Latest news with #CAC
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Camden National: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — Camden National Corp. (CAC) on Tuesday reported second-quarter profit of $14.1 million. The Camden, Maine-based bank said it had earnings of 83 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 89 cents per share. The bank posted revenue of $92.4 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $62.3 million, which beat Street forecasts. Camden National shares have declined 3% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 2% in the last 12 months. _____
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
What is Coronary Calcium Scan? A simple heart test that could save your life
When we think about a cardiac arrest, we usually imagine dramatic scenes - chest pain, ambulances, and emergency surgeries. However, the truth is, for most people, heart disease is quietly brewing long before any symptoms actually show exactly where a test called the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan comes in. It's quick, non-invasive, and surprisingly underused, especially considering how much life-saving information it can traditional blood tests and stress tests are useful, but they don't actually show the disease. CAC scanning does,' says Dr. Dinesh Narang, a senior interventional cardiologist at the Lilavati Hospital. 'It's one of the few tools we have that can spot a heart attack risk that's otherwise invisible.'WHAT IS A CALCIUM SCORE? It is a CT scan with a very specific goal: checking for calcium deposits in the arteries that feed our heart. These deposits are early warning signs of plaque build-up (known as atherosclerosis) which can eventually lead to cardiac arrest. The test gives you a 'calcium score' which speaks volumes about your heart health and whether you need to heed warning signs.A score of 0 translates to Zero Plaque, which means you're in the clear. No visible heart disease. Similarly, a calcium score between 1–100 is Mild Plaque, which shows some build-up, but it is usually manageable with lifestyle changes. A score on the scan that reads between 101–400 is Moderate Plaque. That means it is time to get proactive. Medications like statins may be recommended for such patients. A score of 401+ is known as Extensive Plaque. This simply means you're at high risk; immediate action is non-negotiable for these Aakruti Mehta, a preventive cardiologist and faculty member, believes, 'a CAC score of zero is the most powerful negative predictor we have in cardiology. It's like getting a clean bill of health for your arteries.' And 401 plus is also an assurance that your heart is at risk. SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS TEST? There's a caveat here that experts want you to be mindful of. The CAC isn't a scan for everyone. It is for those patients who fall somewhere 'in-between' — when you're not low-risk, but not high-risk are three typical conditions that one may need to consider before opting for such a scan. "I would recommend it for a man over 40 or a woman over 50 with one or more heart risk factors (like high blood pressure, diabetes, or smoking history). You may also consider it if the cholesterol numbers are borderline, and you're not sure whether you really need to be on medication. The scan is also recommended for someone who has a family history of heart disease, even though your own test results seem fine," adds Dr Narang. advertisement'For patients unsure about starting lifelong medications, a CAC score can settle the debate,' says Dr. Mehta. 'If it's zero, great—you may be able to delay. But if it's 250? That's not something you ignore.'On the flip side, the scan isn't really necessary if you're in your 20s or 30s, healthy, and with no family history. HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER HEART TESTSPeople often confuse the CAC scan with stress tests or cholesterol checks, but each test tells a different part of the story. While a cholesterol test shows risk factors, they don't tell you if you actually have heart disease. A 'Stress' tests, on the other hand, checks how well blood flows to your heart when you exercise. But they can miss smaller plaques, the ones that often rupture and cause sudden heart attacks.A CAC scan goes straight to the point. It shows actual plaque in your arteries, even before you feel a thing. As Dr. Mehta puts it: 'Most heart attacks are caused by soft plaques that rupture, not always the big blockages we usually look for in most of the cardiac tests. That's why someone can pass a stress test today and still have a heart attack next week.'advertisementLike any test, it has limitations too, but they're pretty minor in most cases. There's a little radiation exposure, but it's about the same as a mammogram or a couple of cross-country flights! CAC is not always covered by insurance, though many clinics offer it for Rs 5,000 – Rs 15,000. The scan may not show soft plaque, but calcified plaque is still a strong indicator of overall plaque burden in one's Dheeraj Kapoor, a Bengaluru-based radiologist who's overseen more than 2,000 CAC scans, says it best: 'The radiation is minimal, and the value of what you learn? It's immense. The test can absolutely change how someone approaches their heart health.'Here's the big picture: for decades, our approach to preventing heart disease has been based on stats and probabilities. The CAC scan offers something better: It shows you what exactly is inside your own arteries.'More than anything,' says Dr. Narang, 'the CAC scan helps people take action before something happens. That's powerful.'So if you're unsure where you stand—or you're simply tired of guessing—talk to your doctor. Ask about the CAC scan. It might just give you the clearest picture yet of your heart's future. And sometimes, knowing is everything.- Ends advertisement
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Heart attack risk? This heart scan can tell you more than a cholesterol test; but you probably haven't heard of it
When it comes to heart health, most people rely on the usual suspects , cholesterol numbers, blood pressure readings, maybe a stress test if things look off. But what if there's a scan that could tell you your real heart attack risk long before symptoms show up? There is a quick, painless CT scan that looks for calcium buildup in your arteries (a major red flag for heart disease). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It's way more accurate at predicting future heart attacks than just looking at cholesterol alone. The kicker? Most people have never even heard of it. Whether you're in your 40s and feeling fine or just curious about your long-term heart health, this scan might be the wake-up call you didn't know you needed. Here's what it is, how it works, and why it might just save your life. What is the Coronary Artery Calcium Test ? The CAC test is a simple, non-invasive CT scan (a type of X-ray) that looks specifically for calcium deposits in the coronary arteries the blood vessels that supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. These calcium spots are essentially hardened bits of plaque resulting from the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in your arteries (a process called atherosclerosis). The presence and amount of calcium in your arteries signal the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is the main cause of heart attacks. Think of it this way: Your cholesterol test gives you clues, but it's kind of like guessing what's inside a wrapped gift. The CAC test is like unwrapping it to see if there's actually something you should worry about inside your arteries. "A coronary calcium scan isn't for everyone, but it's the finest way for those who are uncertain about their heart disease risk to make better decisions about treatment and medications," Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., director of clinical research at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why is this test a game changer? Many people rely on cholesterol levels (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol) and traditional risk calculators to estimate their heart attack risk. But these don't always tell the whole story. The CAC test: Detects plaque buildup early often before symptoms appear. Helps predict your actual heart attack risk better than cholesterol numbers alone. Guides decisions on preventative treatment, especially whether or not you should start or continue statin medications (which lower cholesterol). Gives you a clear calcium score, a numeric value that correlates with your risk level — from zero (no calcium, low risk) to over 1,000 (very high risk). Who should consider getting a CAC Test? The test isn't for everyone. Various health guidelines suggest considering it if you: Are between 40-80 years old. Have an intermediate risk of heart disease based on risk factors like age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, or family history. Are unsure whether to start statin therapy or want to weigh benefits versus possible side effects. Have a family history of early heart disease but otherwise seem low-risk. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if this test makes sense for you. It's not typically recommended if you have low risk or already have known heart disease, because other tests may be better suited then. What does the research say? Studies in the US consistently highlight how the CAC test improves risk prediction. For example, the MESA study (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) showed that CAC scoring can better identify those at risk of heart attack who might have been missed by traditional risk calculators. The test also helps avoid unnecessary statin use in low-risk people scoring zero, reducing overtreatment. If you're worried about your heart health but don't have clear symptoms, and your cholesterol or risk scores seem 'in the middle,' a CAC test can be a powerful eye-opener. Here's something wild—Johns Hopkins researchers studied nearly 7,000 people to see how well we're actually predicting heart risk. They looked at two methods: one used the usual risk factors like cholesterol levels, smoking habits, blood pressure, and diabetes. The other added in results from a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan—that quick CT scan that checks for calcium buildup in your heart arteries. Turns out, adding the CAC scan seriously sharpened the accuracy. According to a 2013 study published in the European Heart Journal, some people who were told they were at very low risk based on traditional factors actually had high calcium scores—15% of them, in fact. That's a big deal. Even more surprising? Around 35% of people flagged as high risk had zero calcium buildup, meaning they might not be in as much danger as once thought. Bottom line: the CAC test can change how we see and treat heart risk—big time. It's quick, painless, and offers a peek inside your arteries that cholesterol tests simply can't. The real value? Knowing your risk can save your life by prompting early treatment or lifestyle changes — or putting your mind at ease if your arteries are clean. Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before considering a Coronary Artery Calcium test or making heart health decisions. Individual risks vary, and only a qualified professional can provide guidance tailored to your specific needs.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
China's new digital ID plan links every click to the Communist Party
The scheme issues each person who registers a unique "internet code" and a digital certificate after submitting their national ID card and facial recognition data Abhijeet Kumar New Delhi Earlier this month, China rolled out a government-run national digital identity system for internet users, administered jointly by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The age-old idea that 'someone is always watching' is no longer a metaphor. It's fast becoming a technical certainty in the 'communist' nation. With the rollout of a sweeping state-run digital ID system, every login, post, purchase, and comment made online could soon be tied directly to a government-issued certificate. What was once an abstract concern about surveillance, the architecture of total visibility is now being coded into the country's internet backbone — line by line and login by login. The scheme issues each person who registers a unique 'internet code' and a digital certificate after submitting their national ID card and facial recognition data. Initially optional, it already supports trials across major platforms like Taobao and Xiaohongshu and is expected to extend rapidly to the country's one billion internet users. What issues does China's digital ID system raise? The new system replaces platform-managed identity verification (via phone numbers or user IDs) with a centrally controlled database. While platforms lose access to raw identity data, authorities gain a unified view across all registered online accounts — potentially mapping a user's entire digital footprint within one system, The Washington Post reported. Although proponents point to enhanced data security, privacy experts have warned that consolidating sensitive biometric and identity data increases the risks of large-scale leaks. Like in 2022, when hackers reportedly exposed personal records for over one billion people from a Shanghai police database, including names, ID numbers, and phone data. Though the government describes the ID as voluntary, critics say it may become mandatory by default: access to essential online services (payment systems, messaging, commuting apps) could depend on possession of a digital ID. Once legal usage becomes compulsory, refusal would effectively block a citizen from daily life online. What does the Chinese government claim is the purpose? Chinese authorities have promoted the digital ID as a 'protective shield' — a measure designed to safeguard citizens' personal information from corporate misuse, fraud, and data leaks by reducing the need to hand over real-name credentials to myriad online platforms. According to an official statement, it supports convenience, privacy protection, and the healthy growth of China's digital economy. Why are critics slamming the move? Experts around the world contend the system will enable more precise surveillance — potentially leading to personalised censorship, tailored not by geography or platform, but by individual users. This means content, account access, or online presence could be restricted at the personal level. Additionally, the digital ID fast-tracks the erosion of what little anonymity remained under China's existing real-name laws. How does China's surveillance approach compare globally? China's surveillance matrix, which comprises the Great Firewall, Project Sharp Eyes video network, deep-packet inspection of internet traffic, mandatory real-name accounts on platforms like Weixin/WeChat, and widespread facial-recognition cameras, is among the world's most pervasive state systems. Human rights organisations have warned that China's internet ID model may become a template for other authoritarian governments seeking to formalise or intensify digital control. Organisations like Article 19 and Chinese Human Rights Defenders highlight an international concern: adoption of such systems elsewhere could erode online freedoms globally. Where does China's 'Hukou system' fit into the picture? China's legacy hukou household-registration system already divides citizens into rural or urban residence categories, restricting access to services, jobs, social benefits, and mobility. The digital ID scheme, layered atop hukou, will further deepen state tracing, tying together not only physical residency but digital presence to national identity. Citizens might find themselves cut off online if they migrate without hukou status updates, or face constraints in accessing local digital services outside their residential tier. This replicates the physical constraints of hukou in the digital realm, locking users to location-tied identity and reinforcing social hierarchy. How will Chinese companies interact with the digital ID system? Under the new rules, private companies will no longer manage identity validation themselves: they must accept the government-issued digital certificate for user login and verification. The CAC and MPS effectively sell or license identity-validation data — platforms 'buy' or process data via government channels rather than build their own user-ID infrastructure. This will potentially shift monetisation of identity control away from companies toward the state. In theory, it reduces third-party data aggregation by platforms — but it also removes one layer of separation between citizens and direct oversight by authorities. Firms will become more or less obliged to integrate with state-issued credentials rather than holding user identities themselves. What would life look like for ordinary Chinese citizens? In everyday terms, the digital ID system promises seamless access to online services without entering phone numbers or ID each time. But the trade-off is deeper: once registered, every post, comment, purchase, and login could be directly linked to one unique number traceable by the state. That raises concerns about digital exile — if someone loses or is restricted in their ID, they may be locked out of financial services, messaging apps, shopping portals, and transit systems. Content posting becomes riskier; users may avoid sensitive topics, lest their digitally authenticated activity draws attention. This intensified, centralised oversight mirrors the hukou system's control over where you live, work, or enroll in school. In the digital realm, that translates into control of what one says, where they browse, and which online services they can use — all connected by a single, state-issued ID.
Indianapolis Star
7 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Hoosiers hit with historically high electric bill increases, consumer watchdog study shows
Hoosiers are paying historically high energy rates from Indiana's investor-owned utilities, according to a new analysis by a consumer watchdog group. Citizens Action Coalition collected and analyzed 20 years of data from five of the state's monopoly utilities — NIPSCO, CenterPoint, Duke Energy Indiana, AES Indiana and I&M — and found residents were hit this year with the highest year-over-year price increase since at least 2005. The group's key findings show a statewide average energy bill increase of more than $28 per month — a 17.5% jump. The Indiana Energy Association, in a written statement in response to the CAC report, said its members "are committed to keeping affordability top of mind, while also making the investments needed to provide reliable electricity." Kerwin Olson, executive director of CAC, said for years Indiana lawmakers have passed utility-friendly legislation shifting economic risk and cost on to Hoosiers already facing rising costs for housing, healthcare and other bills. 'This is an ongoing trend of continuing to use rate payers as economic development tools while inappropriately shifting all of the investment risk of running the utility away from utilities themselves and their investors onto shareholders,' Olson said. 'And that comes at a cost, and that cost is starting to display itself as extraordinary rate increases.' The continued increase in utility bills is exacerbating an affordability crisis, he said, and Indiana is the epitome of regulatory and legislative control by investor-owned utilities that dictate policy and regulatory outcomes. The state, Olson said, needs to get serious about looking at policy solutions that invite competition and provide customers with a choice rather than allowing monopoly pricing. "Let's get serious about making sure the everyday working class Hoosier can live their life with some dignity and afford the daily cost of living," he said. CAC's analysis of data from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission shows large year-over-year bill increases for Hoosier's residential energy bills between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. The Indiana Energy Association noted "Indiana has been growing, and Indiana's utilities have an obligation to keep pace with that demand and power a modern economy." The association wrote that Indiana's energy companies invested in additional power generation and modernization of the electric grid that delivers that power. "We've added advanced technology to the electric grid that reduces power outages and hardens the grid against severe weather. There also have been substantial investments in evolving environmental regulations," the statement says. NIPSCO customers, the ratepayers already paying the most, saw the largest increase of $50, or 26.7%, per month, according to CAC. NIPSCO spokeswoman Tara McElmurry told IndyStar the company is aligned with IEA's statement and has nothing further to add. CenterPoint customers saw a $44 per month increase, or 25%, over the last year following an IURC-approved rate increase. CenterPoint did not immediately respond to IndyStar's request for comment. Duke Energy Indiana customers saw a $26 increase on their monthly bills. Angeline Protogere, spokeswoman for Duke Indiana, wrote in an email to IndyStar that Duke has the lowest average rate among major utilities in Indiana for residential users, and that the year-over-year survey includes base rates as well as fuel and purchased power costs, which fluctuate quarterly. New rates allow Duke to continue making investments in a variety of ways including outage resilience, increasing reliability and transmission infrastructure among other things. "We have invested $1.6 billion in our electric grid, power plants and overall system on behalf of our customers, and that is reflected in a base rate increase that went into effect in February 2025," Protogere wrote. AES Indiana residential customers paid about $17 more each month, and the utility recently filed for another rate increase. AES did not comment but instead referred IndyStar to the IEA statement. I&M customers saw bills rise $6 a month. I&M did not immediately respond to IndyStar. Gov. Mike Braun ran his gubernatorial campaign, in part, by promising lower energy costs for Hoosiers, and state lawmakers referenced affordability during legislative session this year. These promises have yet to come to fruition, and Olson said lawmakers continue to compound the issue of energy bills running rampant with laws such as Senate bills 424 and 423 which shifted even more costs onto Hoosiers. He also pointed out Braun's new Strategic Energy Growth Task Force, meant to address affordability, lacks any consumer advocates. 'It's hard to believe we're serious about affordability when a task force like that lacks a consumer voice,' Olson said. 'And then we see numbers like these: rate increase after rate increase after rate increase with no end in sight and with no apparent desire from the state to seriously take a look at why and try to fix the problem.' Olson and CAC are not opposed to economic development and growth, but he said the risks need to appropriately be shared and something needs to change. 'All we want to do in Indiana is build, build, build in the name of energy dominance, and rate payers be damned,' he said. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. IndyStar environment and natural resources reporter Sophie Hartley contributed to this report.
