The MEDLINE database is an important resource for locating up-to-date information on herbs and other botanical therapies. However, the evolving nature of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the complexity of herbal terminology can make it difficult to identify useful citations. This paper describes optimal search strategies for finding clinical information on herbs and medicinal plants in MEDLINE using the PubMed retrieval system. Searchers will benefit from an understanding of the structure of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and PubMed's advanced search capabilities. Details for using PubMed's MeSH Database, Clinical Queries, Clipboard, and limiting features to retrieve pertinent botanical research are described. Tables containing MeSH terms for medicinal plants and useful print and electronic resources are included.

This is the report of the first workshop on Incorporating In Vitro Alternative Methods for Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) Testing into International Hazard and Risk Assessment Strategies, held in Ispra, Italy, on 19-21 April 2005. The workshop was hosted by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) and jointly organized by ECVAM, the European Chemical Industry Council, and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing. The primary aim of the workshop was to identify and catalog potential methods that could be used to assess how data from in vitro alternative methods could help to predict and identify DNT hazards. Working groups focused on two different aspects: a) details on the science available in the field of DNT, including discussions on the models available to capture the critical DNT mechanisms and processes, and b) policy and strategy aspects to assess the integration of alternative methods in a regulatory framework. This report summarizes these discussions and details the recommendations and priorities for future work.

The developmental programs that generate a broad repertoire of regulatory T cells (T_reg cells) able to respond to both self antigens and non-self antigens remain unclear. Here we found that mature T_reg cells were generated through two distinct developmental programs involving CD25⁺ T_reg cell progenitors (CD25⁺ T_regP cells) and Foxp3^lo T_reg cell progenitors (Foxp3^lo T_regP cells). CD25⁺ T_regP cells showed higher rates of apoptosis and interacted with thymic self antigens with higher affinity than did Foxp3^lo T_regP cells, and had a T cell antigen receptor repertoire and transcriptome distinct from that of Foxp3^lo T_regP cells. The development of both CD25⁺ T_regP cells and Foxp3^lo T_regP cells was controlled by distinct signaling pathways and enhancers. Transcriptomics and histocytometric data suggested that CD25⁺ T_regP cells and Foxp3^lo T_regP cells arose by coopting negative-selection programs and positive-selection programs, respectively. T_reg cells derived from CD25⁺ T_regP cells, but not those derived from Foxp3^lo T_regP cells, prevented experimental autoimmune encephalitis. Our findings indicate that T_reg cells arise through two distinct developmental programs that are both required for a comprehensive T_reg cell repertoire capable of establishing immunotolerance.