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Advocates Express Concern About Embryonic Stem Cell Research Guidelines As Comment Period Closes
Supporters of embryonic stem cell research have expressed concern about the impact on existing research efforts under the Obama administration"s draft guidelines outlining criteria for federal funding of stem cell research, the Washington Post reports. The public comment period for the guidelines ends Tuesday and has generated more than 20,000 comments addressing nearly every element of the proposal. The guidelines, which NIH issued in April, propose limiting federal funding for the research to stem cells derived from unused embryos created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients who have given written consent. Former President George W. Bush in August 2001 enacted restrictions limiting federal funding for the research to the 21 stem cell lines existing at the time. Although President Obama in March signed an executive order lifting Bush"s restrictions, some proponents of embryonic stem cell research have suggested that Obama"s plan could actually jeopardize many existing research efforts. The Obama administration is expected to issue its final version of the guidelines by July 7, the Post reports.After Bush restricted federal funding to the embryonic stem cell lines already in existence, many researchers turned to private donors and state governments for the financial support to create hundreds of new lines. Although supporters of the research initially were pleased that the Obama administration"s guidelines would allow federal funding for research on these new existing lines, some are now concerned that certain stipulations in the new guidelines could actually disqualify these research efforts from receiving federal funding. For example, NIH"s proposal requires that couples who wish to donate unused embryos for research sign a consent form indicating that they were fully informed of their alternatives. Although many fertility clinics provide information for couples about their other options, few clinics note these details in written consent forms, according to the Post. Therefore, existing stem cell lines derived from embryos donated by couples who did not sign the required consent forms could be ineligible under NIH"s draft proposal, the Post reports. In addition, many stem cell research supporters also expressed disappointment that only unused embryos created for fertility treatments would be eligible for federal funding.George Daley of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute said that the Obama administration"s guidelines "take 2009 standards and attempt to apply them retroactively, which isn"t really a standard that would allow most of the pre-existing lines to be acceptable for NIH funding." Lawrence Goldstein, director of the University of California-San Diego"s stem cell program, said, "It"s not that past practices were shoddy. But they don"t necessarily meet every letter of the new guidelines moving forward." Goldstein added that researchers would "have to throw everything out and start all over again" under the new proposed guidelines. Amy Comstock Rick, CEO of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, said that her group is "very concerned" about the funding prospects for existing research efforts, adding that if NIH officials do not modify the guidelines, "very little current research would be eligible" to receive federal funds. However, Raynard Kington, acting NIH director, said the agency is aware of the concerns and "will take them into consideration." He added that "it"s unambiguous that the intent of the president was to expand opportunities and research in this area," as long as such research is "scientifically worthy" and "ethically responsible" (Stein, Washington Post, 5/25).

Researchers Piece Together More Of The Multiple Sclerosis Genetic Code
Australian and New Zealand scientists are a step closer to unravelling what causes multiple sclerosis.
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Shreveport, La., Center Continues To Provide HIV/AIDS Services After 20 Years
The Shreveport Times profiled the 20-year-old Shreveport, La.-based Philadelphia Center, an agency that provides HIV/AIDS services to "an average of nearly 600 people each year in northwest Louisiana" and provides "about 1,400 free HIV tests each year." The organization also has a residential program called the Mercy Center, "a haven for homeless people with HIV or those fighting addiction and other challenges," according to the Times. The center in large part is supported by an annual auction from which proceeds "help the agency operate support groups, coordinate medical, dental and housing services for clients, provide food and medicine to people and offer free, on-the-spot HIV testing," the article states. The center recently opened a satellite office in a nearby town in response to an increase in HIV infections in the area (Brumble 8/2).
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Promoting Safer Childbirth - A Sri Lankan Success Story: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Despite recent internal conflict, Sri Lanka has emerged as a success story in promoting safer childbirth. The country"s significant decline in maternal deaths will be presented today at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) South Asia Day. The conference gathers together a group of international experts to discuss maternal and child health in South Asia. Presenters at the conference describe Sri Lanka as a model for cost-effective healthcare. Despite the country"s meagre healthcare budget, its maternal and child health indicators are vastly more favourable than what would be expected. The maternal mortality ratio of Sri Lanka has declined dramatically as a direct result of the availability of midwives and trained assistance at birth - from 340 per 100,000 live births in 1960 to 43 per 100,000 live births in 20051. Dr. Hemantha Senanayake, from the University of Colombo, said "The most important contribution to maternal and child care has come from Sri Lankan midwives, who form the backbone of healthcare delivery. They are recruited from the areas they are meant to serve, which ensures minimal geographic and cultural barriers. The hallmark of our interventions is that they are low-cost and indigenous. "Every household in Sri Lanka belongs to a designated Public Health Midwife (PHM) area and the norm is for the PHM to provide home-based care. During the past few decades the Government has made a policy decision to increase the number of midwives. The number of women having a minimum of 4 antenatal visits has reached 99%." "In addition, there have been other policy decisions that have had significant effects on maternal deaths. Home births have been discouraged (1% in 2006) and the availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care is being expanded. Presently, 85% of births take place in facilities that have the services of a specialist obstetrician." "The provision of free education without gender discrimination over the past six decades has been a key non-health intervention that has had a major impact on maternal mortality." "Our experience demonstrates the fundamental importance of ensuring trained assistance at birth. These simple interventions have made a tremendous difference for women in Sri Lanka." Notes The South Asia Day conference is taking place at the RCOG in London on Friday 3 July 2009. This event is being organised jointly by the RCOG, All India Coordinating Committee (AICC RCOG) and South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SAFOG). Reference 1. UNICEF Devpro Re Centre, Prioritizing maternal health in Sri Lanka, available online here. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists


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