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Opinion Piece Examines Abortion-Rights Opponents' Response To Connection Between Recession, Abortion
In response to recent news reports from Reuters, the Associated Press and other media outlets tying the recession to an increase in demand for abortion, the antiabortion-rights community is arguing that women are "choosing their own material comfort over the life of their unborn children" -- an interpretation that is "wrong on several accounts" -- Double X contributor Anna Murphy Paul writes in an opinion piece."No one wants her most intimate decisions to be driven by money," but, at the same time, "opting not to have a child you can"t afford to raise can be a realistic and responsible -- if painful -- choice, one often based on taking good care of the kids you already have" Murphy Paul says. She continues, "Nor is the intrusion of economic concerns on childbearing a phenomenon of this recession, or even the loosening of sexual mores over the past half-century; historically, financial hardship has been an ever-present motivation for ending a pregnancy."Murphy Paul cites the results of a 2005 Guttmacher Institute survey that found that nearly three-fourths of respondents said that the reason they decided to have an abortion was that they "could not afford a baby right now," which was the second-most common reason. The report found that the top reason for having an abortion was that children would interfere with women"s education, work or ability to care for dependents, all "concerns that are also largely economic in nature," Murphy Paul writes. She notes that at the time the study was published, "the Dow was still riding high, and the housing bubble seemed it would never pop." Murphy Paul adds that a 1987 Guttmacher survey on the same subject produced results "almost identical" to the 2005 survey.However, "to hear the pro-life activists tell it, women aren"t really struggling with difficult choices -- they just don"t want to give up the luxuries to which they"ve become accustomed," Murphy Paul writes. Abortion-rights opponents promote offers of counseling and no-cost infant supplies provided through "pregnancy re centers" to support women who choose not to have an abortion, but such centers often provide misleading information or offer little assistance beyond the first few months after birth, she says."Pro-life activists are surely right about one thing: It"s tremendously sad when a woman decides that she can"t bring into the world a child whom under better circumstances she would have welcomed," Murphy Paul continues. However, the "harsh rhetoric about selfishness and irresponsibility help far less than an acknowledgement of -- and lasting aid with -- the true costs of raising a child," she writes. According to Murphy Paul, in "the absence of such help, the most responsible act is to face economic reality head-on. For some women, that may mean abortion" (Murphy Paul, Double X, 5/15).

Poniard Pharmaceuticals Announces Progression-Free Survival Data From Phase 2 Clinical Trial Of Picoplatin In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology therapies, today announced updated clinical data from its randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of picoplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The new data demonstrated that picoplatin, given once every four weeks in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in the FOLPI regimen, and oxaliplatin, given in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in the modified FOLFOX-6 regimen, have similar anti-tumor activity in the treatment of first-line metastatic CRC, as assessed by progression-free survival (PFS) and disease control measured by tumor response rate. New data derived by three independent assessments of neurotoxicity indicated a statistically significant reduction in neurotoxicities with the use of picoplatin in FOLPI compared with oxaliplatin in FOLFOX (pPhase 2 CRC Trial Design and Updated Results
News of the day
Putting A Price Tag On Reform Spreads Unease
Taxes, fees for business and spending cuts could help lawmakers pay the $1-trillion-plus cost of health reform, but those possibilities have spurred a behind-the-scenes lobbying fight on Capitol Hill, and caused a fair share of anxiety among many interest groups, the Los Angeles Times reports. For instance, Anchor Brewing Co., a San Francisco beer-maker, chocolate milk sellers and labor unions have all attacked lawmakers over new tax proposals for liquor, soft drinks and employer-sponsored benefits that would affect their industries.
Endocrinology

Fighting The Challenges Of Poverty

It is estimated that 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty, on less than $2 a day. In 2000, 189 nations declared that they would "free all men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty". These nations signed up to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to combat poverty by 2015. To help meet these complex challenges and "make poverty history" more knowledge and evidence is needed. A launch event Wednesday 22nd July 2009 at the Department for International Development (DFID) marks a new phase of research collaboration between the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and DFID which will provide more robust social science research to address poverty alleviation amongst the poorest countries and peoples of the world. Focusing on the key theme of "Social Science Research for Development: Why it Matters", the launch event will provide an opportunity to hear the role of social science research in development from key speakers followed by an opportunity for questions and open discussion. The debate will then be followed by a networking drinks reception providing an opportunity to meet representatives from DFID and the ESRC, scheme award holders and commissioning panel members, members of learned societies and NGOs from the international development community. The scheme, initially launched in 2005, has already funded ÷£13.5million of world-class research on economic development and quality of life in less developed countries which is being used to inform policy and practice for poverty reduction. This phase of funding has a total budget of ÷£23 million for research on international development. Under an overall theme of "poverty alleviation" three thematic areas have been highlighted which are of particular interest. These highlight areas cover: * Security, Conflict and Development; research and analysis to better understand how violent conflict and insecurity constitute a fundamental challenge to development. * Economic Crisis, Poverty and Growth: the Implications for Development Theory and Practice; the current economic crisis is predicted to force a further 90 million people into poverty. Research is needed to revisit existing economic theory to identity interventions and policy options which will help to ensure progress towards the MDGs. * Cities and Development Half of the world"s population already lives in cities, a third of these live in slum conditions. The UN estimates that by 2030 the number of city inhabitants will be over five billion. New thinking and innovative research is urgently required to respond to the challenges and opportunities of these social changes. The scheme as it is open to applications from researchers based anywhere in the world. ESRC welcomes applications from developing countries as both lead and partners in bids for research funding. As well as research excellence, all applicants will have to demonstrate that their research outputs have the potential to inform strategies to reduce poverty. For further information on the joint ESRC/ DFID scheme please visit: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities Event: ESRC/DFID Joint Scheme for Research on International Development (Poverty Alleviation) Date: Tuesday 22nd July 2009 Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location: DFID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE Key speakers include: Professor Chris Whitty, Head of Research, DFID Chris qualified in medicine from Oxford and subsequently trained in economics, law and epidemiology. He has worked as a doctor in Africa and Asia. He is consultant physician at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, chair of the Department of Health national expert panel on new and emerging infections, Director of the Malaria Centre and of the ACT consortium. Dr Alison Evans, Director, Overseas Development Institute Alison became ODI Director in May 2009. She is an economist working on poverty, public policy, institutional change and the role of international development assistance. She has extensive policy experience, including six years at the World Bank. Danielle Moore Economic & Social Research Council


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