Foreword

Article Outline

• Transitions
• Copyright

We have all heard about the Human Genome Project, which was intended to characterize the entire human genome by identifying all the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes and 3 billion base pairs that make up human DNA. We thought this was what defined a human being (at least biologically). However, if, at this very moment, we dropped you (or me) into an empty container and counted the genes and base pairs in the container, there would be literally billions more than those identified in the Human Genome project. We humans are actually occupied by vast numbers of microorganisms. In fact, the number of microbial cells on a healthy human adult is estimated to outnumber the number of human cells by ten to one. These microbes are not just hangers-on, it turns out many if not most of them are probably an essential part of us. So, now we have the Human Microbiome Project (http://hmp.nih.gov/), which is intended to comprehensively characterize the vast communities of microorganisms that occupy human beings, and identify the role (or, more likely, the many roles) of these communities of microorganisms in human health and disease. It will be a very big job and it has only just begun. In this issue of CPPAH, my colleagues Jim Versalovic and Michael Hsieh provide us with a very nice summary of recent research on the human microbiome. Further, they describe the expectation that this work will help to identify microorganisms that may be used therapeutically, or probiotics. This is cutting edge information, about which we will be hearing much more in the future – and our readership will, again, be one step ahead.

Back to Article Outline

Transitions 

With this issue, we say a fond goodbye to a feature that has run in CPPAH since 1991. Clinical Facts & Curios, a wonderful collection of strange and interesting medical factoids, has been put together, on time and without reminders, every month by Dr. Jim Stockman, current president of the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Stockman's collection of interesting tidbits from the medical literature (and occasionally from elsewhere!) reminds us of the weird and wonderful in the world of medicine. I get to read it in advance, since (as editor) I get the page proofs, and it always gives me great material for morning report the next day! I have a bound collection of these columns that Dr. Stockman gave me and I treasure it. We thank Dr. Stockman for his many years of service to the journal.

Also with this issue, after more than a decade, I will be stepping down as Editor in Chief of Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, and my long time friend and colleague, Arthur Fierman, will take the helm. Arthur has been a stalwart Associate Editor and will do the new job admirably. I am going to let him introduce himself more thoroughly in the January issue. I have had a great time in this job, learning immense amounts from every author who has contributed to the journal over the years, and having the delightful experience of getting to “know” folks in virtual space and then discovering what they look like at the next PAS meeting! I've also had the privilege of working with a wonderful group of Associate Editors, exploring whole areas of pediatrics that I knew almost nothing about. And I have had the very interesting experience of seeing the publisher of the journal (Mosby, when I joined in 1997) bought by Harcourt, and then integrated into Elsevier. I have now worked with the very competent and ever-so-patient publishing staff at Elsevier for the last 6 years. I want to especially thank Pam Poppalardo, Publishing Director, Angelica Kerr, Managing Editor, and Monica Calibeo, Journal Manager, for their leadership, organizational talent and gentle reminders when I'm getting a bit late with my assignments. In the last decade, the journal has expanded its name (from Current Problems in Pediatrics to Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care) to reflect the way general pediatrics has expanded. We have seen the journal's reach expand from library shelves to online access—tens of thousands of “hits” every month reflect the value that readers place on the thorough and up to date reviews we provide. I am absolutely confident that the Journal will continue to evolve in the most positive manner under the new leadership so that our readers will continue to provide the best of patient care as they improve their understanding of the science of medicine.