Vaccinia (smallpox) vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2001.

These revised recommendations regarding vaccinia (smallpox) vaccine update the previous Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations (MMWR 1991;40; No. RR-14:1-10) and include current information regarding the nonemergency use of vaccinia vaccine among laboratory and health-care workers occupationally exposed to vaccinia virus, recombinant vaccinia viruses, and other Orthopoxviruses that can infect humans. In addition, this report contains ACIP's recommendations for the use of vaccinia vaccine if smallpox (variola) virus were used as an agent of biological terrorism or if a smallpox outbreak were to occur for another unforeseen reason.

Phytophotodermatitis: a sometimes difficult diagnosis.

Phytophotodermatitis may not be diagnosed when a patient is seen with erythema and vesicles on the skin. However, with the appropriate medical history, the diagnosis of phytophotodermatitis is easily made. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:1195-1196

Why not relief?

The field of pain management is currently a battleground on several fronts with controversies virtually at every aspect of the subject with lack of education and misconception at the center of the fight. It has been shown that number of patients suffering with psychosomatic chronic pain are 2% or less. Similarly, it was also shown that the risk of true addiction in chronic pain patients was approximately 0.3%. Accurate anatomical diagnosis can be provided in only 15% of the patients utilizing traditional medical technology. The question of, "Why not relief?" should be raised in our society on a daily basis. It is imperative to understand the true nature of pain by separating the myth of psychological pain from the reality of organic pain and manage it appropriately utilizing all available means, not only narcotics and interventional technology, but also behavioral therapy.