Minnesota medicine
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The Internet has opened the door to marketers of products that contain substances that when ingested mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. This article traces the history of synthetic drugs, describes some of the newest substances on the market and their physiologic and psychological effects, and discusses efforts aimed at curbing their sale and use.
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A 1997 federal law created a new type of rural hospital called the Critical Access Hospital (CAH). Having CAH designation allows a facility to receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare in exchange for providing services such as emergency care and limiting the number of beds and the average length of stay. ⋯ This article describes how having the designation has allowed these facilities to better meet the needs of the populations they serve. It also describes the challenges all CAHs face in light of federal budget constraints and health care reform.
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The University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic have launched a 10-year effort called the Decade of Discovery: A Minnesota Partnership to Conquer Diabetes. The partnership harnesses the extensive research expertise at the two institutions in an effort to make discoveries that will transform prevention, management, and treatment of diabetes--a disease that affects one in three people in the state. The ultimate goal isto find a cure. This article describes the vision for this undertaking as well as research that might one day lead to a cure.