Matt's Blog

Minorities Account for 51% of the U.S. Transplant Waiting List
RICHMOND, Va., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In observance of
National Minority Donor Awareness Day, Donate Life America calls attention
to the 49,000 minority individuals that account for 51 percent of the
United States transplant waiting list. There are nearly 100,000 people of
all ages, races, and religions in desperate need of life-saving organ
transplants that may not come in time. Hundreds of thousands more are in
need of tissue transplants to restore their health, mobility, and sight. To
save these lives, the public is encouraged to visit
http://www.donatelife.net and determine the steps necessary to become
registered donors in their state.
At the top of the list of minorities in need of organ transplants are
African Americans followed by Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific
Islanders and people of Multiracial decent. African Americans alone account
for 27 percent of people on the national waiting list and 35 percent of
those waiting for kidneys.
Though only 20 percent of the U.S. population and 23 percent of donors
are minorities, they make up 51 percent of the national transplant waiting
list. The high percentage is due to the fact that many of the conditions
leading to the need for a transplant, such as diabetes and hypertension,
occur with greater frequency among these populations.
National Minority Donor Awareness Day is observed every August 1 to
increase awareness of organ donation among African American,
Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Native
American populations. The event also recognizes minority donors and their
families.
This spring Donate Life America released a national campaign including
television, radio, and print advertisements featuring the real-life stories
of African American and Hispanic transplant recipients. The campaign is
aimed at inspiring minority communities and the general market to donate
life.
"Every year there are over 28,000 donors of all ethnic backgrounds and
races who save the lives of thousands of people and provide tissue for over
a million people. Last year alone, more than 10,000 minorities received
organ transplants," says David Fleming, Executive Director, Donate Life
America. "Making a decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor will help
save thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost."
To find out how to become a donor in your state visit
http://www.donatelife.net or its Spanish companion website
http://www.donevida.org.
About Donate Life America
Founded in 1992, Donate Life America's mission is to serve as a
national voice and inspire all people to save and enhance lives through
organ, eye and tissue donation.
SOURCE Donate Life America
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-30-200\
7/0004635492&EDATE=

To Itch or Not to Itch? It's in the Genes
THURSDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers at the Washington University
School of Medicine in St Louis were scratching their heads over the genetic
roots of pain when they stumbled on GRPR, the gene for itchiness.
The discovery could lead to more targeted remedies for chronic itching caused by
everything from eczema to liver and kidney diseases.
GRPR codes for a receptor found in a small group of spinal cord nerve cells
where pain and itch signals are transmitted from the skin to the brain. Mice who
do not have this gene scratch less in the presence of known itch-inducers, the
researchers found.
Traditionally, researchers have had a greater interest in the genetic
underpinnings of pain than of itching.
"Many genes have been identified in the pain pathway," lead researcher Zhou-Feng
Chen, said in a prepared statement. "But itch research has lived in the shadow
of pain research, and no one knew which gene was responsible for itching in the
brain or in the spinal cord, until now."
Chronic itching is a widespread problem. Skin disorders such as eczema,
illnesses such as kidney failure or liver disease, and cancer therapies and
powerful painkillers such as morphine can all lead to itchiness. For some
people, itching is bad enough to interfere with sleep or result in scarring from
scratching. Effective treatment options for itchy patients are limited.
Writing in the July 25 online issue of Nature, Chen and his team describe
research that came about as a result of an effort to find genes in the pain
pathway. They identified GRPR as a potential candidate and performed studies on
mice missing GRPR in comparison to normal mice.
Although they saw no difference between the mice in terms of pain response, they
found a striking change when the mice were presented with itchy substances.
While normal mice scratched vigorously, those lacking GRPR scratched little if
at all.
The researchers also injected a substance that stimulates the GRPR gene and
witnessed an increase in scratching behavior
In the long term, the research results suggest a way to develop anti-itch
medication that does not dull pain response. In fact, the researchers noted that
there are already pharmaceuticals in the pipeline that could help ease itching.
"Scientists have been studying [the GRPR] receptor for more than a decade," Chen
said. "One interesting thing they've found is that GRPR is implicated in tumor
growth. As a result of research like this, a lot of substances have been made
that block the activity of GRPR. So now, researchers can study the effect of
these agents on the itch sensation and possibly move that research to clinical
applications fairly soon."
More information
To learn more about itching and the conditions that cause it, visit the U.S.
National Institutes of Health.
-- Madeline Vann
SOURCE: Washington University School of Medicine, news release, July 25, 2007
id=606744
http://www.4woman.org/news/english/606744.htm

July 13, 2007, 9:52 pm
A Win for Dr. Hurwitz, a Loss for the Pill-Counters
By John Tierney
Tags: opioids, pain, William Hurwitz
Dr. William Hurwitz was sentenced Friday to 57 months in prison for prescribing
opioids. That's more time than his supporters and some of the jurors were hoping
for, but it's still a major victory for him - and for the scientists who
testified at the trial. The prosecutors had asked for a life sentence.
The sentence is a distinct reduction from the 25-year sentence Dr. Hurwitz was
serving after being convicted in 2004 on drug trafficking and other charges.
(The conviction was overturned and resulted in a retrial, at which he was
convicted of 16 counts of drug trafficking.) One of Dr. Hurwitz's lawyers,
Richard Sauber, said that, considering the time already served, Dr. Hurwitz
could be free in 17 months.
The good news, for doctors worried about the Drug Enforcement Administration's
campaign against opioids, is that U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema paid
attention to the testimony of scientists instead of the 1,600-pill argument of
the prosecution and Karen Tandy, the head of the D.E.A. As the Associated Press
reports:
Brinkema said she had read news accounts of the first trial and had seen some
of the massive prescriptions Hurwitz had given out, including one patient who
was given 1,600 pills a day.
''The amount of drugs Dr. Hurwitz prescribed struck me as absolutely crazy,''
the judge said.
But after hearing testimony from both sides, ''I totally turned around on that
issue,'' Brinkema said. ''The mere prescription of huge quantities of opioids
doesn't mean anything.''
The bad news for other pain-management doctors is that they can't count on
getting such a thoughtful judge, or getting the support of experts and lawyers
like the ones who defended Dr. Hurwitz. And, of course, despite all the relative
advantages he had over other doctors, Dr. Hurwitz still received a 57-month
sentence.
While there was no evidence that Dr. Hurwitz was profiting from the resale of
his prescriptions - and the jurors I interviewed said they didn't think he
intended the drugs to be resold - he will still spend more time in prison than
almost all the patients who admitting lying to him and reselling the drugs.
Thanks to the deals they made to cooperate with prosecutors, seven of the nine
patients got sentences ranging from 10 to 39 months. Only two got longer
sentences than 57 months - and one of them, who got 72 months, was also guilty
of armed robbery and arson.
I'll leave you with a few questions:
Why should a doctor trying to treating patients in pain serve more time in
prison than a patient who dupes him and intentionally violates the law by
reselling the drugs?
Will Judge Brinkema's words and action today discourage narcotics agents and
prosecutors from targeting doctors who prescribe large quantities of opioids?
Will the D.E.A.'s policies change now that Democrats control Congress? At a
hearing this week on the hearing on the D.E.A.'s regulation of medicine, Karen
Tandy and other D.E.A. officials got an unusually tough grilling from members of
House Judiciary Committe like Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York. The
legislators asked awkward questions about the D.E.A.'s obstruction of research
into medical marijuana and its policies on opioids. They invited testimony from
John Flannery, a lawyer who's been defending chronic-pain doctors and the author
of "Pain in America." They heard Siobhan Reynolds, the president of the Pain
Relief Network, testify that the D.E.A. is an out-of-control agency "that has
demonstrated no respect for the rights of ill Americans, nor for the rule of law
itself."
It may seem naive to expect any major change in the D.E.A.'s bureaucratic
imperatives. But let the record show one shift by its chief: Today, unlike the
day when Dr. Hurwitz was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Karen Tandy did not
celebrate by posing for pictures with a bag of 1,600 pills.
UPDATE: I just heard from one of the three jurors in the Hurwitz trial whom I
previously interviewed. She spoke with the other two and said they share the
following reaction: "As we had previously said, we hoped for a light sentence
and had complete confidence in Judge Brinkema. We are pleased with the outcome."
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/a-win-for-dr-hurwitz-a-loss-for-t\
he-pill-counters/
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer

HCV Sexual Transmission in Men Who Have Sex with Men
By Liz Highleyman
Since the early 2000s, doctors in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe have reported
outbreaks of apparently sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infection among mostly HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM).
To date, there have been nearly 400 such cases in London and Brighton in the UK
and smaller clusters in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Similar small
outbreaks have also been reported in Australia and the United States. These
cases are assumed to be due to permucosal (e.g., sexual) rather than
percutaneous (e.g., related to injection drug use) transmission since they have
been linked to high-risk sexual practices and non-injection recreational drug
use.
At the 4th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis
and Prevention last week in Sydney, Australia, an international team of
researchers presented data about the clustering of these infections across
different countries.
The investigators studied 190 HIV positive MSM diagnosed with acute HCV
infection between 2000 and 2006:
. 107 from the UK;
. 51 from the Netherlands;
. 24 from Germany;
. 8 from France.
The mean age was about 38 years, most were taking HAART, and the mean CD4 cell
count ranged from about 400-600 cells/mm3.
compared parts of the NS5B region (436 base-pair) of the HCV genome and
constructed phylogenetic trees to clarify relationships between cases.
Half the men had genotype 1a HCV, followed by genotype 4d (23%), 3a (7%), 1b
(5%), and 2 (2%). Genotype information was not available for 24 men, who were
excluded from further analysis. Compared with the overall genotype distribution
in northern Europe, an unusually high proportion of men had genotype 4, which is
the most predominant type in Africa and the Middle East.
Results
. 10 clusters of related HCV strains accounted for 88% of all the analyzed
isolates.
. The smallest cluster contained HCV from 3 men and the largest from 36
individuals.
. 7 of these clusters contained strains from more than 1 country.
. 4 clusters contained isolates from more than 2 countries.
. One of the 2 genotype 4d clusters (the second largest overall, representing
31 men) included samples from all 4 countries.
. Country-specific segregation was more common in the smaller clusters, while
the larger clusters tended to include isolates from more countries.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that this analysis reveals a large HCV transmission
network among HIV positive MSM in Europe, likely facilitated by travel between
cities.
They recommended that public health agencies should implementation targeted
hepatitis C prevention strategies for high-risk HIV positive MSM, including
education and HCV screening for at-risk individuals.
Researchers are currently conducting phylogenetic analysis to elucidate HCV
infection patterns among the Australian acute hepatitis C cases, and how they
might be related to the European clusters. So far, these cases have been
predominantly genotype 1 or 3 (reflecting the overall distribution in
Australia), not genotype 4.
UCL Institute of Hepatology, London, UK; Cluster of Infectious Disease, Health
Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands; University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of
HIV Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; University of Bonn, Germany;
Practice Dupke, Carganico, Baumgarten, Berlin, Germany; Department of Infectious
Diseases, Health Service, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
07/31/07
Reference
M Danta, T van de Laar, D Brown, and others. Evidence of international
transmission of HCV in pan-European study of HIV-positive men who have sex with
men (MSM). 4th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis,
Treatment, and Prevention. Sydney, Australia, July 22-25, 2007. Abstract
TUAB201.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2007icr/ias/docs/073107_i.html

Resiquimod Reduces HCV Viral Load, but Causes Side Effects Similar to Interferon
Given the limited efficacy and high incidence of side effects with
interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C, researchers have explored numerous
other treatment options.
As reported in the August 2007 Journal of Hepatology, investigators conducted 2
studies to explore the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of oral
administration of resiquimod. Resiquimod is a toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist
that has been shown to induce endogenous interferon-alpha production in people
with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
In a multicenter, double-blind Phase IIa study, 12 hepatitis C patients were
randomly assigned to receive resiquimod (0.01 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, while 4
control subjects received placebo. In addition, in a single-center study in
France, 6 subjects received 0.01 mg/kg resiquimod, 11 received 0.02 mg/kg
resiquimod, and 6 received placebo.
Results
. The 0.01 mg/kg dose of resiquimod was generally well tolerated.
. 2 patients in the 0.2 mg/kg dose arm discontinued treatment.
. More subjects reported severe adverse events using the 0.02 mg/kg dose.
. Adverse events were consistent with systemic cytokine induction, including
fever, headache, shivering, and lymphopenia.
. Mean maximum serum resiquimod concentrations were 3.82 and 7.55 in the 2
dose arms.
. In the 0.02 mg/kg dose group, 2 patients had maximal HCV RNA reductions of
at least 1 log, 3 had reductions of 2 log, and 1 had a reduction of 3 log.
. In most cases, HCV viral load reductions were transient, rising again after
the dosing period.
. Interferon-alpha levels appeared correlated with decreases in HCV viral
titer and lymphocyte counts, as well as increases in neutrophil counts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the authors wrote, "Oral administration of resiquimod 0.02 mg/kg
transiently reduced viral levels but was associated with adverse effects similar
to interferon-alpha."
07/31/07
Reference
PJ Pockros, D Guyader, H Patton, and others. Oral resiquimod in chronic HCV
infection: Safety and efficacy in 2 placebo-controlled, double-blind phase IIa
studies. Journal of Hepatology 47(2): 174-182. August 2007.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2007/073107_a.html

Archbishop feels 'closer to God'
Archbishop Christodoulos is planning to fly to the US on August 18 for his liver
transplant and has admitted that his illness has brought him "closer to God."
The head of the Church of Greece spent 42 days in the Aretaio Hospital in
Athens, where he was diagnosed with liver cancer, before being discharged 10
days ago.
"Pain brings you closer to God, it makes you more receptive to his grace,"
Christodoulos told the New York-based Greek language daily Ethnikos Kyrix.
The Archbishop said that he is trying to put church affairs in order before
making the trip to Miami in less than three weeks' time to prepare for his
transplant once a suitable liver is found.
Christodoulos admitted that his illness had made him re-evaluate his feelings
for people, in particular those with whom he had disagreements in the past.
"It is at times like these that man feels his life is very short and, at the
same time, too important to waste on trivialities," said the archbishop.
Christodoulos said he had confidence in his aides and the Holy Synod to take
care of church affairs in his absence.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100016_30/07/2007_86273

A Real Life Dilemma: To Be or Not to Be
By Dr. Narasinha Kamath
?
(A Big Question Mark)
As we all know, life is not bed of roses. Every human being goes through the
cycles of happiness and sorrow during their onward journey called life.
Sometimes we come across at a "Y" junction or in Hindi it is called as "DO
RAAHA" and then we do not know which road we should take that will have minimum
problems. At this point, we need help. And then we have to consult our relatives
and /or friends before we arrive at a final decision after carefully discussing
with our dear ones while weighing the possible pitfalls in the chosen path. And
we choose one path which we think is better of the two. Sometimes the decision
is right and sometime it could be wrong depending on your fate. And during our
onward journey, once you take a decision and implement it, you cannot reverse
it. If the end result is happy then of course everything is hunky-dory (meaning
very happy or fine : An American slang).
Now I am giving below a real life situation faced by one of my close friends.
His cousin brother is a very rich businessman and he is in his late 40's, that
means he still has many more years left to live. Recently, he was diagnosed with
a liver cancer. And cancer is currently in initial stages. Let us call him as
Uday (name is changed here to maintain anonymity). Now his doctors told him that
only way to survive is to get a liver transplant as soon as possible. Otherwise
the cancer will spread to other parts of his body. Now even if has lots of
money, there is no way he can get a liver from a donor within a short period of
time where the blood group also has to be compatible. There is a long waiting
list (up to 3 years) in the world where liver cancer patients are waiting to get
a liver from a donor, mostly donated after donor's death. Note that unlike
kidneys, every human being has only one liver.
Since Uday is very rich, he tried desperately to pay huge amounts of money to
get a liver, but so far he has failed. And now he has reached a conclusion that
in near future he cannot get a liver and the time is running out. His doctors
told him that one of his close relatives may be able to help him out provided
the blood group is compatible. Uday has one son and one daughter. Let us call
his son as Shankar (name is changed to maintain anonymity). And Shankar is the
only immediate family member whose blood is compatible with father's. Son is 18
years old and he weighs 100 pounds. Uday is a heavy set guy and weighs 230
pounds.
It seems that now there is a new technique developed which is called as partial
liver transplant where you do not have to wait for a donor to die before you can
get his liver. Medical science has now advanced and you can first remove
completely the current liver infected with cancer and the do a transplant of two
thirds of a liver of a person who is living and ready to donate and whose blood
group is compatible (or matches). And one third of his liver can be left inside
donor's body which eventually grows to full size and the donor will survive and
lead a normal life. And two thirds of the liver transplanted to a patient will
also grow to full size eventually and the patient will also live normally.
But this type of surgery is very complicated and risky and considering the
present facts there is only a 70% chance that this combined operation will be
successful (taking into account both the donor and the patient will live after
the surgery). And based upon past statistics, this is the opinion of surgeons
who did similar operations in the past.
So when Uday was discussing his options with his elder family members his son
Shankar overheard it and realized need of the hour. And then after knowing the
delicacy of the situation, he came forward on his own accord and talked to his
father telling him that he is willing to give two thirds of his liver for
transplanting in his father's body. Uday was stunned to see that his son has
decided to sacrifice for him. Uday initially did not like this idea at all. But
Shankar kept on insisting to go ahead. He also forced his father Uday to do a
blood test along with him and found out that both have same blood group (Note :
Sometimes blood group of father and son may not be compatible). Although father
is very reluctant to receive part of his son's liver, his son is bent upon
sacrificing for his father.
Doctors are saying that since Shankar is very young weighing only 100 pounds,
after the surgery, because of his low weight, his body will not be able to
support one third of his liver left in his body and Shankar's liver may not grow
as anticipated and he may die. But the probability that Shankar will die after
the transplant is 30%. However probability that father Uday will survive after
the transplant is much greater almost 99%. It is not 100% because there is a 1%
possibility that after the surgery the cancer may spread to some other part of
the body or with a remote possibility is that father may die during surgery. If
Shankar was say over 25 years of age then possibility that he will survive after
the surgery would have been almost 100%.
So the surgeons have already explained the risk factor in the combined operation
and has left the decision to the family. So now whole family is debating as to
what course of action they should take at this "Y" juncture or "DO RAHA".
Situation is extremely tricky. Son is bent upon giving part of his liver to his
father now. So it is now the famous Hamlet Soliloquy: "To Be or Not to Be".
Family is now actively debating so as to arrive at a final decision as soon as
possible.
In above scenario, let us go over following possibilitie:
1) First, let us wish for the Best outcome. Transplant is done successfully and
both father and son survive. With this outcome, the whole family will live very
happily ever after. And this is the Best thing one can expect to happen.
2) Son Shankar dies and father Uday survives. In this case, Uday will repent
rest of his life for allowing his son to donate part of his liver. And Uday's
life will be very miserable, a living hell.
3) Father Uday dies and son Shankar survives. In this situation son will at
least feel happy that he tried to save his father's life although he will be sad
that he lost his father despite his sacrifice.
4) Both father Uday and son Shankar die. In this scenario, it will look that the
son got victimized and his life was lost with no benefit to his father who would
have died anyway in course of time if the surgery was not done.
5) Do not do the surgery at all. Spare the son. And father Uday prepares to die
of liver cancer within next few months. In this decision, son Shankar will be
terribly disappointed rest of his life that he could not help his father.
6) Both father and son survive after the transplant but few years from now the
cancer spreads to other parts of father's body beyond any cure and father
ultimately dies within 2 years. In this scenario, at least the family will think
son Uday tried his best but ultimately he could not help his father.
Note that father Uday and family currently live in one of the Asian countries.
So what do you think father Uday should decide at this juncture. I will
appreciate your comments on this Real Life Dilemma of father Uday. As said
earlier, the situation is very tricky and complicated and the TIME is running
out!
http://dr-narasinha-kamath.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/07/a-real-life-dilemma-to-\
be-or-not-to-be.htm
You can click on above link to put comments if you like.

Tattoos can cause Hepatitis B
29 Jul 2007, 0226 hrs IST,TNN
LUCKNOW: Body piercing or getting your body tattooed in David Beckham style may
cost you a huge price- infection of Hepatitis B or E virus. The needle used in
the act to (re)fashion your body may just be infected with the said virus
causing liver disease, which in it's ultimate stage often turns cancerous (liver
cirrhosis).
"That is deemed to happen if the needle is not properly sterilised," said Dr G
Chaudhari, head of the gastroenterology department, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate
Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). He was delivering a public lecture on
'Hepatitis-B and liver' at the institute on Saturday.
The lecture, attended by school children and their parents, was organised on the
occasion of birthday of Nobel laureate Dr Baruch S Blumberg who was honoured
with the Nobel prize in 1976 for discovering the Hepatitis B virus.
Studies have shown that Hepatitis-B and E virus spreads through blood
transfusion or even exchange of body fluids.
This is unlike Hepatitis A and C virus which spreads through food and drinking
water.
While a patient manages to recover completely from A and C type virus, Hepatitis
B and E virus continue to exist in the body throughout life.It is not only body
piercing or getting it tattooed which causes infection. The virus may enter the
body because of an infected equipment used during dental extraction. Infected
blade which a barber may use is enough to land you with an infected liver.
Dr Chaudhari said they took all these possibilities into consideration after
they found that there were many patients who never underwent any blood
transfusion or even for that matter their family history never showed any such
symptoms.The prevalence rate of the virus can be gauged from the fact that
approximately 2 billion people, that is one out of every three human on this
planet has B-type virus.
At least 4 percent Indian population is infected with B or E type virus.
This is considerably less if one takes into account the world as a whole where
the percentage scales upto 10 percent. The rise is because of the virus high
prevalence rate in Sub-Saharan and East Asian countries.
However, even the 4 percent prevalence among Indians is high to set the alarm
bells ringing. The practice of re-cycling of disposable syringes is yet another
factor, said SGPGIMS director, Dr AK Mahapatra.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Tattoos_can_cause_Hepatitis_B/article\
show/2241414.cms

MOH studying issues on including Muslims in HOTA
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 July 2007 1841 hrs
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Sunday he is heartened that the
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has given permission for Muslims
to be included under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) and that the Muslim
community supports the change.
He said the Health Ministry would spend the next few months studying and ironing
out any "practical difficulties", before implementing the change.
Mr Khaw said: "I was very happy when I read about the new fatwa because if we're
able to bring in the Muslims, it improves the (survival) chances for those with
kidney failure. It's a good move to save lives."
But there are some kinks to iron out before changing the law.
He said: "We're studying the fatwa carefully with MUIS because some practical
issues have been raised, like the worry about delays in burials and so on. Those
are practical concerns. I think the Ministry of Health will need some time to
study all these problems, bearing in mind that this is not compulsory for
everybody.
"The individual's wishes should be respected and we have to make use of the
opportunity for public education and explanation. Let's do it step by step. The
next key point is making sure that the Muslim community is largely in support of
the scheme while in parallel, we work out and study the practical difficulties."
Currently Muslims are excluded from HOTA and need to opt in to join the scheme.
But the number of Muslim organ pledges has been falling drastically. In 2004,
there were 924 pledges. Last year, there were just 87. At the same time, 120
people are on the waiting list - many for a new kidney.
Having Muslims automatically included will give many patients hope for a new
lease of life.
When implemented, Muslims who do not want to have their organs harvested after
death will have to opt out of the scheme.
Speaking about opting out, Mr Khaw said fewer people now opt out of HOTA.
According to the Health Ministry, only 200 in the first two weeks of July have
done so, which is a huge improvement from February this year when over 80 people
opted out of HOTA every day.
The fallout came after news of a confrontation between family members and staff
at the Singapore General Hospital when doctors tried to remove a dead man's
organs for transplant.
Mr Khaw said: "We're now slowly coming back to pre-incident rate. But overall,
I'm grateful that by and large, Singaporeans support organ donation through
HOTA. So those who opt out are really the small minority and even though they
are minority we respect their wishes because this is not something you can force
on people.
"The key point is that (people) understand what this is all about - the intent
is really to save lives."
- CNA/so
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/291048/1/.html

Palm Beach County high school students do research with biotech giant
By Rhonda J. Miller | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 29, 2007
Jupiter They're working on research to help discover cures for cancer,
Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis C, depression and other ills.
But they're student and teacher summer interns at Scripps Florida, so the
day-to-day reality is more about putting on gloves, goggles and white lab coats
and learning to use state-of-the-art equipment. The opportunity brings
scientific excitement to Palm Beach County classrooms and awakens students to
career possibilities.
"I've been teaching for 15 years and teaching is very rewarding, but when I
first crystallized a protein two weeks ago, it was an incredible experience,"
said Fred Hock, who teaches biology in the International Baccalaureate program
at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach. "I didn't realize how exciting it would
be just to see this tiny little crystal of protein that hadn't been crystallized
before."
Hock is one of three teachers and nine students who completed a six-week summer
internship at Scripps Florida on Friday. Thepartnership with the Palm Beach
County School District began in 2003. Officials developed an aggressive plan to
meet with leaders of The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., as soon
as the renowned biotechnology center announced plans to locate a branch in South
Florida, said School District Science Administrator Fred Barch.
The Scripps leading-edge environment gives hands-on practice to students and
teachers.
"Before Scripps came to South Florida, there really was no way to have a
laboratory experience like this," Hock said Thursday as interns prepared
scientific presentations.
Two Palm Beach County teachers got a taste of the internship program in La Jolla
in June 2004. After Scripps located in South Florida, the student and teacher
internship program expanded each summer.
The biotech initiative with a world-class partner such as Scripps added force
and direction to Barch's vision.
"I think that life sciences will dominate this century, and we're right on the
cutting edge when it comes to our students and bioscience," Barch told the
School Board at a meeting Wednesday. "I believe we have a national model in our
biotech academies."
The district has 450 students in high school biotech academies at Seminole Ridge
in Loxahatchee, Spanish River in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Lakes in West Palm
Beach.
"There are 10 or 15 hot spots in the country where biotechnology is flourishing,
and Florida is one of the fastest-growing. Scripps is one of the reasons," said
Jeff Ghannam, spokesman for The Biotechnology Institute, which works from its
headquarters in Arlington, Va., to educate the public about the science that
works with organisms and its potential to solve health, food and environmental
problems.
"When there's a research facility, like Scripps, what happens is that companies
tend to cluster and education institutions want to work together to develop that
work force," Ghannam said.
Ariel Abovich, 16, an 11th-grader at Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach,
worked with experiments on bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
"Working in the lab has been one of the greatest experiences I've ever had,"
Abovich said. "I learned that science is almost never-ending and that it
reassured me that I definitely want to pursue a career in science."
Ross Einsteder, 17, an 11th-grader in the Seminole Ridge biotech academy, got
familiar with some career possibilities.
"I worked in infectology, doing research on hepatitis C," Einsteder said.
"Basically, we took different combinations of drugs and dropped them on cells to
see the reactions. It gave me an open door to learn about something I might want
to do."
That's exactly the point.
"We give students and teachers an opportunity to work in a contemporary research
laboratory," said Deborah Leach-Scampavia, Education and Outreach Administrator
for Scripps Florida.
"It's a bit self-serving," said Leach-Scampavia, who said the 80 student
applicants for nine spots created a highly competitive pool. "We're looking for
future scientists to work at the bench toward new discoveries."
The process for discovering treatments became clearer for the interns.
"It's different from labs in school, because [here] you're doing experiments
that could become very useful to the general public," said Hock, who will pass
along his hands-on lab experiences to his students this fall. "Drug discovery,
in the long run, could mean treatments for things such as I've been working on,
which is cancer biology.
"To say we're going to cure cancer isn't right," Hock said. "But we're
contributing in some small way in the search to find a drug that will work."
Rhonda J. Miller can be reached at rjmiller@... or 561-243-6605.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpbiotech0729pnjul29,0,118\
8032.story?track=rss
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Web MD Look up your drugs and supplements
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx?show=all&&ecd=wnl_lbt_072507
Another good place is:
www.rxlist.com
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Negligent sterilization alleged
Up to 3,000 former patients at Vegreville hospital could join class action
Karen Kleiss and Jodie Sinnema, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Friday, July 27, 2007
EDMONTON - A woman from Two Hills has launched a $15-million class-action
lawsuit against the East Central Health region, alleging the health authority
acted "negligently, carelessly and recklessly" in failing to ensure that tools
used on thousands of patients at St. Joseph's General Hospital were properly
sterilized.
Patty-Lou Mihalcheon was a patient at the Vegreville hospital in August last
year, when she received stitches after hip and knee surgery.
Like 3,000 other patients, she later learned that improperly sterilized
equipment may have been used in her treatment and underwent testing to determine
whether she had been exposed to HIV, hepatitis or other diseases.
"Despite knowing the risks created by the inadequate sterilization procedures
... the defendant did little or nothing to reasonably ensure the safety and
security of the patients," reads the seven-page statement of claim.
"In this regard, the defendant ... acted in a high-handed, egregious, careless,
reckless and callous manner and endangered the safety of the patients."
The claim alleges patients tested for HIV and hepatitis endured pain and
suffering, mental distress, loss of income, medical costs and loss of enjoyment
of life as a result of the hospital's actions.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
"We are just looking for fair compensation for these people who have been
affected," lawyer Richard Mallett of James H. Brown & Associates said Thursday
after the suit was filed.
"It is clear that proper procedures were not followed and it is important for
those involved to be held accountable."
The suit comes four months after the medical officer of health for the East
Central Health region closed St. Joseph's sterilization room because medical
instruments to examine patients weren't being properly sterilized.
An audit discovered endoscopes -- tiny tubes inserted into the body to allow
doctors to look at organs or take tissue samples for testing -- weren't properly
brushed and cleaned on the inside, potentially leaving behind human blood and
tissue that could contaminate other patients.
But the risk of contacting HIV and hepatitis B and C wasn't limited to the
approximately 550 patients who underwent biopsies, tonsillectomies or
operating-room procedures where their skin or mucous membranes were broken,
increasing their risk for contamination.
Another 2,300 patients who underwent less risky procedures between April 2003
and March 2007 were also asked to have their blood tested.
Some had open wounds stitched up with safe and clean needles that come in
pre-sterilized packages, but investigators discovered the tools used to hold the
needle and pull it through the skin may have been improperly sterilized.
Mihalcheon, who had stitches at the hospital, declined to comment Thursday,
referring all calls to her lawyer.
The medical officer of health said while the risk of contracting the blood-borne
pathogens was very low for these patients, the risk still existed.
In total, almost 3,000 patients were contacted and 60 per cent have since been
tested.
So far, no cases of HIV or hepatitis can be directly linked to dirty
instruments, said Dr. John Cowell of the Health Quality Council of Alberta,
which conducted a thorough investigation into the health region and released a
scathing report Wednesday.
In March, Edmonton lawyer Gary Romanchuk said the chances of successfully suing
the hospital are low unless patients die or become seriously ill as a result of
the poor sterilization.
However, lawyer Deborah Stewart, who specializes in medical malpractice, said in
March that if the allegations of faulty sterilization are true, the hospital was
negligent even before it was warned of the problem.
The lawsuit will now go before a judge in Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench, who
will determine whether it will be certified as a class-action lawsuit.
In making that determination, the judge will apply a five-part test that looks
at whether Mihalcheon's case is fairly representative of others in similar
situations and whether their legal issues are best dealt with through a class
action.
These types of lawsuits are new to Alberta. The Class Proceedings Act was passed
in 2003, and since then only a handful of suits have been launched.
In part, class-action lawsuits are meant to ensure equitable access to justice
by rolling similar small claims into one big claim to make them more feasible,
said Philip Tinker, an Edmonton lawyer and expert in class-action lawsuits.
"Lawsuits take a mountain of money and lawyers and scientists," he said.
"Those who would benefit from a class action would normally be frozen out of
access to the justice system."
kkleiss@...
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0e0fb0aa-87d9-45ca-9285-cb\
badc947b5c&k=65295
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Phone Campaign Underway To Protest Kevorkian
GAINESVILLE, FL-A campaign to generate thousands of phone calls to protest the
appearance of Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian at the University of Florida has been
initiated by the Flint Right To Life organization in Flint, Mich.
Kevorkian has reportedly accepted a speaking engagement on Oct. 11 for a $50,000
fee, sponsored by Accent, a student government funded speaker's bureau at the
university. However, the college communications department said last week that
no contract has yet been signed with Kevorkian.
The program will reportedly be funded by student activity funds and special
fees.
Kevorkian, 79, was released on parole from a Michigan state prison after serving
eight years of a 10 to 25 year sentence for second degree murder. He had been
convicted in April 1999 for the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk, 52, a Michigan
man afflicted with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Kevorkian had fatally injected drugs in Youk, taping the procedure which was
later shown on "60 Minutes", claiming it was euthanasia or mercy killing but the
jury said it was murder. The airing of the tape led to his arrest. Despite
repeated efforts by prosecutors to send him to prison, was convicted only for
the Youk death.
Although claiming that he's not advocating assisted suicide, he says that
doctors should be allowed to administer drugs to end a patient's life if the
patient is too disabled to do it himself. Suicide is illegal and Oregon is the
only state that has passed legislation that allows doctor to assist the
terminally ill to end their lives if the patient too disabled to do it
themselves. However, there's a real issue about mental competency.
During an interview in Michigan within days after his release, Kevorkian
announced his new "mission" to educate and inform the masses about their rights
as citizens. As part of his parole, Kevorkian cannot advocate assisted suicide
so he's engaging in what can only be called doublespeak saying that his NEW
mission "is not assisted suicide. My work is effectively done there", he says.
"I'll do what I can to have it legalized".
He cannot leave the state of Michigan without approval of the Michigan Parole
Board.
Judy Climer, president of Flint Right to Life, is urging that phone calls be
made to University of Florida president James Machen at 352-392-1311 (
president@... )
and the Annual Giving Office at 1-800-279-6796 to "object to the taxpayers of
Florida dollars being used to pay for Jack Kevorkian to speak to the student
body on Oct. 11".
Calls can also be placed to the Accent Speech Bureau at 352-392-1665 ext. 306.
Their fax is 352-392-8072. Their website www.sg.ufl.edu/accent is not currently
on line. Email: accent@...
Although The North Country Gazette could not establish that taxpayer funds are
involved, Ms. Climer said that she was told that the monies the students use to
pay him from partially from state monies and perhaps federal monies.
"Though it is not in Michigan, it will ripple across America and our students
deserve better than Jack Kevorkian", Ms. Climer said. "There's enough violence
hitting our campuses without adding Dr. Death and his message".
Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Schindler Schiavo, the brain injured woman who
died in March 2005, after her feeding tube was removed by court order at the
behest of her husband, is asking people to sign a petition directed at the
university asking them to withdraw their invitation to Kevorkian, to stop him
from targeting college students.
"We're sending this message to our young people that the answer to human
suffering and the chronically ill is to kill. That's extremely dangerous and
troubling", Schindler said. "Join us in telling the president of the University
of Florida that it is unacceptable to invite Jack Kevorkian to spread his
message of death and violence to the campus".
"Not surprisingly, our mainstream media has already begun to help the "doctor"
use his "plight" as a reason to promote the legalization of assisted suicide -
allegedly for the terminally ill - even though we know that many of his victims
suffered only for depression", the Foundation says in circulating a petition to
the UF administration. To sign the petition, click on Say No to Dr. Death
Petition.
"This is the same University of Florida where Judge George Greer (who issued the
Schiavo death order) attended school. It is also where bio-ethicist Bill Allen
teaches-the same Bill Allen who said in an interview that he believed that
(Terri Schiavo) was not a person", Schindler said.
Kevorkian was in prison when Terri Schiavo died due to premeditated dehydration
as a result of more than 10 years of efforts by Michael Schiavo to kill his
wife. Kevorkian had stated in a prison interview that he would have killed
Terri had her husband asked him to do so. 7-28-07
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/07/28/phone_campaign/

Visible light pulses to zap HIV, Hepatitis C
By ANI
Saturday July 28, 02:07 PM
London, July 28 (ANI): US scientists have found that an intense pulse of visible
light kills viruses lurking in biological samples more effectively and safely
than other alternative methods, including therapies with UV irradiation or
microwaves.
The researchers say the pulse produces mechanical vibrations in the virus shell,
also called capsid, as a result of which, the virus is irreversibly damaged and
disintegrated.
They say that the new technique may help destroy human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) and Hepatitis C.
The traditional UV irradiation technique can cause mutations, which eventually
make the microorganisms resistant. UV light can also damage the DNA of
surrounding healthy cells.
Microwaves, on the other hand, are even less promising as the water surrounding
in and around a microorganism absorbs the energy from the radiation, and it does
not reach the virus.
But visible light can overcome this problem, Kong-Thon Tsen of Arizona State
University and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have
discovered. They say that just a single pulse of light is enough to destroy the
viruses completely.
The researchers have already tested the efficacy of the technique in experiments
in which they applied pulses of purple-coloured light, lasting just 10-15
seconds, to viruses called M13 bacteriophages.
The "power density" of the laser was just 50 megawatts per square centimetre,
low enough to leave surrounding human cells and tissue undamaged, but high
enough to produce large-amplitude vibrations in a virus's capsid. It was also
too low to cause genetic mutations, meaning the virus would not build up
resistant to the treatment over time.
According to researchers, the technique may be used to disinfect blood or other
biological samples in hospitals.
"In addition, we believe that the method may be especially important in
designing novel treatments for blood-borne viral diseases," the New Scientist
quoted Tsen as saying.
"For example blood dialysis allows us to irradiate a patient's blood outside the
body and potentially cleanse it of infectious virus particles before
reintroducing it into the patient. In this way, we could reduce mortality
associated with diseases like hepatitis C and AIDS," he added.
The researchers are now contemplating testing the efficacy of the technique in
killing a wide range of deadly viruses including HIV and hepatitis C.
"We also plan to conduct further tests on the effects of the low-power visible
laser on mammalian cells to determine any potential side effects and confirm
that it selectively kills viruses," said Tsen. (ANI)

Young Man Celebrates Life-Saving Surgery
POSTED: 9:04 pm CDT July 27, 2007
UPDATED: 5:59 pm CDT July 28, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. -- He has a huge smile, lined with braces, and when he talks about
playing football or any sport, his face lights up and his voice gets animated.
Morgan Smith-Dennis missed just one day of school in his life. But he never
missed taking a moment to thank the people who gave him a chance to live.
"I just want to say thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here," the
21-year-old told Dr. Byers Shaw, chief of surgery at The University of Nebraska
Medical Center.
Shaw insisted there was no need to thank him
The two got together on Friday for a transplant anniversary party. They were
joined by the same nurse who took care of Smith-Dennis in 1986. Laurie
Williams-Solanen still works with Shaw.
Smith-Dennis and his father, Moses Dennis, made the trip from Minnesota this
week to celebrate Morgan's successful liver transplant 21 years ago. He was the
smallest, youngest, transplant patient in the country at the time, just two
weeks old.
His family spent six months in Omaha while Morgan recovered and fought through
complications.
"You're pretty tall," said the young man as he sized up the surgeon who gave him
a second chance so many years ago.
"So are you!" replied Shaw, who remembered the tiny infant on whom he once
performed surgery.
This weekend, the liver transplant patient will join 600 others in Omaha as they
celebrate the second chance they received at the Nebraska Medical Center.
Shaw said he's enjoyed watching Morgan grow over the years. But when he did the
surgery, 21 years ago, he never dwelled on whether the newborn would grow into a
man.
"I think you're thinking I want this baby to be 4 days older than today, and
then 4 weeks older, and 4 years older, " Shaw said.
Transplant outcomes have improved greatly over the last 20 years, with better
medications, attention to overall lifestyle and greater expertise. Liver
transplant patients at The Nebraska Medical Center have an 85 to 95 percent
survival rate after one year, compared to organ rejections close to 65 percent
in the early 1980s.
Shaw said there's great optimism that if transplant patients can survive that
first year, they can live long and healthy lives.
Since the liver transplant program began in 1985, more than 2,330 liver
transplants have been performed at The Nebraska Medical Center.
"There were several people here who thought maybe you couldn't do it. But Dr.
Shaw, who's our hero, said 'Sure, if he's stable, we'll try it,' " said Morgan's
father.
Smith-Dennis lives in Minnesota, where he works in child care and coaches
basketball. He plans to move into his own apartment soon.
His father looks back at Morgan's early days with a sense of humor.
"I always tell Morgan and the boys, if I'd known it was going to turn out this
good, I wouldn't have lost all my hair, worrying about you," he laughed.
Smith is bald and has been for a long time.
Shaw and Smith-Dennis said the need for organs always outpaces the number of
people on waiting lists. They encourage families to talk about organ donation
and said there's a particular need for African-American donors.
http://www.ketv.com/news/13773288/detail.html
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Iddon backs hepatitis campaign calls
By Rob Devey
CALLS for a campaign to raise awareness of the disease Hepatitis C has been
backed by Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon.
The Hepatitis C Trust also wants the Government to do more to encourage people
at risk of the killer infection to get tested.
It is thought that although nearly 1 per cent of Bolton's population - around
2,700 people - have the disease, only one in ten of them know about it.
Dr Iddon, who is vice-chairman of the all party group for Hepatitis C, said: "It
is vital that these people are diagnosed so they can undergo treatment before it
is too late.
"There is a scandalous lack of public awareness about the disease, even amongst
some doctors and nurses.
"Treatments are more effective if they are started during early stages of the
infection so it is vital that people who have been at risk get tested."
Dr Iddon has been called to give evidence at the inquiry into how thousands of
haemophiliacs were contaminated with Hepatitis C and HIV in the 1970s.
2:36pm Saturday 28th July 2007
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/display.var.1580427.0.iddon_backs_hepatitis_campa\
ign_calls.php
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

U.S. vets' high-blood pressure tied to Agent Orange
By Ishani Ganguli Fri Jul 27, 6:12 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. veterans exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange
during the Vietnam War may face an increased risk of high blood pressure, an
expert panel said on Friday, citing what it called limited but important
evidence.
The report by a panel of the U.S. Institute of Medicine was the latest in a
series issued every two years assessing the health effects of exposure to Agent
Orange and other chemicals used as herbicides by the U.S. military in Vietnam.
The panel, which reviewed about 350 epidemiological and animal studies, also
pointed to evidence linking those chemicals to AL amyloidosis, a rare disease in
which protein builds up around organs.
Those findings add both conditions to a list of Agent Orange-linked health
problems that already includes several rare cancers, type II diabetes and birth
defects in the children of the veterans exposed.
The findings may bring veterans one step closer to getting government-paid
medical services for these conditions.
The panel said recent studies of Vietnam veterans who handled Agent Orange and
the other defoliants offered evidence that they had elevated rates of high blood
pressure.
The University of Kentucky's Hollie Swanson and other members of the panel said
the evidence for both of the links is limited or suggestive, but still
persuasive.
"It's important to know what things might be associated with Agent Orange
exposure, given the number of people exposed. Many of them are in their 60s now,
late 50s," panel member Richard Fenske of the University of Washington said in a
telephone interview.
"They're getting to a stage in their lives where certain kinds of diseases may
become evident that may not have been evident in youth," Fenske added.
Researchers are still trying to understand exactly how toxic contaminants in
these herbicides, particularly the chemical TCDD, cause damage, Swanson said.
The Department of Veterans Affairs must now decide if it will formally recognize
the link between Agent Orange exposure and these conditions, according to Jerry
Manar, an official with the group Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
If it does, the report will help hundreds of thousands of veterans get treatment
in VA medical centers for hypertension and associated heart disease and strokes,
Manar said.
"This relieves a huge burden from veterans," he added.

Sara Lee recalls bread, may have metal pieces
Fri Jul 27, 4:32 PM ET
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sara Lee Corp is recalling bread sold under EarthGrains,
Sara Lee Delightful Wheat and several other brands because the loaves may
contain small pieces of metal, the company said on Friday.
The company recalled the bread after it discovered damage to a whole-wheat flour
sifter during a routine inspection that indicated some metal might have made its
way into the bread, Sara Lee spokesman Mark Goldman said.
The bakery is still operating using bagged whole-wheat flour that does not
require sifting, Goldman said,
The bread being recalled is sold in Mississippi and Alabama, most of Arkansas,
far southeastern Missouri, western Georgia, southwestern Tennessee, southeastern
Louisiana and the panhandle of Florida, Sara Lee said.
The packages are stamped with "best if purchased by" dates of July 25, 2007
through August 7, 2007 and include the code "222." The bread was produced at the
company's Meridian, Mississippi, bakery.
The bread should not be consumed and should be returned to the store where it
was purchased for a full refund, Sara Lee said.
A list of the affected brands is available in the press release at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/saralee07_07.html .
Sara Lee shares closed down 18 cents at $16 on Friday on the New York Stock
Exchange.

Republican Senators Unveil Universal Health Coverage Proposal That Includes
Refundable Tax Credits for Those Who Purchase Private Insurance
A group of Republican senators on Thursday unveiled a universal health plan
that would provide refundable tax credits to U.S. residents who purchase private
health insurance, McClatchy/St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The legislation,
called the Every American Insured Health Act, is co-sponsored by Sens. Mel
Martinez (R-Fla.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Bob Corker
(R-Tenn.) and has not yet been filed. Under the proposal, individuals would be
eligible for special tax credits of $2,160 to help cover the cost of health
insurance and other health-related bills, and families would receive tax credits
of up to $5,400.
The proposal also would begin taxing the value of employer-sponsored health
plans. Such plans currently are tax free for employers and workers. Martinez
said the tax credit would cover an employment family health plan worth up to
$15,000. He added that the bill would give U.S. residents "buying power" by
allowing them to find coverage that best suits their needs.
Martinez said, "It's time for a major debate on health care insurance ... Our
aim is to remove inequities in our tax laws that make tax relief for health
insurance available to everyone." Burr said the lawmakers developed the proposal
in response to legislation in the House and Senate that would reauthorize and
expand SCHIP. Coburn said, "Rather than forcing our children to board a sinking
ship, we can allow all Americans to buy their own boat."
However, advocates for the uninsured say the plan could affect access to care
for low-income families and people with chronic illnesses. Advocates also say
the proposal could lead employers to completely eliminate health benefits for
workers. Kathleen Stoll, director of health policy for Families USA, said that
the bill does not contain new ideas and that Republicans have been trying for
some time to dismantle the employer-based insurance system. "When we eliminate
that tax break for [the system], we should do that with extreme caution
(Barrett, McClatchy/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 7/27).
Broadcast Coverage
In related news, CNBC on Thursday included a discussion on universal health
care with Michael Tanner, director of health and welfare studies at the Cato
Institute, and Jonathon Gruber, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (Griffeth, CNBC, 7/26). Video of the segment is
available online.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/health2008dr.cfm?DR_ID=46528

Letters to the Editor Respond to Article About Declining Numbers of Physicians
Who Treat Medicaid Beneficiaries
The Wall Street Journal on Friday published two letters to the editor in
response to a July 19 article about Medicaid. In the article, the Journal
reported that many state Medicaid programs, "straining under surging costs, are
balancing their budgets by freezing or reducing payments to doctors" -- moves
that have prompted a number of physicians to end participation in the programs
(Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/19). Summaries of the letters appear
below.
a.. Rashi Fein: The difference in physician reimbursements under Medicare and
Medicaid by the same government "is shocking," but "these differences existed
from the first days" of the programs, Fein, a professor of the economics of
medicine at Harvard Medical School, writes in a Journal letter to the editor. He
adds, "[I]t is also shocking that so few physicians will see Medicaid patients,
given that these physicians were more than willing to accept and be the
beneficiaries of the large subsidy by government to their medical education."
Fein recommends that "each person entering medical school be given a choice" to
accept the subsidy and "agree to treat all patients who need your help" or not
accept the subsidy and "be free to choose your patients as you see fit" (Fein,
Wall Street Journal, 7/27).
b.. Edward Langston: "Congress must take immediate action" to reverse a
scheduled 10% reduction to Medicare physician reimbursements in 2008 and "update
physicians' payments in line with medical practice cost increases," Langston,
chair of the American Medical Association board, writes in a Journal letter to
the editor. Langston writes that "eliminating hefty overpayments to insurance
companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans ... will amount to a $65 billion
savings, which can be used to shore up Medicare's physician foundation and
preserve seniors' access to health care." He concludes that, without
congressional action to reverse the reduction, "access to care under Medicare
will begin to look frighteningly like Medicaid" (Langston, Wall Street Journal,
7/27).
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46536

Officials Concerned Federal Mental Health Parity Legislation Will Pre-Empt
Stronger State Laws
Officials in Connecticut and at least eight other states are concerned that
the federal mental health parity legislation (S 558) could result in weaker
mental health benefits in some states, the Hartford Courant reports. The bill --
introduced by Sens. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Mike
Enzi (R-Wyo.) -- would require health insurers to provide the same level of
coverage for treatment of mental illnesses as they provide for physical
illnesses.
The measure would not require insurers to offer mental health coverage, nor does
it specify which mental conditions would have to be covered. The Senate
legislation also does not distinguish between small and large employer groups,
and insurance plans could be exempt from the requirements of the bill if mental
health coverage increases total plan costs by more than 2%.
According to the Courant, the legislation would pre-empt stricter state parity
laws, which is "somewhat unusual because federal laws often recognize that
states may have already adopted stronger measures and don't pre-empt them."
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) said, "The federal Mental
Health Parity Act will pre-empt and invalidate services in Connecticut and
elsewhere, undermining and undoing important protections for our most vulnerable
citizens."
In a letter to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Blumenthal and Kevin Lembo, a state
health care advocate, write, "For there to be true mental health parity, mental
health services must be provided without regard to artificial cost thresholds
that would never be tolerated for physical health insurance policies."
Domenici's press secretary, Chris Gallegos, on Wednesday said that Kennedy and
Domenici are working to resolve the concerns about the legislation before it
reaches the Senate floor (Levick, Hartford Courant, 7/26).
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=46530

Relapse After Treatment Withdrawal in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis
Serum AST, -globulin, and IgG levels, but not liver histology, predicted risk
for relapse.
Treatment with prednisone, with or without azathioprine, triggers remission in
most patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, about 65% of these
patients relapse after treatment withdrawal. Some experts advocate discontinuing
treatment only in patients who exhibit normal histology during treatment, as
evaluated by liver biopsies, but even patients with normal histology can
relapse. In this study, investigators assessed additional factors that might
help to predict which AIH patients can discontinue treatment safely.
At a single tertiary-care center in Minnesota, 132 patients (mean age, 46; 80%
women) fulfilled international criteria for type 1 AIH. Patients were treated
with either azathioprine plus prednisone (95 patients) or high-dose prednisone
alone until they achieved remission, which was defined as absence of symptoms,
aspartate transaminase (AST) levels lower than 2 times the upper limit of
normal, and absence of interface hepatitis as evaluated by liver biopsy.
Treatment was withdrawn during a 6-week period; laboratory testing was performed
at baseline (treatment termination) and every 3 weeks for 3 months. Thereafter,
follow-up was every 6 to 12 months.
Relapse occurred in 102 patients (77%) after treatment termination (mean
duration to relapse, 10±2 months; range, 1-120 months). Compared with rates for
patients who had normal laboratory values at baseline, relapse rates were higher
in patients with abnormal serum AST (40% vs. 13%; P=0.008), -globulin (25% vs.
3%; P=0.009), or IgG levels (36% vs. 4%, P=0.001). Positive predictive values
for these parameters, alone or in combination, ranged from 91% to 97%.
Histologic findings at baseline were similar among patients who did or did not
relapse.
Comment: In this retrospective study, abnormal serum AST, -globulin, and IgG
levels were independent predictors of relapse after immunosuppressive therapy
for AIH was discontinued. Surprisingly, histologic findings prior to
discontinuing treatment were not predictive. Although the baseline laboratory
parameters could be useful clinically for determining which AIH patients have
the best chance of maintaining remission, AIH patients who are off therapy
should be monitored carefully, because most patients will relapse eventually.
- Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
Published in Journal Watch Gastroenterology July 27, 2007
http://gastroenterology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2007/727/1?q=etoc
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¸.·´
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(.·´
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*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Hepatitis C helicase unwinds DNA in a spring-loaded, 3-step process
Using single-molecule fluorescence analysis, Institute for Genomic Biology
professor Sua Myong and physics professor Taekjip Ha led a team that discovered
the mechanism by which the hepatitis C helicase unwinds DNA and RNA for
replication. Ha is also affiliated with the Institute for Genomic Biology and
the Howard Hughes Medical Center. Credit: Photo by L. Brian Stauffer, U. of I.
News Bureau
The process by which genes are duplicated is mysterious and complex, involving a
cast of characters with diverse talents and the ability to play well with others
in extremely close quarters. A key player on this stage is an enzyme called a
helicase. Its job is to unwind the tightly coiled chain of nucleic acids - the
DNA or RNA molecule that spells out the organism's genetic code - so that
another enzyme, a polymerase, can faithfully copy each nucleotide in the code.
Researchers at the University of Illinois, Yale University and the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute have shed new light on how the Hepatitis C helicase plays this
role, using a technique developed at Illinois that can track how a single
molecule of RNA or DNA unwinds. Their research findings appear tomorrow in the
journal, Science
Getting at the underlying mechanisms of replication is no easy task. Structural
studies involve crystallizing the DNA-protein complexes to see how they
interact. Biochemists look at the agents of a reaction, the energy used and how
much time lapses between steps. Such studies measure the behavior of hundreds of
thousands of molecules at a time, and the results describe a whole population of
reactions.
Using single-molecule fluorescence analysis, the research team tracked how the
hepatitis C helicase, NS3, unwound a duplexed DNA molecule tagged with a
fluorescent label on each strand of its double-stranded region. (The NS3
helicase is primarily involved in unwinding the single-stranded RNA of the
hepatitis virus, but it can also act on DNA. This suggests that the helicase
plays a role in unwinding double-stranded host DNA during infection. The duplex
created for the experiment included both single- and double-stranded DNA;
fluorescent labels were located in the double-stranded region.)
By tracking the gradually increasing distance between the two marked nucleotides
as the strands separated in an unwinding event, the researchers were able to
measure the rate at which the unwinding occurred. What they found was that the
DNA unwound in discrete jumps: Three nucleotide pairs (base pairs) had to be
unhitched from one another before an unwinding event occurred.
"It's like you're adding tension to a spring," said U. of I. physics professor
Taekjip Ha, a researcher on the study and an affiliate of the Institute for
Genomic Biology and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "You are loading the
spring with small mechanical movements until finally you have accumulated enough
tension on the DNA-protein complex to cause the rapid unwinding of three base
pairs."
Such reactions are energetically intensive, requiring the input of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) a cellular fuel source. The researchers observed that three
ATP molecules were consumed in each unwinding reaction, indicating that three
"hidden steps," each involving the unhitching of one base pair, occurred for
each unwinding event.
Although one molecule of ATP contains enough energy to unwind as many as 10 base
pairs, the researchers said they were not surprised by the high-energy costs of
the reaction.
"Helicases work hand in hand with polymerases in replication, so it makes sense
that the helicase would work on one base pair at a time," said Institute for
Genomic Biology professor Sua Myong, lead author on the study. "It's a very
systematic, one-base-pair translocation that may help the polymerase accurately
copy genes one base at a time."
The helicase must also navigate around a lot of obstacles: proteins and other
co-factors that are involved in replication. This requires extra energy. Ha
compared the energy needs of the NS3 helicase to those of a sport utility
vehicle.
"It's not fuel efficient but in principle it could also go off-road, carry some
luggage or maneuver around barriers," he said. "So it may actually make sense to
develop a low-efficiency motor because then you have extra energy to do extra
work when needed."
Myong noted that NS3 is the only helicase in the viral genome, and that it is
already being targeted in pharmaceutical studies to combat Hepatitis C
infection. It also belongs to the largest of four helicase superfamilies, so the
new findings could have relevance across many organisms.
Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
http://www.physorg.com/news104681604.html
Peace and Love
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«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
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¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

On the road again
New liver gives cyclist new life
By ABIGAIL MCWILLIAM, Messenger staff writer
Seven months after receiving a life-saving liver transplant, Michelle Sweeney
wears Harley Davidson clothes and a smile when she tells her story.
The 51-year-old grandmother and avid motorcycle rider talks about how her life
has taken on new meaning.
''I smile more, I hug more,'' she said. ''And now I want to go skydiving - just
once.''
Sweeney attributes her zest to a second chance at life thanks to a 76-year-old
woman who donated her liver and saved Sweeney's life.
The Fort Dodge woman is quick to express her gratitude to her donor's family and
the unexpected connection the women share - the 76-year-old organ donor had also
loved to ride motorcycles.
''Now when I go riding, it's not just me,'' she said.''When I fire up that bike
I say, 'Here we go baby, let's go.'''
This weekend, Sweeney will join several hundred transplant recipients for the
Nebraska Medical Center's transplant reunion in Omaha. Sweeney spent about two
months there when she underwent the transplant.
''I'm going to make a special trip to the fifth floor of the hospital to see
those nurses,'' she said. ''I have to say one more thank you.''
Now Sweeney finds blessings in everything from her two kids and seven
grandchildren to gardening and cooking. Her spirit for life takes her for long
rides on her 2003 Yamaha V-Star. Sweeney has continued her involvement in the
Heart of Iowa chapter of Women On Wheels.
Earlier this year she spoke to her biker friends about her illness - then she
modeled clothing for a Harley Davidson fashion show. Her friends couldn't be
happier for her.
''She's pretty darn excited,'' said Cindy Gildea, chapter director of Heart of
Iowa. ''She's got a new lease on life and she's just excited about everything.''
The group is very supportive of Sweeney's recovery, Gildea said. The first time
she drove her bike to one of their meetings, everyone was thrilled, she said.
Just five years ago, life was much different for Sweeney. In 2002, she was
diagnosed with severe arthritis, as a result of the skin disease psoriasis. She
suffered from extreme swelling in her hands, and even standing was
excruciatingly painful.
''My fingers looked like sausages,'' she said. ''When I was walking, I had one
speed - very slow.''
Sweeney was forced to resign from a 15-year career as a hair stylist and
gradually deteriorated from there. She went from crutches to a walker, until she
finally resolved herself to using a wheelchair.
For her husband of nearly 30 years, Pat, life was becoming more difficult.
''It was frustrating,'' he said. ''It was just hard to see her like that. It was
difficult for us to do anything.''
The Sweeneys thought they had found her saving grace when she started taking
injections for her arthritis. The medication worked for two years, but the
ongoing use of strong medications damaged her liver, causing nonalcoholic
steatohepatitis or NASH.
That's when Sweeney was introduced to the Nebraska Medical Center.
''The doctor pretty much gave me my death sentence right there,'' she said as
she choked back tears. ''I was devastated.''
She waited for a year and a half on the donor list and then Dec. 3, 2006,
Sweeney received an early Christmas present - a perfect match for her liver.
Although Sweeney's transplant was successful, complications from the surgery
kept her in Omaha for treatment for two months.
''There were times when I thought I wouldn't make it,'' she said. ''But I
healed. I'm alive.''
Sweeney has started a scrapbook of her new adventures, a collection of photos
and handwritten descriptions. Included among the pages is a letter from her
donor's family. A favorite excerpt reads: ''If you ever find yourself with an
extra bounce in your step and a smile on your face - that's Mom.''
''It's an indescribable connection,'' Sweeney said. ''I can feel it.''
http://www.messengernews.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=11386
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Anadys Ends Hepatitis C Program
Friday July 27, 7:46 am ET
Anadys Pharmaceuticals and Novartis End Development of Already-Stalled Hepatitis
C Drug
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Friday it is ending
development of a hepatitis C drug with Novartis, more than a year after the
program was suspended over safety concerns.
Data from an early-stage clinical trial and a toxicology study on ANA975 do not
support further development, Anadys said. The company did not disclose what the
safety concerns centered on.
"Our animal toxicology results have convinced us that chronic daily dosing of
this compound is inappropriate for further clinical development," said Lawrence
C. Fritz, president and chief executive, in a statement.
The company did say it believes the class of compounds could be effective in
multiple diseases, but using a different dosing schedule. It will continue
development on ANA773 for cancer.

HEART STOPPER
Cop flags down gran to take transplant organ for op after 999 crash
By Catherine Harker
A GRAN turned lifesaver when she helped drive a heart to a gravely-ill girl
awaiting a transplant.
Margaret Rollinson, 56, was flagged down by a policeman after an ambulance
taking the heart to hospital crashed and blew out two of its tyres.
He explained his mercy mission and put the heart in its container on the back
seat of her car.
Margaret raced through red lights in rush-hour traffic to drop the organ at a
police station to continue to journey to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Margaret said: "I left home that morning not expecting anything special to
happen, it just goes to show you never know what is just around the corner."
The heart had been flown to Luton Airport and had to get to the hospital within
four hours.
The ambulance rushing to the hospital crashed in Walthamstow, east London.
A policeman called to the crash stopped Margaret as she was driving to work.
Margaret said: "After asking me if I would take him to the nearest police
station, he came back with an enormous box and put it on the back seat.
"He said: 'I don't want to panic you but there is a heart in here.'
"I tried to hare up the road as best I could at 8.50am. As I approached the
traffic lights they went red - but he said, 'Don't worry, just go across'.
"I then dropped him off at Walthamstow police station and wished him luck as he
ran up the stairs.
"I turned into a side road to catch my breath."
Within minutes of the heart arriving at hospital, the three surgeons on standby
started the transplant.
The young patient is said to be recovering well.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=heart-stopper&method=full&obj\
ectid=19528134&siteid=66633-name_page.html
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

An Update on Transplant
By Lawrence Henry
Published 7/27/2007 12:08:35 AM
In an op-ed published July 16 in the Chicago Tribune, "Using the Internet to
Donate Organs," Tom Simon argued the case for donating a kidney to a stranger
via the website Matchingdonors.com.
When I made the choice to donate a kidney to a stranger, I began the process
as a non-directed donor -- meaning I was prepared to let Northwestern Memorial
Hospital choose my recipient for me. I immediately began to have misgivings
about this approach.
What if my kidney wound up inside a registered sex offender or a violent
ex-convict...I was less interested in saving the sickest person I could find and
more interested in saving the life of someone who could make a difference in the
world once his or her health was restored to normal.
...I found the posting of a Chicago woman named Brenda for whom I felt a great
deal of empathy. She was young, aspired to have kids and worked as a domestic
violence court victim advocate for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
TRANSLATION: I WANTED TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO A LIBERAL.
Does this kind of sanctimony make you as nauseated as it makes me? I have been
on the other side of this Internet tease. I did a one-week trial with
Matchingdonors.com. I wrote to four people of my blood type who stated on the
site that they were willing to donate to anyone. The site's internal messaging
system confirmed that my messages had been read.
I heard from no one.
I don't know what Matchingdonors.com charges for the privilege of "playing
God," as Mr. Simon so accurately puts it. But it costs about $700 for a
"lifetime" membership for would-be recipients. I've been getting e-mail
blandishments from the site ever since my trial membership. They have slick
phone salespeople to try to persuade you to buy those "lifetime" memberships.
Here's the rub: If Mr. Simon and his like are "less interested in saving the
sickest person I could find," that sickest person is left to die. Twenty percent
of dialysis patients die every year. I've had one close call myself this year.
IN 1972, THE GOVERNMENT STRUCK A DEAL with private insurers. After three years
of treatment, Medicare would take over insuring End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
patients. That also qualifies most ESRD patients for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI). Being in a weakened state, most of us take it.
As usual, the government had no idea what it was getting into. In its first
full year of operation, the ESRD Medicare program was spending $229 million. By
its tenth year, the program costs exceeded $2.5 billion. By 1997, that cost had
ballooned to $15.64 billion. Most of this money goes toward maintaining dialysis
patients. Transplant saves Medicare about 60 percent post-transplant, assuming a
ten-year period, because, 36 months after getting a successful transplant,
transplant recipients stop receiving Medicare payments. Transplant patients
mostly return to normal lives (as I did for 20 years). Nearly two-thirds of
dialysis patients, especially those with diabetes, find themselves unable to do
any more than support their daily personal needs.
THIS IS A PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE, LIKE IT OR NOT. It makes sense for government
to encourage transplant, as opposed to long-term dialysis, simply on the basis
of cost outlay. But it also makes social sense, because transplant recipients
lead transparently normal lives, working, paying taxes, raising families,
contributing to the general welfare.
As always, faced with a system that doesn't work well, patients with the
gumption have taken matters into their own hands -- and wallets. An old pal of
mine, also going for his third kidney transplant, got in touch with me to urge
me to solicit a kidney from my friends, church members, and associates. I did
that, and ultimately found several willing donors. One survived the testing
process, and was willing to donate to the swap program at my hospital. The
database of potential paired transplant donations is being run now, and I should
know within a couple of weeks whether or not I have a kidney.
The head doc of the transplant program here advised me to wait until the fall
to see what the database turns up -- it changes regularly. If I don't have a
kidney by that time, I will take a short trip to Tampa and register with a
transplant center there. The waiting time for a cadaver transplant -- from
accident victims, mostly -- is shorter in Florida than in the Northeast. I do
not have to move to Tampa. I can simply be ready to hop a plane at a moment's
notice. It's expensive, but lots cheaper than living the way I'm living now
PREFERABLY, TWO PROGRAMS OUGHT TO BE IMPLEMENTED. First, there ought to be a
national program of reimbursal for "Good Samaritan" donors -- people willing to
donate either to an individual or to a medical center's swap program. Put
simply, you ought to be able to sell a kidney, or have yours heirs do so.
Second, instead of asking people to designate themselves as organ donors through
the driver's license programs of various states, it ought to flip over: People
would be presumed donors unless they explicitly opt out.
This is called "presumed consent," and it exists in Portugal and Italy, where
dialysis is minimal and transplant common. Unfortunately, an irreducible
population of idiots in this country remains convinced that doctors wait,
Frankenstein-like, scalpels at the ready, to turn an accident victim into a
dugout canoe before he's really dead.
Ideally, both policies would work together. Presumed consent would tend to
keep the otherwise-inflationary price for selling an organ down.
SO WHAT'S THE OBJECTION, IN THE MEANTIME, to Internet dating for organ donors?
Several statistical realities.
Organ donations are matched up by blood type. As my doc told me, "The ABs
cycle through very fast, because blood type is not an issue." An AB can receive
a donation from anyone. Meantime, Bs, Os, and As wait, and are likely to be
among the sickest cited by Tom Simon in his smarmy op-ed.
Internet matchups do little or nothing to even out regional inequities in
waiting time. They do nothing much, at least intentionally, to alleviate the
generalized, ill-distributed, suffering of the waiting population of transplant
candidates. And they will tend to give kidneys, like Mr. Simon's, to those
applicants who, naturally or by design, ring all the right Oprah-like bells to
move Mr. Simon's and his cohort's questionable consciences.
Make no mistake, Good Samaritan donorship is in the wind these days.
Transplant medical centers are filled with literature on the subject from the
National Kidney Foundation, the very establishment of transplant.
It all helps. But it's still not enough.
Lawrence Henry writes every week from North Andover, Massachusetts.
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11790
Peace and Love
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«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Blues drummer 'Uncle John' Turner dies
AUSTIN, Texas, July 26 (UPI) -- Drummer "Uncle John" Turner, who provided the
beat for many blues bands and helped shape the Austin, Texas, blues scene, died
Thursday in Austin at age 62.
Turner, who died of complications related to hepatitis C, played or recorded
with many artists, including Stevie Ray Vaughn, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie
King, Muddy Waters, and Lightnin' Hopkins, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman
reported.
Among his concert venues was the 1969 three-day Woodstock festival, where he
played with Edgar Winter, brother of Turner's band mate Johnny Winter.
As a trio, Turner, Johnny Winter and Tommy Shannon recording what are considered
three of Johnny Winter's best albums: "The Progressive Blues Experiment,"
"Johnny Winter," and "Second Winter," the newspaper said.
The group broke up in the 1980s. In November of 2006, Turner reunited with
Johnny Winter and Tommy Shannon during Winter's show at an Austin nightclub --
the trio's first live performance together in more than 20 years.
Turner is survived by his wife, Morgan.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2007/07/26/blues_drummer_uncle_john_t\
urner_dies/5602/
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Chimp research ban may help studies into aging
07/25/2007
BY NAOYUKI UCHIMURA, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Seventy-eight chimpanzees once used for medical testing will now give
researchers insights into how to improve geriatric care for humans.
Since a ban on medical testing on chimpanzees last year, the aging primates have
been living out their days at a luxurious ape "retirement" center run in
Kumamoto Prefecture by a pharmaceutical company.
A new research wing will open at the center on Aug. 1 to study the aging process
in primates.
The project, an initiative of Kyoto University and Nagoya-based Sanwa Kagaku
Kenkyusho Co. pharmaceutical company, will be funded by drug companies.
Chimps were first brought to Japan by drug companies in the 1970s for research
on infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria and for new drug trials.
Chimps are now classified as endangered. Under the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the
Washington Convention, Japan banned the import and export of the primates since
1980.
With mounting pressure from animal rights activists to stop experiments on
living animals, experiments on chimps were halted in Japan last year.
Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho had been keeping chimps for research since 1978. The
company constructed a breeding facility in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, in 1982
which has ultimately expanded to 3.3 hectares.
In response to last year's ban, the facility was renamed from "Kumamoto
Reichorui (Primate) Park" to "Chimpanzee Sanctuary Uto" this April.
The sanctuary has also taken in chimpanzees from five other research facilities
in Japan, bringing the total population to 78.
After discussions with Tetsuro Matsuzawa, primatologist and director of the
Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, the
company decided to donate a total of 150 million yen over a five-year period to
run the center, while the research institute would take over management.
The institute invited Genichi Idani, director of Hayashibara Great Ape Research
Institute, as visiting professor. Other staff will be brought in who specialize
in geriatric medicine and who have been trained to prepare a suitable
environment for the primates. The center will rely on industry to fund research
chairs.
The chimp sanctuary will be run with the apes' happiness in mind. Meals will be
more varied, and will be spaced throughout the day. Seasonal menus will be
included to spice up their diet.
The chimps will be able to pick and choose their own bedding. An array of toys
will be on offer to keep them occupied. The animals will be able to romp around
in a spacious exercise area. They will not be kept in cages but be urged to live
in groups.
Seventeen chimpanzees that have hepatitis C caused by past experiments will
undergo proper treatment at the sanctuary.
"We would like to see what it really means for a chimpanzee to live out its
lifespan with the cooperation of these chimps," Matsuzawa said. "Hopefully, in
turn, we will learn something about welfare and longevity for
humans."(IHT/Asahi: July 25,2007)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200707250108.html
Peace and Love
(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ *Pam* ¨`»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( `·.¸
`·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
`*.
*.
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." -
Albert Schweitzer
President
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.org
http://www.HEALSoftheSouth.com

Discounting InterMune
By Brian Lawler July 24, 2007
With the dearth of data that drugmakers release to investors about their
compounds, it's understandable that investors can be a little jittery when a
drug gets delayed. Shares of InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN) fell more than 7%
yesterday after an analyst predicted possible safety concerns causing a possible
delay with the drugmaker's lead drug, hepatitis C drug candidate ITMN-191.
I used "possible" twice because everything the analyst stated in his report was
conjecture about the reason why InterMune and partner Roche haven't started the
phase 1b pharmacokinetic and efficacy study for ITMN-191 yet.
As recently as the May first-quarter earnings release, InterMune had stated that
the phase 1b study would start in the third quarter with study results released
in the fourth quarter, possibly at a medical conference in October or November.
There's no word yet on whether InterMune is sticking to this timeline. But even
if there is a delay with ITMN-191, it shouldn't be too much of a concern for
investors. InterMune has previously stated that it was revising the phase 1b
study after learning more about the potency of the drug from the just-completed
phase 1a safety study and from knowledge gained from Vertex Pharmaceuticals'
(Nasdaq: VRTX) studies with its HCV compound.
Early-stage hepatitis C efficacy clinical trials typically track a small cohort
of 30 to 70 patients over a 15-day period to track the initial viral load
reductions and pharmacokinetics of the drug candidate at different dosages. With
Roche's deep pockets and experience running clinical trials with the
second-highest grossing HCV drug, Pegasys, the ITMN-191 phase 1b efficacy study
won't have any problems enrolling patients or being completed in a timely
manner.
For instance, the initial ITMN-191 phase 1a safety study clinical trial, which
was done in 74 healthy volunteers, took less than five months from its
initiation in December 2006 to the announcement of its completion in May. I'd be
surprised if the phase 1b trial took as long, considering that it will be tested
in a much more motivated patient population and the study results won't take
long to analyze.
Shares of both InterMune and rival Vertex have lost over a third of their value
since their 52-week highs. Investors looking to buy into the next blockbuster
class of hepatitis C treatments on the cheap just got their chance.
InterMune and Vertex are Rule Breakers selections. You can check out all our
recommendations as well as get access to our message boards and exclusive
content with a 30-day free trial.
Fool contributor Brian Lawler owns shares of InterMune, but no other company
mentioned in this article. The Fool has a disclosure policy.
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2007/07/24/discounting-intermune.aspx

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Reminders of What Really Matters
Sometimes something happens and it reminds us of what matters and what doesn't.
A dear friend of mine was supposed to have reconstructive surgery this week.
She's finished with chemo and radiation (for breast cancer) and this was the
step that would bring her closer to feeling herself again. But...
But they found a spot on her lungs. It turns out that it's probably just
scarring from the radiation or an infection and not cancer returning but for a
while there things looked very grim and scary.
It sucks to have been abused. It sucks to have to do the work of processing the
experience so that we can move forward in our lives. But this week I find myself
thinking not about how life screwed me but rather how lucky I am.
--I don't have cancer.
--My friend is probably going to be okay.
--I did survive my childhood and I am creating the life I want to have and I can
be happy.
--I'm able to see that the differences between me and someone who hasn't gone
through what I did are minor compared to all the ways we're the same.
--The blessings in my life NOW far outweigh the problems and inherent in every
problem or challenge is a chance to grow and perhaps even end up happier than if
that problem or challenge had not occurred.
My friend is a thriver, too, having beaten both breast cancer and Hepatitis C.
She lives life with laughter and determination even at the worst of times. She
reminds me of what really matters.
May all those you care about be thrivers-including YOU. Sending blessings and
safe and gentle (((((((hugs))))))),
April_optimist
http://thriverstoolbox.blogspot.com/2007/07/reminders-of-what-really-matters.htm\
l

Vertex shares leap on hepatitis C drug data
Reuters Health - Jul. 25, 2007
BOSTON (Reuters) - Shares of biotechnology company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
rose as much as 9 percent on Wednesday as additional information about its
experimental hepatitis C drug reassured investors about its chances of success.
Vertex told investors on a conference call after the market closed on Tuesday
that interim data from an analysis of a clinical trial showed that among
patients who had completed 24 weeks of therapy and had undetectable levels of
the hepatitis C virus, less than 10 percent relapsed 12 weeks later.
"We view this as very impressive data and a significant de-risking event, as
post-treatment relapse rate was previously the biggest unknown," Leerink Swann
analyst Howard Liang said in a report.
Analysts said Vertex remained on track to begin late-stage clinical trials of
the drug, telaprevir, or VX-950, by the end of the year.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts, company's shares were up $2.19, or 7.4 percent, at
$31.91 in morning Nasdaq trade. Earlier in the day they rose as high as $32.50.
http://www.therapeuticsdaily.com/news/article.cfm?contentValue=1438476&contentTy\
pe=sentryarticle&channelID=31

NOW AVAILABLE!
POST IAS 2007 CME NEWSLETTER
This newsletter contains a summary of the latest HIV/AIDS research findings
presented at the 4th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis,
Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2007) held in Sydney, Australia, on July 22-25,
2007.
We hope that you find the information timely and informative. Please complete
the brief post-test included with the newsletter in order to receive 1 AMA/PRA
Category 1 CreditT.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/cme/2007/ias_newsletter/IASNewsletter2007.pdf

Calif. Hospital Settles Transplant Suit
Thursday July 26, 2007 4:46 AM
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press Writer
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - The UCI Medical Center agreed to pay $7.5 million to
settle 35 lawsuits brought by former liver transplant candidates at the hospital
or their relatives, the lawyer for most of the plaintiffs said Wednesday.
The plaintiffs sued the University of California, Irvine, hospital after a 2005
federal report found that 33 transplant candidates died between 2004 and 2005
even as the hospital turned away organs that might have saved some of them.
The report and ensuing scandal prompted UCI to close its liver transplant
program in 2005 and led to the resignations of top hospital officials. The
report also led to a federal investigation and calls for a state inquiry.
Individual payouts to the plaintiffs would range from $50,000 to more than $1
million, said Larry Eisenberg, the attorney for 33 of them. He said a notice of
the settlement was submitted Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court.
Eisenberg said about 15 cases remain to be settled. He said of the 35 plaintiffs
who settled Wednesday, only 10 are still alive.
The university issued a statement saying it committed to resolving the
transplant litigation ``in a reasonable and responsible manner'' through
mediation. It did not discuss the announced settlement.
Federal health care regulators found that participants in UCI's program had a
one-year survival rate of 68 percent to 70 percent between July 2001 and June
2004 - well below the federal requirement of 77 percent.
In 2004, the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees the national
transplant system, allowed UCI to continue its liver transplant program after
the hospital hired a new transplant surgeon.
But 33 more candidates died awaiting liver transplants between 2004 and 2005,
when the hospital turned down organs that might have saved some of them. UCI
received 122 liver offers between August 2004 and July 2005 but transplanted
just 12, according to federal records.
A re