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HIV/AIDS Education Project Targeting Pennsylvania Black Women Examined
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profiled the Girlfriends Project, a domestic violence and HIV/AIDS education program implemented by the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force that targets at-risk black women in three Allegheny County, Pa., cities. Blacks "comprise just 7 percent of the total population in southwestern Pennsylvania but 41 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS, according to Allegheny County Health Department statistics provided by the task force," the Post-Gazette reports. "The Girlfriends Project was designed for Braddock, Clairton and Duquesne "because we knew nobody was doing outreach there," project coordinator, Lisa Dukes, said. As part of the project, Dukes hosts Tupperware party-style gatherings in homes of residents where she provides HIV testing and education, sexual health information, safe sex products and cash gift cards. The project is an outgrowth of the CDC"s prevention program Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on AIDS, or SISTA, and has been so successful that CDC "has asked the task force to introduce it at the CDC"s 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta Aug. 23," the article states (Smith, 7/29).
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Needle Exchange Program In Humboldt County, Calif., Forced To End; Officials Hoping For Federal Help
Health officials in Humboldt County, Calif., "will be watching closely" the debate expected to ensue over legislation introduced last week containing "a provision that would scrap the federal funding ban on needle exchange programs that has been in place for years," the Eureka Times-Standard reports. According to the Times-Standard, "This month, Open Door Community Health Centers" clinics in Arcata and Eureka quietly stopped administering the needle exchange program they have operated for almost a decade." Open Door Community Health Centers Chief Operating Officer Cheyenne Spetzler, said, "The footprint of the program just kept getting bigger." In addition, grant funding was often limited to covering the costs of the needles and not the costs of administering the programs, Spetzler said. County Department of Health and Human Services Programs Director Barbara LaHaie said the county is currently seeking alternatives to continue the program. However, "Without a reliable funding stream, that may prove difficult," the article states (Greenson, 7/13).
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Blood Flow In Alzheimer's Disease
Dr. Jennifer C Palmer and colleagues at the University of Bristol have discovered that endothelin converting enzyme-2 (ECE-2) may cause the decrease in cerebral blood flow seen in Alzheimer"s disease. These results are presented in the July 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
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Endocrine Society Unveils First-Ever Scientific Statement

Endocrine Society Unveils First-Ever Scientific Statement: Inaugural Statement Identifies Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals as a Significant Concern to Public Health The Endocrine Society presented its first-ever Scientific Statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals today at ENDO 09, the 91st Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society. The Scientific Statement presents evidence on the health effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals as well as recommendations for increasing understanding and raising awareness of these effects. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are substances in the environment that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism or action resulting in adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. "From chemicals in pesticides, food, plastic bottles and other items that we use every day, the concern is real," said Robert M. Carey, MD, president of The Endocrine Society. "In this Scientific Statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals- developed by a group of experts in the field-we present evidence that shows endocrine disruptors have effects on male and female reproduction, breast development and cancer, prostate cancer, neuroendocrinology, thyroid disease, metabolism and obesity, and cardiovascular endocrinology." The Scientific Statement is a brand new initiative of The Endocrine Society. The statements are designed to educate basic scientists, clinical scientists, and clinicians about the scientific evidence for the basis of disease. This evidence can also be applied in the practice of medicine with regard to both prevention and management. "Within this statement we also make a number of recommendations to increase understanding of the effects of endocrine disruptors," said Dr. Carey. "The recommendations include enhancing basic and clinical research, and advocating involvement of individual and scientific society stakeholders in communicating and implementing changes in public policy and awareness." The Endocrine Society


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