AIRhead Medical Review
Improbable diagnoses, techniques, and research
compiled by Bertha Vanatian, MD
Cheese vs. Cherubs
"Some Probiotic Properties of Yeast Isolates from Infant Faeces and
Feta Cheese," E. Psomas, C. Andrighetto, E. Litopoulou-Tzanetaki, A.
Lombardi, and N. Tzanetakis, International Journal of Food Microbiology,
vol. 69, nos. 1-2, September 2001, pp. 125-33. (Thanks to Alicia Kowaltowski
for bringing this to our attention.) The authors, who are at Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, Greece, report that:
In general, the isolates from faeces were more resistant to low pH and bile than those from Feta cheese. Selected strains could be used as starter supplements for industrial fermentations.
Music at the End
"Music During Gastroscopy" [article in German], J. Escher et
al., Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift,
vol. 123, no. 26, July 1993, pp. 1354-8.
Tales of the Unexpected, Chapter 802
"The Effects of Hair Loss in European Men: A Survey in Four Countries,"
D. Budd, et al., European Journal of Dermatology, vol. 10, no. 4,
March 2000, pp. 122-7. (Thanks to T. Diamant for bringing this to our
attention.) The authors explain that:
The impact of hair loss was generally consistent in the four countries [France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom]... Age was significantly correlated with hair loss. Men with greater hair loss were more bothered, more concerned about looking older due to their hair loss, and less satisfied with their hair appearance....
A Tooth in Hand
"‘Uneasy Lies the Hand in Which Rests the Crown’ -- An Unusual
Foreign Body Following a Punch Injury," S.A. Mehdi, D.G. Dunlop, and
C.W. Oliver, Journal of Hand Surgery,
vol. 25, no. 2, April 2000, pp. 221-2. The authors, who are at the the Royal
Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, give this pithy summary of their report:
A case of cellulitis of the hand resulting from embedding of a dental crown following a punch injury is described.
Modern Woman, Part 5
"The Modern Ovary: Constructions, Meanings, Uses," Chandak Sengoopta,
History of Science, vol. 38, 2000, pp. 425-88. (Thanks to Neil
Martin for bringing this to our attention.) The author is at the University
of Manchester.
We welcome your suggestions for this column. Please enclose the full
citation (no abbreviations!) and, if possible, a photocopy of the paper
© Copyright 2001 Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)
This HotAIR feature first appeared in VOLUME
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