The Origins of Ashkenaz, Ashkenazic Jews, and Yiddish.

Recently, the geographical origins of Ashkenazic Jews (AJs) and their native language Yiddish were investigated by applying the Geographic Population Structure (GPS) to a cohort of exclusively Yiddish-speaking and multilingual AJs. GPS localized most AJs along major ancient trade routes in northeastern Turkey adjacent to primeval villages with names that resemble the word "Ashkenaz." These findings were compatible with the hypothesis of an Irano-Turko-Slavic origin for AJs and a Slavic origin for Yiddish and at odds with the Rhineland hypothesis advocating a Levantine origin for AJs and German origins for Yiddish.

Aerococcus urinae, a rare cause of infective endocarditis.

We present the case of an elderly male who was initially seen in our hospital for a urinary tract infection that was treated with oral ciprofloxacin. He was admitted 2 weeks later with altered mental status and fever, and was found to have bacteraemia with Aerococcus urinae Owing to altered mental status a brain MRI was performed which showed evidence of embolic stroke. Following this, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed severe mitral regurgitation and a vegetation >1 cm involving the mitral valve with associated destruction of posterior valve leaflets.

Localizing Ashkenazic Jews to Primeval Villages in the Ancient Iranian Lands of Ashkenaz.

The Yiddish language is over 1,000 years old and incorporates German, Slavic, and Hebrew elements. The prevalent view claims Yiddish has a German origin, whereas the opposing view posits a Slavic origin with strong Iranian and weak Turkic substrata. One of the major difficulties in deciding between these hypotheses is the unknown geographical origin of Yiddish speaking Ashkenazic Jews (AJs).

Health effects of toxicants: Online knowledge support.

Research in toxicology generates vast quantities of data which reside on the Web and are subsequently appropriated and utilized to support further research. This data includes a broad spectrum of information about chemical, biological and radiological agents which can affect health, the nature of the effects, treatment, regulatory measures, and more. Information is structured in a variety of formats, including traditional databases, portals, prediction models, and decision making support tools.

Salivary inflammatory mediator profiling and correlation to clinical disease markers in asthma.

Rationale: There is a need for a readily available, non-invasive source of biomarkers that predict poor asthma control.

Objectives: We sought to determine if there is an association between the salivary inflammatory profile and disease control in children and adults with asthma.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected demographic and clinical information from two independent populations at different sites, resulting in convenience samples of 58 pediatric and 122 adult urban asthmatics.

School wellness policy implementation: insights and recommendations from two rural school districts.

Although school wellness policies have the potential to transform school environments, relatively little has been written about postadoption policy implementation and evaluation (policy to practice). The authors report results of a research study that examined the implementation of school wellness policies in two school districts in northern New Mexico. Through nine key informant interviews with administrators and two focus groups with students, they found that physical activity and nutrition policies were implemented inconsistently in both districts.

The World Library of Toxicology, Chemical Safety, and Environmental Health (WLT).

The World Library of Toxicology, Chemical Safety, and Environmental Health, commonly referred to as the World Library of Toxicology (WLT), is a multilingual online portal of links to key global resources, representing a host of individual countries and multilateral organizations. The Site is designed as a network of, and gateway to, toxicological information and activities from around the world. It is built on a Wiki platform by a roster of Country Correspondents, with the aim of efficiently exchanging information and stimulating collaboration among colleagues, and building capacity, with the ultimate objective of serving as a tool to help improve global public health.

Fiber-optic microsphere-based antibody array for the analysis of inflammatory cytokines in saliva.

Antibody microarrays have emerged as useful tools for high-throughput protein analysis and candidate biomarker screening. We describe here the development of a multiplexed microsphere-based antibody array capable of simultaneously measuring 10 inflammatory protein mediators. Cytokine-capture microspheres were fabricated by covalently coupling monoclonal antibodies specific for cytokines of interest to fluorescently encoded 3.

Resources for global risk assessment: the International Toxicity Estimates for Risk (ITER) and Risk Information Exchange (RiskIE) databases.

The rate of chemical synthesis and use has outpaced the development of risk values and the resolution of risk assessment methodology questions. In addition, available risk values derived by different organizations may vary due to scientific judgments, mission of the organization, or use of more recently published data. Further, each organization derives values for a unique chemical list so it can be challenging to locate data on a given chemical.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine's Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program.

For nearly 40 years, the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) has been a significant leader in organizing and providing public access to an extensive storehouse of toxicological information through its online databases. With the advent of the Internet, TEHIP has expanded its role to also serve as a pre-eminent portal to toxicological information worldwide. Its primary databases reside within the web-based TOXNET system, and include the scientifically peer-reviewed Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the U.

Tools for clinical toxicology on the World Wide Web: review and scenario.

Clinical toxicologists are entrusted with the health and safety of humans and animals exposed to toxic substances. To do their jobs well they need a solid knowledge of toxicological principles, an ability to handle emergent situations, a "bedside" manner that results in a good rapport with patients, and the ability to access current and accurate information in order to properly care for the afflicted. An information armamentarium that is increasingly digital and Web-based is becoming a necessity.

TOXNET: an evolving web resource for toxicology and environmental health information.

TOXNET, developed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is a web-based system of databases providing information on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and the environment. Databases fall under the general headings of Toxicology Data, Toxicology Literature, Toxic Releases, and Chemical Identification/Nomenclature. Among TOXNET's pre-eminent databases are the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) and the TOXLINE file of bibliographic references.

TOXNET: A computerized collection of toxicological and environmental health information.

The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program, managed by the National Library of Medicine's Division of Specialized Information Services, provides access to a number of online bibliographic and factual computer files concerned with the toxicology, safety and handling, and environmental fate of chemicals, along with other files that cover genetic toxicology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and toxic chemical releases.

Photoinduced dermal pigmentation in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants: histology, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Two patients had been taking long-term tricyclic antidepressant therapy. Each developed a blue to slate-gray hyperpigmentation in sun-exposed areas. On histologic examination there were refractile golden brown granules free in the dermis along collagen bundles.

Treatment of facial furrows and rhytides.

Many substances have historically been used to address facial soft tissue defects. Currently in the United States autologous fat and injectable bovine collagen are the most commonly utilized injectable fillers. Additionally, the judicious application of BOTOX in the upper face as well as neck has all but revolutionized the use of filling agents in these locales.

Medical education change: a detailed study of six medical schools.

This article reports a comparative case study of six selected USA medical schools, undertaken to identify factors that facilitate or obstruct innovation in medical education. The findings suggest that the culture of each medical school results from a combination of intra-institutional and external factors. Together these forces influence substantially the fate of educational innovations.

Toxicological information series, II. A survey of toxicology information.

The structure of toxicology information is outlined. Key resources, both print and electronic, are described and the role of organizations is discussed on national and world levels. The section on computerized information covers systems such as TOXNET, CIS, and the ANSWER workstation.

Toxicology information and computer sources for the medical practitioner.

This paper addresses the importance of toxicology information in medical practice. It begins by describing the role of clinical toxicology in dealing with health hazards that result from exposure to hazardous chemicals. This is followed by an overview of reference sources of practical value to physicians.

The framework of toxicology information.

The scientific and societal underpinnings of toxicology are reviewed, as is the structure and flow of its information. Historical sources are presented, followed by a summary of patterns of publication in and access to the periodical, monographic, and special report literature. Computerized information is stressed and specialized systems such as TOXNET and CIS are described.