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The Evolutionary Foundation Of Genomic Imprinting In Lower Vertebrates
A Chinese scientist group working in College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, has shown that, as mammalian Igf2 CpG island, goldfish Igf2 CpG island has a parental differentially methylated region (DMR). These results indicate that the evolutionary foundation of genomic imprinting exists in lower vertebrates and genomic imprinting should not be considered as a unique evolutionary event of mammals. The study is reported in volume 54 (Issue 8, April, 2009) of Chinese Science Bulletin.
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Small Businesses, Doctors Oppose Some Health Overhaul Proposals
Small business and medical groups are debating the health care overhaul proposals that could change their business models.
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Senators Say Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Committed To Rule Of Law,
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday met individually with 10 senators in an initial round of closed-door meetings in preparation for her confirmation hearing, which is yet to be scheduled, the New York Times reports. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said that during his meeting with Sotomayor she expressed her belief that ""ultimately and completely" a judge has to follow the law no matter what their upbringing has been" (Herszenhorn/Hulse, New York Times, 6/3). Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who also met with Sotomayor, said that she believes that Sotomayor would not vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Feinstein added that Sotomayor "is a woman who is well-steeped in law and well-steeped in precedent. I believe that she has a real respect for precedent and that she was not just saying that" (Isenstadt, Politico, 6/2). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said of Sotomayor, "We have the whole package here," adding, "We could not have anyone more qualified" (New York Times, 6/3).However, Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who also met with Sotomayor, said that he is concerned about whether Sotomayor would be an "activist" judge who believes her role is to create policy rather than to judge matters in accordance with it. Sessions said that "the question is, what is the law? How does a judge find the law, and what approach to statutory construction do they utilize?" (Hirschfield Davis, AP/Washington Times, 6/2). According to the Times, because Republicans likely do not have the votes to use a filibuster to block Sotomayor"s confirmation, their strategy "seems to be to play for time," in the hope that "something unexpected" will surface as a threat to her confirmation. Democrats currently have 59 of the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster, and seven Republicans voted to confirm Sotomayor to the appeals court (New York Times, 6/3). The Judicial Confirmation Network, a conservative judicial group, on Tuesday sent a letter to every senator criticizing Sotomayor"s judicial record and saying that she "challenges the belief that the law needs to be knowable and predictable." JCN Director Gary Marx said that the organization does not agree with other conservative groups that have called for a filibuster but that it supports "a long and vigorous and thorough, healthy debate" (Palmer, Roll Call, 6/2). Leahy, Sessions To Discuss Hearing Schedule Leahy said that he and Sessions will meet Wednesday to discuss a schedule for Sotomayor"s confirmation hearing, specifically with regard to whether it will come before or after the August congressional recess. Leahy said that he favors holding the hearing in July. However, Sessions and other Republicans are asking that the hearing be conducted after the break, citing the need to read through the approximately 3,000 opinions Sotomayor wrote as an appellate court judge (Friedman, CongressDaily, 6/2). Meanwhile, Sotomayor on Wednesday will meet with 10 more senators, including seven Democrats and three Republicans (Koffler, Roll Call, 6/2). Poll Shows Public SupportFifty-four percent of U.S. residents would like to see Sotomayor confirmed as a Supreme Court justice, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday. The poll shows that 28% of those surveyed opposed the confirmation and 19% had no opinion. The poll was conducted between Friday and Sunday, questioning 1,015 adults (Silva, Los Angeles Times, 6/2).Broadcast CoverageNPR"s "All Things Considered" on Tuesday reported on Sotomayor"s meetings with senators. The segment includes comments from Leahy (Seabrook, "All Things Considered," NPR, 6/3).
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WHO Recommends Worldwide Use Of Rotavirus Vaccine For Children

To reduce an estimated half million deaths and two million hospitalizations from diarrhea caused by rotavirus each year, the WHO on Friday recommended that oral rotavirus vaccines be added to national childhood immunization programs, broadening access to the vaccine in the developing world, Reuters reports. Rotavirus - "a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis, including vomiting and diarrhea, in infants and young children" - "kills an estimated 1,600 children under the age of 5 every day, mostly in Africa and Asia," Reuters writes (MacInnis, Reuters, 6/5). GMANEWS.TV adds that 85 percent of rotavirus deaths are in Africa and Asia, "where patchy medical coverage means children with severe cases often don"t receive rehydration treatment in time to survive." Though the rotavirus vaccine has been a part of national immunization programs in Europe and the Americas for three years, until recently the vaccine had not been tested or approved for use in developing countries (GMANEWS.TV, 6/5). The WHO"s recommendation comes after recent clinical trials in South Africa and Malawi showed the oral vaccine reduced rotavirus-related diarrhea episodes in countries burdened by "high infant and child mortality, poor sanitary conditions, high diarrheal disease mortality and high maternal HIV prevalence," according to a release (WHO, 6/5). The guidance was issued prior to the completion of clinical trials in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Ghana, Mali and Kenya, "since available evidence indicates that efficacy data can be extrapolated to populations with similar mortality patterns regardless of geographic location," the WHO said (Reuters, 6/5). "This WHO recommendation clears the way for vaccines that will protect children in the developing world from one of the most deadly diseases they face," said Tachi Yamada, president of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (WHO release, 6/5). However, because rotavirus is not the only cause of diarrhea, the WHO stressed efforts to "improve water quality, hygiene, and sanitation and ensure oral rehydration solutions and zinc supplements were available," BBC writes. While health experts worldwide lauded the WHO recommendation, the BBC also reported on UK scientists who have voiced concerns that the vaccine is too expensive, reports (BBC, 6/5). Fourteen nations in Africa and Asia are eligible for funding to buy vaccines through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Alliance, which supports childhood immunization in developing countries, Bloomberg reports (Gale, Bloomberg, 6/5). According to Reuters, GAVI, the WHO and UNICEF "are now working to develop "a new accelerated and integrated approach" to tackle rotavirus diarrhea and pneumonia together. Those two vaccine-preventable diseases account for more than 35 percent of the world"s child deaths each year, the vast majority in poor countries, the WHO said" (Reuters, 6/5). This information was reprinted from globalhealth.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at globalhealth.kff.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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