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Golden Rice An Effective Of Vitamin A
The beta-carotene in so-called "Golden Rice" converts to vitamin A in humans, according to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Tufts University in an article that appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Rep. Pitts To Offer Amendment Excluding Abortion Coverage From House Health Care Bill
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said he plans to introduce an amendment to the House health care overhaul bill (HR 3200) that would prohibit insurers from being required to cover abortion, unless the woman"s life is at risk or the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, CQ Today reports. Pitts said he will offer the amendment Thursday at the first House Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up session.The House bill would authorize the Obama administration to craft minimum benefit standards for health insurance plans, CQ Today reports. President Obama has said that he considers reproductive health care an essential service. Democrats say Republicans are trying to expand the Hyde amendment"s exclusion on using federal Medicaid funding to cover abortion to all health care services. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said, "I think that if anti-choice Republicans or others see this as an opportunity to expand prohibitions on a legally allowed and medically appropriate practice, then they are wrong." She added, "We are not going to use the health care bill to expand prohibitions on a legal medical practice, period." Pitts, Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) and other supporters of the amendment say it is necessary to block the administration from requiring abortion coverage. The committee has blocked three of Smith"s abortion-related amendments so far this year (Wayne, CQ Today, 7/15).
News of the day
Obama Says Lawmakers Should Not Become Sidetracked By Abortion Debate In Health Reform
In an interview with CBS" "Evening News" on Tuesday, President Obama said that lawmakers should "not get distracted by the abortion debate" as they weigh health reform legislation. When asked by "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric if he would "favor a government option that would cover abortions," Obama replied that what he thinks is "important, at this stage, is not trying to micro-manage what benefits are covered." He added that his "main focus is making sure that people have the options of high-quality care at the lowest possible price." Obama also said, "As you know, I"m pro-choice. But I think we also have the tradition of, in this town, historically, of not financing abortions as part of government-funded health care." He continued that "[r]ather than wade into that issue at this point, I think it"s appropriate for us to figure out how to just deliver on the cost savings, and not get distracted by the abortion debate at this station" (Couric, "Evening News," CBS, 7/21).
Cardiovascular

Indiana University Simon Cancer Center's Tissue Bank Collecting Samples Aug. 8

Although Hispanic women tend to develop breast cancer less than Caucasian women, it is usually more aggressive and advanced when it does develop. That difference is one puzzle researchers with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center hope to address by encouraging women, especially Hispanic women, to donate breast tissue and a blood sample. The cancer center"s Komen Tissue Bank is collecting breast tissue and blood samples from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in the Hematology Clinic and Women"s Center (second floor) in the new patient building of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, 1030 W. Michigan St. Parking is available across the street in the Vermont Street Garage on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. "Breast cancer develops and spreads in a different manner in Latin women than in women from other races. By donating, researchers around the world will have access to Latin women breast tissue to study how it develops and evolves," said Ivanesa Pardo, M.D., of the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Pardo is a volunteer with the cancer center"s Komen Tissue Bank. Dr. Pardo pointed out that Latina women are 2.7 times more likely than other races to have an advanced cancer, which lessens the effectiveness of treatments. What to Expect During the Donation Process During the donation process, a tissue sample is taken from one breast with a needle and local anesthesia. The amount of tissue taken is about one gram (or the size of two peas). To participate, women must: - be age 18 or older - have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent - be willing to give one hour of their time to complete a questionnaire and a breast biopsy - not be allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine) - not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does not include aspirin) - not have breast implants or have had a breast reduction To register, visit http://www.komentissuebank.iu.edu or contact Pat Mitchum at (317) 274-2366 or pamitchu@iupui.edu. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time. By collecting samples from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease. Samples taken from women without the disease are especially helpful because there are few collections of so-called "normal" specimens. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will ultimately give researchers valuable and unprecedented research data. Indiana University


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