOCUMENT PRODUCTION FROM HEARTLAND AND BAKER & DANIELS Summary of the Reply: Considering that we know about the prior art investigation that was done by Heartland and what we know we do not know about that investigation, the single most reasonable inference to be drawn is that Heartland was not merely cultivating ignorance, it was harvesting it. The knowledge of the person who conducted the "search" seals that inference to reality, and is highly relevant to this case. Accordingly, the information sought to identify that person and the documents involved in the search are also highly relevant and, since the burden is minimal in producing those records, the motion should be granted. Analysis of Heartland's Response: Heartland argues that the information sought is of "little importance" and stresses that "a 1 Dockets.Justia.com case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 2 of 14 patent applicant has no duty to perform a prior art search." That latter point is misleading. The undisputed fact is, Heartland (or someone acting on its behalf) actually did perform a prior art search. Having done that, it was bound to disclose any relevant and material information that it found to the USPTO. It is also an undisputed fact that some of the information, in the form of 14 recent patents, was disclosed to the USPTO. Two questions remain: 1.) was all of the relevant and material information from that search disclosed, and 2.) was the search intentionally curtailed so that no relevant and material information would be found that would invalidate the claims being sought in other words was the search merely pro forma, but in reality ignorance was being cultivated? Forest River was entitled to receive this information at least since its production Request No. 9, which stated: To the extent not otherwise requested herein, all documents and things which describe, refer to, discuss, or relate to any investigation by or on behalf of Heartland into the patentability of the invention(s) of the patent in this lawsuit or the validity of the patent in this lawsuit, including the identity of any prior art which is "material" to the claims of the patents in this lawsuit, as that term is meant in 37 C.F.R. §1.56. Exhibit H. This request was served on December 14, 2008. In response to this request Heartland produced nothing about a search or prior art investigation itself. Heartland has repeatedly argued that is has no "Search Report" about this investigation. Instead, the 14 patents just "appeared" in Mr. Cooper's file. Perhaps the search report, a normal document created whenever such an investigation is done, no longer exists in Heartland's files. Certainly, however, the bill for that work does exist. If the bill can be found and the person who did the investigation identified, then that person may have a copy of the search report or the instructions received indicating what the scope of the investigation was to be. That is what this motion is all about - tracking down who and what he/she did in terms of the prior art investigation that actually was done. 2 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 3 of 14 Heartland argues that is of "little importance." Nothing could be further from the truth. The Amended Answer asserts specifically that "fraud and inequitable conduct" render the `650 patent unenforceable. DE#21-2, ¶67. The concept of "fraud upon the USPTO" finds its modern root in Precision Instr. Mfg. Co. v. Auto. Maint. Mach. Co., 324 U.S 806, 816 (1945), where the Court noted that "a patent by its very nature is affected with a public interest . . is an exception to the general rule against monopolies . . [and] therefore, give the public a paramount interest in seeing that patent monopolies spring from backgrounds free from fraud or other inequitable conduct." A wide variety of Courts and laws have defined what constitutes "fraud." Using Indiana law, since the present case arose entirely between Indiana participants who are all bound by Indiana law, there are two basic types of fraud: actual fraud and constructive fraud. The essential elements of actual fraud are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A representation of material past or existing facts, Which representation is false, Which was made with knowledge or reckless ignorance of the falsity, and Which causes reliance to the detriment of the person relying upon it. Moreover, the false statement must have been made intentionally. The essential elements of constructive fraud are the same except that a remedy is provided regardless of the intent if the behavior provides one party with an "unconscionable advantage." Henkin v. Skane-Gripen, A.B., 986 F. 2d 1424, 1993 WL 36870, *5-7 (7th Cir. 1993)(unpublished but containing useful analysis and citing extensive authority therein, as articulated by Judge Miller of this Court). Further, it has been recognized in Indiana that "a reckless indifference to the truth is "the functional equivalent" of fraud." In re Jongsma , 402 B.R. 858, 874 (Bkrtcy, N.D. Ind. 2009). Similarly, liability can exist at common law for fraudulent non-disclosure where a duty to disclose exists. See, e.g. Restatement (Second) of Torts §551 (1977). 3 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 4 of 14 Furthermore, 37 C.F.R. §1.56 states, in pertinent part: (a) A patent by its very nature is affected with a public interest. Each individual associated with the filing and prosecution of a patent application has a duty of candor and good faith in dealing with the Office, which includes a duty to disclose to the Office all information known to that individual to be material to patentability . . .The duty to disclose information exists with respect to each pending claim until that claim is cancelled or withdrawn from consideration, or the application becomes abandoned. . . .However, no patent will be granted on an application in connection with which fraud on the Office was practiced or attempted or the duty of disclosure was violated through bad faith or intentional misconduct. . . © Individuals associated with the filing or prosecution of a patent application within the meaning of this section are: (1) Each inventor named in the application.; (2) Each attorney or agent who prepared or prosecutes the application; and (3) Every other person who is substantively involved in the preparation or prosecution of the application and who is associated with the inventor, with the assignee or with anyone to whom there is an obligation to assign the application. (d) Individuals other than the attorney, agent or inventor may comply with this section by disclosing information to the attorney, agent or inventor. Emphasis added. Thus, while Mr. Cooper may have been the person filing the 14 patents with the USPTO because at the time he was the "prosecution attorney," since Baker & Daniels was "associated with the assignee" (Heartland) as litigation counsel, see Exhibit L and M, if they, or anyone else did a prior art investigation for purposes of litigation preparation, that prior art should also have been disclosed.1 It is also abundantly clear from case law that in the context of patent prosecution, because there is an affirmative duty to disclose material information under Rule 1.56, the "misrepresentation" aspect of common law fraud can arise either where there are affirmative misstatements of material fact and where material facts have been withheld. 1 Similarly, if a prior art investigation was done in connection with valuing the patent application for purposes of a bank loan, any relevant and material information found by the accounting firm in that regard is attributed to Heartland and was required to be disclosed as well. This is in part the basis for the opposition of Forest River to Heartland's co-pending motion for protective order, DE#74. 4 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 5 of 14 Getting back to defining the full scope of prohibited conduct, the Precision court did not, however, specifically define the scope of what constitutes the "other inequitable conduct" which should bar a patent. It is well recognized that "inequitable conduct" encompassing something broader than common law fraud. See, e.g. Exergen Corp. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 575 F. 3d 1312, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2009). And while there is no general duty to conduct a prior art search, "one should not be able to cultivate ignorance . . . merely to avoid actual knowledge of that information or prior art." FMC Corp. v. Hennessy Inds., Inc., 836 F. 2d. 521, 526 n. 6 (Fed Cir. 1987). Once on notice of a likelihood that material information exists and if it can be ascertained with reasonable inquiry, there is a duty to inquire - you cannot intentionally avoid learning about it even through gross negligence, especially where the information needed is in the hands of your own client. Brasseler U.S.A. I, L.P. v. Stryker Sales Corp., 267 F. 3d 1370, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2001). It has been said that "gross negligence" alone is not always enough to infer an intent to deceive. Kingsdown Med. Consultants, Ltd. v. Hollister, Inc., 863 F. 2d 867, 873 (Fed. Cir. 1988). Addressing the issue further, that court explained that "gross negligence has been used as a label for various patterns of conduct. It is definable, however, only in terms of a particular at or acts viewed in light of all the circumstances." Id, at 876. And therein lies the problem, the use of broad labels to attempt to define what is essentially just something that is "not equitable" under all the circumstances of the case. Similarly vague, is Rule 1.56. The portion therein which states that: "no patent will be granted on an application in connection with which fraud was practiced or attempted or the duty of disclosure was violated through bad faith or intentional misconduct," then literally gives four alternative bars to patentability: 5 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 6 of 14 1. 2. 3. 4. Fraud, Attempted fraud, Violation of the duty of disclosure through bad faith, or Violation of the duty of disclosure through intentional misconduct. Beyond that, the rule provides no guidance as to what specific conduct is barred, and the MPEP (Manual of Patent Examining Procedure - published by the USPTO as a guide) similarly provides no detailed description of the extent of conduct which constitutes a violation. Instead, MPEP Chapter 2000 addresses at length the risks of non-compliance and, at §2004, provides a variety of "aides" to compliance. If followed, presumably those guides give the practitioner a "safe harbor." Given the MPEP's warnings about the risks of an inequitable conduct ruling and the oft-lamented "plague" of inequitable conduct claims being made in patent litigation,2 would any reasonable practitioner NOT use those aides?3 Searching for additional guidance in the case law of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit since Precision, we see the growth of the "sliding scale" rule of materiality vs. intent. Materiality, for the most part is more readily understood, especially since 37 C.F.R. §1.56(b) sets an express standard for it. The various panels of that Court have struggled, however, with consistently defining what constitutes sufficient "bad intent" or "intent to deceive," particularly when dealing with acts of omission, such as is the subject of the present motion. Depending upon the particular As often as Courts lament the abundance of inequitable conduct claims in patent litigation, one cannot also help but notice that those claims are still often upheld by the evidence when the trier of fact examines the evidence and credibility of the witnesses. Somehow, the message is not getting through to enough practitioners to "use candor and good faith" in patent prosecution. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Gallagher testified and the documents of record show that they did not fully utilize those aids and did not take advantage of the "safe harbor." The impact of this will be dealt with separately in response to Heartland's motion for pending summary judgment. 6 3 2 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 7 of 14 panel of the Court in a given case, a wide range of standards have been articulated, some of which are inherently conflicting. Without going into tremendous detail on the history of this issue herein, suffice to say that the situation has culminated in Larson Mfg. Co. v. Aluminart Prods. Ltd., 559 F. 3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2009). That particular panel of the Court held that inequitable conduct must be shown by clear and convincing evidence, Id, at 1326, but that intent to deceive can be inferred from circumstantial evidence where the inference is the single most reasonable inference able to be drawn from the totality of the evidence, Id, at 1340, and the trier of fact is required to balance the "levels of materiality and intent, with a greater showing of one factor allowing a lessor showing of the other," Id, at 1327. However, in that case Judge Linn's concurring opinion explained that other panels of the Court have "set a standard even lower than gross negligence, " down to "simple negligence," citing Praxair, Inc. v. ATMI, Inc. 543 F. 3d 1306 (Fed. Cir. 2008), Id, at 1343-44, and in the end he expressly called for the Court to resolve the entire inequitable conduct doctrine as matter for the Court en banc. Id, at 1344. In the context of the present motion, however, we do not have to peer into "crystal ball" and determine precisely what an en banc Court of Appeals would do in articulating a "unified theory" of inequitable conduct, or, for that matter, even precisely what a trier of fact would actually do in these circumstances. This is merely a discovery dispute, not the ultimate determination of unenforceability. The scope and purpose of discovery is to obtain information "regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party's claim or defense" and relevance is defined as that which is "reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence." Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Generally, broad discovery is available under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See 7 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 8 of 14 Blancha v. Raymark Industries, 972 F. 2d 507, 514 (3d Cir. 1992)("Thus the rule, while giving judges great freedom to admit evidence, diminishes substantially their authority to exclude evidence as irrelevant"). Privileges excluding relevant evidence are to be construed narrowly because the they constrict the fact-finding process. Ryan v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 568 F. 2d 531, 542-3 (7th Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 820 (1978). In the context of the present case then, the inquiry is: would the billing statements or other records of Heartland indicating information about the prior art investigation lead to the discovery of information which tends to show (or disprove) the "single most reasonable inference" of intent to deceive, "cultivation of ignorance," "unconscionable advantage," or some other bad faith or circumstance which was "not equitable?" The evidence of record thus far, showing what we do know, suggests yes, it would. Specifically, we know: 1. The 14 patents that were disclosed to the USPTO mysteriously appeared in Mr. Cooper's files, and he has no knowledge of how. Query: when was that last time that any attorney opened up his file and just "found" relevant and material evidence in it from an unknown source, so relevant and material in fact, that he felt compelled to file it with the USPTO? If any attorney just "found" such evidence in his file, would not the most single reasonable thing to do be to find where it came from? 2. Mr. Cooper knew that Heartland wanted a "defensible" patent and that it intended to litigate that patent. Exhibit B. It is well established that the best way to make a patent "defensible" is to disclose to the USPTO all of the prior art known or knowable so as to obtain the full "presumption of validity" under 35 U.S.C. 282. See, e.g., MPEP §2001.5, "strengthen the patent," copy attached hereto as Exhibit O. Thus, Mr. Cooper had a 8 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 9 of 14 heightened responsibility to his client towards a prior art investigation. 3. The usual practice of Mr. Cooper's firm in dealing with RV patents, given the extensive prior art readily known in the industry, was to conduct detailed prior art investigations and disclose to the USPTO prior art extending as far back in time as could be readily found. See, e.g., Exhibit A. This was Mr. Cooper's practice as well. Exhibit S; page 99, line5 - page 100, line 4. This practice of Barnes & Thornburg's is not limited to RV patents. See, e.g., Exhibit P. This practice is usual with other firms dealing with RV patents. See, e.g., Exhibits Q and R. Thus, both Mr. Cooper and Mr. Gallagher (his successor as prosecution attorney) could be expected to follow their firms' established practices, especially as they were partners in those firms. 4. Mr. Cooper's firm had been recently alerted to the need for careful prior art investigation in the RV industry by losing the Damon patent case before this same court,4 and having to reimburse Forest River its attorneys fees and costs in that lawsuit. Further, just prior to the filing of Heartland's patent application, in the case of Stant Mfg., Inc. v. Gerdes, GmbH, Case No. 1:02-cv-1653 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Mr. Taylor, the same expert witness Heartland employed in this lawsuit, found that Mr. Cooper's firm had committed inequitable conduct in connection with another patent! See, e.g., Exhibit D to DE#89 in the present case. Thus, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Gallagher could be expected to be especially sensitive to not repeating the embarrassments their firm has Damon Corporation v. Forest River, Civil Action No. 3:99-cv-123 - RLM-RDP. Mr. Gallagher testified that he participated in that case while at Barnes & Thornburg. The case ended when a 1977 Scamper advertisement showing virtually the same "invention" was found to have been in Barnes & Thornburg's files since prior to the lawsuit. 9 4 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 10 of 14 suffered from past misconduct. 5. As mentioned in the present motion papers, DE#88, the patents that were disclosed went back only 20 years, clearly indicating to any practitioner that only an infringement search, at best, had been conducted or that only part of the patentability search was conducted. 6. Seven of the 14 patents rested upon the work of two inventors, Crean and Ingram (both of whom are well known in the RV industry, one being associated with Teton Homes and the other Alpha Leisure). Also as indicated in DE#88, the usual practice of looking a the cited references in these patents would have instantly revealed U.S. 2,322,841, Exhibit C. This `841 is highly material evidence because it completely anticipates the Heartland patent (compare Fig.14 of the `841 patent, for example, with Fig. 8 of the Heartland patent). 7. Barnes & Thornburg's billing records were only a portion of the bills that Heartland received in connection with the patent. Baker & Daniels sent bills concerning the patent, and possibly the "professional searcher" that Mr. Cooper referred to sent bills. See, Exhibit S; page 103, line 5 - page 104, line 14. As Heartland emphasizes in its response, the potential sources of the mysteriously appearing 14 patents could be "either a formal search, which I don't think I saw any notification, or reporting out letter that one was done." Formal searches are often done by professional searchers. Reporting letters or notifications or search reports are common when those are done. But Mr. Cooper claims not to have seen any, which would be explained if: 1.) the person who put those patents in Mr. Cooper's files only passed on part of the information received from the search, or 2.) Mr. Cooper was not telling the truth. There is corroboration in Barnes & Thornburg's billing records that no search was 10 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 11 of 14 done by that firm, so Mr. Cooper may have been telling the truth, and we come back to the first alternative. Someone else did the search and passed on at least part of it to Mr. Cooper. 8. It has repeatedly been pointed out to this Court elsewhere that in 2005 when Forest River first was accused of patent infringement by Baker & Daniels, it responded by informing those attorneys that the patent could not be infringed because of the prior art in the industry. Accordingly, it is reasonable to assume that law firm, as part of its pre-litigation investigation, did some investigation to find out if Forest River's allegation was correct. Nothing, however, was produced in that regard in response to Request No. 9 or, according to Mr. Cooper's records, nothing was given to him in that regard. Having been put on notice, did that large law firm simply ignore the possibility that the patent would be invalid? That is not the most likely reasonable inference in light of the prohibitions of FMC Corp., supra, and the fact that Mr. Gallagher had personally seen the devastating results of insufficient prelitigation investigation against Forest River previously. 9. The alternatives then narrow to the so-called "informal search" or a professional search done by some other law firm (like Baker & Daniels) or business entity. Given that the Heartland inventors were not sophisticated patent investigators and that there is no correspondence in Mr. Cooper's files which refers to any search being done by them other than in regard to the one Canadian prior trailer, an informal search being done by Heartland itself seems implausible. It is most reasonable to assume therefore, that any formal or informal search done here was done by some entity other than Heartland, either a law firm like Baker & Daniels who was preparing for litigation and would have an incentive to determine the likely validity of the patent prior to incurring such expense, or an accounting 11 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 12 of 14 firm valuing the patent in the context of prior art, or some other entity assisting Heartland specially for the prior art investigation. In those cases, it is also most likely that Heartland was billed for that work. Accordingly, a record of that would be in the bills or invoices that Heartland received and in its payments of those bills, even if Heartland somehow "lost" all correspondence requesting that investigation or the correspondence transmitting at least the 14 patents to Heartland. Therefore, as part of the "documents and things which describe, refer to, discuss, or relate to any investigation" from Request No. 9, Heartland should produce the requested billing records, even if it does not now have any correspondence about the search itself. Those documents would show who actually did the prior art investigation. It is reasonable to assume that whoever did the work has a record of the work that was done (the missing "Search Report") and correspondence showing what the parameters were of the search they were requested to perform. If, for example, the professional searcher was told to stop at 20 years and go no further, that would be, for example, strong evidence of an "intent not to know" on the part of Heartland or someone acting on its behalf the "cultivation of ignorance" prohibited by law. Further, since shortly after this lawsuit began Heartland admitted that the patent was invalid and granted the Covenant Not to Sue, the prior art that was not disclosed to the USPTO was clearly highly material, something Mr. Cooper had at least been nominally instructed by Heartland to find to make the patent "defensible." Given the high level of materiality, a relatively low level of deceptive intent may be sufficient to establish inequitable conduct or an unconscionable advantage. Accordingly, contrary to Heartland's assertions, the information sought is highly important. 12 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 13 of 14 Heartland argues that it is overly burdensome to produce this information, but gives no evidence of why. Instead, Baker & Daniels argues in effect that its since it did not take over prosecution responsibility until after the 14 patents were in Mr. Cooper's files, what investigation into prior art that firm did before then was not relevant. That is false. If those patents were given to Mr. Cooper or obtained even indirectly from Baker & Daniels, then the knowledge of prior art is attributed to Heartland. Moreover, Request No. 9 was not limited to merely investigations for patent prosecution purposes. Specifically, Baker & Daniels argues that "its is simply impossible that the time records related to Baker & Daniels' prosecution of the `650 patent . . . could show how those patents ended up in Barnes & Thornburg's files." Response, DE#93, at page 7. Perhaps so, but Baker & Daniels' billing records for its pre-litigation investigation, which was by definition "by or on behalf of Heartland into the patentability of the invention(s) of the patent in this lawsuit or the validity of the patent in this lawsuit" (See Request No. 9), could easily show how those 14 patents ended up with Mr. Cooper. Such wordsmithing does not absolve Baker & Daniels of its obligations under 37 C.F.R. §1.56 or release Heartland from the penalties of "cultivating ignorance." Therefore, no evidence of burden being shown, and evidence instead showing a high likelihood of materiality as well as being reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, the present motion should be granted. Dated: February 28, 2010 Respectfully submitted, s/Ryan M. Fountain ___________________________ Ryan M. Fountain (8544-71) firstname.lastname@example.com 420 Lincoln Way West 13 case 3:08-cv-00490-TLS-CAN document 99 filed 02/28/10 page 14 of 14 Mishawaka, Indiana 46544 Telephone: (574) 258-9296 Telecopy: (574) 256-5137 ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT Certificate of Service I certify that on February 28, 2010, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF system, which sent notification of such filing to all of the parties through at least the following counsel of record: David P. Irmscher Abigail M. Butler email@example.com email@example.com s/Ryan M. Fountain Ryan M. Fountain ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT EXHIBITS Exhibit O Exhibit P Exhibit Q Exhibit R Exhibit S MPEP Section 2002.5 Excerpt of US Patent 7,600,817 Excerpt of US Patent 6,983,979 Excerpt of US Patent 7,350,850 Excerpt of Greg Cooper Deposition Transcript 14


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Posted: Thursday, September 12th 2013 at 1:48pm
Union Co. launches free discount drug savings program
By Staff
BLAIRSVILLE - Union County has joined the Coast2Coast Rx Card program.
The new Coast2Coast Rx card will allow all County residents, regardless of income, age, or health status to participate in the program and save on the cost of their prescription medications.
County officials say the program has saved cardholders throughout the nation an average of 60% in 2013 on the cost of prescription drugs. Even pets and people living outside the County are able to take part in the program. The Rx card is distributed free of charge and may be used at all pharmacy chains and most independent pharmacies in Union County and includes over 60,000 drugs in its formulary.
With healthcare costs on the rise, prescription drug discounts will help ease some of the financial burdens individuals and families are facing at a time when they need it the most, said Union CountyCommissioner Lamar Paris. There are NO eligibility requirements so the Rx card is expected to have a sizeable impact on uninsured residents or residents facing high insurance deductibles. If a particular drug isnt covered under a persons health plan they can use the card to save on those prescriptions.
Providing savings for residents through the Rx program will come at no expense to the County. Besides the discount on prescriptions, the card also provides discounts on dental, vision, veterinary and hearing services; plus discounts on lab and imaging tests and diabetes supplies and equipment for all family members.
The Coast2Coast Rx card will be available for residents at most participating pharmacies, governmental offices, libraries and County health facilities. Residents will also be able to print the Rx card and view the nearest participating locations at www.coast2coastrx.com.
Other Georgia Counties in the program include Augusta-Richmond, Barrow, Banks, Ben Hill, Charlton, Chatham, Cherokee, Cobb, Effingham, Greene, Habersham, Heard, Jackson, Jones, Liberty, Lumpkin, Oconee, Peach, and Turner, Walton, White Counties. For more information, contact Peggy Deyton in the Union County Commissioner's office.
Associated Categories: Business News, Local/State News
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Connect by worshiping God with us.Our Sunday services at 10:15am are always open to the public and are designed primarily for the worship of the Almighty, Triune God (Father, Son and Spirit).
At our services you can expect attendees will be given the opportunity to worship God in prayer, in song, through the arts, in testimony, in giving financially and through relevant Bible preaching.
Connect by loving people with us.
In worshiping God, we discover the love he has for us and commands us to have for other people. We find we love people best in smaller groups. No matter what your age, there is a group for you.
A majority of our small groups meet Sunday mornings before the worship service at 9:00am, but for a complete list of our groups, go to this page: (link coming soon).
Connect by serving the world with us.In worshiping God and through an attitude that compels us to love people we then endeavor to serve the world. The people of UBC serve the world in both small groups and as a large group.
God has placed a burden on our hearts for the people of Fayette, Glasgow and Armstrong. This has shown itself in a variety of ways from our response to several victims of total-loss home fires to an annual "rummage sale" where only donations are accepted for the gently used or new items provided by our members.
In 2010, God called us to reach out to the people of Nicaragua. God has made this fruitful through a partnership with members, Timothy and Jessie Crabtree, who serve full-time in Nicaragua as BMDMI missionaries. The first year, Pastor Clay took a youth with him, which lead to a group of six going in 2011. We are praying for God to allow this to remain an annual international serving opportunity.