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Work With Tiny Worm Could Point To New Treatments For Human Brain Disorders
Although the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has only 302 neurons in its entire nervous system, studies of this simple animal have significantly advanced our understanding of human brain function because it shares many genes and neurochemical signaling molecules with humans. Now MIT researchers have found novel C. elegans neurochemical receptors, the discovery of which could lead to new therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders if similar receptors are found in humans.

Close Caregiver Relationship May Slow Alzheimer's Decline
A study led by Johns Hopkins and Utah State University researchers suggests that a particularly close relationship with caregivers may give people with Alzheimer"s disease a marked edge over those without one in retaining mind and brain function over time. The beneficial effect of emotional intimacy that the researchers saw among participants was on par with some drugs used to treat the disease.
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Convicting HIV-Positive People Contributes To Spread Of Virus, Opinion Piece Says
The recent conviction of HIV-positive Toronto resident Johnson Aziga is "part of an upward trend," as more "charges and prosecutions for HIV transmission -- and even potential HIV exposure -- are popping up around the planet," Regan Hofmann, editor-in-chief of POZ, writes in a Dallas Morning News opinion piece. According to Hofmann, the Canadian court that convicted Aziga took "the criminalization of people with HIV to a new level of severity," convicting him of two counts of first-degree murder and 10 counts of aggravated assault. "He"s the first person in the world who was aware of his HIV status to be convicted of first-degree murder for exposing a sexual partner to HIV," she notes. "In some cases, HIV-positive people are being imprisoned even if HIV transmission couldn"t have possibly occurred," she writes, citing a case in Dallas, Texas, last year in which "an HIV-positive man was sentenced to 35 years for harassing a public servant with a "deadly weapon" when he spat on a police officer." Hofmann writes that her decision to be with the partner from whom she contracted HIV involved a risk that exists for "anyone anytime they have intercourse without a condom," adding that while she was "certainly upset at the man who gave me HIV," she is "equally upset with myself for choosing to risk my own life when, arguably, I knew better." She continues, "The finger of justice seems to inevitably wag at the person living with HIV, but given that these cases in question involved consensual sex, it makes me wonder why we are not discussing the culpability of both parties," adding, "Why are we not asking the person who was exposed, and who perhaps contracted HIV, whether they felt any responsibility for the risk they took when having unprotected sex?" According to Hofmann, "Criminalizing people with HIV ... helps deepen the stigma around the disease, which in turn, undermines prevention, testing and treatment efforts," making people less likely to seek out information on HIV, discuss HIV with their partners or get tested. "According to U.S. law, if you don"t know you have HIV, you are less culpable should you pass it along to a partner," Hofmann writes, adding, "This provides a disincentive for people to know their HIV status. And, if people are unaware of their HIV status, they are not seeking care for the disease." Hofmann writes, "When people are aware that they have HIV and seek treatment, their viral load can be reduced, rendering them less infectious." She adds, "Therefore, criminalization of HIV actually leads to the spread of HIV" and deters people from talking about the virus. She concludes, "People should fear" HIV "rather than those whose bodies harbor it. The barrier of stigma wedged between a person and others they deem "dirty" or "derelict" will not keep AIDS at bay" (Hofmann, Dallas Morning News, 5/15).
Endocrinology

FDA Takes Enforcement Action Against Three New Jersey Dietary Supplement And Protein Powder Manufacturers

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Quality Formulation Laboratories, Inc., American Sports Nutrition Inc., Sports Nutrition International LLC and Mohamed S. Desoky, who oversees operations at all three companies. The companies, located in Paterson, N.J., manufacture dietary supplements and protein powders and distribute them throughout the United States. The companies also export powder mixes and dietary supplements for sale by private label customers. The government"s complaint, filed July 1, 2009 in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, alleges that the companies have failed to follow current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) by manufacturing and storing food under filthy conditions and in conditions that may cause major food allergens to enter into products not intended to contain them. The complaint also alleges that the companies failed to disclose major food allergens on the product labels and have other labeling problems. During a recent inspection, FDA investigators found that several of the companies" products contained milk ingredients that were not declared on the product labels. In addition, the company failed to clean processing equipment between batches and control allergens in the facility. FDA investigators also discovered live and dead rodents and rodent urine, feces and gnaw holes on bags of product. In three inspections, FDA investigators noted deviations from GMP standards. The companies promised to make corrections, but they failed to do so. The complaint requests a court order to stop the companies and its officer from manufacturing and distributing the products until needed corrections are made. "This company has consistently failed to correct filthy conditions in their plants and to make sure that allergens are appropriately declared on the labels, despite frequent warnings to do so," said Michael Chappell, the FDA"s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The FDA will not tolerate companies that fail to provide adequate safeguards." Consumers with allergies to milk ingredients who have used these products and are experiencing any symptoms should contact their health care professional. Consumers can report problems with FDA-regulated products to their district office consumer complaint coordinator. U.S. Food and Drug Administration


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