Metformin increases risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency

As many as 22% of people with type 2 diabetes could have vitamin B-12 deficiency.

This BMJ study evaluated the effects of metformin on the incidence of vitamin B-12 deficiency (lower than 150 pmol/l), low concentrations of vitamin B-12 (150-220 pmol/l), and folate and homocysteine concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment with insulin.

Compared with placebo, metformin treatment was associated with a decrease in vitamin B-12 concentration of -19%.

The absolute risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency (lower than 150 pmol/l) at study end was 7.2 percentage points higher in the metformin group than in the placebo group with a number needed to harm of 13.8 per 4.3 years.

Long term treatment with metformin may increase the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which results in raised homocysteine concentrations. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is preventable; therefore, regular measurement of vitamin B-12 concentrations during long term metformin treatment should be considered.

References:
BMJ 2010; 340:c2181

BMJ 2010; 340:c2198

Image source: Metformin. Wikipedia, public domain.

Kendall College and gender roles in education

I got this in the mail today.

I get a lot of educational direct mail. I dunno if it's me or the fact that Chicago has so many schools. Either way, I usually just toss the mailers in the recycling box. But the kiddie drawing caught my eye. Congrats marketing artist! Then I did a double take...WTF?

Yup, Kendall College, an institution of higher education was trying to convince me to give them $250 a credit by using gender stereotypes. Um, yeah. Not so much.

What's new in hematology from UpToDate

35% of UpToDate topics are updated every four months. The editors select a small number of the most important updates and share them via "What's new" page. I selected the brief excerpts below from What's new in hematology:

Transplantation in aplastic anemia

In patients with severe aplastic anemia over the age of 40 who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling, overall survival was 65 percent.

Improved survival when rituximab is added to fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide in CLL

There were higher response rates and survival with six courses of FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab) when compared with six courses of FC (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide).

Second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for CML

Trials comparing dasatinib or nilotinib to imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) demonstrated faster and deeper responses with these second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Improved understanding of pathobiology of multiple myeloma

Virtually all multiple myeloma (MM) cases are preceded by a premalignant plasma cell proliferative disorder known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The pathobiology of myeloma as a two-step process - first there is the establishment of a limited stage of clonal proliferation (MGUS); then there is progression of MGUS to MM.

Denileukin diftitox superior to placebo for relapsed mycosis fungoides

There were better response rates with the recombinant interleukin-2-diphtheria toxin fusion protein denileukin diftitox used for therapy of mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome.

Survival in sickle cell disease

The estimated survival at 18 years is now 94 percent for those with HbSS or HbS/beta(0) thalassemia and 98 percent for those with HbSC or HbS/beta(+) thalassemia.

References:
What's new in hematology. UpToDate.

Senator Durbin I'm betting that most witches are Democrats

And clearly you haven't had any conversations with witches about witchcraft. We've met a few times, but I've usually kept my comments to policy. The fact that I'm a tree-hugging-Goddess-worshipper never seemed to be of importance. Of course now I wish I had pointed out my Goddess amulet that I wear every single day, that I do consider myself a witch and that I vote for you every chance I can.

So imagine my surprise when I opened my inbox to a note from you equating witches (my people) with wingnuts (so NOT my people), who are usually radical right-wingers.See the yellow box to your left for the quote.

Here are a few pointers for you:

1) Read Starhawk. She's kinda our Pope, except we don't have one leader, but she's in the news a lot and wrote a lot of books. She's amazing. Starhawk explains what it means to be a witch AND defends Christine O'Donnell. Defending O'Donnell means that Starhawk really takes the whole "love your fellow human being" to the core. 

2) Read through Witchvox's FAQ. They have been around since 1997, so they are pretty much as ancient (internet-wise) as paganism itself.

3) We even have our own emblem for veteran's headstones! (scroll down to 37)

For me, being a witch/pagan is believing in the power of nature, of the Earth and believing that we're all connected. A few weeks ago I was burnt at work. Tapped out of energy. No amount of chocolate or coffee was going to bring me back. Instead, I took a walk and settled under a tree. Sounds hokey, but it works for me. My feminism is connected to the Goddess and she to my feminism. And my feminism is what grounds my politics and thus why I usually like you a lot.

I'm sure that there must be Republican witches (I think the Wicked Witch was one) out there, but for the most part, the witches/pagans/wiccans I have met are all open-minded liberals if not radically lefty. We might not be the biggest religious group out there, but we do take offense to being liken to something to be defeated, especially, for me, to radical right wingers who don't believe in women's rights, evolution or caring for their fellow human being.

Give me a call if you wanna grab a cuppa coffee to talk about witches. It is that time of year!

Guest Post:: Anti-Choice Blogger Cruelly Mocks Women's Experiences by Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America

NARAL Pro-Choice America is made up of pro-choice women and men across the United States who come together to protect a woman's right to choose. These individuals are our backbone, and their stories remind us of why we do this work. Behind every statistic or heated argument about abortion is a real woman's experience. 

On our website, ProChoiceAmerica.org, we offer a safe space for people to share their stories because sharing stories is a way for our supporters to connect. Our Women's Stories page gives powerful and heart-felt accounts of women's personal lives and the difficult decisions they've made. As someone who talks with women about what it means to be pro-choice, I understand the courage it takes to share a story with us and the world. 

That's why I was deeply disgusted and outraged when I discovered that an anti-choice blogger mocked these personal stories through a series of "Parody Testimonials" blogs. 

The blogger crudely and cruelly mocks the circumstances behind these women's stories, even in situations where women's lives and health were in danger. 

 Here is a selection from one "parody" that was particularly disturbing:

Dawn, 40

I got pregnant in the summer of 2008. My husband and I were thrilled. We had been trying for about 6 months and it finally happened.

At 11 weeks of gestation we found out that our son/daughter had anencephaly. We were devastated. We thought we wanted this child. We murdered our son/daughter two days later in a building which looked like a hospital (but where they murdered people instead of cared for them). A spineless, life-hating, unprotective man who had a Medical Doctorate in gynecology dilated my cervix and proceeded to cut my son/daughter up into several pieces. After this, the nurse informed him that all of my son's/daughter's body parts were present and accounted for. The "doctor" considered this a "condition not compatible with life" AND WHO WOULD after being cut up into so many pieces?!

[...]

I have worked for groups which favor the murder of unborn babies for the worst part of my life doing a variety of volunteer activities (lying, deceiving, coaxing, betraying my fellow woman, hating men and the babies that they helped us conceive... did I mention lying?) as well as giving money to spill more blood. I support murdering unborn babies in all circumstances (yes, especially those which are forced in China and other countries since they have more melanin than I do).

And here's Dawn's actual story:

I got pregnant in the summer of 2008. My husband and I were thrilled. We had been trying for about 6 months and it finally happened.

At 11 weeks of gestation we found out that the fetus had anencephaly. We were devastated. This was a very wanted child. We terminated the pregnancy two days later in a hospital. My OB performed the D&C. The doctor considered this a "condition not compatible with life."

[...]

I have worked for pro-choice causes for the better part of my life doing a variety of volunteer activities as well as donating money. I support choice in all circumstances.

We can't let the actions of an anti-choice blogger intimidate or shame women into silence. Please take a moment to support the women who bravely shared their stories with us. Read some of our Women's Stories and pick the story that you find most compelling. Share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social media you use. Share it here at BlogForChoice and on other blogs you visit. When you post the story, please say, "I stand with [NAME] and here is her/his story."

Together, we can stand up for these brave women and against hate.  

This was originally posted at Blog for Choice.

Roasted Garlic and Fennel on Bread

I have mentioned that I am moving into a new apartment at the end of this month.  This apartment will be the 4th apartment that Ash and I have lived in together.  I don't know about other couples, but for us, surviving 4 moves together is a big deal.  We've both agreed that moving tends to bring out some of the worst parts about each of us -- the little cranky moods and sarcastic comments that one can only utter when they are lifting an extremely large and heavy couch. 

We made the decision that this moving process is going to be different.  So far, like most resolutions, we're still struggling with it, but I have hope.  My little contribution to our goal has been (what a surprise!) making food.  When one of us starts getting fatigued and cranky from packing, I know this is my cue to head to the kitchen and not come out until I have something yummy in hand.  Today, this was our little lifesaver.

Even if you are not a big fennel fan, when it's baked like this and then nestled between fresh tomatoes and roasted garlic, you can't go wrong.  This involves minimal prep, which is perfect if you happen to be cooking amongst large stacks of moving boxes.  Enjoy!

Ingredients: 
1 loaf of fresh bread (I love rosemary)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
four bulbs of garlic
2 fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
olive oil
salt and pepper
balsamic vinegar
dried basil and oregano

Roasted garlic:
Remove loose outer leaves. Cut off tops of bulbs so that each clove is open at the top. Drizzle a little olive oil over each bulb. Set the bulbs in the center of a garlic baking dish (if you have one) and cover the the lid.

Place in a cold oven and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 45 minutes or until garlic is tender and husks are golden brown. Add more olive oil as necessary.

Baked fennel:
Select a heavy roasting pan or large gratin dish. Remove any fennel fronds. Cut the top stalks from the fennel and reserve for stock (or juice!). Slice the base into thin slices - it's best to have a very sharp knife for this.

Set in the roasting pan, seasoning lightly with salt and drizzling with olive oil. The fennel does not have to fit in a single layer.  Cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake alongside the garlic at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes to let the flavors heighten.

Bread:
Cut into 1-inch slices. After you have pulled the garlic and fennel from the oven, place the bread slices directly on the racks for 5-8 minutes to heat. Leave it in for 5 minutes if you like softer bread, 8 minutes if you like it a bit harder.

Once you have warmed your bread and given the garlic a chance to cool, remove the garlic from its skin and spread a few cloves over each bread slice. Top with a layer of roasted fennel and a few fresh tomatoes. Sprinkle with dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Drizzle with more olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Summer of Feminista: A woman is a womb

Written by Minerva


I was raised in a woman only household.

What does it mean to be a woman?

A woman is a womb.

My father wasn’t there when I was born

he was disappointed with my mom

cause “she” gave him a daughter and not a son.

Two years later my sister was born

he left

it was just too much to bear.

A woman is a womb?

Abuelo passed away

he was talking a shower and his heart just stopped.

The oldest sister Aunt Amelia took care of all of us.

Abuela prayed and cooked.

Mama

a brilliant scientist was never recognized

she even helped clone a sheep, but drove a cab by nights.

What does it mean to be a woman?

We girls played the piano, washed the dishes, sing with mezzo-soprano voices and wrote some sort of poetry. We read Simone de Beauvoir.

A woman is the origin of life.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Turner Experts Share Video-over-Web Tips

Turner Broadcasting’s team of new media production, photography and communications experts provided ample advice at the IABC Atlanta’s Technology Special Interest Group meeting this week.  Walking the talk, the Turner folks not only provided different examples of videography equipment for us to see and handle, but also they streamed the meeting live -- capturing the presentation and Q&A from attendees using handheld flip cameras, while encouraging those of us present to the do the same.



It was an information-packed few hours on Turner’s campus as we learned the best techniques and tools for doing web-based video storytelling. I was the first one to ask about lighting– a key concern of mine as I have been accustomed to the painstaking lighting set ups from professional shoots in my years in corporate communications.

Dennis Bassarab

“The web is more impactful with tighter shots,” noted Dennis Bassarab, Emmy-award-winning videographer and director of photography for Turner Studios. Bassarab advised us to remember that a person’s eyes can capture an image much better than the sensor in any camera.

Lighting Key

“There are some simple lighting paradigms – your foreground should be brighter than your background; you try to get lighting that is pleasant and fills the face out. Not harsh lighting – you don’t want to see shadows in the background.”

If you have a flip camera, the first thing you look for is where the light is coming from. If there is a window, you open the blinds and let the natural light hit your subject. “Nature is your light. Use that. If you have overhead fluorescents – they’re not great, but you can use a white tablecloth over a chair or some kind of reflecting material to bounce light in. Use your desk lamps – those are great because they’re low,” Bassarab advised. 



David Broyles

David Broyles, manager of Technical Operations, whose role includes overseeing Turner's Digital Media Group and the DVD Authoring Group, reiterated that editing and encoding video depends on what you have to work with – namely, “good lighting and good audio.”



To Stream or Not to Stream?

David Kennerly, manager of New Media Production & Development, said one of the big things you need to decide is how do you want to capture video – by streaming it live (which requires compression) so people can watch it on demand, or to capture and encode it at your computer later? How you answer will dictate what technology you use. Encoding for streaming is ideally at 750 kpbs, although 500 kpbs is also good. Kennerly recommends dual bit rate streaming where you have two streams (one at 500 kpbs and one at 200 kpbs).

David Kennerly



Turner is moving to the Flash format for all their video compression (in fact, 30 percent of all video files are Flash). The H.264/MPEG-4 standard for video compression is where the industry is headed, the Turner officials said. Not surprisingly, Windows Media Player is among the most prevalent players used on the market today.

Quick Time Pro got high marks for supporting MPG-4 formats and affordability. Others referenced included Premiere, Final Cut, Media Composer and Sony’s Vegas Pro.

What You Need to Get Started

To get started with your own video storytelling over the web, here's a basic list of what you need:

• Video camera
• Lighting kit (there are some inexpensive options and a house lamp or two can do wonders)

• Microphones (lavaliere wireless mics are great)

• Editing platform ( For Mac, consider FinalCutpro, Premiere, Media Composer, iMovie, etc.; for PC, consider Premiere, Media Composer, Vegas)

• Encoder

  FinalCut, Premiere, Media Composer, Vegas and other editing platforms can encode. Dedicated encoders include QuickTimePro, Sorensen Squeeze, Adobe Media Encoder, TMPEG Encoder.

If you want to do inexpensive live video on the web, Kennerly advised that you buy a DV camera with a FireWire output and a laptop with a FireWire input. You also need to open an account with Livestream or Ustream (Livestream offers an option to stream to iPhones).

Kennerly said there are also ways to create more professional video streams. On the low end, you can transmit video using a digital DV signal over FireWire directly into a laptop. He described this approach as "a clean, easy way to capture live video for streaming to sites like Ustream or Livestream." Another option is to use an analog signal over RCA (red/white/yellow) through an external “Break Out Box” like a Pinnacle FireWire or USB capture device. This method is effective to get live video out of most vcameras, including older ones, into almost any computer with a USB 2.0 port. It also comes with software for editing and creating titles.

"Don’t forget webcams and internal cams in laptops for 'talking head' type scenarios – if you light well and get a decent microphone, this is an increasingly acceptable, inexpensive way to go," he said.

In the mid range, you can use a capture card installed in a PCI slot inside your PC, like an Osprey 230 or 300. Kennerly noted that this option is a good way to capture higher-quality video, and the card comes with some cool software that gives you options for overlaying logos on your video. Alternatively, you can invest in a higher-end external FireWire device such as the Canopus ADVC-110.

For high-end video efforts, consider an SD capture card installed in a PCI-X slot inside you PC, like an Osprey 540 or 560, or an HD capture card installed in a PCI-X slot inside your PC, like a Blackmagic Decklink or an Osprey 700. AJA also makes good cards for Macs and PCs.

Encoding Software
At this point you will be ready to encode software for live streaming. Kennerly pointed out that sites such as Ustream, Livestream, and Justin TV "offer their own proprietary encoders that are good for small, homemade shows, and they offer some flexible options." He said you can stream for free if you can tolerate the advertising. "These sites also act as your video server and CDN (content delivery network) – they are very good options for getting live video on the web quickly."

You have a number of media encoder options beyond those proprietary options. For instance, Windows Media Encoder 9 is a free download from Microsoft. A positive of that encoder is viewers can watch a stream simply by clicking on a link, and WME offers lots of production tool, while a negative aspect is that some Mac users have trouble viewing WMV streams.

Flash Media Encoder 3.1 is a free download from Adobe. Kennerly said a plus for Flash is that it is easy to view for Windows and Mac users, and is now viewable on Android devices. On the negative side, Flash files are difficult to edit (offering very limited production tools). In addition, viewers have to watch Flash in a player embedded on a web page, or in a player like VLC. 

Video Servers - Windows and Flash Good Options

Running your own video server, continued Kennerly, can be difficult unless you are very tech savvy, but Windows and Flash both offer good media servers.  A plus -- running your own server is good for small viewing audiences. A negative -- viewers will be reaching in and “touching” your server, so you can’t reach large audiences without crashes. Getting an account with a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is the best solution for serving live video to large audiences. SimpleCDN is an inexpensive CDN, while bigger CDNs like Akamai, Limelight, and Highwinds offer many packages and services. Peer-to-peer streaming services such as Octoshape are an increasingly relevant way to deliver live video.

Embedding Video on the Web -- HTML Skills a Must

To embed a video player in a web page, Kennerly advises that you either learn HTML or hire someone who knows it. Windows Media Players, which play live MMS streams, are easy to embed. Flash Media Players, which play live RTMP streams, are harder to embed. Open source players such as Flowplayer and JW player are available, but they require serious coding skills.

Online Sites for Bargain Hunting, Knowledge Building

The Turner speakers also recommended the following online resources to learn more and to get tips on video shooting for the web:

• CreativeCow.com --  a great place for novices and experienced video creative people

• B&H.com – for excellent deals on cameras and other products 

• Cinematography Mailing List, or CML-- a free exchange of ideas with 16,000 members strong where you can gain access to some 20 different lists by specialty area

Raw Tomato and Pesto Pizza

The other day someone asked Ashley why Americans love pizza so much.  She answered that it must be the cheese.  Her logic is that any pizza with good cheese is going to be delicious. What are your thoughts on the subject?

I'm not sure how I feel about the cheese theory.  Don't get me wrong - in my former life I have eaten plenty of pizzas topped with cheese, stuffed with cheese, and even overflowing with cheese.  Most of them were very delicious.  But now, living the cheese-less life, I still have faith that a pizza can be delicious without the meat, without the cheese, and (dare I say it?) without being cooked.

There are plenty of amazing cooked vegan pizzas, but I am loving this raw one at the moment.  It's a great way to use up any pesto you may have on hand and all those beautiful tomatoes lying around. 

Pesto:
1 cup de-stemmed basil
1/4 cup walnuts
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup olive oil
sea salt and pepper to taste

Combine the basil, nuts, and garlic in a food processor and process until it forms a course paste. Slowly add the olive oil in a steady drizzle and continue to process until it becomes a smooth texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This makes roughly 1/2 cup of pesto, which is more than enough for the 8 pizzas.

Marinated onions:
Cut 1 red onion into thin slices. Place in a glass jar or container. Then fill with the apple cider vinegar marinade: 1 part apple cider vinegar to 1 part water. Let them marinate overnight. They will keep for about a week or so in the fridge.

Raw Flax Crust: From The Raw 50 by Carol Alt, this makes 8 crusts:
1 cup golden flax seeds
1 cup water
2 cups raw almonds, soaked overnight
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano

Grind the flax seeds finely in a spice or coffee grinder. Soak the ground seeds in the water until it is completely absorbed, stirring occasionally (this should take about 2 hours). Place the soaked flax seeds in a food processor and add the almonds, onion, thyme, rosemary, and oregano. Process until the mixture is finely ground and well mixed.

Roll the dough in your hands to form 8 balls of equal size. Once the balls are rolled, flatten them evenly with the palm of your hand.

Place the pizza breads on a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 4 hours. Then flip the breads over onto the dehydrator trays and remove the Teflex liners. Continue to dehydrate for another 4 hours, or until done. You can make bigger pizza breads, which will take longer to dehydrate.

Other ingredients:
Several tomatoes, sliced (use any variety you like)
Salt & pepper
Olive oil for drizzling
Any other fresh or dried herbs for garnish


Assembly:
Take your pizza crust and add a layer of pesto. Arrange your layer of sliced tomatoes and top with a little salt and pepper. Garnish with a few marinated onions, a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of fresh or dried herbs.

A blizzard of elections

Yes, I'm already looking past the mid-term elections to Chicago municipal elections in early 2011. I've been slightly obsessed with who will for Mayor. Not my alderman has decided that he's not retiring, as many of us had hoped, but will run for office again. This of course means that I need to decide post-haste who to support among two challengers, that I know of! Because really he's got to go. 

Roasted Summer Squash

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

What is your favorite memory from this summer? A few days ago I was at the gym and realized that the first day of fall was quickly approaching. It made me reflect on this summer and all of the goals I had made for myself: going to the beach more often, visiting with friends, and picking berries. I never made it to the lavender farm or out hiking, but hopefully there's always next year.

What made this summer amazing for me (besides the delicious produce!) was all of the little things that happened that I didn't plan for or anticipate. I didn't expect that my favorite memory of this summer would be riding my bike. I love challenging myself and pushing myself to do things that scare me. I decided that this summer would be the perfect time to start riding my bike to work. And riding a bike through downtown Seattle by myself? Terrifying. (Okay, there are a few bike lanes here and there, but it's still scary!) I never in a million years would have thought that I would have the physical endurance or ability to do it. But, I love proving myself wrong.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

I've had the most amazing rides in the last couple of days. The other day on my way home, I got caught in the rain. It was one of those gloomy Seattle rains too -- the kind where the entire sky turns grey and just when I thought it couldn't possibly rain anymore, the rain came down harder. Then harder.

At first, I wanted to give up. I had never ridden in rain like this and I wasn't sure if I could make it home. My shoes were gushing as I petaled and the sleeves of my jacket were filling up with water. I decided to take a piece of advice from Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt and keep going. Not only did I make it home in record time, but I proved to myself that, once again, I am capable of much more than I give myself credit for.

I rode across the Eastlake bridge this morning on my way to work and watched the sunrise. Leaves were falling along the sidewalk. The cool breeze flew past me. It was the most beautiful ride of the season. Bring it on, fall. I'm ready now.

The only thing better than that ride was coming home and making some of this delicious squash. It's super easy to make and I promise that you already have the ingredients. It's great as a side dish or served over some quinoa.

Ingredients:
olive oil
1 onion
4 medium summer squash (any variety of your choice)
salt & pepper

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Trim the ends off of your squash and slice them about 1/4-inch thick. Lay on a cookie sheet (it's best if they are in a single layer) and drizzle with olive oil.

Next, trim the ends off of your onion and peel it. Then slice it up into thin wedges and toss over the squash. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Bake it for about 15 minutes, then flip it over and drizzle with a little more olive oil. Bake the other side for another 15 minutes. It should be lightly browned. Pull from the oven and serve.

Book Review: Are You a Modern-day Queen Esther?

Yesterday I attended my first BiblioBabes meeting – the monthly book club of members of Women in Technology. The focus of our discussion was Connie Glaser’s and Barbara Smalley’s book, What Queen Esther Knew—Business Strategies from a Biblical Sage.


Glaser, an Atlanta-based gender diversity expert, told me in advance of the meeting that she loved the story of Queen Esther as a child. “But hearing it again as an adult made me realize that the lessons of the book are as timely and resonant as they were 2,000 years ago. For someone who has been writing and researching issues on women and leadership for over two decades, this was an epiphany!”

“Queen Esther transformed herself from an orphan girl in exile to the most powerful woman in the Persian Empire. How did she do it? By being a brilliant strategist, a persuasive speaker, and a courageous risk-taker -- yet all the time remaining true to her principles and ethics. The themes of the book – leadership, integrity, overcoming adversity - resonate as powerfully today as they did two millennia ago,” she says.

The 17 book club participants universally enjoyed the read, and discussed the book’s implications to their own journeys as women in business in smaller group breakouts.

Sandra Hofmann, WIT board member and president, noted the greatest truth of Queen Esther’s story is having the courage of your convictions. The story of Esther begins around 400 B.C.E., in the third reign of King Ahasuerus. The king became displeased with his queen and embarked on a four-year search for her replacement. The most beautiful maidens were brought to the palace for the king’s consideration and one of them was Esther, an orphan who was being raised by her older cousin Mordecai and who kept her Jewish origins secret. She eventually was selected as the new queen after proving her poise, worth and loyalty. Her mettle as a risk taker and strategist came later when a key figure in the kingdom maneuvered and used deception to get the king to agree to have all the Jewish people massacred. Esther – through a well thought out strategy – was able to deliver her people from death after revealing the true plot as well as her own Jewish heritage to the king at a special banquet she arranged.

The book, rich with examples of modern-day Esthers, illustrates how critical risk taking and leading are at critical moments that can define your character. The book also delved into the importance of understanding an organization’s culture, being privy to the grapevine and cultivating mentors.

“There were so many things that struck a chord in me,” says Carol Fowler, a district sales manager for an enterprise call center provider.

As a history buff, I would have enjoyed more details around the historical context of Esther’s life and struggles, but nevertheless found the book’s practical advice immediately applicable.



Margaret Anderson and Carol Fowler.

 In discussing the importance of mentors, Margaret Anderson, a VP with SAP Labs, cited a recent Harvard Business Review article that points out that women need more sponsors than simply mentors (the difference is a sponsor goes beyond giving feedback and advice and uses his or her influence with senior executives to advocate for the mentee – something that men have a much better track record of doing for one another). The interviews and surveys cited in the article suggest that high-potential women are over-mentored and under-sponsored relative to their male peers—and that they are not advancing in their organizations.

Anderson agrees: “We as women have no lack of mentors; what we’re lacking are sponsors -- people who can promote you.”

More modern-day Esthers will be explored at the December meeting of BiblioBabes, as we discuss WIT’s forthcoming book, CLIMB, Women Leaders n Technology Share Their Stories of Success, scheduled for release in mid October.

In regards to Alice & Rebecca Walker...take 300

Apparently because I write and talk about feminist motherhood, I get asked about Alice & Rebecca Walker. A lot. So when the latest piece about their falling out went public, I was asked my opinion again.

First, I'm not entirely sure if Rebecca brought up her mother in a recent interview or it was asked. I think it's important to know if she keeps bringing this up or if people keep bringing it up. Are we all hoping that we'll open up a magazine or our internet browser to see a a story about how the two of them will be reuniting on Oprah? Honestly, I do.

I want to see these two amazing women kiss & make-up. And as much as I hate Dr. Phil, I couldn't care less if he makes it happen either. Challenge to you, Dr. Phil! Why? Because this mother-daughter fight has been awful to watch. It's been awful to watch as a feminist, as a feminist mother, as a daughter and as a human being. It's just plain awful.

And I can't begin to imagine what each of them are actually going through.

I've reviewed two of Rebecca's books. I've read zero of Alice's. Yes, a total demerit on my feminist card. I've even weighed in on this fiasco before. I still concede that being a feminist and a mother in the 1970s was a far different experience than it is today. It does not excuse the way that motherhood was thought of, written about and spoken of back then. Yes, having a child takes away the freedom one had just a year before. But hey, for the most part, we chose to live our life with a child. I ran into that reality while I was pregnant and the Iraq War was ready to be launched. How does one balance protesting an unjust war in an attempt to save the lives of countless women, men and children with the well-being of the life inside your belly? Even the cover of Feminist Mothering tries to ask that question.

Thus in the end, I see the Alice & Rebecca Walker soap opera (and it is people, we're watching every step!) as an exercise in "What is feminist mothering?" And ironically, Annie at PhD in Parenting was also pondering this question.

So what do I really think about the Alice & Rebecca falling out? Let me start by saying that I believe Rebecca Walker...to an extent. I'm sure there are some exaggerations or mis-remembering going on. But the heart of the issue is there.

Do I blame Alice? Yes. I think that if she really did just take off without saying good-bye to Rebecca so often, that's sad. I enjoy my time away from home as much as any momma does, if not more to be honest, but I cherish my goodbyes, even if the kid has started to be super clingy at them.

But there is something about the way Alice raised Rebecca that also rings true to feminist mothering and that is what Andrea O'Reilly says is empowered mothering - putting yourself first. And obviously there is balance to be found there. Putting yourself first isn't empowering when it is harming the child. And clearly Rebecca was harmed.

Yet at the same time, I do wish that Rebecca would simply say "No comment. You can read my books," when asked about her mother. There is almost nothing new in the pieces I've read this past week about their relationship. Nothing that would make me feel worse or better for either of them. I know she's hurting and if I could, I would give her a big ass hug.

As for me and my daughter...Being a feminist mom means raising the kid in an empowering way. I try to give her power or not to douse the power already in her. I don't belittle her observations about the world, especially since she's making sure awesome ones. She's pretty fearless and I push her to maintain it. I do worry that the same power she gets from jumping from 5 steps up onto concrete will be the same place that empowers her to make some dumb choices as a teen, but I'm more hopeful that if I empower her to trust her judgment that she'll be the one that says, "Dudes....No."

Being a feminist mom isn't just about banning Barbies and all things pink. It's about raising a strong, intelligent and caring child who says fuck you to gender roles. Of course she still loves wearing pink, but it's not the only color in her closet. Of course she still loves watching Disney movies, but she also likes watching sports.

Being a feminist mom means that I must continue to live my life to show her that being a mom isn't the only role women were born to do. She knows that I love her without limits, but she also knows that mommy travels for work.

Being a feminist mom means finding that weird middle ground between having my daughter be the center of my life, but not my entire life.

Being a feminist mom means raising her to not think she has to take care of me when I'm old. And then for me to act on that when the time comes. To prepare her for going out into the world and kicking her out the door to actually do it.

Being a feminist mom also means doing all of this and preparing for the day when she tells me that she hated it all. When she tells me that she wishes I had just stayed home and made cookies. Then telling her, sorry baby, but that wasn't and isn't who I am. And hoping that she'll still love me more than I love her...as she likes to remind me.

Summer of Feminista: My Abuelita's Most Cherished Gift

Written by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email.

As this blog has shown, feminism comes in all shapes and sizes. It isn't an "ism" as other "isms" are. It has no specific tenets, it doesn't prescribe a specific course of action. All it does is pronounce and strive for a truth-- that women (and men) are more than a set of social roles, and that each individual woman has a right to develop her own person as she herself chooses.

While I've read a lot about feminism, I've often wondered how a person becomes a feminist in the first place. What goes into the process? What environment nurtures women who believe in themselves and their ability to make substantive changes in this world? I firmly believe this sort of confidence grows out of knowledge and experience. Experience comes from living, and knowledge grows at least partially from reading.

My own love of reading was developed by an unlikely source. I didn't catch the disease from a teacher, nor from any sort of traditional "leader". My love of reading I got from my grandmother, a woman who was never educated beyond the eighth grade, who married when she was 18 and raised her children on a farm in Mexico.

While my abuelita was perfectly content to raise children, help my grandfather with running the farm, and to lead a pretty quiet life, she had a remarkable thirst for knowledge. When I was a little girl, my family and I would spend summers on the farm, deep in the heart of La Huesteca Potosina, a rural, semi-tropical area in Mexico known for its fertile farmland.

I often dreaded going to the farm, simply because it was so different from what I was accustomed to--there was no television, no air conditioning, and, except for the constant buzz of giant mosquitos, the silence was so overwhelming as to make you feel uncomfortably restless. But my grandmother loved living there. I never understood it.

That is, until she showed me her library, and invited me to taste the best that it had to offer. Her library was vast in scope--she had everything from harlequin paperbacks to history tomes about the Mayan civilization to classic novels like War and Peace. When I complained to her once that I was bored, she suggested that I read a book. And that's how it all began. The peacefulness of being somewhere quiet, away from all the noise and distraction of city life, and being so fully absorbed in a book that you feel actually transported to another world is a moment that I have not been able to recreate in any other situation.

And it was from these experiences, spent with my abuelita on the farm, that I began my pursuit of knowledge. This joy of reading was what directly inspired my desire to learn about the world and everything in it, and for that, I thank my abuelita, a short little Latina woman who lived on that farm and died on it, but nonetheless accessed the world outside her small village through books.

Thoughts of those summers on the farm bring me back to the conclusion that feminism springs forth from a variety of sources. Formal education was not something strongly encouraged in my grandmother's world, so she instead took matters into her own hands and educated herself, inspiring the next generation to strive for an independence of mind that is absolutely essential in creating strong, confident women. Women like my grandmother are the unsung heroes of feminism, the ones who have made the furthering of our goals possible.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Storm Couscous Salad

If you are a big fan of the WNBA, live with a big fan of the WNBA, or happen to live in Seattle, I'm sure you've heard by now that the Seattle Storm won the WNBA championship on Thursday. Congrats, ladies! You had a great season and you earned it.

Other than that it's been a pretty quiet week here. I caught a cold a few days ago and have been fighting it off -- lots of fresh-juiced OJ and other healing tonics from my juicer this week. There's also been lots of naps. And boy, have I learned to appreciate the beauty of the nap in the last few days.

I've been eating a lot soup too, but since we're heading into soup season I don't want to give it all away too soon. Don't worry, there's plenty of soup recipes to come. Today I decided to make something quick and simple so, of course, couscous came to mind. Quinoa would also work well in this salad.

This is a great way to use up a few veggies in your drawer, celebrate with Storm colors (green, red, and yellow), and get over a cold. Salud!


2 cups cooked couscous
1 cucumber, halved, then sliced into thin wedges
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1/2 red onion, sliced
1 cup garbanzo beans
small handful of kalamata olives, sliced in half
Juice from two lemons
About 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped finely
2 Tbs olive oil

Cook your couscous according to the package directions. Prep your veggies then mix your couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, garbanzo beans, and olives in a bowl. Mix the lemon juice, olive oil, and mint together then pour over the other ingredients and toss. It's best to allow this to sit in the fridge for a couple of hours to let the flavors meld together.

Summer of Feminista: Mama Feminista and Son

Written by Gabriela Lazzaro @supersonicgaba

“You know who the biggest machistas are? Mothers!” I’m reminded of that familiar saying as I sit here and try to grasp how being a feminista has changed for me now that I’m somebody’s mommy. This beautiful, perfect, smiley three-month old little piece of sunshine looks up at me and I melt. And I am at once terrified at the level of responsibility that parenthood brings and the promise and excitement of getting to know and raising this wonderful little boy.

I grew up in Dominican Republic, surrounded by men, who were --- the typical Latin men. The type of men with una muela (sweet talking) to make you feel like the only woman in the world. The type of men who will dance all night with you and make you fall head over heels, only to then drop you off in time to go cheat on you with someone else. Men who were often, still “babied” by their own mothers well into their adulthood. Men who understood they were in charge, who didn’t owe anyone any explanations, and women just had to get with the program in order to be with them.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they’re all like that. Once I moved to the states I swore off Latin men for a while, only to end up marrying a Dominican. When I got older, I definitely got better at picking them. I made conscious the qualities that I admire in my father, my brother and of course, my husband. Stand up men who are men enough to be with strong women – with their own interests, ideas, ambitions and opinions. Stand up men who don’t feel intimidated by having a partner be their equal. Stand up men who can do the dishes and the laundry and never feel like it’s a poor reflection on their manliness. Stand up men who admire and love us feministas for all we have to offer.

Something tells me my little boy is gonna be just fine. What he’ll see in our home is an example that is so much more powerful than anything I could ever say. He’ll know how to treat and value women as equals. He’ll be confused when he learns about traditional gender roles and hopefully find them ridiculous. He’ll know inherently that all people are valuable, and all people deserve respect. He’ll know that living this truth will make him more of a man than anything else ever could. He’ll be a damn good feminista, and I’ll continue to be incredibly proud.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

"Professional Guinea Pigs" in Clinical Trials - TIME video

Human subjects are paid in Phase 1 clinical trials to test the toxicity levels of new drugs. Some make a profession out of it, but researchers worry about health risks.

References:
Clinical Trials: Professional Guinea Pigs. TIME.

Summer of Feminista: We are the feministas

Written by Juana Hernandez of "I Am the Woman of Myth and Bullshit"

we are the women your mother feared you would fall for, lest we refuse the family heirlooms, or fail to master the secret art of her famous caldo de res.  we are the kind of women that your mother finds suspect, the kind she would not choose to take her place as the leading lady in your life. and dearest, we don't mind the diss. we do not care to feed and coddle you, grown man that you are. we have no interest in being your mother, nor your lover-child-pet.

your mother and her comadres are of another generation. they who believe the home is the natural place for a woman, who believe in phrases like maternal instincts and male provider. yes, they respect our warmth and beauty, but they recoil at our audacity. we who claim heart and mind and body, we who speak frankly of need and female desire, we who blur the lines of feminine and masculine. and who seek a partnership of equals.

but despite what they say, we are not cruel, bra-burning feministas unsuitable for marriage. on the contrary, we give good love and occasionally bust out the fancy lingerie to boot. we are the kind of women that will push you when you start to settle, the kind that will sustain your belief in yourself when it wavers, the women who will inspire you with our own example of flint and frailty. we are the women that smart men want to make happy out of something other than a sense of manhood, honor, or duty. and we demand a reciprocity that you better be prepared to offer.

we are the feministas, the women your mother feared you'd fall for, lest we refused to give her grandchildren. (and to be frank, dearest, your mother has no business setting claim to anyone's womb.) we are the feministas, the women who can change you.

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Firsts, Lasts, and Baked Peaches

Firsts...
Apples started showing up this weekend. Their little red faces popping up at the market, ready and eager. It was as if they were saying, well it's about time. Yes it is.

Were you at Seattle Tilth's Harvest Fair on Saturday? I hope so. I hope you were one of the people crowding around to look at the most beautiful peppers. Or maybe I ran into you at the book tent where I bought one of my favorite cookbooks, The Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook by Debra Daniels-Zeller. Nonetheless I hope you were there too, taking in the harvest, the last bits of sunshine, and the last bites of summer peaches.

Lasts...
I've mentioned that I'm moving at the end of the month. I'm definitely ready and excited for this change, but moving into a much smaller apartment means giving up a lot. Last night, it meant giving up my kitchen table.

I was okay with this idea. I mean, I was the one who posted it on Craigslist for sale. But for some reason, once it sold it was hard to let go. It's not hard to let go of the physical posession, but rather what that dining table meant. It was the first piece of furniture I bought myself. A lot of life happened at that table. A lot of growing up, change, conversations, and food happened there.

So there I sat for the last meal. Waiting for the person from Craigslist to arrive, reading my cookbook by candlelight, letting go, and making room in my life for what's next to come.

Baked PeachesIt would not have been a proper goodbye without baked peaches. I had always considered myself to be a bigger fan of nectarines than peaches, but somehow that changed this summer. It only seems right to spend my last meal at my dining table eating my new favorite food.

Once you try baked peaches - especially over Coconut Bliss ice cream - it will become your favorite too. Even if you're not fond of the fruit itself, there's something that happens in the oven that makes it absolutely magical.

This recipe was inspired by a recipe for baked nectarines in The Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook.
Serves 2.

2 peaches, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar (if you want it sweeter, you can add a second tablespoon)
freshly grated nutmeg
dash of cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the peach halves, cut side down, in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with the lemon juice, nutmeg, and drizzle with agave. Bake uncovered until very tender, about 30 minutes. Serve over vegan ice cream or yogurt with a dash of cinnamon.

People who get less than 6 hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely

People who get less than 6 hours sleep per night had an increased risk of dying prematurely in a recent study. Those who slept for less than that amount of time were 12% more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than 9 hours and premature death.

The study aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.

Just one sleepless night can hamper the body's ability to use insulin to process sugar in the bloodstream. Insulin sensitivity is not fixed in healthy people, but depends on the duration of sleep in the preceding night.

"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," one of the study investigators said, adding that about 20% of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than 5 hours.

Adults typically need between 7 and 9 hours sleep a night. If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol.

References:
Bad night's sleep can hamper body's insulin use. Reuters.

Image source: A halo around the Moon. Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

Summer of Feminista: Snobby feminists

Written by Carrie Ferguson Weir of Tiki Tiki Blog and Bilingual in the Boonies

I didn’t have too good a time in my college Women’s Studies class.

The energy was angry, a wall was up between “them’’ and “those of us who get it.’’

Back then, I mostly sat on the wall

You see, at that point no one had inappropriately grabbed my butt or made me feel less-than because I had a vagina.

And then I grew up. Got a job in an industry once known for crusty workaholics who told fabulously off-color jokes and thought the cops beat was only for dudes.

And well, I soon learned my big mouth and sharp brain weren’t enough to make anyone think me equal. My man-tailored pants and buttoned-up shirts were not enough to keep gross people from saying crude things to me, whether in front of colleagues, or at crime scenes.

But even more than unappreciated remarks, it was the immediate assumption that my gender and youth made me less game, less able, that chapped my ass most.

The bear of it: It wasn’t just the guys.

Here’s my best example:

I was in my early 30s when I finally landed a cush Features department position. I was writing for -- wait for it -- The Women’s Magazine! Yes, I was. I went from writing about shootings, state foster care and neighborhood bruhahas to interviewing women on fashion, fitness and business. It wasn’t an easy transition, but it was a welcome one after spending more than 10 years in hard (and often depressing) news.

So, I was in Features for a few months when a politically connected acquaintance invited me and my husband to a party at his home. When he introduced me to his wife as “the reporter who writes for the women’s section,’’ she snickered and Walked Away.

She, now a big shot politician in my area, didn’t say a word to me the entire evening. She judged me and tossed me out because *gasp* I Wrote For The Women’s Section. As if that is all I was, or as if I had single-handedly let down and regressed womanhood.

But, that section was something to be proud of. And any woman who picked it up found stories on women who took chances and changed their lives, tips from top business coaches and entrepreneurs. We were O before Oprah was O, let me tell you.

Yeah, there was lipstick and fall fashion, but whatever. Can’t we be smart and look good too?

The point of this for me is that I am a woman who supports women -- regardless of what they do.

You want to go to the moon? Go for it, mama.

You want to be a runway model? Go for it, sister.

You want to stay home and raise 16 babies? Well, why not?

For that same Features section, I did a story in which I asked young women, in their early 20s, whether they were “feminists.’’ Many of them didn’t even know what it meant. Combat boots and burned bras were often referenced.

But, feminist by definition is simply a person who believes women and men deserve the same rights. Simple. End of story.

That being the case, even men can be feminists. And hurrah, many are.

But anyway, I’m rounding out to a finish here....

I have a daughter who is nearly 7. I don’t want some snob -- man or woman -- to ever look down on her because she didn’t carry the flag the way they think it should be carried. I want her to grow up knowing that she, as a woman, as a person, as a precious child of God, can be and do whatever the damn-well she pleases.

I want her to learn from me, her Mami, that standing up and applauding a woman for making the choices that are right for her at that moment, is the best form of feminism.

I want her to learn that it is actions, not words, that make you an activist, an advocate, a role model.

I am not telling her she deserves equal chances, I am showing her she does. I walk straight toward what is mine, so that she will walk toward what is hers to claim whatever space and opportunity she desires.

Anyone can say they support women, that they support equality.But, when you snub or mock someone for making a choice you don’t agree with, well, that’s a totally different “ist,’’ isn’t it?

Summer of Feminista is a project where Latinas are sharing what feminism means to them. Positive. Negative. Academic statements. Personal stories. Learn more or how you can join the Summer of Feminista. This is a project of Viva la Feminista. Link and quote, but do not repost without written permission.

Classic Tofu Sandwich

It wouldn't be right to enter back-to-school season without talking about sandwiches. However, I have to admit I feel a little weird about putting a tofu sandwich on a vegan blog. I mean, that's all vegans eat anyway, right? Just tofu and salads?

Nonetheless, this is one of my favorite and easiest-to-make tofu sandwiches. Here are some reasons why you will love it too:

1. Prep time is less than 10 minutes - which is perfect for when you're super hungry or scrambling to pack a lunch first thing in the morning.
2. It's a cold sandwich (great for taking on-the-go!)
3. It's filling! One of the big problems that I have with other vegan sandwiches is that they use too much processed fake meat or it's all veggies (and then I'm hungry an hour later). This one guarantees the best of both worlds.

Makes about 6 sandwiches

1 loaf of good whole grain bread (my fave is Dave's Killer Bread)
1 Block of Tofu (I usually use plain extra-firm)
1 container of sprouts
1 cucumber, sliced
1 onion, sliced
Salt & Pepper to taste
Dijon Mustard to taste
2 Avocados

To keep prep time to a minimum, grill your tofu ahead of time:
Cut your tofu block into 1/2-inch slices. Add a little oil to a grill or frying pan and cook the tofu slices on medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side, or until it is medium brown. Place in a glass container and store in the fridge until ready to use.

To assemble the sandwich:
Grab your bread and add Dijon mustard to one slice and mash about a third of an avocado to another. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on one side. Add two pieces of tofu and a few slices of cucumber and onion. Top with sprouts and serve.

If you're not a cucumber fan, you could always substitute some grilled bell peppers or zucchini. Tomatoes go well on this too.

What's new in infectious diseases from UpToDate

35% of UpToDate topics are updated every four months. The editors select a small number of the most important updates and share them via "What's new" page. I selected the brief excerpts below from What's new in infectious diseases:

Antibiotics and warfarin
Among patients taking warfarin who require antimicrobial therapy for treatment of urinary tract infection, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin werer associated with increased risk of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding.

C. difficile

Symptomatic patients may play a role in airborne dispersal of C. difficile. In a study including 50 patients with confirmed C. difficile infection, air sampling for one hour demonstrated C. difficile organisms in 12 percent of cases.

Community-acquired pneumonia and antipsychotics

Use of atypical or typical antipsychotics was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

High-dose flu vaccine

The FDA approved a high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine for individuals older than 65 years of age. Data showed increased immunogenicity of the high-dose vaccine in older adults.

Measles mumps rubella (MMR)

Monovalent vaccines are no longer available in the United States for measles, mumps or rubella.

Meningococcal vaccine

A new quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menveo) was approved for individuals from 11 to 55 years of age as an alternative to the older quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (Menactra, MCV4). Both formulations protect against the same serogroups (A, C, Y, and W135).

Herpes zoster vaccine

Uptake of herpes zoster vaccine has been 2 to 7 percent in the United States. The reasons are often financial - only 45 percent of PCPs knew that herpes zoster vaccine is reimbursed through Medicare Part D.

How to Subscribe to "What's New" Specialty Page of UpToDate? No Feed, No Problem for Google Reader

35% of UpToDate topics are updated every four months. The editors select a small number of the most important updates and share them via "What's new" page.

The page does not provide RSS feed for the different specialties. One solution is to copy/paste the URL address of each subspecialty page you are interested in the Google Reader "Add a subscription" field (top left corner). Google Reader will automatically create a RSS feed from this "feedless" page.



References:
What's new in infectious diseases. UpToDate.

UTD Contents: What's New

Are You Dependent on UpToDate for Your Clinical Practice?
5 Tips to Stay Up-to-Date with Medical Literature