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Holding Breath For Several Minutes Elevates Marker For Brain Damage
Divers who held their breath for several minutes had elevated levels of a protein that can signal brain damage, according to a new study from the Journal of Applied Physiology. However, the appearance of the protein, S100B, was transient and leaves open the question of whether lengthy apnea (breath-holding) can damage the brain over the long term.
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Advocates Weigh Impact Of Tiller Murder On Future Of Abortion Debate
Opponents and supporters of abortion rights on Monday said they expect the murder of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller on Sunday to further intensify the debate over reproductive rights in the U.S., with some abortion-rights advocates expressing concern that the killing could spur a new wave of protests or violence from opponents, the Washington Post reports. Tiller, one of the few U.S. doctors who performed abortions later in pregnancy, was shot to death on Sunday at his church in Kansas. According to the Post, Tiller"s death has brought the issue of violence back into the spotlight in the abortion debate at a time when President Obama is urging both sides to find "common ground." Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the "ongoing pattern of hateful rhetoric" used by some in the antiabortion-rights movement contributes to violence like Tiller"s shooting (Slevin, Washington Post, 6/2). Keenan singled out groups that she said have used "hateful rhetoric" in recent months. "If they truly abhor the violence their rhetoric is encouraging, then they need to stop using the inflammatory phrases to describe the people they don"t agree with," she said, adding that "until then, I think their claims of the shock of Dr. Tiller"s murder ring very hollow." The antiabortion-rights group Operation Rescue is at the center of debate over whether certain rhetoric stokes violence in the movement, NPR"s "Morning Edition" reports. The group"s founder, Randall Terry, said after the shooting, "What that man did by shooting George Tiller is wrong. Period" (Rovner, "Morning Edition," NPR, 6/2). However, Terry also called Tiller a "mass murderer" who "reaped what he sowed" (Milligan, Boston Globe, 6/2). Tom McClusky, vice president of the Family Research Council"s legislative arm, said the group is concerned with "how an action like this might be exploited" by abortion-rights supporters, particularly the idea of condemning the entire antiabortion-rights movement for Tiller"s death. He said that FRC is "already seeing some indications of people trying to throw everybody into the same boat" ("Morning Edition," NPR, 6/2).The Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, said that Terry"s views do not represent the modern antiabortion-rights movement. Schenck added that he believes "that a lot of pro-life leaders from the past are not carefully, prayerfully thinking through the moral consequences of an act like" the shooting. Schenck and abortion-rights opponents also expressed concerns that the murder will harm the credibility of their attempt to block the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. "When an act like this happens, it becomes a greater threat to the pro-life movement than anything the pro-choice movement" could do, Schenck said (Boston Globe, 6/2). Andy Wollen of the centrist group Kansas Traditionalist Republican Majority said that Tiller"s shooting "brings home the impact of the kind of rhetoric that the hard right uses when they talk about abortion." He said that when antiabortion-rights advocates "called him "Tiller the Killer" and they call their political opponents "baby killers," as they do on a regular basis, they"re opening the doors" to acts of violence.Meanwhile, USA Today reports that U.S Attorney General Eric Holder has increased security measures for abortion providers and clinics across the country, including Tiller"s clinic (Bello/Stone, USA Today, 6/2). Dan Monnat, Tiller"s attorney, said that the clinic is currently closed for mourning but will reopen next week to serve women who "came to Dr. Tiller because they had nowhere else to turn" (Washington Post, 6/2). Scott Roeder, the man accused of shooting Tiller, remained in custody in Wichita, Kan., the day after the shooting. USA Today reports that the district attorney has until today to file charges (USA Today, 6/1).
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ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Reports Additional Data From Promising Brain Cancer Clinical Trial
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (OTCBB: IMUC) (IMUC), a biotechnology company, presented promising clinical data from a Phase I trial evaluating ICT-107, the company"s dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine product candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma. These data were reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting in Orlando, Florida (Abstract #2032), and supplement the preliminary data from the completed clinical trial that the Company reported in December 2008.
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Medical Defence Union Encourages Doctors To Say Sorry If Things Go Wrong, UK

The Medical Defence Union (MDU) the UK"s largest medical defence organisation has reassured doctors that they are not admitting liability if they apologise when something has gone wrong with their treatment of a patient. Dr Christine Tomkins, MDU Chief Executive said: "For over 50 years we have advised our members to apologise if something goes wrong. Patients should receive a prompt, open sympathetic and honest account of what has happened. Any patient who has had the misfortune to suffer through an error of whatever nature should receive a full explanation and a genuine apology. "There are no legal concerns about taking this course of action. In fact it is now enshrined in law in Section 2 of the The Compensation Act 2006 which says "an apology, offer of treatment or other redress, shall not of itself amount to an admission of negligence or breach of statutory duty". In the MDU"s experience, an explanation and apology at an early stage can help reduce the risk of a complaint and is often all that a patient or a relative wants to hear." The MDU endorses Apologies and Explanations, guidance from the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) which was circulated to Chief Executives and Finance Directors at all NHS bodies today by NHSLA Chief Executive, Stephen Walker*. The guidance emphasises that an apology is "natural and desirable" where there has been an adverse outcome and that an explanation can help patients and their families in these circumstances. Dr Tomkins added: "It is occasionally suggested that medical defence organisations actively discourage our members from saying sorry. This is a myth and we welcome another opportunity to set the record straight. Doctors have an ethical obligation to offer an apology and an explanation if something has gone wrong and there is no legal reason not to do so." Medical Defence Union


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