Children Exposed to HIV Before Birth at Risk for Language Delay (HealthDay)

THURSDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- School-age children exposed to HIV before birth are at increased risk for language problems and could benefit from early diagnosis and classroom intervention, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at 468 children, ages 7 to 16, born to mothers with HIV infection during pregnancy. Of those children, 306 were HIV-infected and 162 did not have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Overall, 35 percent of the children had difficulty understanding spoken words and expressing themselves verbally, said the researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

On a series of language ability tests, the average score of the children exposed to HIV before birth was in the lowest 21 percent of all children who have taken the test.

All the children exposed to HIV before birth tended to have language delays, regardless of whether they later become infected with HIV, the researchers said.

"Our results show that children exposed to HIV have more than twice the chance of having a language impairment than do children in the general population," Dr. George Siberry, of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Maternal AIDS Branch of the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in an NIH news release.

The researchers weren't able to determine if the high rates of language problems in HIV-exposed children are actually due to HIV exposure or are caused by other factors, such as family status, mothers' substance use, environment, or social or economic background.

The study recently appeared in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Routine screening for language impairment might benefit children exposed to HIV before birth, even if they don't have any obvious signs of language problems, the researchers suggested.

More information

The U.S. National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities has more about speech and language impairments.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/aids/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120113/hl_hsn/childrenexposedtohivbeforebirthatriskforlanguagedelay

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Olympus sues executives for damages in cover-up

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, Olympus President Shuichi Takayama contemplates before he answers reporters' questions during a press conference in Tokyo. On Tuesday Jan. 10, 2011, Olympus Corp. said it has sued 19 former and current executives for damages the Japanese camera and medical equipment maker says it has suffered over a massive cover-up of investment losses. The lawsuit, filed Sunday in Tokyo District Court, targets former CEO Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, current President Shuichi Takayama and 17 other executives that the company says participated in or knew about the fraudulent activity. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, Olympus President Shuichi Takayama contemplates before he answers reporters' questions during a press conference in Tokyo. On Tuesday Jan. 10, 2011, Olympus Corp. said it has sued 19 former and current executives for damages the Japanese camera and medical equipment maker says it has suffered over a massive cover-up of investment losses. The lawsuit, filed Sunday in Tokyo District Court, targets former CEO Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, current President Shuichi Takayama and 17 other executives that the company says participated in or knew about the fraudulent activity. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2011 photo, then Olympus Corp. Chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa speaks at a press conference in Tokyo to announce the Japanese camera and precision instruments maker dismissed Michael Woodford as president over management discord and appointed himself to double as president effective on the day. On Tuesday Jan. 10, 2011, Olympus Corp. said it has sued 19 former and current executives for damages the Japanese camera and medical equipment maker says it has suffered over a massive cover-up of investment losses. The lawsuit, filed Sunday in Tokyo District Court, targets former CEO Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, current President Shuichi Takayama and 17 other executives that the company says participated in or knew about the fraudulent activity. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, FRANCE, HONG KONG, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA

TOKYO (AP) ? Financially battered Olympus Corp. is suing 19 former and current executives for damages that the Japanese camera and medical equipment maker says it has suffered over a massive cover-up of investment losses.

The lawsuit, filed Sunday by auditors on behalf of the company in Tokyo District Court, targets former CEO Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, current President Shuichi Takayama and 17 other executives that the company says participated in or knew about the fraudulent activity.

The scheme ? which first came to light after former President Michael Woodford blew the whistle ? has raised serious questions about corporate governance in Japan, and whether major companies are complying adequately with global standards.

Olympus said Tuesday the lawsuit follows a report from an investigation by an independent panel that the Tokyo-based company had set up. Then-President Masatoshi Kishimoto, as well as subsequent executives ? including Kikukawa ? knew about the scheme, it said. A small circle of employees was also involved.

Six board members implicated in the report, including Takayama, will resign at the next shareholder meeting, scheduled for March or April, Olympus said.

Kikukawa is being sued for 3.6 billion yen ($47 million). The company is seeking smaller amounts from other defendants, including 1 billion yen ($13 million) from Kishimoto.

Olympus said losses related to the cover-up scandal totaled 85.9 billion yen ($1.1 billion), according to its latest investigation.

But it will demand no more than 3.6 billion yen ($47 million) in damages, which will likely be spread among the plaintiffs because of their inability to pay such exorbitant amounts, according to the company.

The scheme came to light late last year after Woodford raised questions about huge payments for financial advice and expensive acquisitions of companies unrelated to its mainstay businesses. The transactions, Olympus later acknowledged, were used to hide 117.7 billion yen ($1.5 billion) in investment losses stemming from the 1990s.

Tuesday's report also identified 25 executives who were not responsible, including Woodford.

Woodford was fired in October after raising his concerns. Last week, he said he gave up his fight for a comeback to the top after failing to win backing from major investors and megabanks.

Woodford, a British national, had demanded the resignation of the entire board, including Takayama, who had replaced him and initially denied any wrongdoing in the spending.

Under Japanese law, auditors represent the company when executives on the board are targeted in damage lawsuits. In the Olympus lawsuit, three auditors, two of them outsiders, are representing the company. None of them were implicated in the scandal.

Olympus claims in the lawsuit that it suffered direct losses to its finances, in terms of fees and interest paid to run the scheme ? as well as losses stemming from the improper handling of the scandal after it surfaced, including how Woodford was dealt with.

"The credibility of Olympus' corporate governance and the public's trust of Olympus were seriously damaged," it said.

Japanese prosecutors have begun a separate investigation and raided company headquarters and Kikukawa's home last month.

Olympus barely met its mid-December deadline to avoid being removed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange by filing corrected earnings for the April-September first half and for the past five fiscal years.

Olympus' stock has plunged amid the scandal. It surged nearly 20 percent Tuesday, following a report Monday in The Nikkei financial daily that Olympus was likely to avoid delisting, but it is still trading at about half its value prior to the scandal. Tokyo markets were closed Monday for a national holiday.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-10-AS-Japan-Olympus/id-323db3f765a648b983df1e0bf80394a6

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A diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults

ScienceDaily (Jan. 11, 2012) ? Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar.

These findings are published online ahead of the February print issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

The controlled, randomized feeding study, which involved 80 healthy Seattle-area men and women -- half of normal weight and half overweight or obese -- found that among overweight and obese study participants, a low-glycemic-load diet reduced a biomarker of inflammation called C-reactive protein by about 22 percent.

"This finding is important and clinically useful since C-reactive protein is associated with an increased risk for many cancers as well as cardiovascular disease," said lead author Marian Neuhouser, Ph.D., R.D., a member of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division at the Hutchinson Center. "Lowering inflammatory factors is important for reducing a broad range of health risks. Showing that a low-glycemic-load diet can improve health is important for the millions of Americans who are overweight or obese."

Neuhouser and colleagues also found that among overweight and obese study participants, a low-glycemic-load diet modestly increased -- by about 5 percent -- blood levels of a protein hormone called adiponectin. This hormone plays a key role in protecting against several cancers, including breast cancer, as well as metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hardening of the arteries.

"Glycemic load" refers to how the intake of carbohydrates, adjusted for total grams of carbohydrate, affects blood-sugar levels. Lentils or pinto beans have a glycemic load that is approximately three times lower than instant mashed potatoes, for example, and therefore won't cause blood-sugar levels to rise as quickly.

Study participants completed two 28-day feeding periods in random order -- one featuring high-glycemic-load carbohydrates, which typically are low-fiber, highly processed carbs such as white sugar, fruit in canned syrup and white flour; and the other featuring low-glycemic-load carbohydrates, which are typically higher in fiber, such as whole-grain breads and cereals. The diets were identical in carbohydrate content, calories and macronutrients. All food was provided by the Hutchinson Center's Human Nutrition Laboratory, and study participants maintained weight and physical activity throughout.

"Because the two diets differed only by glycemic load, we can infer that the changes we observed in important biomarkers were due to diet alone," Neuhouser said.

"The bottom line is that when it comes to reducing markers of chronic-disease risk, not all carbohydrates are created equal. Quality matters," she said. "There are easy dietary changes people can make. Whenever possible, choose carbohydrates that are less likely to cause rapid spikes in blood glucose." These types of low-glycemic-load carbs include whole grains; legumes such as kidney beans, soy beans, pinto beans and lentils; milk; and fruits such as apples, oranges, grapefruit and pears. Neuhouser also recommends avoiding high-glycemic-load carbohydrates that quickly raise blood glucose. These include highly processed foods that are full of white sugar and white flour, and sugar-sweetened beverages and breakfast cereals.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute's Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Initiative

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. M. L. Neuhouser, Y. Schwarz, C. Wang, K. Breymeyer, G. Coronado, C.-Y. Wang, K. Noar, X. Song, J. W. Lampe. A Low-Glycemic Load Diet Reduces Serum C-Reactive Protein and Modestly Increases Adiponectin in Overweight and Obese Adults. Journal of Nutrition, 2011; DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.149807

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111154043.htm

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Comcast network upgrade blocks DNS blocking, could make SOPA self-incompatible

Now here's a quirky twist in the ongoing SOPA opera. Comcast has just deployed DNSSEC technology across its entire internet service, which adds an extra layer of security to websites by checking that they have a special DNS signature to prove their identity. All well and good, except that in the process Comcast has been forced to admit that DNSSEC is "technically incompatible" with DNS redirect tools -- which happen to be precisely the tools that the Stop Online Piracy Act would use to block websites accused of copyright violation. The irony only deepens when you realize that Comcast is a major proponent of SOPA and, if anything, ought to be able to comply with its future edicts.

Comcast network upgrade blocks DNS blocking, could make SOPA self-incompatible originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Techdirt, The Verge  |  Comcast(1), Comcast(2)  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/6HPd0BwTqlw/

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Paul Ryan, Target of Reddit Campaign, Won't Support SOPA (Mashable)

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) will not support the Stop Online Piracy Act, according to a statement released by his office Monday. In the statement, Ryan calls the Internet "one of the most magnificent expressions of freedom and free enterprise in history" and says "it should stay that way."

[More from Mashable: HTML5 Apps: The Future of AT&T?s Mobile Store]

According to Ryan, SOPA is an attempted solution to the "legitimate problem" of digital piracy, but the bill "creates the precedent and possibility for undue regulation, censorship and legal abuse."

Congressman Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, became a target of the Reddit community last month. Reddit users considered Ryan's previous stance on SOPA too vague -- and took issue with the $288,600 that the Congressman had accepted from pro-SOPA groups.

[More from Mashable: Live From the Samsung CES 2012 Press Conference [LIVE BLOG]]

Redditors began "Operation Pull Ryan," a grassroots campaign to prevent Ryan's re-election in 2012. The community embraced Ryan's opponent, Rob Zerban, who is running for Congress in November of this year. Zerban returned Reddit's affection, hosting an "AMA," or "Ask Me Anything," where he fielded questions directly from Reddit users.

Zerban credited Reddit with influencing Ryan's decision on SOPA. In a statement posted on the social media site, Zerban said: "Reddit was able to force the House Budget Chair to reverse course -- shock waves will be felt throughout the establishment in Washington today, and other lawmakers will take notice."

SEE ALSO: Fears of SOPA ?Unfounded,? Says Bill?s Sponsor | U.S. Wanted a Spanish SOPA

In fact, Reddit may not have had an impact on Ryan's SOPA decision. Paul's position on the bill was unclear until now. As a conservative Republican who favors smaller government, it makes sense that Ryan would oppose a bill which gives more authority to the Federal government. On the other hand, the bill was introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith, a conservative Republican from Texas, so party labels are not a reliable indicator of SOPA support. Congressman Ryan's office did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Is the tide turning against SOPA in Congress? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/enterprise/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20120109/tc_mashable/paul_ryan_target_of_reddit_campaign_wont_support_sopa

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SolarKindle covers keep your e-reader alive longer

By Rosa Golijan

David Friedman/msnbc.com

Worried that your Kindle e-reader will run out of juice before you manage to finish reading the latest bestseller? You could certainly reach for a power cord and charge the gadget's battery the old-fashioned way?? that'd solve your problem. Or you could try an eco-friendly solution?? a solar-powered cover.

The SolarKindle?has a solar panel which will siphon the power of the sun to keep the cover's built-in reserve battery charged up. And that reserve battery will in turn keep your Kindle alive longer.

According to SolarFocus, the maker of the SolarKindle covers, a fully charged reserve battery could provide "up to 80 percent of backup power to the Kindle." The company explains that given that the battery takes eight hours of direct sunlight to charge, this means that each hour of charging gives you almost three days of Kindle use. (Of course you'll get less reading time if you use the SolarKindle's built-in pop-up reading light.)

The SolarKindle will set you back $80 and can be ordered now.

Related stories:

Want more tech news, silly puns or amusing links? You'll get plenty of all three if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts, or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/08/10059337-solarkindle-covers-keep-your-e-reader-alive-longer

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Nigerian sect kills 15; Christians vow defense (AP)

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria ? A radical Muslim sect attacked a church worship service in Nigeria's northeast during assaults that killed at least 15 people, authorities said Saturday, as Christians vowed to defend themselves from the group's widening sectarian fight against the country's government.

The attacks by the sect known as Boko Haram came after it promised to kill Christians living in Nigeria's largely Muslim north, exploiting long-standing religious and ethnic tensions in the nation of more than 160 million people. The pledge by the leader of an umbrella organization called the Christian Association of Nigeria now raises the possibility of retaliatory violence.

In the last few days alone, Boko Haram has killed at least 44 people, despite the oil-rich nation's president declaring a state of emergency in regions hit by the sect.

Speaking Saturday to journalists, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, vowed the group's members would adequately protect themselves from the sect. He declined to offer specifics, raising concerns about retaliation.

"We have decided to work out means to defend ourselves against these senseless killings," Oritsejafor said.

He later added: "We cannot sit back and watch people being slaughtered like animals everyday, going to the church, shooting people, killing them. This is unacceptable."

In Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, gunmen covered their faces with black cloth when they attacked Apostolic Church on Friday night, local police commissioner Ade Shinaba said. Shinaba said at least eight worshippers died in that attack.

At a nearby beauty salon, at least three others were killed in a similar attack.

"Three gunmen with their faces covered with black cloth burst into my salon and started shooting at customers, chanting, 'God is great, God is great,'" said Stephen Tizhe, 35.

Responding to the violence, Adamawa state Gov. Murtala Nyako ordered a 24-hour curfew throughout the rural state. The violence comes ahead of a planned gubernatorial election later this month.

In the town of Potiskum in Yobe state, gunmen set two banks ablaze with gasoline bombs, starting a gunfight with police that lasted three hours Friday, local police commissioner Tanko Lawan said. At least two people were killed in the fight, he said.

On Saturday, sect gunmen also shot and killed two Christian students who attend the University of Maiduguri in nearby Borno state, local police commissioner Simeon Midenda said.

No arrests have been made in any of the attacks, authorities said.

The attacks came after gunmen claimed by Boko Haram attacked a town hall earlier Friday in Mubi, Adamawa state, killing at least 20 people who had gathered for a meeting of the Christian Igbo ethnic group. On Thursday night, the sect also attacked a church in Gombe state, killing at least eight people.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, is responsible for at least 510 killings last year alone, according to an Associated Press count. It has targeted churches in the past in its campaign to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria.

The group claimed responsibility for attacks that killed at least 42 people in Christmas Day strikes that included the bombing of a Catholic church near Abuja. The group also claimed an August suicide car bombing that targeted the U.N. headquarters in the capital, killing 25 people and wounding more than 100.

Nigeria's central government has been slow to respond to the sect. On Dec. 31, President Goodluck Jonathan declared regions of Borno, Niger, Plateau and Yobe states to be under a state of emergency, meaning authorities can make arrests without proof and conduct searches without warrants. He also ordered international borders near Borno and Yobe state to be closed.

However, the areas where the recent church and town hall attacks happened are not in the areas marked by the president.

Boko Haram promised to begin attacking Christians in Nigeria's north several days before the recent violence. The new killings have sparked fears among Christians living in the north about the group and caused some to flee. There also has been at least one report of retaliatory violence against Muslims living in Nigeria's mostly Christian south in recent days as well.

___

Associated Press writer Lekan Oyekanmi in Abuja, Nigeria contributed to this report.

___

Jon Gambrell reported from Lagos, Nigeria and can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120107/ap_on_re_af/af_nigeria_violence

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[StraightFromTheA [SFTA] - Atlanta Gossip, News & Entertainment] NFL Star Loses Wife to Cancer After Only 1 Month of Marriage… [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

This story of true love and dedication should give us all a reason to pause and reflect during our transition into a new year.

Keasha Ruteleage & Christopher Draft were married November 27, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.

Chris Draft, an 11 year NFL veteran married Keasha in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

During the wedding ceremony, Keasha wheeled her way down the aisle in a wheel chair, taking the last few steps to say her ?I do?s? to the love of her life.

Sadly, after only one month of wedded bliss, Keasha Ruteleage-Draft succumbed to her battle with cancer on December 27, 2011.

Their short lived marriage does not negate the love that was evident between the two.

More photos + the Draft?s wedding video below:

Life is way too short.

Do what you?ve always wanted to do? say what you?ve always wanted to say? live how you?ve always wanted to live.

Try not to sweat the small stuff, treat people right and love as hard as you can.

And last but not least? be happy.

My prayers and condolences go out to the Draft family.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Atlblogs/~3/v5-2GtoBh9c/

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7.0 earthquake hits eastern Japan

TOKYO?? A magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook eastern Japan on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

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Despite the magnitude, there was no danger of a tsunami, said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos tweeted that he was "about to greet Emperor and Empress for New Year when Imperial Palace began to shake."

The mid-afternoon quake swayed buildings in Tokyo but it did not disrupt the final of the Emperor's Cup football tournament under way at the National Stadium, AFP, the French news agency, reported.

A spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power said there were no reports of any abnormalities at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plan following the quake.

Some high-speed train services in northern Japan were suspended after the earthquake, but soon resumed operations, Kyodo news reported.

The Meteorological Agency says the offshore quake Sunday struck about 370 kilometers (230 miles) below the sea surface. The agency said there was no danger of a tsunami. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Northeastern Japan was devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing. Japan, which lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is one of the world's most seismically active countries.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45838828/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/

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Video: First Week of Trading Coming Up

A look ahead to the first trading week in the new year, and discussing what factors will impact the markets, with Komal Sri-Kumar, TCW chief global strategist and Jeanie Wyatt, South Texas Money Management CEO.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/45829049/

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