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New Risk Factors For Teen Self Harm
A lack of emotional intelligence leads to poor coping strategies and seriously increases the likelihood of self-harm in teenagers, claims a study published yesterday, in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology.
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Access To Abortion Services In Kansas Hindered After Closure Of Tiller's Clinic
After the murder of abortion provider George Tiller and the closure of his Wichita, Kan., clinic, residents of the city face about a three-hour drive to the nearest abortion provider, a distance experts say is not uncommon for access to abortion services in southern and midwestern states, the Wichita Eagle reports. Jenny O"Donnell of the Abortion Access Project said that southern and midwestern states have the heaviest restrictions on abortion, adding that "substantial populations don"t have an abortion provider" in states such as Mississippi and Arkansas. According to 2005 statistics from the Guttmacher Institute, 87% of U.S. counties have no abortion provider; the figure rises to 94% of counties in the Midwest and 96% of counties in Kansas. The number of abortion providers in Kansas declined from 15 in 1992 to seven in 2005, while the number of providers nationwide dropped from 2,380 to 1,787 over the same time period, according to Guttmacher. Experts say the decline is the result of several factors, including public pressures, increased regulation that has driven up the cost and complexity of providing abortion and a general trend in the health care industry toward consolidated, more specialized practices.Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, said that the decrease in the number of abortion providers is misleading on some levels. The decline primarily has occurred among hospitals and small providers who perform a few procedures a year, while major clinics that specialize in abortion have remained essentially stable, Saporta said. Peter Brownie, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said that the group"s clinics have experienced an increase in contacts from women from south-central Kansas since Tiller"s clinic closed a little more than one week ago. He added, "At the present time, there"s no place between Denver and Kansas City where a woman can obtain abortion care. That"s a significant barrier for women throughout the state that have that need." NAF has established a national hotline to offer referrals for women who have to make new arrangements for abortion care because of the closure of Tiller"s clinic, Saporta said (Lefler, Wichita Eagle, 6/9).
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Group Banned From Teaching Abstinence-Only Program In Sonoma County, Calif., Public Schools
Free to Be, a federally-funded organization in California that teaches abstinence-only sex education to students, is at the center of a debate with education officials and others in Sonoma County over whether their curriculum is in compliance with state rules requiring that sexual health education programs in public schools be "balanced" and include information on sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and contraception, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. Sonoma County Office of Education officials in May banned the group from giving any further presentations on public school campuses, citing state law. Free to Be, as well as several school superintendents from around the county, said they are currently reviewing their legal options (Benefield, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 6/7).
Mental Health

Insmed Announces Results Of IPLEX(TM) Phase II Trial In Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy

Insmed Inc. (Nasdaq: INSM), a biopharmaceutical company, announced results from its exploratory U.S. Phase II clinical trial evaluating IPLEX(TM) (mecasermin rinfabate) in patients with myotonic muscular dystrophy ("MMD"). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial conducted in 13 centers across the U.S. enrolled 69 patients with MMD, for a six-month period. As this was an exploratory trial, a primary endpoint was not pre-defined. The trial explored measures of endurance, using the six-minute walk test, muscle function and strength, cognitive function, gastrointestinal function, pain, quality of life, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and safety and tolerability of IPLEX(TM). The results of the trial indicated that IPLEX(TM) did not exhibit a statistically significant improvement in the functional measure of endurance by the six-minute walk test, muscle function, muscle strength, or quality of life in any of the tests utilized in this study. Based on the limited number of subjects enrolled with significant impairments in cognitive function, gastrointestinal function or pain, Insmed was unable to reach any conclusions regarding the effects of IPLEX(TM) on these endpoints. IPLEX(TM) did, however, demonstrate improvements in standard measures of insulin sensitivity and reductions in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, cholesterol and triglycerides, which is consistent with the expected metabolic profile of insulin-like growth factor. Administration of IPLEX(TM) also resulted in anabolic effects of increased body mass index and higher levels of testosterone. The drug was well tolerated in MMD subjects and demonstrated a safety profile consistent with previous studies of IPLEX(TM). Based on the metabolic improvements observed in patients treated with IPLEX(TM) in this trial, and discussions with key opinion leaders, the Company intends to apply for a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association ("MDA") to facilitate an additional Phase II trial focused solely on a subset of MMD patients with severe insulin resistance who, based on the results of this trial, may be more likely to benefit from IPLEX(TM) treatment. Alternative methods of assessing muscle function will be considered for the proposed trial. Dr. Melvin Sharoky, Insmed"s Chairman, commented, "We are disappointed that this trial did not meet the majority of its functional endpoints. However, the statistically significant improvement in insulin sensitivity seen in this study suggests that an additional phase II study in MMD patients with severe insulin resistance may be warranted. We appreciate the MDA"s financial support for the completed trial and look forward to the possibility of continuing to work with them." Sharon Hesterlee, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of MDA Venture Philanthropy, said, "While the phase II clinical trial of IPLEX(TM) did not show efficacy in the overall MMD population in this trial, based on the data generated, we look forward to evaluating Insmed"s grant application for a possible Phase II trial aimed at MMD patients with severe insulin resistance." Dr. Sharoky continued, "IPLEX(TM) continues to demonstrate a strong safety profile and we believe it offers a potential treatment in multiple therapeutic areas, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Beyond IPLEX(TM), our current cash reserves of approximately $120 million provides us with a significant opportunity to continue growing our business through a variety of potential business development initiatives. We look forward to continuing to explore these possibilities with our strategic financial advisor, RBC Capital Markets." About Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Myotonic muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder resulting in a highly variable presentation of symptoms across multiple body systems. The most prevalent symptoms include progressive muscular weakness and myotonia, cardiac arrhythmias, cognitive defects, cataracts, as well as well as endocrine, sexual, gastrointestinal and reproductive disturbances. There is currently no cure for the disease, which affects approximately 37,000 individuals in the U.S., and no specific treatment has been discovered to satisfactorily reverse or ameliorate the common symptoms associated with the disease. About Insmed Insmed Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with unique protein development experience and a proprietary protein platform aimed at niche markets with unmet medical needs. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that such statements in this release, including statements relating to an additional phase II trial, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, Insmed may not apply for or receive a grant for an additional phase II trial, the FDA may interpret the results of studies differently than us, product candidates may fail in the clinic or may not be successfully marketed or manufactured, competing products may be more successful, our continuing efforts to grow the business and develop IPLEX(TM) may be unsuccessful , we may lack financial res to complete development of product candidates, we may be unsuccessful in finding or pursuing business development initiatives, and other risks and challenges detailed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Insmed Inc


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