Meet the Newly Named National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

The National Institutes of Health agency responsible for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine has a new name–the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

Formerly the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), the NCCIH still offers the same level of quality health information in the field of complementary and alternative medical/health (CAM) practices. One of the NCCIH main focuses is on conducting research that encourages self-care methods that support healthier lifestyles and uncovers potential usefulness and safety issues of natural products. The practices and products studied by the NCCIH are prioritized by four guiding principles: scientific promise, amenability to be studied using the highest quality research methods, use by the American public, and the potential impact on public health.

For a list of other reliable CAM websites and databases, search the Library website‘s MSKSearch function with the word complementary. A list of relevant databases will appear under the DATABASES section on the next page.

Little Links to Lots of Big Issues

In this edition of Blog Buzz;

  • Buzzfeed Science Editor Virginia Hughes writes on the revelation by Sequenom Laboratories of rare cases where prenatal genetic tests have helped to find cancer in pregnant women. The numbers are still small but are bound to increase, and the ethical questions surrounding how inconclusive results, the possibility of false positives, and a largely unregulated industry interweave here are certainly significant. Read all about it here.
  • And let’s not forget last week’s net neutrality rulings in which the Federal Communications Commission decided to regulate Broadband as a utility. The SCOTUS Blog provides some “plain English” explanations of the proceedings. You can also find coverage from the NY Times and here is an official joint statement from five library professional organizations, including the Medical Library Association, submitted to the FCC in July supporting net neutrality and Title II as a “practicable” way to protect it.

Having PubMed Access Issues?

Some of our MSK Library users have reported problems with accessing PubMed over the last week or so.  Should this happen to you, this is what we recommend you do:

  • Try a different browser.  It appears that the problem has been resolving itself best – or has not been present at all – when using Google Chrome.
  • Try clearing out your favorite browser’s cache.
  • If you get a browser error message, go back and try clicking on MSK Library’s PubMed link again…and then again. The problem appears to be random and multiple attempts may solve it.

If after trying these tips you still have trouble accessing PubMed, please contact the library at asklibrarian@mskcc.org or call 212-639-7439.