Posted March 9, 2004:

►March 7, 2004 - Funding not going into fighting autism - Canadian Press - "When Dr. Noni MacDonald starts talking about the debate over whether childhood vaccinations cause autism, her words are steeped in anger. She thinks the public ought to be angry, too...The source of the emotion? The years of time, effort and research funding that has been spent disproving a piece of British research that last week was repudiated by most of the team responsible for it...MacDonald and others have nothing but praise for the scientists who had the courage to formally declare their work did not prove a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (called the MMR) and rising rates of autism...But she sure does begrudge the resources that 1998 article - and more importantly, the interpretation placed on it by lead author Dr. Andrew Wakefield - diverted from other areas of autism research.

Comment:  Besides the fact that the theory has NOT been disproved, the idea that all these funds have been diverted from other areas of research is ludicrous.  Some funds were diverted to vaccine-manufacturer influenced/financed research, and used to allegedly vindicate the MMR vaccine, but little funding has gone to support research looking into the possible connection between MMR and autism.  Had it been, there might well be additional evidence in support of Wakefield's theory.  Ironically, this very "absence of funding" is wrongly being used to allege an "absence of evidence", when, in fact, it does not, necessarily indicate "evidence of absence" (of, in this case, a relationship between the vaccine and MMR).

►March 5-18, 2004 - MMR: Interesting Conflicts - The vilification of Dr Andrew Wakefield in recent days has been a side show to the important issue of whether the mumps, measles, and rubella triple vaccine (MMR) poses a risk to a small sub set of children. But the attacks have served a purpose. They have highlighted the need to preserve independent medical research - and reminded the public that there is one rule for an off-message messenger like Dr Wakefield and quite another for the government and drug companies. (requires subscription) - Private Eye

Comment: Excellent article.

►March 3, 2004 - Snowe Works To Secure Funding For Child Nutrition Programs - Petitions Budget Chairman Nickles, Ranking Member Conrad to Increase Funding for School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Infants - http://snowe.senate.gov

►March 8, 2004 - Fighting Diabetes in the Workplace - Free Health Education Tools Showcased at Event for Employers - PRNewswire via http://interestalert.com

►March 8, 2004 - Genaera and Ludwig Institute Extends Alliance on Discovery and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Targets and Therapeutics - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com

►March 8, 2004 - Vical to Receive $1 Million in NIH Grants for CMV Vaccine Development - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com - "CMV infection causes severe consequences in about 3,600 infants and death in about 400 each year in the U.S."

Comment:  This appears to be government funding going to a private company. 

►March 8, 2004 - Lipid Sciences, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Annual Results - Data Presented at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com

►March 8, 2004 - Few states track hospital infections - AP via www.centredaily.com - "No one federal agency tracks hospital infections, which infect more than 2 million people and kill nearly 100,000 annually, and only Pennsylvania and Illinois require reporting of hospital-acquired infections, a newspaper reported...'You have these infections that are out of control and no one is paying attention,' Dee Dee Vallier, of Hood River, Ore., told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Her husband is disabled after developing a staph infection following back surgery."

►March 7, 2004 - Experts: West Nile in state inevitable - Western Montana is one of the last bastions against West Nile virus in the United States. But that will change this summer, several infectious disease experts predicted last week at a West Nile virus symposium in Hamilton. - Helena Independent Record via www.helenair.com

►March 7, 2004 - Science takes aim at terror - Los Angeles Times via The Buffalo News

►March 7, 2004 - Spring Pollen Can Herald Misery Season - HealthDayNews via www.healthfinder.gov

►March 8, 2004 - Renown Buena Park, California Medical Doctor/Author Receives Highest Award From Governor of Carnataka, India After Her Breakthrough Medical Treatment, NAET, Reduced the Effects of Debilitating Diseases in Indian Children - Market Wire via http://interestalert.com - "His Excellency, T.N. Chaturvedi, governor of Carnataka, India (one of India's 22 states) presented California's Dr. Devi Nambudripad with a golden plaque of honor at a ceremony held in her honor in Bangalore, Carnataka where he described her breakthrough medical treatment, NAET, as a 'remarkable contribution to society.'"

Comment:  For more on Dr. Devi (as she is often called), and her incredible approach to the cure of allergies, which has essentially been ignored by mainstream medicine, go to www.naet.com.

►March 8, 2004 - Raising Awareness: Grant to fight alcohol syndrome - $2 million will go toward diagnostic clinic, estimating cases and counseling for pregnant women - Detroit Free Press

►March 7, 2004 - UCD sees future in brain science - The campus hopes to make its mark with a new research center - The Sacramento Bee

►March 8, 2004 - BioScience News and Advocate Daily Highlights 5/3 - EU supports environmental protection - DNA chip will catch beefed-up chicken - Scientists deny vaccine-autism link - UK scientists back GM maize - Maui considering GM regulations - Patent laws lag behind, experts say - Japan calls in army to help combat bird flu - BioScience News and Advocate via www.scoop.co.nz

►March 15, 2004 - FDA targets medication errors by requiring bar codes on drugs - The rule eliminates a major hurdle to improving patient safety. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Focus on stopping diversion: Federal officials announce crackdown on illegal use of prescription painkillers - Physicians are concerned that new safeguards could limit appropriate use of pain medications. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Drug reimportation booms as U.S. safety task force is named - Proponents urge the federal government to seek ways to bring drugs safely into the country or to find another way to control costs. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Injunction lifted against any-willing-provider law - Health plans appealed the ruling, but Arkansas officials are optimistic that the 1995 measure will withstand the challenge. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Professionalism starts in med school - Students who don't get it are likely to become physicians who spend time before state medical boards. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - States, scientists seek alternate funding for stem cell research - Despite criticism over federal policy, NIH says, "There's no limit to the amount of money we're willing to spend."  - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Fewer new DOs picking primary care - The number of new osteopathic residents choosing subspecialties is growing. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - New AMA award honors doctors focusing on disparities - The first recipient says inspiring minority students early and giving them coaching in the sciences through high school and college should be a priority. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Blues execs to get bonus in conversion - The potential for premium increases and for physician pay cuts also fuels objections to Premera's plan to seek for-profit status in Washington state and Alaska. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - California could ban foreign outsourcing of patient files - Five other states are considering restrictions on handling private data by offshore contractors. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Online interactive functionality growing among insurers - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Peer review: The case for absolute immunity (opinion) - Courts need to know that unqualified immunity is the only thing that makes the practice possible. - www.ama-assn.org - "Without the promise of immunity from civil lawsuits, physicians are likely to think twice about reporting colleagues who might be jeopardizing patient care."

►March 15, 2004 - Tort reform debate best served by truth (opinion) - A message to all physicians from AMA President - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Letters to the Editor (opinion) - U.S. report wrong in connecting tort reform to insurance premiums - Realistic view of teen sex supports access to emergency contraception - Problems of modern medical life prove younger doctors' dedication - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Asking about alcohol: What doctors need to find out - Physicians must be willing not only to listen but also to question. A whole range of illnesses may bring you patients who really need to be treated for problem drinking. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Depression link to chronic disease goes both ways - Untreated depression's debilitating nature could trigger chronic disease, new research suggests. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - Possible correlation between diabetes and hearing loss - New research confirms a long-suspected connection, though it is still too soon to start auditory screening for diabetics. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 15, 2004 - RSV peak spurs push for vaccine development - Respiratory syncytial virus follows on the heels of flu, putting renewed strain on pediatric practices. - www.ama-assn.org

►March 9, 2004 - Anthrax Treatments Promising In Tests - Two Developers Say Experimental Drugs Are Safe for Humans (requires registration) - The Washington Post 

►March 3, 2004 - FDA Launches New Easy-to-Use Drug Information Web Site - FDA 

►March 8, 2004 - Study: Inhaled Steroids Do Not Harm Fetal Growth - Reuters via Yahoo! News 

►March 8, 2004 - Diets high in fat and animal protein linked to increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - Yale University via www.eurekalert.org 

►March 9, 2004 - Again, lawmakers consider proposal to limit jury awards - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

►March 9, 2004 - Anthrax treatments look promising - Two developers say experimental drugs safe - Washington Post via MSNBC

►March 9, 2004 - Firms Say Anthrax Drugs Show Promise, Report Says - Reuters

►March 8, 2004 - Flu was worst in years - Hospital cases shot up, especially among kids, pregnant women (requires registration) - Dallas Morning News

Comment:  Given the revised overall assessment of the flu season, an example of which is in the article below, was Dallas really worse vis à vis the flu (and if so, why?), or was the media generated hysteria simply more "effective" in creating panic in that area?

►March 8, 2004 - U.S. Flu 'Epidemic' Not So - ScoutNews, LLC via Dr. Koop - "In the words of Saturday Night Live "commentator" Emily Latella: Never mind.'...What started out in the fall of 2003 as a fear that an influenza pandemic was threatening the United States has ended with fewer flu cases than in 2002."

►March 9, 2004 - Don't pooh-pooh the flu vaccine, especially over-50s - www.thestar.co.za

►March 9, 2004 - Kano Seeks Polio Vaccines from Muslim Countries - www.thisdayonline.com
 
►March 9, 2004 - Source of hepatitis C can be elusive - North America Syndicate via The Arizona Republic

►March 9, 2004 - S. Cotabato execs worried over diseases in uplands - Minda News via www.mindanaotimes.com.ph

►March 9, 2004 - Takada farm has H5N1 strain of avian influenza - Highly contagious virus strikes second site in Tanba; dead crows test positive for H5 - Japan Times

►March 9, 2004 - China leads world in vaccine development - Xinhuanet via China View

►March 2004 - Both Relative Insulin Resistance and Defective Islet ß-Cell Processing of Proinsulin Are Responsible for Transient Hyperglycemia in Extremely Preterm Infants - journal article (Pediatrics)

►March 2004 - Birth Weight and Lipids in a National Birth Cohort Study - journal article (Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology)

►March 2004 - To what extent is failure to thrive in infancy associated with poorer cognitive development? A review and meta-analysis - journal article (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines)

►March 2004 - History and Description of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale - journal article (Pediatrics)

►March 2004 - Circulating Aldosterone Levels Are Unexpectedly Low in Children with Acute Meningococcal Disease - journal article (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism)

►March 15, 2004 - RSV peak spurs push for vaccine development - Respiratory syncytial virus follows on the heels of flu, putting renewed strain on pediatric practices. - American Medical News via www.ama-assn.org

►March 2004 - Childhood Overweight in a New York City WIC Population - journal article (American Journal of Public Health)

►January 2004 - Accidents will happen? Unintentional childhood injuries and the effects of child care regulations - journal article (Journal of Health Economics)

►March 2004 - A Population-Based Registry Study of Infant Mortality in the Arctic: Greenland and Denmark, 1973–1997 - journal article (American Journal of Public Health)

►March 4, 2004 - Depressed moms want pediatricians to hear them - University Hospitals of Cleveland  via www.eurekalert.org

►March 5, 2004 - Stroke Therapy Helps Cerebral Palsy - University of Alabama at Birmingham via Ivanhoe

►March 5, 2004 - Internet can Help Kids' Health - American Heart Association via Ivanhoe

►March 4, 2004 - Texas Schools Told to Cut Fatty Foods - Texas Public Schools Told to Cut Sugar and Fatty Foods to Combat Obesity - AP via ABC News

►March 5, 2004 - A Look at Simple Ways to Limit Allergies - American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology via AP via Yahoo!

►March 8, 2004 - One remedy for antibiotic overuse (requires registration - The Los Angeles Times - "Giving patients with colds or bronchitis a kit containing common over-the-counter remedies can reduce antibiotic overuse...Researchers from the Minnesota health department and several health insurance companies designed cough and cold kits that included Tylenol, powdered chicken soup, throat lozenges and tea bags for adults diagnosed with colds or bronchitis. In an experiment, patients at five family practice clinics got the kits; those at five other clinics did not...The researchers tracked how many patients filled prescriptions for oral antibiotics within three days of their appointments. They found that 12.8% of patients given free kits filled prescriptions, compared with 18.2% of patients who did not get kits. The study involved nearly 11,000 patients."

Comment:  Maybe I'm missing something here, but how about just not giving prescriptions for antibiotics to people who don't need them?  (And explaining why, giving alternatives, etc.)

►February/March 2004 - Letters to BMJ in response to Pressure mounts for inquiry into MMR furore

Comment:  Be sure to read the excellent letter from Hilary Butler.

►2003 - The Emerging Picture of Persistent Measles Vaccine Virus in Autism - by Dr. Andrew Wakefield - www.visceral.org.uk

►March 8, 2004 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Pakistan - This is a Follow-up report (No. 1) via OIE on the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in Pakistan. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the US - This is a Follow-up report (No. 1) via OIE on the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in the US. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Thailand - This is a Follow-up report (No. 5) via OIE on the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in Thailand. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in China - This is a Follow-up report (No. 3) via OIE on the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in China. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Avian Influenza in Canada - This is follow up report No 2 via OIE on the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in Canada. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Mass Cull In Maryland To Contain Bird Flu - State officials in Maryland have ordered the culling of 328, 000 birds on two huge commercial chicken farms, nearly four times the number killed when two Delaware farms were infected last month. - Poultry News via www.thepoultrysite.com

►March 8, 2004 - Avian flu case extends safeguards - Officials begin slaughter of poultry on Worcester farm after virus confirmed - Daily Times, DelmarvaNow.com

►March 8, 2004 - Thailand free of bird flu, to resume breeding next month, says official - AP, CP via www.canada.com

►March 8, 2004 - HK to strengthen monitoring of flu patients - Xinhuanet via China View

►March 8, 2004 - Only two viral pneumonia patients remain hospitalised - Vietnam News Agency

►March 8, 2004 - Isolation of bird-flu affected area in Jilin lifted - Xinhuanet via China View

►March 8, 2004 - Crow tests raise Japan bird flu fears - Reuters via www.abc.net.au

►March 8, 2004 - Quick, easy and accurate - Rapid diagnosis of the flu could help prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics - www.haaretz.com

►March 8, 2004 - Polio Vaccine: Controversy Over Or Renewed? - Weekly Trust via www.allafrica.com - "The hope of all stakeholders in the oral polio vaccine saga, that a final stand will be reached after the report of the All-inclusive Final Verification Committee (AFVC) had been published, may have been dashed by the renewed debate on the issue...But in a dramatic reversal of this apparent resolution of a lingering crisis, the said Dr Lawal Alhassan Bichi of Bayero University, Kano denounced the report that bore his name. He told Weekly Trust in Kano that he has no hand in the Punch report, and added that he was not the chairman of the committee as the publication claimed and therefore neither wrote nor signed the particular report. In an advertisement carried in the Punch newspaper of Friday, February 27th 2004, signed by two members of the committee, one Dr Lawal Alhassan Bichi (chairman) and A. Babatunde (secretary), the committee published the result of its verification tour of South Africa, Indonesia, and India; reaching the conclusion that the OPV was safe for use on Nigerian children."

►March 8, 2004 - 'We Had to Choose Between Two Evils' - Gov Shekarau - Weekly Trust via www.allafrica.com

►March 8, 2004 - Nigeria: Northern state seeks new polio vaccines from Muslim countries - IRIN

►March 8, 2004 - Jefferson Alzheimer's Vaccine Shows Promise In Animal Model - Thomas Jefferson University via Science Daily

►March 8, 2004 - Alzheimer's vaccine work shifts to monkeys - The Inquirer via www.philly.com

►March 8, 2004 - China takes lead in SARS vaccine trials - China Daily

►March 8, 2004 - Case Report: Concomitant Avascular Necrosis of Bone and Polyarticular Septic Arthritis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Rheumatology International via Doctor's Guide

►March 8, 2004 - Viragen and Roslin Institute Announce Extended Agreement - Project Aims to Produce Biotech Drugs Faster and Cheaper in the Eggs of Transgenic Hens - press release - Viragen via PRNewswire-FirstCall via Yahoo!

►March 8, 2004 - EPA Doubles Estimates of Children with Mercury in Blood - www.accessnorthga.com

►March 8, 2004 - Emissions impossible? Protesters call for reduction of mercury emissions - Hundreds protested Sunday at the University at Albany, blaming the federal Environmental Protection Agency for mercury pollution in local waters and calling for all power plants to reduce 90 percent of their mercury emissions by 2008. - Troy Record

►March 8, 2004 - Hispanics Face Significant Disparities in Pharmaceutical Treatment - National Alliance for Hispanic Health via PRNewswire via Hispanic Business

►March 8, 2004 - Statins appear to offer protection against development of alzheimer disease, new research shows - Neuroepidemiology via Pharmaceutical Executive

►March 8, 2004 - Low vaccine supply stops shots short - Two of four doses against meningitis still protect children, doctors advise. - Fresno Bee

►March 8, 2004 - Researchers Describe Method Of Protecting Chromosomes During Cell Division - University of Virginia Health System via Science Daily

►March 8, 2004 - Autism debate blasted - Calgary Sun via www.canoe.ca

►March 8, 2004 - Attacking Schoolkids' Asthma - Philly District has a bus and adults who care - Philadelphia Daily News via www.philly.com

►March 8, 2004 - State, local health officials discuss rise in 'whooping cough' cases - Daily Item of Lynn

►March 8, 2004 - Meningitis exposure leads to no contractions - The Daily Princetonian

►March 8, 2004 - Midwest Plays Gracious Host to Biotech Field - States pounded by job losses court pioneering firms with tax breaks and moving incentives. They hope other companies will follow. (requires registration) - The Los Angeles Times

►March 9, 2004 - Vaccinate against virulent Chinese flu strain - www.bordermail.com.au

►March 9, 2004 - Poultry exec, wife commit suicide over bird flu fiasco - The Japan Times

►March 8, 2004 - Md. officials find no new cases of avian flu - 210,000 chickens destroyed at second Shore farm as a precaution; Testing continues at neighboring sites; Some fear restrictions will devastate industry - Baltimore Sun

►March 8, 2004 - AP-Correction: Bird Flu-Maryland story - AP via www.mlive.com

►March 8, 2004 - Mexico Eases Bird Flu Ban on U.S. Poultry Imports - Reuters

►March 8, 2004 - Protein Sequences: Not So Predictable After All - Ludwig Institute For Cancer Research via Science Daily

►March 8, 2004 - Healthcast: Potentially Blinding Eye Disease - www.thepittsburghchannel.com

►March 8, 2004 - Elusys Presents Data on Anthrax Antibody at American Society for Microbiology's Biodefense Research Meeting - Antibody Prevents Death in Animals Exposed to Anthrax and Shows Unexpected Protective Benefits - press release - Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. via PRNewswire via Yahoo!

►March 9, 2004 - New Microbes Could Become the 'New Norm' (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

►March 8, 2004 - Expert Says Chronic Wasting Sees Expanding Research - AP via www.kgwn.com

►March 9, 2004 - Indian Immunologicals Develops Thermostable Rabies Vaccine - www.financialexpress.com

►March 8, 2004 - Reflecting On Aids: Understanding ARV'S - column - The Post via www.allafrica.com

►March 8, 2004 - Meningitis can be serious - The Flint Journal via www.mlive.com

►March 9, 2004 - SoCot placed in viral watch - www.sunstar.com.ph

►March 8, 2004 - Common virus may contribute to uncommon bone disease in children - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via www.eurekalert.org

►March 9, 2004 - Millions of Pacific children not immunised - Millions of children in the Pacific region are not immunised against potentially deadly diseases such as hepatitis B and measles, say speakers at a Unicef/World Health Organisation conference in Auckland. - www.stuff.co.nz

►March 8, 2004 - Hazmat Team Cleans Up Small Mercury Spill at Clinic - AP via www.wjla.com

►March  2004 - Fever phobia hot topic for pediatrics (requires registration) - When parents are overheated over temperatures, pediatricians need to address fever myths. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Soft-tissue CA-MRSA infections are on the rise (requires registration) - Resistance across antibiotic classes could complicate and hinder treatment of bacterial skin infections. -  Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Outgoing NIP director reflects on immunization success story - (requires registration) - In a recent interview, Infectious Diseases in Children spoke with Walter A. Orenstein, MD, about the NIP and his plans ahead. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Largest outbreak of measles since 1999 reported in Alabama (requires registration) - The outbreak is a reminder to physicians to keep measles in the differential diagnosis for fever and rash in infants who have traveled overseas. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - The story of avian influenza in Thailand (requires registration) - An unlucky boy who liked to play with chickens in his yard died from respiratory complications after contracting avian influenza. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Research on rotavirus vaccines continues as need remains pressing (requires registration) - The future of rotavirus vaccines includes both bovine-human reassortants and attenuated human rotavirus strains. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - FDA approves orlistat for obese adolescents (requires registration) - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Nevirapine shows resistance but helps prevent mother-to-child transmission (requires registration) - Research shows that nevirapine still brings mother-to-child HIV transmission rates down but may cause maternal resistance problems later. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Perinatal HIV transmission is low but still a concern (requires registration) - At an urban hospital, only nine of 131 infants born over a two-year period were HIV positive. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - What's Your Diagnosis? (requires registration) - A monthly case study, with treatment information and discussion to follow. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - West Nile virus: 2004 season (requires registration) - What should we expect this summer? - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 2004 - Minimize the potential for side effects with topical corticosteroids (requires registration) - This month’s column will review the adverse effects of topical corticosteroid therapy. - Infectious Diseases in Children

►March 4, 2004 - Diseased hearts' unbalanced response to stress (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►March 4, 2004 - Microarrays key to improving safety of gene therapy (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►March 3, 2004 - The 44 million-year itch (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►March 2, 2004 - Anti-vivisectionists bark over beagle patent (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►March 1, 2004 - EU newcomers face fast-food frenzy (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet 

►March 1, 2004 - Suppressing the suppressors (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►February 27, 2004 - Eating your way to Alzheimer's disease (requires registration or subscription) - BioMedNet

►March 2004 - Aaron Klug and the revolution in biomolecular structure determination (requires registration or subscription) - Aaron Klug's group was one of the first to use a combination of X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy to study the structures of macromolecules. He helped to provide the intellectual framework for understanding the self-assembly of regular viruses and developed methods for analyzing their three-dimensional structures from electron microscope images, as well as the structures of helical polymers. He and his coworkers established the basic features of chromatin organization, including the structure of the repeating units (nucleosomes) and how they are stacked together. He studied a variety of molecules that interact with DNA or RNA, including disks of tobacco mosaic virus protein, a tRNA and a ribozyme, and also discovered the zinc-finger motif in nucleic acid-binding proteins. Thus, he has played a major part in developing the ideas and techniques that established structural molecular biology as an exciting new science during the second half of the twentieth century. - Trends in Cell Biology via BioMedNet Magazine

►March 3, 2004 - First light on small molecule inhibition of Aurora kinases (requires registration or subscription) - (Commentary) - BioMedNet

►March 3, 2004 - Rust fungal avirulence genes are expressed in haustoria and recognized inside the host's cells (requires registration or subscription) - (Commentary) - BioMedNet