Month: August 2015

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who’s chronically sleep deprived, a new study may give you a little more motivation to get your zzzzz’s. Researchers found that people who slept less than six hours a night were over four times more likely to catch a cold than those who got more than seven hours of sleep. The findings were published today in the September issue of the journal Sleep. A team of researchers

While studying for a certification exam, I came across a question that stayed with me well after taking the practice test. The case discussed a patient who was prescribed antibiotics by his physician for a presumed bacterial illness and then returned the following week with an antibiotic-associated diarrheal infection. The test question then asked what could be concluded from this case. The answer: informed consent (i.e., patient permission for a medical intervention) was not properly

Imagine a universe where you were free to be you with all of your good, bad and ugly qualities. You are loved in this place exactly as you are. Do you see it? Guess what? You just fantasized. “Fantasy” is usually associated with unicorns or sex (and sometimes both–we don’t judge), but fantasy is simply your individual way of seeing the world. Fantasies are comprised of your hopes, dreams, fears, and your plans for the

Labor Day this year has taken on a new meaning to me. While I certainly appreciate every single person who we honor today for their contribution to the workforce, I am very troubled about a growing concern among many who are currently working either for someone else or for themselves. And it is a growing matter that is haunting many here in the United States and one of the reasons that I believe is the

My son has always been a prosperous thinker, from when he precipitated his first game console at age five, till when he left me an anonymous note that said: “God called you and said he would call you back later. He wants you to buy your son a new surfboard and some clothes.” And by his 30s, he was co-owner and creative director of an apparel store that one year GQ Magazine named “the best

After struggling with fertility issues and losing a baby at 24 weeks, Mandy Stephens became a parent this summer with the help of a very special surrogate — her own mother.  Fifty-one-year-old Sherri Dickson volunteered to be her 32-year-old daughter’s surrogate after Stephens’ first pregnancy ended in early labor and loss of her baby boy, whom she named Theo. “Watching your child lose a child is the definition of sadness,” Dickson said during an appearance on

This article was written by Jenny Sugar and repurposed with permission from POPSUGAR Fitness. If you want to save money and calories every week, brown-bagging it is the way to go. But are your lunches from home as healthy as they can be? Find out which food swaps you should be making that offer more protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you feeling fuller longer. What to brown bag: low-cal chicken salad made with Greek

If you skip breakfast, don’t worry about overeating at lunch or the rest of the day, report Cornell nutritional scientists July 2 in the journal Physiology and Behavior. In fact, nixing breakfast a few times a week may be …

Lead researcher Greg Kawchuk is a professor at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. Credit: University of Alberta (Edmonton) Depending on whom you ask or what scientific paper you read last, spinal manipulation is either a mercifully quick, effective treatment for low-back pain or a complete waste of time. It turns out everyone’s right. Researchers at the University of Alberta have found that spinal manipulation—applying force to move joints to treat

A 19-year-old woman forced into prostitution and rescued by the Spanish National Police in Madrid has a bar code on her wrist. The tattoo also displays the amount of money she owed her traffickers: 2,000 euros. The woman had multiple injuries from being beaten. Credit: Spanish National Police “It’s like she’s not really there.”- Study participant who bought sex Men who buy sex have less empathy for women in prostitution than men who don’t buy

Out of nothing, something emerges. Swiftly, matter fills air. That nothing, of course, is always something. And that something is never nothing. Empty space is vast full of life. Ready to bloom. Nectar in the ether. There’s sweet nothingness in your life on the verge to emerge. Right now taking shape on earth, pouring forth from the pulse of creation. Dip your hand in the cosmic honey. It’s where figs grow. Empty space is vast

IMAGE: Richelle Koopman, M.D., associate professor of family and community medicine at the MU School of Medicine, says it is time to redesign electronic health records to better meet the needs… view more Credit: MU Healtht/ Justin Kelley COLUMBIA, Mo. (Aug. 31, 2015) When physicians prepare for patient visits, one of their first steps is to review clinic notes or health records that recap their patients’ medical history. Since the Health Information Technology for Economic and

NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Ignacio and viewed the storm in infrared light, providing valuable temperature data. Aqua saw a weaker Ignacio moving parallel to the Hawaiian Islands. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard Aqua gathers infrared data that shows temperatures. That AIRS data was made into a false-colored infrared image from August 30 at 22:47 UTC (6:47 p.m. EDT) and showed high, cold, strong thunderstorms surrounded the center of Hurricane Ignacio.

Researchers link babies’ performance on cognitive tasks to later learning progress Study underscores importance of talking to your baby well before they can talk back Findings may eventually contribute to reducing “vocabulary gap” EVANSTON, Ill. — At 12 months old, your infant’s ability to group objects according to the names associated with them — as opposed to their appearance alone — offers a glimpse into how his or her vocabulary will develop by the time

IMAGE: Toward the end of this century (project here for the years 2068 to 2098) the possibility of storm surges of eight to 11 meters (26 to 36 feet) increases significantly… view more Credit: Ning Lin, Kerry Emanuel Researchers at Princeton and MIT have used computer models to show that severe tropical cyclones could hit a number of coastal cities worldwide that are widely seen as unthreatened by such powerful storms. The researchers call these potentially

IMAGE: Berkeley Lab scientist Evan Mills found that gaming computers offer a potential estimated savings of $18 billion per year globally by 2020. view more Credit: Berkeley Lab In the world of computer gaming, bragging rights are accorded to those who can boast of blazing-fast graphics cards, the most powerful processors, the highest-resolution monitors, and the coolest decorative lighting. They are not bestowed upon those crowing about the energy efficiency of their system. If they were,

(Philadelphia, PA) – Early intervention facilitated by a digital health application for reporting symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) provides key benefits for patients, according to the results of a Temple-led, two-year clinical study. COPD is a serious chronic respiratory disease that is often characterized by flare-ups, called acute exacerbations, in which the patient may experience increased coughing, mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, and a feeling of tightness in their chest. If exacerbation symptoms

Last Updated Aug 31, 2015 9:51 AM EDT When Dr. Bryden Stanley, a veterinarian, saw Mr. Moo, a 9-month-old dog with a cleft palate, for the first time, she wasn’t sure how she was going to treat him. The head of surgery for small animals at the Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Stanley specializes in soft tissue surgery for animals, but there was something unique about this mixed-breed puppy: he had absolutely no

Malek Chamoun via Getty Images As people stay in the dating pool longer than ever before, women are continuously inundated with advice on whether or not to sleep with someone on the first date. Making that decision often involves canceling out a lot of unhelpful noise (whether it’s from your peers or from your date), not to mention worrying about scary stuff like STDs and the possibility of getting pregnant. Oh, and don’t forget to factor

The language you use when you talk to yourself has a tremendous effect on your self-esteem. As noted in the book What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, Helmstetter discusses that 75 percent of our mental programming is negative. This is a result of the misunderstanding that most people have about the impact their words have. The words you use when talking to yourself or others can affect the subconscious mind. A simple, “You

Aging is a unique experience. For some, the effects will present themselves sooner rather than later, and for some who are luckier, the “aches and pains” and won’t present themselves as prominently. Click Here to see the Complete List of Best Workouts for People Over 40 Either way, exercise will remain an important part of your daily routine for a handful of different reasons. “In your 40s, it’s more important than ever to pay attention

Talk about making a statement. After being diagnosed with depression last year, 20-year-old student Bekah Miles decided to get a tattoo that accurately captured her battle with the disorder. She posted a picture of the tattoo on Facebook along with a few words about her personal experience. The image reads “I’m fine” to most, but from Miles’ perspective, the tattoo says “save me.” The artwork — and Miles’ accompanying post — is an honest insight into

Fitness tips you won’t hear anywhere else (because they are so outstanding, not because they are delusional): When you are working out, always take off your wedding ring or any rings. No, I’m serious. Don’t be a hero. You are already lifting weights — why add the extra tonnage to the one arm? Ouch. Do you really want your left arm to out bulk your right? No way Jose. Oh, you’ve been working out forever

Schematic drawing of how a monobody (yellow) prevents the enzyme beta-galactosidase from producing long sugar chains. Credit: Shohei Koide Scientists from the University of Chicago have developed a novel approach to control the activity of enzymes through the use of synthetic, antibody-like proteins known as monobodies. A team led by Shohei Koide, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, was able to change the specificity of an enzyme, widely used in the food industry, without

/ no comments HealthSouth Corporation

In patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) despite standard treatment, additional electrical isolation of an area called the left atrial appendage (LAA) can improve freedom from AF without increasing complications, results of the BELIEF study show. The findings were presented today in a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2015. “Empirical left atrial appendage isolation, along with the standard approach of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and ablation of extra-pulmonary triggers is superior to the

A major multi-national study of suicides has identified the behaviour patterns which precede many suicide attempts. This may lead to changes in clinical practice in the care of patients affected with depression, as it shows the clinical factors which confer major risk of suicide attempts. The statistics for suicide are frightening. According to the WHO, more than 800,000 people commit suicide every year, with perhaps 20 times that number attempting suicide. Suicide is one of

/ no comments Regen BioPharma Inc.

(HealthDay)—For patients with atrial fibrillation receiving anticoagulant treatment, the presence of anemia is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic events, bleeding complications, and mortality, according to …

HIV-1 Virus. Credit: J Roberto Trujillo/Wikipedia HIV-1 infection with multiple founder variants points to poorer clinical outcomes than infection with a single variant, according to a paper published today in the journal Nature Medicine. In the study researchers analyzed large sample sets from two important HIV vaccine efficacy trials—the Step HIV vaccine clinical trial (HVTN 502) and RV144, the landmark vaccine clinical trial conducted in Thailand—to evaluate whether genetic characteristics of the founder viral populations

Hero Images via Getty Images These simple poses tone your bod while also offering a bedroom benefit.By Amy Schlinger, SELF As if the perks to all your yoga poses aren’t good enough, we’ve got a sexy revelation for you: Many poses can help you have better sex and feel more confident in the bedroom. That’s because specific asanas can help make you more aware and present, improve flexibility and teach to you tighten and engage

i Janet Hubert (left), James Avery, Tatyana Ali and Will Smith in the first season of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Alice S. Hall/NBC via Getty Images hide caption itoggle caption Alice S. Hall/NBC via Getty Images Janet Hubert (left), James Avery, Tatyana Ali and Will Smith in the first season of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Alice S. Hall/NBC via Getty Images Will Smith from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was my first

Efforts to improve automated external defibrillator (AED) usage increase bystander defibrillation in public places but not at home, reveals a study of more than 25 000 cardiac arrest patients presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Steen Hansen, a PhD student in the Department of Health, Science and Technology at Aalborg University in Denmark. Efforts included increased numbers of AEDs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education and a nationwide AED registry. “An AED promptly used by a

Elixirgen, LLC

/ no comments Resverlogix Corp.

A group of UK scientists have found a way of understanding how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can give relief to severely depressed patients. TMS is used as an alternative to Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), but it is not known how it achieves its therapeutic effect. Understanding how it works may open the door to better, more targeted treatment for depression and other conditions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation works by applying a magnetic pulse to the frontal part

Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO, ADR:BMICY), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and cancer, today announced that its BNC101 IND submission has passed review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bionomics plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with metastatic colon cancer and in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer prior to 31 December 2015. Bionomics’

Respiratory infection is associated with a four-fold increased risk of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Catarina Quina-Rodrigues, a cardiologist at Hospital de Braga in Portugal. The findings highlight the importance of diagnostic alertness for respiratory infections in AMI patients so that therapeutic measures can be promptly taken. “Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Europe and around the world,” said

Joint paint is one of the key symptoms in patients infected with the Chikungunya virus. Credit: Creatas Images/Creatas/Thinkstock Infection with the Chikungunya virus produces a ‘signature’ pattern of immune messenger molecules in the blood, according to the latest research from A*STAR scientists1. This discovery will hopefully improve patients’ prognoses, and lead to better outcomes for the often-debilitating disease. The Chikungunya virus, spread by mosquitoes, is on the rise. Millions of people are already affected in

Depressed patients have more frequent chest pain even in the absence of coronary artery disease, according to results from the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Salim Hayek, a cardiologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, US. The findings suggest that pain and depression may share a common neurochemical pathway. “Depression is a common and well recognised risk factor for the development of heart disease,” said Dr Hayek.

Earlier this month, Kim Kardashian posted an unexpected drug endorsement to her Instagram account that initiated a title wave of reaction among federal regulators and health practitioners: “OMG. Have you heard about this?” Kardashian posted, speaking about the morning sickness drug Diclegis. “[I]t’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby. I’m so excited and happy with my results….” The post was shared with her 42.4 million Instagram followers and “liked” more

Treating food with powerful electromagnetic radiation in order to kill harmful bacteria—yes, that sounds extremely freaking scary and awful. So it’s no surprise that food irradiation is the subject of some debate in the food world: Governments and health agencies stand behind it, but a number of consumer advocacy groups say it’s a failed and potentially harmful system. MORE: The 10 Dirtiest Foods You’re Eating Feel like you’re a little late to this great food-tech

Health insurers have been telling us for years that their Medicare Advantage plans, which are federally funded but privately run alternatives to traditional fee-for-service Medicare, can provide better care—at lower cost—than the government. One of my priorities when I worked in the industry was to perpetuate that notion. And I believed the PR, so much so that I encouraged my own parents to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. But is the PR true? The

By Ben Hirschler and Ludwig Burger (Reuters) – Bayer will move a heart failure drug into final-stage testing this year, boosting its ambitions in cardiovascular treatments after the experimental medicine showed a “striking” reduction in deaths in a mid-stage trial. Having done well with recently launched drugs such as stroke prevention pill Xarelto and eye treatment Eylea, the German company is eager to show it has another potential billion-dollar-plus winner in heart drug finerenone. Finerenone,

When Dr. Bryden Stanley, a veterinarian, saw Mr. Moo, a 9-month-old dog with a cleft palate, for the first time, she wasn’t sure how she was going to treat him. The head of surgery for small animals at the Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Stanley specializes in soft tissue surgery for animals, but there was something unique about this mixed-breed puppy: he had absolutely no soft palate. She consulted with Dr. John Girotto,

i Delegates took their seats during the plenary session at the Bonn climate change conference on March 10, 2014. Negotiations resume this week; by the end of the year, the U.N. hopes to have forged a new global agreement. UNclimatechange/Flickr It seems to be part of human nature to want to belong to a group. People constantly form groups, in all kinds of situations, and high-stakes negotiations on climate change are no exception. Ever heard

i Regan Detweiler, training in February 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. A rigidly low-carbohydrate diet in high school left Detweiler vulnerable to stress fractures, doctors say. She’s eating better now — and feeling better, too. Courtesy of Nationwide Children’s Hospital hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Regan Detweiler, training in February 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. A rigidly low-carbohydrate diet in high school left Detweiler vulnerable to stress fractures, doctors say. She’s eating better

Escherichia coli. Credit: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH Monoclonal antibodies, proteins that bind to and destroy foreign invaders in our bodies, routinely are used as therapeutic agents to fight a wide range of maladies including breast cancer, leukemia, asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and transplant rejection. Humira, a treatment for arthritis and Crohn’s disease, was among the first lab-engineered antibody drugs. Typically, monoclonal antibodies are manufactured in animal cell lines, such as Chinese hamster ovary

Results of a clinical trial seem to show the first effective treatment for the negative symptoms – withdrawal, lack of emotion, and apathy – associated with schizophrenia. This work is presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology conference in Amsterdam. Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health conditions, with around 1 in 100 people experiencing schizophrenia in their lifetime*. The main symptoms fall into 3 categories: positive symptoms, such as delusions and

Teens are often warned to beware the undue influence of peer pressure, but new research suggests that following the pack in adolescence may have some unexpected benefits for physical health in early adulthood. The study was published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Psychological scientists Joseph P. Allen, Bert N. Uchino, and Christopher A. Hafen found that physical health in adulthood could be predicted based on the quality of close

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been linked to a 30% lower risk of nursing home admission and brain damage in survivors of cardiac arrest outside hospital in research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Kristian Kragholm, a PhD student in the Department of Anesthesiology, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. “We know that survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has improved in recent years but until now the degree of disability in survivors was

/ no comments European Society of Cardiology

Scientists of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment and the University of Tübingen have discovered what may well be the oldest known case of Leukemia. By means of high-resolution computer tomography they were able to detect indications of the cancer in an approximately 7000 year old skeleton of a woman who died between 30 and 40 years of age. Any other, similar pathologies could be ruled out. Life in the Neolithic Age was

Credit: Rachel Knickmeyer, Flickr An anti-scarring drug invented by UBC researchers will soon complete testing to determine its safety in humans as a topically administered drug. This marks the first time UBC researchers have conducted clinical testing of a drug they developed without industry sponsorship. “Our discovery marks a significant medical breakthrough toward the treatment of scars and autoimmune diseases. It has the potential to impact millions of patients worldwide,” said Dr. Aziz Ghahary, a

The obesity epidemic is growing and becoming ever more costly in the U.S. and other industrialized countries. Generally, that is where agreement ends on the subject. How to best combat obesity—and the proper role of the markets and government in that mission—is far from settled. That’s why a new study by Aneel Karnani, professor of strategy at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and colleagues looks at obesity as a market failure. They

Vasospasm, or severe narrowing of blood vessels, is a dangerous complication observed in children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. In a paper recently published in Critical Care Medicine, investigators at Nationwide …

A type of chemotherapy drug appears to work by tricking cells into thinking they’re infected with viruses, according to Canadian researchers studying bowel cancer cells. The new research, published in the journal Cell, overturns the previous view that these drugs switch off some of the genes responsible for cell growth. The discovery suggests that the treatment, called a ‘hypomethylating’ drug, could have wider uses. It could also lead to new combinations of existing therapies, and even the development of completely new drugs, the

Study will examine if exercise has neurological effect on the brain of mildly depressed people Scientists hope to use brain imaging to determine for the first time whether the effects of exercise on mildly depressed people can be observed on a neurological level. Although the effect of exercise on depression has been investigated extensively, neuroimaging has never been used to measure any physical effects inside the brain. A team of researchers at the University of

By Ludwig Burger and Ben Hirschler (Reuters) – Bayer will move a new heart failure drug into final-stage testing this year, boosting its ambitions in cardiovascular medicine, after the experimental medicine proved better than an older rival in a mid-stage trial. Having done well with recently launched drugs like stroke prevention pill Xarelto and eye treatment Eylea, the German group is eager to show it has another potential billion-dollar-plus winner in finerenone. Finerenone, which is

My apologies for the slightly sectarian title of this piece. I remain an enculturated Catholic despite being a long time lapsed. I think the metaphor is pretty appropriate, as Medibank Private is truly using its market power to crucify private hospitals with this deal. Although drawn-out and controversial negotiations with Calvary have been concluded, it remains unclear on whose terms this happened. While the Federal Government and Medibank Private are desperately trying to pretend that

A single dose of cocaine can interfere with the ability to recognise negative emotions, according to new research presented at the ECNP conference in Amsterdam. In a placebo-controlled within subject study, researchers from the Netherlands and Germany took 24 students (aged 19 to 27) with light to moderate cocaine use, and gave them either 300mg of oral cocaine, or a placebo. After 1 to 2 hours, each participant was then subject to a series of

Late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is not reduced in patients whose pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) treatment incorporates the addition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), according to results of the UNDER-ATP trial. Results of the trial, presented at ESC Congress 2015 and published simultaneously in The European Heart Journal (to be confirmed), add to the ongoing debate about ATP use in this setting. The major cause of AF recurrence after PVI has been reported to be

Particulate matter and NO2 air pollution are associated with increased risk of severe heart attacks despite being within European recommended levels, according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Jean-Francois Argacha, a cardiologist at University Hospital Brussels (UZ Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel), in Belgium. “Dramatic health consequences of air pollution were first described in Belgium in 1930 after the Meuse Valley fog,” said Dr Argacha. “Nowadays, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers air pollution

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine did not improve clinical outcomes compared to placebo in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the more severe form of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Results of the CIRCUS trial, presented today in a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2015, and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the drug, administered prior to PCI, had no impact on a composite of

Heart attack patients without heart failure derive no benefit from the addition of mineralocortoid receptor antagonists (MRA), to standard therapy, results of the ALBATROSS study show. The Hot Line findings, reported at ESC Congress 2015, “do not warrant the extension of MRA use” to such patients, said the study’s principal investigator Gilles Montalescot, MD, PhD. MRAs, also known as aldosterone antagonists, inhibit sodium retention and excretion of potassium and magnesium, and therefore “there is an

Credit: Peter Häger/Public Domain An international group of researchers have found that food craving activates different brain networks between obese and normal weight patients. This indicates that the tendency to want food may be ‘hard-wired’ into the brain of overweight patients, becoming a functional brain biomarker. Obesity is one of the most difficult problems facing modern society. Treating obesity is a health priority, but most efforts (aside from bariatric surgery) have met with little success.

Teens are often warned to beware the undue influence of peer pressure, but new research suggests that following the pack in adolescence may have some unexpected benefits for physical health in early adulthood. The study was published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Psychological scientists Joseph P. Allen, Bert N. Uchino, and Christopher A. Hafen found that physical health in adulthood could be predicted based on the quality of close

Many people stretch when they exercise or play sport. Others don’t stretch but feel they should. And some people don’t see any reason to stretch at all. The reasons for stretching are diverse. Most people think stretching makes them more flexible. Some believe stretching reduces the risk of injury, reduces soreness experienced after exercise, or enhances sporting performance. Optimists think stretching does all these things. But do we really need to stretch when we exercise?

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  At least six San Quentin State Prison inmates were ill with Legionnaires’ disease and dozens more under observation Sunday, prompting a weekend halt to visitors, no hot meals and limited drinking water supplies at California’s oldest prison. At least 51 inmates are under observation for respiratory illness at the prison’s medical unit, said Dana Simas, a spokeswoman with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Cooking at the prison has stopped because

IMAGE: In this image, showing sea ice cover on a single summer day in 2012, pink areas represent sea ice not captured by the satellite-based microwave instrument AMSR2, but accurately captured… view more Credit: NSIDC Ice experts from the University of Colorado Boulder, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. National Ice Center and other institutions have developed a straightforward new technique for estimating sea ice concentration in the Arctic Ocean, and the new method improves the U.S.