Mass. police put the squeeze on toothpaste thief

(AP) ? Police using surveillance video have put the squeeze on a man suspected of trying to steal a shopping cart full of toothpaste from a western Massachusetts grocery store.

Police arrested 23-year old Timmy John Laflamme on Monday after spotting him sitting in a car across the street from the Stop & Shop supermarket in East Longmeadow he was accused of trying to rob last week.

Laflamme, of Chicopee, pleaded not guilty to shoplifting and was ordered held without bail because of pending cases in Springfield.

Police tell The Republican (http://bit.ly/HYpr8d) that Laflamme tried leaving the store with the toothpaste on April 4 but fled when he was stopped by store employees.

Police say shoplifting toothpaste and other toiletries is common. Thieves try to resell the items to small convenience stores.

___

Information from: The Springfield Republican, http://www.masslive.com/news/

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PHOTO: Who Is This "Ridiculously Photogenic Guy"?

If you've been hearing soft music in the background of your Web browsing today, it may be because the entire Internet is singing "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" to a guy named Zeddie Little. Nicknamed "Ridiculously Photogenic Guy," Little first popped up last week on the website Reddit, where a photo of him running a 10K (and looking uncannily perfect while doing so) was viewed millions of times.

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Following PETA campaign, DOT actively promotes non-animal corrosion tests

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 10-Apr-2012
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Contact: Kristin Richards
KristinR@peta.org
202-540-2177
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

After years of allowing rabbits to suffer and die in unreliable tests, agency updates website to recommend non-animal testing methods

Washington Following three years of repeated requests by PETA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has at last announced that it will no longer promote the use of live rabbits in painful and archaic skin corrosion tests. Determination of corrosivity is required for transporting any hazardous materials.

PETA filed a complaint with the U.S. inspector general after the DOT agreed to allow the use of several non-animal methods in a new rule in January 2011 but failed to update its website and guidance to transportation companies to reflect this change. In a recent letter to PETA, Magdy El-Sibaie, the associate administrator for hazardous materials safety at the DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, wrote, "We have updated our website by removing the previously-issued letters of interpretation and replacing them with our current position which promotes to the extent practicable the use of the in vitro [test tube] skin corrosion test methods."

"Before this change, transporters who turned to the DOT for guidance would see that deadly tests on animals were required, when in fact they weren't," says Jessica Sandler, senior director of PETA's Regulatory Testing Division. "Now, transporters will see that they can and should use superior, modern testing methods that better protect humans and don't harm animals."

In animal corrosion tests, rabbits' backs are shaved and chemicals are applied to their raw skin and left there for up to two weeks. These chemicals often burn the skin, but the rabbits are given no pain relief. After the test is finished, the animals are killed. Twenty years ago, also following a vigorous PETA campaign, the DOT approved the use of a non-animal method that can spare rabbits this excruciating pain yet continued to promote the use of rabbits, even though the agency also acknowledged that the non-animal method "may be more stringent than the skin necrosis [rabbit] test." Newer non-animal methods that use reconstructed human-skin models allow for more accurate and complete assessments of potential skin damage than are obtained by using rabbits. Besides the pain and distress inflicted on the rabbits who are used in such tests, evidence shows that the animal tests do not accurately measure whether a substance is likely to damage to human skin.

###

For more information, please visit PETA.org.


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?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 10-Apr-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Kristin Richards
KristinR@peta.org
202-540-2177
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

After years of allowing rabbits to suffer and die in unreliable tests, agency updates website to recommend non-animal testing methods

Washington Following three years of repeated requests by PETA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has at last announced that it will no longer promote the use of live rabbits in painful and archaic skin corrosion tests. Determination of corrosivity is required for transporting any hazardous materials.

PETA filed a complaint with the U.S. inspector general after the DOT agreed to allow the use of several non-animal methods in a new rule in January 2011 but failed to update its website and guidance to transportation companies to reflect this change. In a recent letter to PETA, Magdy El-Sibaie, the associate administrator for hazardous materials safety at the DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, wrote, "We have updated our website by removing the previously-issued letters of interpretation and replacing them with our current position which promotes to the extent practicable the use of the in vitro [test tube] skin corrosion test methods."

"Before this change, transporters who turned to the DOT for guidance would see that deadly tests on animals were required, when in fact they weren't," says Jessica Sandler, senior director of PETA's Regulatory Testing Division. "Now, transporters will see that they can and should use superior, modern testing methods that better protect humans and don't harm animals."

In animal corrosion tests, rabbits' backs are shaved and chemicals are applied to their raw skin and left there for up to two weeks. These chemicals often burn the skin, but the rabbits are given no pain relief. After the test is finished, the animals are killed. Twenty years ago, also following a vigorous PETA campaign, the DOT approved the use of a non-animal method that can spare rabbits this excruciating pain yet continued to promote the use of rabbits, even though the agency also acknowledged that the non-animal method "may be more stringent than the skin necrosis [rabbit] test." Newer non-animal methods that use reconstructed human-skin models allow for more accurate and complete assessments of potential skin damage than are obtained by using rabbits. Besides the pain and distress inflicted on the rabbits who are used in such tests, evidence shows that the animal tests do not accurately measure whether a substance is likely to damage to human skin.

###

For more information, please visit PETA.org.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


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In Senate race, Maine's King is critical of GOP

But Maine's former two-term governor, running as an independent to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, calls the GOP budget plan "a disaster" and the party's position on women's health "a mistake. He's also supporting President Barack Obama's re-election.

"I want to keep `em guessing," King told The Associated Press on Monday, the day he formally opened his state headquarters. "I think I can be much more effective by not making that decision and by postponing it as long as possible. I'd like to postpone it forever."

Speaking to hundreds of supporters who clogged his Brunswick office, King promised that Maine voters, not partisan politics, would guide his decisions on Capitol Hill. But he repeatedly criticized key Republican policies during the AP interview, suggesting that he is ideologically aligned with Democrats.

The state GOP seems to think the guessing game is over. It's attacking King for his former wind power company's loan guarantee. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has already produced a negative Web video suggesting that King's candidacy is the result of a "smoke-filled back room deal."

The state's best-known Democrats have declined to enter the Senate contest for fear a divided Democratic electorate would allow for a Republican victory in a state that leans distinctly left. Snowe, a moderate Republican, has represented Maine in the Senate since 1995.

The Senate has 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans and two independents who caucus with Democrats. Control of the Senate will probably be decided by a handful of races in November.

King supports Obama's health care overhaul, which is under Supreme Court review, and he supports abortion rights. While he likes to highlight his vote for George W. Bush in 2000 and his decision to veto 80 Democrat-sponsored bills while governor, he is critical of the current GOP.

"The shift of the Republican Party to the right, particularly on the social issues, is disturbing," he said. "It's somewhat ironic to me that people who wrap themselves in the Constitution are so prepared to put the government in people's bedrooms."

King opposes GOP-led efforts to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood. He agrees with Obama's policy that forces insurance companies to cover contraception for employees of religious-affiliated institutions.

He saved his most heated comments, however, for the Republican budget plan _ often known for its architect, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. _ that would effectively transform Medicare into a voucher program.

"It's a disaster. In a finite number of years, seniors will be back to where they were in 1955, which is sick and unable to get treatment," King said. "I don't know what they're thinking. Except, I think that proposal represents a strain of thinking that goes back to _ they want to get rid of Social Security and Medicare."

Despite his vocal criticism of some Republican policies, King is promising to run a positive campaign. With control of the Senate at stake, he says he expects the campaign to get nasty.

"There's going to be a lot of negative stuff _ not coming from me," King said. "No negative ads coming from this campaign whatsoever."

He's calling for more civility in national politics.

"It's about meeting in the middle," he said. "And yes, it's about compromise."


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Laid-off worker gets unusual shot at dream

Job search frustrations have Leslie feeling down. But Tory Johnson gives her a golden opportunity. Can Leslie rise to the occasion?

Please share your solutions, personal stories, and honest opinions. Please do not add personal attacks, vulgar language, or other offensive comments; they'll be removed.

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Japan swings back to current account surplus

Agence France-Presse

TOKYO ? Japan swung back to a current account surplus in February after suffering a record deficit in the previous month, official data said Monday.

The surplus in the current account, the broadest measure of trade with the rest of the world, stood at 1.18 trillion yen ($14.4 bn), the finance ministry said.

The latest reading was 30.7 percent lower than a year earlier but largely in line with a 1.15 trillion yen surplus tipped in a poll of economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires and the Nikkei business daily.

The country logged a record 437.3 billion yen deficit in January due to lower exports and higher energy costs.

That was Japan?s first deficit since January 2009, when the country posted a then-record shortfall of 132.7 billion yen at the height of the global financial crisis.

Japanese exports have been inching higher on the back of a recovery in the United States, a positive sign for an economy heavily dependent on overseas demand for growth.

The current account measures the value of a country?s imports and foreign investments against the value of its overseas income such as exports of goods and services.

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Cheaper computer ? Australia to purchase wholesale computer ...

The only online portal, it seems all the IT hardware, software, peripherals and accessories, printers, and IT needs of Australia?s network demands Stuff.com.au. It is a portal, which is a Web-based and do not have any retail stores in Australia. All of its operations online. All products listed here is the cheapest than other portals, and even retail stores. This is because it is the link between manufacturers and consumers only.

In addition, IT Stuff.com.au portal directly connected to the reputation of manufacturers such as Toshiba, Samsung, HP, Netgear, Lenovo, wholesale computer in Australia, and therefore able to provide quality products,The brand new wholesale dreamweaver cs5, intends to provide each of the advantages of more aged versions and develop them in lots of ways cheaper rates. There are about 37,164 products on the site, can contain the solution of every problem and needs.Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition comes in versatile version, where Windows XP Home Edition is targeted at home users and Windows XP Professional is targeted at power users, Its products range from basic to like the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless, and even specific advanced. One of the biggest portal to attract potential customers is to provide special form of its valued customers, they promote from time to time discounts. There are special offers and promos from laptops and computers from each company?s reputation.

But you know, the fantasy spotlight in all the glare and the latest technology, Stuff.com.au also promote a good and cheap products, you will not be easy to find on the market. Portal wholesale computer Australia, this is a very unique and a very unique motto of the company?s help, we do not sell cheap computers, we sell the right cheap computer.

This motto beneath a very interesting history. Wholesale computer was established in 1983, when the display cable and the computer before the end of the beginning of a team selling and buying business. Later, it has been merged with another company, now is the hardware department explicitly Technology Pvt. Co., Ltd., the Australian owned and operated company.

Wholesale computers for sale in Australia in three different conditions, that is out before the demo computers and refurbished. New products, the phasing out those new products, but has become obsolete, new technology has replaced them. The product can be in their original packaging, but also contains all the necessary original parts. Before presentation products, never sold very little use of these products. These products are used for promotional activities. Products, refurbished products have been rigorously tested and format, to ensure that they are able to perform up to original specifications.

Although all of these products may be to show signs of wear and tear, they are similar to the original company to provide good working conditions and the warranty period. In addition, the system pre-loaded operating system.

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Pay Per Click Search Engine Advertising For The Best Campaign ...

Pay per click advertising services can be the best alternative for companies that seek to maximize their advertising potential and the reach of their financial advertising budget.

Pay Per Click Advertising Services The Perfect Advertising Answer

When a business or a company is looking to achieve a better business market, one of the things that it should seek is to create and position itself in the customer?s preference; this can be achieved through several strategies that usually are conformed by an advertising and marketing campaign.? In these, the business will develop informed ads that will inform the potential customers about the benefits of their products opposite those of the competition; such ads are often broadcasted through mass electronic media such as television and radio.

However, using the regular and normal channels to promote and position the business? products and services is not enough in the modern time and age; it is important for the business owner and marketing staff to understand and be mindful of the power and importance of the electronic media that the Internet has turned to in the last decade.

In the past decade, the Internet slowly became one of the most important media that any business or company needed to learn how to use, develop and manage.? It provided a threshold for a new way to make business as well as the opportunity to widen the company?s horizons and increase the net profit margin simply by taking small business transactions by foreign individuals who wanted to know and use their products.

So it is important for the business and the business owner to be aware of what the Internet is capable to do and to exploit it to the best of their abilities.? Therefore, creating marketing strategies as well as advertising opportunities is a duty that has to be addressed in the most efficient way.? One of the alternatives that the internet provides is the opportunity to have a comprehensive approach to the advertising capabilities of the internet with a pay per click advertising service.

Using the pay per click advertising services inside the Internet will permit the company as well as the financial actives to maximize both the potential reach of the advertisements as well as the capability that their financial budget has in terms of paid ads.? Naturally, there are more ways than one to approach a pay per click ad service such as an affiliate program and a free pay per click advertising services; in the affiliate program, the business and company can simply share the costs of the pay per click ad services that they are interested in by sharing the cost of the bidding.

However, this also means that the benefits and efficiency of the pay per click advertising service and campaign that will be acquired will not be as efficient as expected, because the range and possibility to personalize the pay per click ad service according to any particular market segment is not high.

Nonetheless, is the company or business is not interested in creating segment oriented advertising and marketing campaigns or would like to explore the possibility of using an affiliate program in a way to ?test the waters? in terms of the benefits, successes and advantages of pay per click advertising services, then an affiliate program will be a good alternative.? Once the company as well as the human company resources realize that pay per click advertising services are not only a good idea but an excellent way to address not only the entire target market but to create specialized ads that will target particular segments of it with the additional advantage of measuring their efficiency.

The only logical outcome is that the company will seek to acquire and have their own pay per click advertising services; these can be carried out in free pay per click advertising services.? Search engine companies and other hosting companies that are opening for service in the internet, so they want to make the most out of their recent business opportunities and gather as much clientele as possible usually provide such services. With this in mind, they offer their new clients refunds for their pay per click ad services, anywhere from $1.00 or more per click.

This means that if a business invests $5.00 in the creation and establishment of the pay per click ad service with one of these companies and it has a ROI promise of $1.00 per click and gets 10 clicks, then the pay per click advertising service will come out free with even a gain of $5.00.? Nonetheless, there are small prints that have to be considered in all of these cases, for example, in some cases, the ROI that these search engine and other similar companies will give you can only be translated in additional services, such as enhanced pay per click ad services or bigger ads.

In other cases, the ROI that they provide can indeed be retired in cash money, bank transfer and the like, however, each company has their own particular standards and guidelines, which can cause a hassle to the company that is considering this financial return to invest it in additional forms of internet advertising and online marketing services.

Regardless, the pay per click advertising services that these companies offer is a good opportunity for neophyte business to venture into the world of Internet advertising and online marketing with a reasonable safety net.? Consequently, the pay per click advertising services should not be disregarded as something dubious or doubtfully functional because they work in providing adequate advertising and the opportunity to measure the success that any given ad has in both the target market and the segment to which it is targeted.

Targeting a particular segment of your target market will provide you with the opportunity to create specific ads that will appeal to that segment, creating a greater level of commitment between the company and the potential customer.? In a modern world where there is little to no interaction between strangers and people across the world despite the fact that it slowly narrows down through the Internet, the feeling that any company can provide of uniqueness and importance will be welcome and coveted as something particularly important.

The importance given to such perceptions will also translate in loyalty from the side of the customer to the products or services that the business or company will be providing.? Therefore, it will be in the best interest of the business or company to create this image on their customers and their potential clients, using the pay per click advertising service can help them achieve it in a more controlled manner.

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Microsoft trumps Amazon, others for AOL patents

By Nadia Damouni and Jennifer Saba

(Reuters) - Microsoft trumped Amazon, eBay and other tech giants with its more than $1 billion purchase of the majority of AOL Inc's patent trove.

AOL said it was selling more than 800 patents related to advertising, search, e-commerce and mobile to Redmond, Wash-based company, surprising investors with the size of the deal and sending AOL shares up more than 40 percent.

The sale includes technology rights from AOL's current and former businesses, ranging from Netscape, ICQ and MapQuest to CompuServe, Advertising.com and others, according to a source close to the matter.

The sale process, which AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong described as a "full-blown dynamic auction," started last fall after board approval.

Armstrong said he made a call to Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer alerting him of the decision to sell the patents.

The auction included e-commerce companies Amazon and eBay, both of which have been largely absent from the recent patent wars, as well as Google and Facebook, according to the source.

Spokesmen for Google, Facebook, eBay and Amazon were not immediately available for comment.

A final buyer was selected late on April 5, Armstrong said.

Technology companies in recent years have sparked a frenzy for patents, bidding up prices in a defensive move to keep competitors at bay.

The AOL deal is one of the larger patent auctions in recent times, representing roughly $1.3 million per issued patent, according to the source.

That compares with the bankrupt Nortel Networks patent auction last year -- considered a blowout $4.5 billion sale of its 6,000 patents -- for roughly $1.05 million per issued patent, the source said.

The Nortel deal sparked a wave of patent sales and litigation and played a part in AOL's decision to launch a patent auction.

Google is in the process of buying Motorola Mobility Holdings for $12.5 billion mainly for its intellectual property. Google also acted as the stalking-horse bid for Nortel Networks' wireless patents.

Microsoft was part of the group led by Apple Inc that won the Nortel patents.

Yahoo has launched a lawsuit against rival Facebook for patent infringement involving advertising.

SURPRISING PRICE TAG

AOL and Microsoft are no strangers to partnerships. Last year the two companies along with Yahoo formed an advertising alliance.

Microsoft's latest move with AOL proves it is keen on shoring up its patent portfolio.

"Investors had anticipated little to no value for the portfolio - a few hundred million at the most," said Clayton Moran, an analyst with Benchmark.

AOL said a "significant portion" of the proceeds would be passed on to its shareholders.

As part of the deal, AOL will continue to hold more than 300 patents related to key strategic areas for the company, including advertising, search, and social media, and will receive a license to the patents being sold to Microsoft. Also, Microsoft will be granted a non-exclusive license to the patents AOL retains.

"We think this move is a big win for AOL in both the speed at which the sale was made and the actual amount it received," wrote Anthony DiClemente, an analyst with Barclays Research.

AOL shares soared $7.87 to $26.29 in afternoon trade.

One of the pioneering companies during the early days of the Internet, AOL was known for e-mail and dial-up access services. It has been trying to reshape itself into a media and entertainment powerhouse dependent on advertising revenue.

Activist shareholder Starboard Value LP had pressed AOL management to pursue a patent auction, arguing the portfolio could produce more than $1 billion in licensing income if properly monetized.

The deal, expected to be completed by the end of 2012, includes the sale of an AOL unit, on which AOL expects to record a capital loss for tax purposes.

AOL said it expected to use about $40 million of its existing deferred tax assets -- 20 percent of its total -- to offset any ordinary income taxes resulting from the licensing of its remaining patent portfolio.

Evercore Partners and Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisers to AOL. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner acted as legal counsel. Covington and Burling LLP offered legal advice to Microsoft.

If the deal falls through, Microsoft may pay AOL a termination fee of $211.2 million, AOL said in a regulatory filing.

(Additional reporting by Sayantani Ghosh in Bangalore and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Supriya Kurane and John Wallace)

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Children Born to Obese Moms May Face Higher ... - Health News


By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) ? Children born to obese or very overweight mothers are at higher risk of having autism or developmental delays, new research suggests.

The study of more than 1,000 children found that the offspring of obese mothers had a 67 percent higher risk of autism than the children of normal-weight moms, and more than double the risk of having developmental delays, such as language impairment.

?The odds of autism and other developmental delays were significantly higher in the children of moms who were obese versus those who weren?t,? said lead study author Paula Krakowiak, a biostatistician and doctoral candidate at the University of California, Davis.

The research included more than 500 children aged 2 to 5 with mild to severe autism, about 170 children with another type of developmental disability, and 315 typically developing children, all taking part in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment, conducted between 2003 and 2010.

Children were assessed by experts from the university?s MIND Institute to confirm their autism diagnosis, while mothers were interviewed about various aspects of their health before and during pregnancy. Information about weight came from either medical records or mothers? recollections of their weight before and during pregnancy.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 and up. Body mass index, or BMI, is a measure of body size based on height and weight.

While diabetes was also associated with increased odds of developmental delays in offspring, there wasn?t a statistically significant association between diabetes and autism.

The research is in the May issue of Pediatics, published online April 9.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which children have difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication such as reading facial expressions and understanding other social cues, and restricted interests and behaviors.

About one in 88 U.S. children has a so-called autism spectrum disorder, which includes milder forms of the disorder, such as Asperger syndrome, according to updated figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in six U.S. children has a developmental delay, such as a speech or language impairment or other intellectual disabilities, the CDC says.

Considering that about one-third of the women of child-bearing age in the United States are obese and almost 9 percent have diabetes, the findings could have serious public-health implications, said Krakowiak.

Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children?s Medical Center of New York, said the findings ?should not be ignored.? However, he noted that other genetic or environmental factors are likely contributing to autism. Many parents of autistic children are of normal weight, while many obese parents don?t have autistic kids.

?Although the results of this study suggest obesity is a risk factor for developmental problems in offspring, one cannot assume that developmental problems in the offspring are due to obesity, and many other factors may be involved or responsible,? Adesman said.

Indeed, other research published last week identified several spontaneous genetic mutations as the cause of a fraction of autism cases. Parents? ages, especially fathers older than 35, were also associated with autism in those recent studies, published online in the journal Nature.

The reasons for the link between obesity and autism/developmental delays are unknown, though some research suggests that obesity unleashes inflammatory proteins, some of which may be able to cross the placenta into the fetus. It?s possible the inflammatory proteins, known as cytokines, may harm a fetus?s developing brain, Krakowiak said.

She also noted that while the research found an association between obesity and autism/developmental delays, it did not prove that being obese causes autism or other brain problems in the fetus. The link may be indirect.

?It may not be the obesity itself, but other things that lead to obesity, such as genetics, or lifestyle, or diet,? Krakowiak said.

About 24 percent of moms who had a child with a developmental delay were obese; 21.5 percent of moms who had a child with autism were obese; and 14 percent of moms with a typically developing child were obese.

Researchers noted that overweight mothers whose weight approached obese ? a BMI of 28 or 29 ? had risk levels similar to obese moms.

Mothers with a child with autism or a developmental delay were also more likely to have hypertension during pregnancy, but the association wasn?t considered statistically significant. Researchers noted the number of women with high blood pressure in the study was small.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on autism.

SOURCES: Paula Krakowiak, Ph.D. candidate, University of California, Davis; Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children?s Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; May 2012 Pediatrics

Last Updated: April 09, 2012

Copyright ? 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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