Stanford Report, June 7, 2006

Media monitor

"We provide them a great place to live, and they are feeding the lining of our gut." —David Relman, MD, professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology, on the 500 or more species that live inside us. Relman is co-author of the first-ever comprehensive study of the genes of the microbes that live in the human digestive tract. Washington Post, June 5.

"A lot of professionals have an attitude (that) you're making a big deal out of nothing." —David Spiegel, MD, the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor, on how abuse in childhood is a major risk factor for suicide. Montreal Gazette, May 31.

"They're desperate. They're looking for a magic bullet." —David Magnus, PhD, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, on why many doctors and patients are experimenting with "off-label" medications even while insurers may have legitimate reasons for refusing to cover such treatments. California Report (KQED-FM) and California Connected (PBS), May 26.

"On vacation I am a vegetable, and I read a book and go out to dinner." —Harvey Cohen, MD, PhD, the Arline and Pete Harman Professor, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and chief of staff at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, on how he spends his leisure time. He was the subject of the cover profile in the Peninsula edition of Gentry magazine, June 2006.