Nomenclature for New Tetracycline Resistance Determinants

Letters of the English alphabet have heretofore been used to name tetracycline resistance determinants. Since all 26 letters have now been used, a nomenclature employing numerals is recommended for future determinants, and one laboratory has offered to coordinate the assignment of numerals.     

Ethics Seminars: Beyond Authorship Requirements—Ethical Considerations in Writing Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation may serve a number of vital functions related to the evaluation, selection, and promotion of candidates. The lure of academic celebrity or the desire of an individual candidate for a flattering letter must not threaten the veracity of the content. Letters of recommendation should be appropriately authored to meet the needs of the institution or individual requesting the letter, while keeping authenticity paramount. Length and content should be complete but not overly verbose. Relevant elements suggested by standardized formats should typically be included, such as nature of contact with the applicant, commitment to emergency medicine, work ethic, ability to develop a differential and treatment plan, personality, interpersonal interactions, and an overall comparative ranking. The seven cardinal elements of an exemplary letter of recommendation are that it should be: 1) authentic (based on adequate first-hand knowledge of the candidate's skills); 2) honest (accurate; avoiding exaggeration or hyperbole); 3) explicit (avoidance of veiled omissions); 4) balanced (taking care to incorporate both strengths and weaknesses); 5) confidential (avoiding unnecessary or unanticipated disclosure); 6) of appropriate detail and length (content relevant to the institutional or individual requests); and 7) technically clear (avoidance of unnecessary abbreviations and jargon). The implied duty to future students, colleagues, researchers, and patients who might come in contact with the applicant should motivate authors to write honest, explicit, appropriate, and complete letters.     

Washington Background

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters will be published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

The Gift of Time

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters will be published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Hypertension 1986

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters will be published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Editor's Mail

The Editor welcomes readers comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Infectious arthritis

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Neurologic disorders

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Editor's mail

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Office psychotherapy

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Editor's mail

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Washington medical update

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

The cancer-screening dilemma

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Editor's Mail

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Rehabilitation of Common Neuromuscular Disorders

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Books Received

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Accidental hypothermia

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Washington Medical Update

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Editor's Mail

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mall at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.     

Here Comes Sciatica Claus

The Editor welcomes readers' comments, and selected letters are published each month. Letters must be signed and should be sent to Editor's Mail at the address shown. The journal reserves the right to condense letters if necessary for space.