New figures the CDC has derived from its autism surveillance network show a striking increase in diagnoses of the disorder.Now one in 88 children is believed to be autistic,a 23% increase from 2006-08.One in 54 boys are autistic.There has been a 78% increase in autism cases since 2002.
At least some of the growth is down to better awareness of autism-especially in minority communities such as the African American and Hispanic.Another reason may be the inclusion of cases that once would have been labeled mental retardation or something else.
Diagnosis of autism is pegged on the three criteria of social,communication and attention shifting deficits.Skills in these areas have not developed naturally in autistic children,and must be painstakingly taught them individually by a method called applied behavioral analysis,which drives the cost of treatment way up.
The etiology or cause of the disorder remains a mystery,but research is looking at environmental pollution,medication and nutrition as possibilities.There have been a lot of problems getting health insurers to cover full treatment programs for autism.A total of 34 states have put laws on the books requiring insurers to cover at least some of the costs.The Harvard School of Public Health estimates it costs 3.2 million dollars to treat an autistic person over a lifetime;the societal cost is 35 billion dollars a year-a huge burden that is only ballooning even more each year.
Insurers contend autism is a developmental disorder,so the education system should be picking up the tab.
Among those making drugs for treating autism symptoms are Shire Pharmaceuticals(SPHGY);Teva Pharmaceuticals(TEVA);Pfizer(PFE);Novartis(NVS);and Johnson and Johnson(JNJ).
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Shop Talk
Dear Readers,
In one of his first major initiatives,Apple CEO Tim Cook has made an epic journey to China.Find out why and what he has promised the Chinese Vice Premier.Also consider whether the company can possibly grow even more than the current 600 dollar-plus share price indicates.You can do all this at International Daybook,a sister blog to this one that is accessible from the link list in the right hand column.Hope to see you there.
Thank you for visiting today,
Andrew Taylor
In one of his first major initiatives,Apple CEO Tim Cook has made an epic journey to China.Find out why and what he has promised the Chinese Vice Premier.Also consider whether the company can possibly grow even more than the current 600 dollar-plus share price indicates.You can do all this at International Daybook,a sister blog to this one that is accessible from the link list in the right hand column.Hope to see you there.
Thank you for visiting today,
Andrew Taylor
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Who Sings On The Sandals Resorts Commercial
The song is a vintage one.It is called "My Blue Heaven."Dating from 1927,the lyrics are by George Whiting,with the music by Walter Donaldson.The performer is our comtemporary Lizann Warner.The song was included in the Reader's Digest Treasury of Best Loved Songs.Hopefully Ms.Warner will get to record the whole number one day.
Lizann Warner is known as a vocal chameleon.An accomplished stylist who evokes everyone from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand,she has opened for the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Pat Benatar.She also sings on video games such as Guitar Hero III by Activision.
Ms.Warner has performed in Las Vegas and has upcoming dates at Duke's Bar&Grill in Riverside,California(April 21)and State Street Winery in Redlands(April 28).You can listen to her on YouTube and ReverbNation.
Activision Blizzard,Inc.(ATVI)
Lizann Warner is known as a vocal chameleon.An accomplished stylist who evokes everyone from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand,she has opened for the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Pat Benatar.She also sings on video games such as Guitar Hero III by Activision.
Ms.Warner has performed in Las Vegas and has upcoming dates at Duke's Bar&Grill in Riverside,California(April 21)and State Street Winery in Redlands(April 28).You can listen to her on YouTube and ReverbNation.
Activision Blizzard,Inc.(ATVI)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Asia This Day:China Construction Bank Reports
China Construction Bank has released its Q4 earnings report.The bank posted a net income gain of 4.8 billion dollars.Profit for the quarter was up by 25%,missing estimates.
Those were considerable earnings,but,all the same,there continues to be deep-seated concern at the country's biggest mortgage lender.China Construction Bank has the most exposure to local government lending,real estate lending and consumer debt.Any problems in those areas could well crimp future earnings at this prominent institution.
Credit quality indeed declined there,with non-performing loans increasing from 1.02% in the previous quarter to 1.09% in Q4.The financial titan cited a more severe global economic environment and domestic economic restructuring as challenges it faces in 2012.
China Construction Bank is represented in a number of exchange traded funds with a Chinese or emerging market orientation,so its performance does affect the well-being of foreign investors.
On Monday morning,Asian markets opened higher,with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index up by 0.15%.
iShares Trust FTSE/Xinhua China 25 index(FXI)
Those were considerable earnings,but,all the same,there continues to be deep-seated concern at the country's biggest mortgage lender.China Construction Bank has the most exposure to local government lending,real estate lending and consumer debt.Any problems in those areas could well crimp future earnings at this prominent institution.
Credit quality indeed declined there,with non-performing loans increasing from 1.02% in the previous quarter to 1.09% in Q4.The financial titan cited a more severe global economic environment and domestic economic restructuring as challenges it faces in 2012.
China Construction Bank is represented in a number of exchange traded funds with a Chinese or emerging market orientation,so its performance does affect the well-being of foreign investors.
On Monday morning,Asian markets opened higher,with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index up by 0.15%.
iShares Trust FTSE/Xinhua China 25 index(FXI)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Another Missing Person:Silicon Valley Girl Disappears
Once again,the eye of truth is seeking answers.A Silicon Valley teenager,Sierra LaMar,15,has gone missing from her Morgan Hill,California home.A bag of her clothing and her cellphone were found tossed by the roadside.
As readers may know,we have been informed of the cases of two other young Hispanic women,who turned out to have been murdered in Los Angeles in the past 12 months.Los Angeles is 320 miles from the LaMar home in Santa Clara County.That doesn't mean there is any connection with Sierra's case.
Sierra could not be tracked by search dogs beyond the end of her driveway in Morgan Hill,raising the possiblity that someone drove off with her.Her bus driver didn't see her the day she went missing.We pray for her safe return as soon as possible.
The connection we do know is,our search for justice for all these women will go forward,no matter how busy it gets.
As readers may know,we have been informed of the cases of two other young Hispanic women,who turned out to have been murdered in Los Angeles in the past 12 months.Los Angeles is 320 miles from the LaMar home in Santa Clara County.That doesn't mean there is any connection with Sierra's case.
Sierra could not be tracked by search dogs beyond the end of her driveway in Morgan Hill,raising the possiblity that someone drove off with her.Her bus driver didn't see her the day she went missing.We pray for her safe return as soon as possible.
The connection we do know is,our search for justice for all these women will go forward,no matter how busy it gets.
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