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Protecting Against Obesity And Atherosclerosis By Blocking A Muscle Growth-Limiting Hormone
Knockout of myostatin, a growth factor that limits muscle growth, can decrease body fat and promote resistance against developing atherosclerosis, or "hardening" of the arteries, according to a new study conducted in mice. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society"s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Plexxikon Announces PLX4032 Phase 1 Data Showing Objective Responses In Metastatic Melanoma Patients
Plexxikon Inc. today announced preliminary data from a Phase 1 clinical study investigating PLX4032 (R7204). PLX4032 is a novel, oral and highly selective drug that targets the BRAFV600E cancer-causing mutation that occurs in most melanomas and about eight percent of all solid tumors. In patients whose cancer harbors this mutation and who were treated with therapeutic doses of PLX4032, tumor shrinkage and extended progression-free survival have been observed. Currently, two extension studies are being conducted in mutation-positive melanoma and colorectal cancer patients. Following the initial positive findings announced today, larger clinical trials to support a registration program for product approval are targeted to start later in 2009. Plexxikon and Roche are co-developing PLX4032 under their 2006 license and collaboration agreement.
News of the day
Wisconsin Issues HIV/AIDS Nonprofit Directives For Corrective Action; Clients Protest Service Inadequacies
A group of people living with HIV/AIDS in Madison, Wis., demonstrated in front of the state Department of Health Services to protest what they claim to be inadequate services provided by the AIDS Network and lack of oversight from the state, WISCTV.com reports. State officials conducted a formal review of the nonprofit regarding how the AIDS Network dispersed and tracked services to its clients, and issued the nonprofit 38 directives for corrective action as a result. To date, nearly one-third of the directives have not been fully addressed, according to WISCTV.com. State officials said it will verify compliance on remaining issues in August. AIDS Network Director Karen Dotson said most of the organization"s problems are due to issues related to a new computer system (WISCTV.com, 6/16).
Mental Health

House Approves Bill To End Delay In Veteran Care

The House approved a bill Tuesday that seeks to end waits for federal financing of veterans" health care programs, The New York Times reports. The delay in funding has disrupted services through the Department of Veterans Affairs for decades. "Officials say that for 19 of the last 22 years, the department"s budget has been approved late, usually because of fiscal wrangling on Capitol Hill. As a result, veterans" groups and officials say, the directors of veterans" health care centers and clinics have often been unable to proceed on time with new services, staff expansions or renovations." "Under current rules, if a new budget is not in place by the start of the federal fiscal year on Oct. 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to operate on its previous year"s budget. Often, those budgets have lacked money to pay for even existing programs because of inflation, contractual increases and growing caseloads." "In addition, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that appropriates $48.2 billion for veterans" medical care in the 2011 fiscal year" (Dao, 6/23). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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