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New York Times Examines Challenges Presented By Growing Number Of Surrogate Births
The New York Times on Sunday examined how the increasing number of surrogate births has created a "modern twist" on explaining pregnancy to children for many parents who used surrogacy. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that there were 400 to 600 surrogate births annually from 2003 to 2007. However, there is no widely agreed upon number, and many advocates believe the actual figure is much higher. Melissa Brisman, a lawyer who runs an agency that connects surrogates with prospective parents, said that ASRM figures are much too low and that her clients alone gave birth to 300 infants through surrogacy in 2008. She said that 20% of the cases involved gay men becoming parents via surrogacy. Experts believe the number of surrogate births will continue to rise as more people, including gay men, choose the option.Judith Kottick, a licensed social worker in Montclair, N.J., who counsels parents in addressing children"s questions about their surrogacy births, said, "What kids want to know is that they"re in the family they were meant to be in -- that they belong to their mom and dad." The Times included the experiences of several couples who had children via surrogacy (Rimer, New York Times, 7/12).
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Nç©ovacs To Expand Clinical Testing Of Its TNF-alpha Kinoid Lead Product Candidate Following Positive Preliminary Findings From A Phase I/II Study
Neovacs, a biotechnology company developing proprietary immunotherapeutics for autoimmune and chronic diseases, announced that subject to regulatory consent, it plans to initiate a Phase II study of its TNF-alpha Kinoid later this year in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have failed treatment with at least one TNF-alpha inhibitor. The decision to proceed with the trial was based on an initial review of encouraging data from the company"s Phase I/II study in Crohn"s disease.
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California Advocates, Lawmakers Raise Concern Over Governor's Cuts To HIV/AIDS, Health Care Services
There is growing concern among California HIV/AIDS advocates "that the Golden State will reverse course and see spikes in new HIV cases after Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this week further slashed the state Office of AIDS budget in order to deal" with a more than $20 billion deficit, the Bay Area Reporter reports (Bajko, 7/30). David Brinkman, executive director of the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, which provides services to people living with HIV in the area, said, "This is the worst-case scenario cut. It"s going to cut, possibly eliminate [HIV] education" (Brambilla, Desert Sun, 7/29).
Public Health

New Online Curriculum Educates Physicians About Kidney Disease In Older Patients

The fastest-growing group of patients initiating dialysis is patients 75 years old and older; providing the best care for this group of patients presents significant challenges. The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) introduces the first-ever online curriculum to address aging and the kidney. The curriculum, based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)"s six core competences of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice, answers questions about the management of elderly patients. Twenty-five percent of institutions with accredited US nephrology training programs do not have accredited geriatric training programs, but the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has mandated that fellows receive formal training in geriatric nephrology. The ASN online curriculum will serve as a primary of educational material for geriatric nephrology training nationwide. Dimitrios G. Oreopoulos, MD, PhD, and Jocelyn Wiggins, BM, BCh served as co-chairs of the Geriatrics Task Force and oversaw development of the curriculum. "Caring for elderly patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an issue of growing importance. There remain many unanswered questions about the management of elderly patients with ESRD. This text will help nephrologists in training and those in practice improve and refine their approaches to the care of elderly kidney patients," said Dr. Oreopoulos. A grant was provided by the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) for this curriculum, which includes 38 chapters on various aspects of geriatric nephrology. The online res will be expanded over the next few months to include power point presentations that distill the information written in each chapter. The entire curriculum will be freely available for anyone to access and utilize. ASN understands the importance of treating the geriatric nephrology population and also collaborates with ASP on three additional endeavors: * ASN partners with the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) to offer the ASN-ASP Junior Development Grant in Geriatric Nephrology. Since 2003, ASN and ASP have funded more than seven junior nephrologists who have decided to focus their research careers on issues related to the geriatric aspects of nephrology. In 2008, there were two recipients of this grant, Steven G. Coca, DO, and Lisa M. Nanovic, DO. * ASN and ASP collaborated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to hold the "ASN-ASP Workshop on Prediction, Progression, and Outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease in Older Adults." This workshop, which took place in May 2008, was intended to increase NIH funding for the geriatric aspects of nephrology. ASP provided ASN funding for four fellows to attend and participate in the workshop. * ASP also provided ASN with a $15,000 grant to fund an In-Depth Nephrology Course focused on the geriatric aspects of nephrology. The course, "Geriatric Nephrology: An Epidemiologic and Clinical Challenge," was held at Renal Week 2008. For 2009, this course will be repeated and will follow the chapters of the geriatric nephrology curriculum listed above. Talks from the 2008 course are available on the ASN website. Shari Leventhal American Society of Nephrology


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