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Abstinence-Only Sex Education Debate Has High Financial Stakes, Washington Times Opinion Piece Says
By proposing to reduce funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, "the Obama administration has reignited America"s sex education debate," Washington Times columnist Cheryl Wetzstein writes in an opinion piece. She says that the "usual answers" she receives from abstinence-only opponents when she asks about their criticism of the programs is that abstinence-only education "doesn"t work, it leaves kids ignorant about how to use birth control, it doesn"t serve gay kids, and (off the record) it"s just a return to the bad old days when unenlightened, sex-hating harpies ran sex education." According to Wetzstein, some proponents of abstinence-only programs believe that another factor -- which is "never mentioned" in the sex education debate -- "is how sexually active youth are part of the market for certain commercial sex- and disease-related products, and abstinent behavior reduces that market share."Wetzstein reports that she recently spoke with Pam Mullarkey, founder of Project SOS, who is "furious" that Presdient Obama"s budget proposal would reduce funding for abstinence-only programs and increase money for teen pregnancy prevention. Mullarkey claims that abstinence-only opponents "have spent so much money trying to destroy abstinence education" because "it directly costs them big bucks" if teens abstain. Wetzstein writes that she has "dim hopes for the survival of abstinence education as we"ve know it," concluding, "But should Congress decide to "follow the money," as Mrs. Mullarkey suggests, who knows what might turn up" (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 5/19).

Home Smoking Rules Tend To Vary By Race
Prohibiting tobacco use at home could reduce adolescent smoking rates, but the practice might be less common in black families than in white ones, a new study found.
News of the day
GTx's Toremifene 80 Mg Increased Bone Mineral Density In Multiple Clinically Relevant Subpopulations Of Prostate Cancer Patients
GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) announced the presentation of data demonstrating that toremifene 80 mg treatment compared to placebo increased bone mineral density (BMD) in multiple clinically relevant subpopulations of men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The data, an analysis of results of the recent Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 80 mg for the prevention of bone fractures and treatment of other estrogen deficiency side effects of androgen deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer, were presented yesterday at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Endocrinology

The Johns Hopkins Hospital Tops U.S. News & World Report "Honor Roll" 19th Year In A Row

The Johns Hopkins Hospital has once again -- for the 19th consecutive time -- earned the top spot in U.S. News & World Report"s annual rankings of more than 4,800 American hospitals, placing first in three medical specialties and in the top 16 in 13 others. "While we"ve become happily accustomed to saying so, it remains true that this is a well-earned tribute to Hopkins Hospital"s wonderful nurses and staff, the School of Medicine"s faculty physicians, our residents and fellows, and the many community physicians with whom we have close ties," said a joint letter of congratulations to all employees from Edward D. Miller, M.D., dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. The letter also noted that "all of the medical centers on the magazine"s honor roll are superb and we are privileged to be in their good company." Of the 4,861 hospitals analyzed for the magazine"s Best Hospital list, only 21 made it to the Honor Roll topped by Hopkins. The Honor Roll rankings are based on high scores in at least six of 16 ranked specialties and a "unique breadth of excellence," the magazine says. Looking forward, Miller and Peterson said the news is "perhaps especially welcome this year as we watch the final stages of our campus renewal take form, intensify our commitment to patient safety, innovation, diversity and community, expand the membership of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and address the challenges of delivering the best care more effectively and efficiently." Miller and Peterson have long supported the public"s interest in learning more about their health care and in independent evaluations, or "report cards," of health care outcomes. "We applaud sincere efforts to assess safety, outcomes and service at institutions like ours, and we trust that as these efforts improve over time they will be of even more use in informing the medical community, patients and insurers," they said. This year"s ranking guide reports results using a survey of a hospital"s reputation among a national sample of board-certified specialty physicians. It also analyzes objective indicators, including death rates, patient safety, nurse staffing and designation as a national nurse "Magnet" hospital, advanced technologies such as robotic surgery, state certification as an advanced trauma center, patient services such as genetic testing and geriatric care, designation as a National Cancer Institute cancer center, the availability of specialized care in Alzheimer"s disease and epilepsy, and the availability of advanced cell therapies for cancer. In addition to landing at the overall # 1 spot on the Honor Roll by accumulating 30 points in 15 specialties, The Johns Hopkins Hospital ranked #1 in Ear, Nose and Throat, Rheumatology and Urology; #2 in Geriatric Care, Gynecology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Psychiatry; and #3 in Cancer, Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders, Digestive Disorders, Heart and Heart Surgery, and Respiratory Disorders. The hospital ranked #5 in Orthopedics, #6 in Kidney Disorders and #16 in Rehabilitation medicine. For a detailed list of all the rankings, go to http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org, or to the USN&WR Web site at http://www.usnews.com. Last month, USN&WR also recognized the Johns Hopkins Children"s Center as among the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation. Once again this year, Miller and Peterson enthusiastically authorized the "Employee Thank You" celebration that has marked each year"s announcements. Other institutions rounding out the Honor Roll top 10 were, in rank order, Mayo Clinic, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, and Brigham and Women"s Hospital. Johns Hopkins Hospital


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