When is a herb a drug?

With the growing popularity and use of herbal remedies in the industrial countries there has been an increasing recognition and reporting of adverse reactions. Drug development represents discovery and characterization of naturally occurring plant metabolites or their synthetic analogues. Therefore, a herbal remedy should be considered a drug for all clinical purposes. The liver, being central to the metabolism of virtually all xenobiotics, is inevitably exposed to reactive metabolites and liver injury is a potential complication of nearly every medication, including herbal remedies. Recognition of herb induced hepatotoxicity depends on clinical awareness of the problem, a suspicion that a herbal preparation is involved, and detailed enquiry regarding the use of all supplements and remedies. Herbal medicines should be regulated more systematically and monitoring for adverse reaction should improve.     

When is a mouse basophil not a basophil?

The identification and characterization of mouse basophils have historically been hampered by the extreme rarity of this cell type. Virtually no photomicrographs of hematologically stained (eg, Wright-Giemsa) examples of mouse basophils exist in the literature. However, 4 recent studies in the past 2 years have used flow cytometry and a defined set of cell-surface markers to identify and subsequently isolate mouse "basophils," including the publication of stained cytospin preparations of these cells. Surprisingly, a reevaluation of the data from all 4 of the studies revealed several issues of concern that suggest that the cells under study are not necessarily basophils. Nonetheless, we propose that these studies do provide the foundation for a reevaluation of the defining characteristics of a basophil and/or provide support for the provocative conclusion that a new previously overlooked leukocyte subtype has been identified. The purpose of this commentary is to revisit these previously published studies, highlight the relevant issues, and provide a different perspective in the hope of developing a consensus within the research community as to the true identity of the "basophils" described in these studies.     

Is there a difference between a chief of cardiology and a chief of medicine?

The job of Chief of Medicine demands considerably more administrative effort than the Chief of Cardiology. However, one can still maintain a significant presence in cardiology as a Chief of Medicine. Each job has its own merits, joys, and irritations.