Research
Overall and cancer related mortality among patients with ocular inflammation treated with immunosuppressive drugs
Most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs do not seem to increase overall or cancer mortality, according to this retrospective cohort study from the US. The results suggesting that tumour necrosis factor inhibitors might increase mortality are less robust than the other findings in this study, and the accompanying editorial says a substantial change in practice is not warranted yet.
News
US senator seeks information about medical faculty links to drug industry
Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who is the leading minority member on the Senate Committee on Finance, has asked 23 US medical schools for information about their policies on conflicts of interest and requirements for disclosure of financial ties between staff members and drug firms. These medical schools had failed to respond to a previous survey on this topic.
Also published on 6 July:
- Health care in poor countries must be defended against privatisation, Oxfam says
- Rwanda denies plan to forcibly sterilise people with learning difficulties
- Canada has world’s highest rate of confirmed cases of A/H1N1, with Aboriginal people hardest hit
- Largest retailer in US enters healthcare reform debate
Research
Public perceptions, anxiety, and behaviour change in relation to the swine flu outbreak
The results of this cross sectional telephone survey of nearly 1000 people in England, Scotland, and Wales suggest that, in the early stages of the swine flu outbreak, public responses were muted despite widespread media coverage and a government campaign. Anxiety about the outbreak was low and behaviour changes were also limited.
Comment
Heat waves and dehydration in elderly people
Older people who live in big cities that are not prepared for heat waves have the highest risk of heat related morbidity. Recognising the early warning signs of dehydration, which is the key pathophysiological problem, can save lives, say editorialists Marcel G M Olde Rikkert, René J F Melis, and Jurgen A H R Claassen. Nationally, implementation of preventive measures - such as electronic alerting systems, education of populations at risk, introduction of reflective paving and roofing systems, and increased planting of urban vegetative cover - can reduce heat related mortality.
Also new:
Education
Lithium and chronic kidney disease
Lithium use is associated with renal disorder and renal failure; this practice pointer offers guidance on monitoring, drug interactions, and when to consider stopping the drug.
Also published on 3 July:
BMA Meeting
News from the ARM
The Annual Representative Meeting of the British Medical Association has been taking place from 28 June to 2 July in Liverpool. For full coverage of the meeting see our news stories:
- BMA meeting: Doctors vote against demanding right for doctors to pray for their patients
- BMA meeting: Failed asylum seekers in Wales will get free health care from mid-July
- Blog: Medical workforce planning
- Ban on consultant to consultant referrals must be lifted, doctors insist
- Representatives say medical associations should speak out against denial of medical services to civilians
- BMA chairman calls for end to market in health care
- NHS doctors must not be "muzzled," BMA chairman says
- Day of action in support of NHS fails to get enough support at BMA conference
- More than three quarters of people think NHS funds should be protected from spending cuts
- BMA representatives vote to end prescription charges in England
- Doctors vote against protecting relatives who accompany people abroad for help with dying
- Doctors support minimum price for unit of alcohol
- Doctors urge government to lower age limit for cervical cancer screening
Blog
Daily swine flu update
Tom Nolan is the clinical community editor of doc2doc, the BMJ's professional networking community, and a trainee GP. In his new swine flu blog, he provides updates and insights into the situation as it evolves.
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