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Multiple Sclerosis: Tracking Down The Causes
Over 100,000 people suffer from multiple sclerosis in Germany alone. Despite intensive research, the factors that trigger the disease and influence its progress remain unclear. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried and an international research team have succeeded in attaining three important new insights into the disease. It would appear that B cells play an unexpected role in the spontaneous development of multiple sclerosis and that particularly aggressive T cells are activated by different proteins. Furthermore, a new animal model is helping the scientists to understand the emergence of the most common form of the disease in Germany. (Nature Medicine, May 31, 2009 & Journal of Experimental Medicine, June 1, 2009)

New UK Drive To End Malaria Deaths
An additional 30 million bed nets, the development of life-saving new treatments and new funding to increase access to anti-malarial drugs are announced today in a package of measures by International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, as the UK continues its fight to rid the world of malaria.
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U.K. City To Participate In Pilot Home-Based HIV Testing Program
The United Kingdom government has selected the city of Sheffield to participate in a three-month pilot program aimed at increasing HIV detection rates by offering home-based test kits, the Sheffield Star reports. The initiative, which will target men who have sex with men, will allow people to obtain the test kits through Web sites or community outreach centers. To take the HIV test, individuals must take a mouth swab and send it to a laboratory for testing. The lab then confidentially notifies the individual of the test results with a call or text message, Steve Slack, director of Sheffield"s Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, said. The city aims to launch the program in June. According to the Star, Sheffield is the only city in the northern part of the country to be included in the pilot program.Nearly one-third of HIV-positive U.K. residents are unaware of their status and therefore not accessing early treatment, the Star reports. Slack said the pilot program will be "an unrivalled way to engage with hard-to-reach communities to encourage more people to come forward for testing." He added that the "great thing" about home-based testing is its "ease" and that it is "completely confidential." Christine Bowman, consultant physician at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said, "HIV testing is not something people should be afraid to come forward for." She added, "Thousands of people in the U.K. are tested each year, but we would like to test more" (Lahive, Sheffield Star, 5/21).
Cardiovascular

Senate Begins Debate On Sotomayor's Supreme Court Confirmation

The Senate on Tuesday began its floor debate on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the Wall Street Journal reports (Bravin, Wall Street Journal, 8/4). The debate will continue for the rest of the week before a final floor vote is held Thursday or Friday (Oliphant/Savage, Los Angeles Times, 8/5). Twenty-eight Republicans have said they will oppose her nomination. As of Tuesday, six Republicans were undecided (Stern, CQ Today, 8/4). In addition, at least six Republicans plan to vote for Sotomayor"s confirmation, while none of the 60 Democrats in the Senate have come out against her.Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who has announced his opposition, said, "I have expressed the view since this process began that we are at a fork in the road," asking, "Will we continue to adhere to the classical idea of American jurisprudence? Or will we follow results-oriented judging in which judges cease to be committed to equal justice?" He also said that "certain aspects of her record troubled me, ... whether she is deeply committed to the ideal of objectivity and impartiality" (Los Angeles Times, 8/5). Sotomayor opponent Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) expressed concern about Sotomayor"s statement in a speech that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion" than a white male judge. Inhofe said, "Well, that"s pretty emphatic. There"s no other way you can interpret that," adding, "She thinks a woman with her experience can make a better conclusion than a white male," and "to me, I consider that racist" (CQ Today, 8/4).However, Sotomayor supporter Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said, "Those who struggle to pin the label of judicial activist on Judge Sotomayor are met by her solid record of judging based on the law." He added, "She is a restrained, experienced and thoughtful judge who has shown no biases in her rulings." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said, "You can"t find a nominee with better experience than Judge Sotomayor. She has seen the law from all sides." Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said, "When Judge Sotomayor takes her seat at the Supreme Court, America will have come of age" (Los Angeles Times, 8/4). Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women"s Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women"s Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company. © 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.


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