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Better Diagnosis Of Diarrhea-Causing Bacteria: New Method Developed By Researchers From Helmholtz Center For Infection Research, Germany
It is based on detecting short, repetitive DNA segments in the genome of bacteria. Every single bacterial strain has such characteristic repeats. "With this method we are able to identify bacterial strains as well as clarify their genetic relationships. Furthermore, we can show how new pathogenic variants develop," says Manfred Hç¶fle, researcher at the HZI. The results have now been published in the current issue of the scientific journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The work is part of the two European Union funded projects "Healthy Water" and "AQUA-chip". Manfred Hç¶fle is coordinator of both projects that deal with various aspects of the microbiological safety of both, drinking water and sea water.
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USAID Programs Used Biblical Lessons To Teach Abstinence In Africa, Audit Finds
The U.S. Agency for International Development funded programs that used biblical lessons to promote sexual abstinence in Africa, despite a prohibition on the use of taxpayer funds to support "inherently religious activities," according to a recent audit by the agency"s inspector general, the Washington Post reports.The audit focused on projects initiated from 2006 to 2007 during the administration of President George W. Bush. According to the audit, the use of Christian stories in HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Africa could be seen as showing a "USAID-funded preference for Christianity." The audit also found that officials in one faith-based abstinence program in Africa urged youth to memorize and recite a passage from the Bible"s book of Psalms. Participants were then instructed to recite the passage"s "key concept": "God has a plan for sex and this plan will help you and protect you from harm."USAID challenged the findings in a written response that said its African programs" main goals are secular in nature. It acknowledged that some of its abstinence programs included "religiously infused materials" but said that the materials showed no preference for Christian groups.According to the Post, the issue has been complicated by legal ambiguities over whether the separation of church and state applies to programs for promoting U.S. foreign policy abroad. The inspector general"s report said the Department of Justice is considering a request from USAID to determine the legality of its practices (Lynch, Washington Post, 7/23).
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Opinion Pieces Examine Recent Public Opinion Polls On Abortion
Two newspapers recently published opinion pieces on abortion-related public opinion polls. Summaries appear below.~ Steven Kull, Baltimore Sun: Although "many Americans feel morally conflicted about" abortion, it is a "common error to believe that the American electorate is deeply divided about how the government should deal with" the procedure, Kull -- director of WorldPublicOpinion.org and the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland -- writes in a Sun opinion piece. He adds that "there is substantial consensus that the government should not criminalize abortion." According to Kull, a new CNN poll found that 68% of respondents believe Roe v. Wade should not be overturned, and a recent WorldPublicOpinion.org poll found that when asked, "Do you think the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortion or do you think the government should leave these matters to the individual," 69% said that the matter should be left to the individual. Kull adds that "of the 29% who said that the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortions, a remarkably low 8% favored using criminal enforcement methods." According to Kull, other polls have found if "given a middle option -- somewhere between strict prohibition and government permission -- a significant number will choose it." Kull writes that "once the moral question is differentiated from the question of how the government should act, it does appear that there is substantial consensus that abortion should not be criminalized." He concludes, "Once the option of criminal enforcement is taken off the table, constructive options are more likely to emerge and can be an effective focus for the energies freed up from the incessant debates about abortion" (Kull, Baltimore Sun, 5/22).~ Cheryl Wetzstein, Washington Times: "It"s rather ironic that as the most pro-choice government in U.S. history settles into its seats," a Gallup poll "finds that most Americans are pro-life," columnist Wetzstein writes in a Times opinion piece. She adds, "Some observers have tried to pooh-pooh this result, but it doesn"t surprise me for two reasons." Wetzstein writes that her "experience with youth, both personally and professionally, is that they often recoil at abortion," adding, "So I find a pro-life trend in youth to be quite plausible." She continues, "Second, I think some aging baby boomers are changing their views," adding, "People generally become more conservative and self-reflective with age. Legacies matter. Hindsight is 20/20. Regrets appear." Wetzstein concludes, "My suspicion is that in more than a few cases, baby boomers who were willing to have abortions are not at ease with the idea of losing their grandchildren," adding, "It may be that in the autumn of life, being "pro-life" has a whole new meaning" (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 5/26).
Endocrinology

Grant Encourages Protected Research Time For Medical Fellows

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) announces the five 2009 recipients of the ASH Research Training Award for Fellows, a grant that encourages junior researchers to pursue careers in academic hematology by supporting protected time to conduct research during their fellowship training. A report on the state of U.S. hematology training programs published in Blood indicates that many programs find it difficult to provide meaningful protected time for fellows to do research. Currently, research training accounts for less than 50 percent of the total educational experience in most programs. "This award will help ensure that talented trainees will be given the opportunity to perform research during their training, allowing them to develop and refine skills that will give them the best chance of contributing to significant medical advances throughout their careers". said ASH President Nancy Berliner, MD, Chief of Hematology at Brigham and Women"s Hospital in Boston, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. The 2009 ASH Research Training Award for Fellows recipients are: - Janice M. Staber, MD, University of Iowa Children"s Hospital, Iowa City, IA - Omar I. Abdel-Wahab, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY - Sascha A. Tuchman, MD, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC - Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, Stanford University, Stanford, CA - Laura E. Hogan, MD, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY This program provides grants of $50,000 for a one-year period to third- and fourth-year trainees. The American Society of Hematology is the world"s largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. In September, ASH launched Blood: The Vital Connection , a credible online re addressing bleeding and clotting disorders, anemia, and cancer. It provides hematologist-approved information about these common blood conditions including risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment options. American Society of Hematology


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