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Black women in Canada have substantially higher risk of preterm birth than white women | Science Codex

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A study comparing rates of preterm birth among non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white women in Canada found that the rates were substantially higher among black women than white women, mirroring the disparity in the United States. The research study, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), is based on new cohort data from the Canadian Live Birth, Infant Death and Stillbirth Database linked with 2006 Canadian census data.

“Relative disparities in preterm birth and very preterm birth between non-Hispanic black and white women in Canada mirrored those in the US. This observation was contrary to our hypothesis, which was based on the different historical experiences of black populations in the 2 countries and evidence that socioeconomic and racial disparity in health and access to health care tend to be less extreme in Canada,” writes Dr. Britt McKinnon, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, with coauthors.

The study included 91 045 live singleton births in Canada and just over 5 million live births in the US between May 2004 and May 2006. In Canada, 4.2% of all births were to women who self-identified as black compared with 20.5% in the US. Overall preterm birth rates were lower in Canada (6%) than in the US (9%). Preterm birth rates among black women in Canada were 8.9%, compared with 5.9% among white women. US rates were higher, at 12.7% and 8.0% respectively.

Foreign-born black women in Canada had preterm birth rates similar to those of native-born black women, unlike in the US, where foreign-born black women had lower preterm birth rates.

Source: Black women in Canada have substantially higher risk of preterm birth than white women | Science Codex

Health news: Dissolving stent for heart arteries passes first large test

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A new type of heart stent that works like dissolving stitches, slowly going away after it has done its job, last week passed its first major test in a large study, doctors said.

Abbott Vascular’s dissolving Absorb stent performed as well as a conventional stent in the one-year study, but the fact it did not prove superior led some experts to be wary.

Still, the results on this and other novel stents currently in testing are fueling hope for a new generation of these devices, used on about 850,000 heart disease patients each year in the United States alone.

Source: Health news: Dissolving stent for heart arteries passes first large test | VailDaily.com

North American stock markets fall sharply, Canadian dollar up

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TORONTO — North American stock markets were sharply lower Monday morning. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX index was down 135.99 points at 13,417.31.

The Dow Jones average of 30 stocks was down 206.64 points at 17,703.69, the broader S&P 500 index declined 24.75 points to 2,074.45 and the Nasdaq lost 61.13 points to 5,085.99.

The Canadian dollar was at 75.30 cents US, up 0.09 from Friday’s close.

On the commodity markets, the December gold contract rose $1.50 to US$1,089.20 an ounce, the December crude contract was down 29 cents at US$44 a barrel and the December contract for natural gas was down seven cents at US$2.30.

Source: North American stock markets fall sharply, Canadian dollar up – BayToday.ca

NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 9, 2015

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Welcome to the “NHL Morning Skate,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CELEBRATION
The Hockey Hall of Fame inducts five players and two builders – and also honors two media members (Bob McKenzie and Nick Nickson) – as part of its class of 2015 (7:30 p.m. ET, NHLN-US, TSN2). Click on the below links for more information on each inductee.

2015 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees
Sergei Fedorov (Player)
Bill Hay (Builder)
Phil Housley (Player)
Peter Karmanos Jr. (Builder)
Nicklas Lidstrom (Player)
Chris Pronger (Player)
Angela Ruggiero (Player)

* ICYMI: Pavel Bure and Doug Gilmour captained two star-laden teams in the annual Haggar Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic at Air Canada Centre in advance of today’s induction ceremony. Click here to watch the members of the class of 2015 receive their official jackets prior to puck drop.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Dallas 4, DETROIT 1
NEW JERSEY 4, Vancouver 3 (OT)
Boston 2, NY ISLANDERS 1
CHICAGO 4, Edmonton 2

TOP SCORERS PROPEL TEAMS TO VICTORIES
The top two scorers in the NHL – Stars forward Tyler Seguin (9-14—23 in 15 GP) and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (10-13—23 in 15 GP) – both registered multi-point games to power their teams to wins on Sunday:

* Seguin collected 1-1—2, including an insurance goal with 1:08 remaining in regulation, to guide the Stars to their third consecutive victory and sixth win in their past seven outings. Seguin, who has 5-8—13 during an eight-game point streak, has registered at least one point in 13 of his first 15 contests of the season and also paces the NHL with 14 assists.

* At 12-3-0 (24 points), Elias says that the Stars have recorded their best 15-game start to a season in franchise history. The Stars also improved to 7-2-0 in their first nine games as visitors; their seven road wins and 14 road points lead the NHL.

* Kane posted 1-3—4, equaling career highs for assists and points in one game, to help the Blackhawks stretch their point streak at United Center to eight contests (7-0-1). Kane, who has 7-10—17 during a 10-game point streak, also has collected at least one point in 13 of his first 15 contests of the season and shares the League lead with 10 goals (w/ Jamie Benn).

* Kane has notched one other four-point game in the regular season and it came in his ninth NHL appearance, on Oct. 23, 2007 vs. CBJ (2-2—4). He also has one such performance in the playoffs, in Game 5 of the 2014 Western Conference Final vs. LAK (0-4—4).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: STARS AND BLACKHAWKS
Other players who helped in the Stars’ and Blackhawks’ Sunday wins:

* Stars defenseman John Klingberg picked up two assists to move into first in scoring among defensemen (2-13—15 in 15 GP). Via Elias, Klingberg became the second defenseman in Stars/North Stars history to post 15 or more points in the team’s first 15 games of a season. The other: Craig Hartsburg, who notched 3-12—15 in the North Stars’ opening 15 contests of 1987-88.

* Stars forward Patrick Sharp registered 1-1—2; he has 6-3—9 in his past seven outings after collecting 0-3—3 in his first eight games with the team.

* Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin recorded 2-1—3, including two goals in the opening stanza, to move into first in scoring among rookies (4-11—15 in 15 GP). Panarin, who also has four more assists than any other rookie, notched his second three-point game. The other: Oct. 10 vs. NYI (1-2—3).

* Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 34 shots, including all 22 he faced in the second period, to improve to 7-4-1 overall this season (2.38 GAA, .920 SV%, 2 SO), with a 6-1-1 record at United Center (1.99 GAA, .930 SV%, 2 SO).

PALMIERI LIFTS DEVILS IN OVERTIME
The Canucks erased a 3-1 deficit in the second period, but Kyle Palmieri (1-1—2) scored at 3:33 of overtime to help the Devils improve to 8-2-0 in their past 10 games following a 0-3-1 start to the season.

* Palmieri – who grew up in Montvale, N.J., and starred at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J. – recorded his third career overtime goal (first w/ NJD) and second at Prudential Center. On Dec. 20, 2013, Palmieri also scored an overtime goal at Prudential Center – with the Ducks in his first NHL visit to New Jersey.

* Palmieri, who also eclipsed 100 NHL points (48-53—101), has 5-7—12 in his first 14 games with the Devils – that includes 4-5—9 in his past six outings.

* Adam Henrique also collected 1-1—2, including his second shorthanded goal of the season (other Oct. 24 at BUF). Henrique shares the League lead with 11 shorthanded goals since playing his first full NHL campaign in 2011-12 (w/ Brad Marchand and Brandon Sutter).

3-ON-3 OVERTIME: DID YOU KNOW?
Twenty-nine of the 42 games that have required overtime this season have been decided in the extra period (69.0%).

Last season, under the 4-on-4 format, the percentage of overtime periods with goals was 44.4% (136 of 306).

BRUINS SNAP SKID, CONTINUE SUCCESS AGAINST ISLANDERS
Tuukka Rask made a season-high 36 saves, including 12 in the final period, to help the Bruins snap a three-game skid overall (0-3-0) and pick up their fourth consecutive victory over the Islanders dating to Jan. 29 (NYI: 0-4-0).

* Rask improved to 9-3-0 in 13 career appearances vs. NYI (2.23 GAA, .933 SV%). That includes a 4-0-0 record in road games (1.75 GAA, .955 SV%).

* Patrice Bergeron added 1-1—2 (including the GWG) for the Bruins, who improved to 12-2-1 in their last 15 road games against the Islanders dating to Dec. 3, 2007 (NYI: 3-12-0).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Devils forward Sergey Kalinin, who spent the past five seasons in the KHL, scored his first NHL goal (13 GP).

* Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera recorded his first goal with his new club (15 GP).

* Blackhawks forward Artem Anisimov posted 1-1—2 to eclipse 200 NHL points (92-109—201).

* Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou, a fourth-round selection (110th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, made his League debut (9:36 TOI).

LOOSE PUCKS
Stars captain Jamie Benn, who has at least one point in 12 of his first 15 games of the season, collected one assist. He ranks third overall with 10-11—21 . . . Bruins forward David Krejci, who has at least one point in 11 of his first 14 contests of the season, also picked up one assist. He shares fourth in the NHL with 7-10—17 . . . Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves for his first win of the season and the seventh of his NHL career (23 GP) . . . Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen turned aside 21 shots to improve to 6-1-0 in his first seven appearances of the season (2.37 GAA, .921 SV%).

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
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