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Debate Over Recovered Memory Continued By Brown Professor
Fueling the debate over the controversial psychiatric disorder known as dissociative amnesia, or repressed memory, Brown University political scientist Ross Cheit is challenging claims by two Harvard University psychiatrists. At issue is how to prove whether the memories of trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse, can be repressed and then resurface later in life. Cheit"s paper, co-authored by Rachel E. Goldsmith of Reed College and Mary E. Wood of University of Oregon, appears in the current issue of Journal of Trauma & Dissociation.
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Health Care Reform Likely Will Not Provide Coverage To Undocumented Immigrants, Sen. Baucus Says
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, on Thursday said that he supports "a version" of government-run health insurance but that such a program would not cover undocumented immigrants, the Washington Times reports. Baucus was speaking at an event sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Families USA and the National Federation of Independent Business (Haberkorn, Washington Times, 5/22). Baucus said that health care reform likely would provide coverage to between 94% and 96% of U.S. residents but that it would be "too politically explosive" to provide coverage to undocumented residents (Young, The Hill, 5/21). Undocumented immigrants account for between 15% and 22% of the estimated 47 million U.S. residents who lack health insurance, according to analyses by the Center for Immigration Studies and the U.S. Census Bureau. Baucus said the finance committee has not yet discussed whether federal funding to treat low-income, uninsured patients should be expanded to treat undocumented immigrants. "I don"t have a good answer yet to undocumented workers," Baucus said, adding, "There will still be charity care." According to the Dallas Morning News, some immigration advocates have said health reform efforts will not be complete if undocumented immigrants do not have coverage. Jaime Torres, president of Latinos for National Health Insurance, said, "In light of what"s happening now with the flu pandemic, it"s pretty clear that, for any health care system to work, it has to cover everyone residing in the United States" (Landers, Dallas Morning News, 5/22). Torres added, "It"s unfortunate that Sen. Baucus and the Congress might not have the courage to include the undocumented" (Washington Times, 5/22). A podcast and video of the press conference are available online at kff.org.
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Predicting Fatal Fungal Infections
In a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified cells in blood that predict which HIV-positive individuals are most likely to develop deadly fungal meningitis, a major cause of HIV-related death. This form of meningitis affects more than 900,000 HIV-infected people globally most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and other areas of the world where antiretroviral therapy for HIV is not available.
Nutrition

ExonHit Announces Last Patient Out For EHT 0202 Phase IIa Study In Alzheimer's

ExonHit Therapeutics (Paris:ALEHT) announced that clinical testing of EHT 0202, its lead therapeutic compound in Alzheimer"s disease, is progressing well. Final patient dosing for the Phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial assessing EHT 0202 in patients with Alzheimer"s disease is completed. "In light of the neuroprotective and procognitive effects demonstrated by EHT 0202 in preclinical studies, we believe that our drug candidate has the potential to modify the course of Alzheimer"s disease and might open a new era in the treatment of this devastating disease," commented Dr. Loö¯c Maurel, President of the Management Board of ExonHit Therapeutics. "We look forward to the outcome of this Phase IIa trial and are planning to initiate out-licensing discussions with potential partners next fall." Top-line data from the EHT 0202/002 Phase IIa study will be presented at the 13th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies on September 14th in Florence, Italy. The study was conducted in 23 centers across France under the supervision of Professor Bruno Vellas, Head of Alzheimer"s Disease Clinical Research Center and Gerontopole, Toulouse University Hospital, France. A total of 197 ambulatory patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer"s disease were selected and 158 of them were randomized to receive oral study treatment over a three-month period. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to assess the safety and tolerability, as a primary objective, and also exploratory efficacy of EHT 0202 in patients with Alzheimer"s disease. The effect of two different doses of EHT 0202 (either 40 or 80 mg twice a day) as adjunctive therapy to one acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is evaluated in comparison to placebo. Efficacy is evaluated on multiple parameters by using different scales, including a battery of cognitive assessment tests (ADAS-Cog, NTB, MMSE), assessment of patients" daily living activities, and also global behavioural assessment. About EHT 0202 EHT 0202 has a novel mechanism of action when compared to existing Alzheimer"s disease therapeutics: it stimulates the í±-secretase pathway, thus enhancing the production of the procognitive and neuroprotective sAPPí± fragment of APP (Amyloid Precursor Protein). The stimulation of the í±-secretase pathway being to the detriment of Aí² amyloid peptide production, EHT 0202 potentially reduces toxic Aí² plaque formation (1). Phase I studies demonstrated good tolerability of EHT 0202 in both young and aged healthy volunteers; importantly, no sedation was observed clinically. Preclinical studies have shown that EHT 0202 protects cortical neurons against Aí²42-induced stress and that this neuroprotection is associated with sAPPí± induction. EHT 0202 has also demonstrated pro-cognitive properties in several animal models: age-related memory impairment and scopolamine-induced amnesia (2). About Alzheimer"s disease Alzheimer"s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is the most frequent cause of dementia in the aging population. An estimated 26.6 million people worldwide had Alzheimer in 2006. This number is anticipated to quadruple by 2050 to more than 100 million; 1 in 85 persons worldwide will be living with the disease (3). In France alone, 800,000 people, or 18% of people above 75 years old, have Alzheimer"s disease (4). References (1) Marcade M, Bourdin J, Loiseau N, Peillon H, Rayer A, Drouin D, Schweighoffer F, Desire L. Etazolate, a neuroprotective drug linking GABAA receptor pharmacology to amyloid precursor protein processing. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2008; 106: 392-404 (2) Pando M, Marcade M, Peillon H, Rayer A, Drouin D, Desire L. An alpha-secretase stimulator drug for cognitive disorders associated with neurodegeneration. Presented at the 12th congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies; 23-26 August, 2008; Madrid, Spain (3) Brookmeyer R, Johnson E, Ziegler-Graham K, MH Arrighi (July 2007). "Forecasting the global burden of Alzheimer"s disease". Alzheimer"s and Dementia 3 (3): 186-91 (4) Plan Maladie d"Alzheimer 2004-2007- Ministö¨re des solidaritö©s, de la santö© et de la famille ExonHit Therapeutics


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