azathioprine drug, molecular model

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.

US Senator Chuck Grassley

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:

hand washing

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.

elderly couple in the sun

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:

300 mg lithium carbonate capsule

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:

Tom Nolan

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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