March 15, 2002 - Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that a special bile found in large quantities in the gall bladders of black bears can reduce damage caused by strokes and possibly other brain afflictions. Black bear gall bladder is enriched in urso-dioxy-cholic acid. Humans have the acid as well, although in very small quantities. Professor of Medicine, Dr. Clifford Steer, says the acid basically protects brain cells. He says the study confirmed what some ancient cultures already knew about black bear bile.
March 15, 2002 - A group of Twin Cities business and government leaders gathered last night to promote an approach to economic development based on industry clusters. The idea is to improve the state's economic vitality by nurturing industries that already have a concentration in Minnesota, such as medical technology. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
March 15, 2002 - Iron Range Steelworkers are pushing Congress to help the Steel industry provide promised health and pension benefits. This week a U.S. Senate Committee heard the latest plea from steel companies for a bailout of what's called legacy costs - the costs of providing health insurance to a retired work force. Thousands of older Northeast Minnesotans are losing those benefits in the aftermath of LTV Steel's bankruptcy. Thousands more wonder if they might be next. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
March 25, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on push for bill focused on addressing mental health crisis incidents. The mayor of Minneapolis joined state lawmakers and mental health advocates at the Capitol to support a bill to make it easier for police officers to commit someone having a mental health crisis. They say the bill will help prevent tragedies. Two weeks ago, an apparently delusional Minneapolis man was shot and killed after confronting police with a machete. Some in the mental health field say with funds dwindling, there's no place to bring people in crisis. Report includes comments from Mindy Greiling, state representative and author of bill; R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; Greg Hestness, Minneapolis deputy police chief; John Trepp, member of Friends of Barbara Schneider; and Sue Aberholden, executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
March 25, 2002 - The mayor of Minneapolis joined state lawmakers and mental health advocates at the Capitol today to support a bill to make it easier for police officers to commit someone having a mental health crisis. They say the bill will help prevent tragedies. Two weeks ago, an apparently delusional Minneapolis man was shot and killed after confronting police with a machete. But some in the mental health field say with funds dwindling, there's no place to bring people in crisis. MPR’s Art Hughes presents this report on gathering.
March 26, 2002 - 1:20 Dr. Austin Smith Center for Genome Research at the University of Edinburgh important for the progress of embryonic stem cell research:
March 26, 2002 -
April 4, 2002 - One of the most surprising turnarounds in health care is the rebound of small town hospitals. Hundreds closed across the U.S. during the 1980's and 90's. But five years ago the federal government changed how medicare benefits are paid. The new system sends more dollars to rural health facilities. At Minnesota's smallest hospital, in the southwest part of the state, the change has been dramatic. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
April 9, 2002 - A committee in the Minnesota House has approved a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs for some Minnesotans. The bill seemed unlikely to pass this year when a key committee chairman announced three weeks ago that the legislation was "dead" because of the state's finances. However, the bill's chief author said the stalement in budget negotiations allowed him to continue work on the issue and he is hopeful the bill will pass the House floor. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
April 9, 2002 - Emergency rooms are getting crowded, and more than half the nation's hospitals are "diverting" ambulances to other hospitals. That's the conclusion of a recent study from the American Hospital Association. The overcrowding of ER's is especially bad on the East and West Coasts, but the problem is getting worse here in the Twin Cities too. Joining us on the line is Dr. Brent Asplin, a member of the national task force on emergency department crowding, and he's an ER doctor at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.