Untangling a skein of wool
	Fiona Godlee
	BMJ  2005;331, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.0-g [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

This week in the BMJ

This week in the BMJ [Full text] [PDF]

	How to tackle cardiovascular diseases in Croatia? [Full text]

	Change of economic policy improved health in Poland [Full text]

	Spousal physical violence affects one in three Albanian wives [Full text]

	Prevention policies for HIV/AIDS need improving [Full text]

	Lung cancer mortality is declining in men but not women [Full text]

	EU scientific production fell after new states joined [Full text]

Editorials

	Health and health care in transitional Europe
	Kristina Fister, Martin McKee
	BMJ  2005;331:169-170, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.169 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: Additional references w1 - w4]

	The road to reform
	Josep Figueras, Nata Menabde, Reinhard Busse
	BMJ  2005;331:170-171, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.170 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Supply and regulation of medicines
	T Walley, E A Mossialos, M Mrazek, C P de Joncheere
	BMJ  2005;331:171-172, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.171 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Mental health in post-communist countries
	Rachel Jenkins, Judith Klein, Camilla Parker
	BMJ  2005;331:173-174, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.173 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Combating non-communicable diseases
	Patricio V Marquez, Marc Suhrcke
	BMJ  2005;331:174, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.174 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

News

	Lack of targets leads to underperformance in NHS services
	Susan Mayor
	BMJ  2005;331:175, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.175 [Full text] [PDF] [extra: Longer version]

	Blind eye to complaints allowed psychiatrists to abuse patients
	Clare Dyer
	BMJ  2005;331:175, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.175-a [Full text] [PDF] [extra: Longer version]

	In brief
	BMJ  2005;331:176, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.176 [Full text] [PDF]

	25 000 civilians have been killed in Iraq since invasion
	Owen Dyer
	BMJ  2005;331:176, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.176-a [Full text] [PDF] [extra: Longer version]

	Trusts ignoring safety alerts should be named, says CMO
	Adrian O'Dowd
	BMJ  2005;331:176, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.176-b [Full text] [PDF] [extra: Longer version]

	Professor Roy Meadow struck off
	Clare Dyer
	BMJ  2005;331:177, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.177 [Full text] [PDF]

	Ban advertising in Australian prescribing software, say researchers
	Bob Burton
	BMJ  2005;331:177, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.177-a [Full text] [PDF]

	Women with benign breast disease face higher cancer risk
	Scott Gottlieb
	BMJ  2005;331:179, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.179-b [Full text] [PDF]

	Extremely low birth weight is linked to risk of chronic illness
	Susan Mayor
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180 [Full text] [PDF]

	Inquiry into high mortality of GPs' patients finds no wrongdoing
	Roger Dobson
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-a [Full text] [PDF]

News roundup [abridged versions appear in the paper journal]

	Trusts to handle minor complaints against doctors, says GMC
	Zosia Kmietowicz
	BMJ  2005;331:178, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.178 [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	Hunger strikers are not properly monitored at detention centre, doctor says
	Jerome Burne
	BMJ  2005;331:178, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.178-a [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	The diminutive devil that wreaks havoc with the airways
	Annabel Ferriman
	BMJ  2005;331:178, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.178-b [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	Government "has ignored" MPs' recommendations on mental health law
	Clare Dyer
	BMJ  2005;331:178, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.178-c [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	German doctors press for a national trial register
	Annette Tuffs
	BMJ  2005;331:178, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.178-d [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	Conference plans rebuilding of Southern Sudan's health services
	Peter Moszynski
	BMJ  2005;331:179, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.179 [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

	US health system doesn't give value for money, report says
	Janice Hopkins Tanne
	BMJ  2005;331:179, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.179-a [Abridged PDF] [Full text]

News extra [these stories appear only on the web]

	Lawyers will appeal ruling that cleared Guantanamo doctor of ethics violations
	Janice Hopkins Tanne
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-b [Full text]

	WHO needs more money to deliver better health care to poor people
	Owen Dyer
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-c [Full text]

	European court upholds restriction on sale of food supplements
	Rory Watson
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-d [Full text]

	NHS publicises advances in antenatal and neonatal screening programmes
	Allison Barrett
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-e [Full text]

	Swedish court rules against doctor at centre of row over destroyed research data
	Caroline White
	BMJ  2005;331:180, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.180-f [Full text]

Papers

	Association of socioeconomic position with insulin resistance among children from Denmark, Estonia, and Portugal: cross sectional study
	Debbie A Lawlor, Maarike Harro, Niels Wedderkopp, Lars Bo Andersen, Luis B Sardinha, Chris J Riddoch, Angie S Page, Sigmund A Anderssen, Karsten Froberg, David Stansbie, George Davey Smith
	BMJ  2005;331:183, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.183 [Abstract] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Health inequalities and social dynamics in Europe
	Denny Vågerö, Mall Leinsalu
	BMJ  2005;331:186-187, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.186 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Changes in dietary fat and declining coronary heart disease in Poland: population based study
	Witold A Zatonski, Walter Willett
	BMJ  2005;331:187-188, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.187 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: Two more references]

	Commentary: Will Europe's agricultural policy damage progress on cardiovascular disease?
	Karen Lock, Martin McKee
	BMJ  2005;331:188-189, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.188 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Lung cancer mortality at ages 35-54 in the European Union: ecological study of evolving tobacco epidemics
	Joanna Didkowska, Marta Manczuk, Ann McNeill, John Powles, Witold Zatonski
	BMJ  2005;331:189-191, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.189 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Making the transition to action
	Eva Kralikova, Erzsebet Podmaniczky, Hanna Stypulkowska-Misiurewicz, Elena Kavcova, Aurelijus Veryga, Tanith Muller
	BMJ  2005;331:191-192, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.191 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Comparison of amount of biomedical research originating from the European Union and the United States
	Elpidoforos S Soteriades, Matthew E Falagas
	BMJ  2005;331:192-194, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.192 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Bridging the gaps in biomedical research
	Stella Fatovic-Ferencic
	BMJ  2005;331:194-195, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.194 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Survey of attitudes and knowledge about science in medical students in southeast Europe
	Genc Burazeri, Marta Civljak, Vesna Ilakovac, Slobodan Jankovic, Tanja Majica-Kovacevic, Olesea Nedera, Enver Roshi, Valeriu Sava, Vladimir Simunovic, Ana Marusic, Matko Marusic
	BMJ  2005;331:195-196, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.195 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: Further details]

Short cuts

	What's new in the other general journals
	BMJ  2005;331:181-182, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.181 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Primary care

	Factors associated with spousal physical violence in Albania: cross sectional study
	Genc Burazeri, Enver Roshi, Rachel Jewkes, Susanne Jordan, Vesna Bjegovic, Ulrich Laaser
	BMJ  2005;331:197-201, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.197 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Development of family medicine in Kosovo
	Robert Hedley, Bajram Maxhuni
	BMJ  2005;331:201-203, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.201 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Implementing general practice in Russia: getting beyond the first steps
	Andrey Rese, Dina Balabanova, Kirill Danishevski, Martin McKee, Rod Sheaff
	BMJ  2005;331:204-207, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.204 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Education and debate

	Cardiovascular risk factors in Croatia: struggling to provide the evidence for developing policy recommendations
	Josipa Kern, Marija Strnad, Tanja Coric, Silvije Vuletic
	BMJ  2005;331:208-210, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.208 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Public health reforms in Estonia: impact on the health of the population
	Kaja Põlluste, Georg Männik, Runo Axelsson
	BMJ  2005;331:210-213, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.210 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: General information about Estonia]

	Transition and public health in the Slovak republic
	Gabriel Gulis, Jarmila Korcova, Peter Letanovsky, Daniela Marcinkova
	BMJ  2005;331:213-215, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.213 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Impact of transition on public health in Ukraine: case study of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
	Diane DeBell, Richard Carter
	BMJ  2005;331:216-219, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.216 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: HIV is not just a transitional problem
	Thomas E Novotny
	BMJ  2005;331:219, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.219 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Transition and the HIV risk environment
	Tim Rhodes, Milena Simic
	BMJ  2005;331:220-223, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.220 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Croatian healthcare system in transition, from the perspective of users
	Miroslav Mastilica, Sanja Kusec
	BMJ  2005;331:223-226, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.223 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Patients' empowerment: the East side story
	Piotr Mierzewski
	BMJ  2005;331:226-227, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.226 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Ethics and the structures of health care in the European countries in transition: hospital ethics committees in Croatia
	Ana Borovecki, Stjepan Oreskovic, Henk ten Have
	BMJ  2005;331:227-229, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.227 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Ethics committees and countries in transition: a figleaf for structural violence?
	Richard E Ashcroft
	BMJ  2005;331:229-230, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.229 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Commentary: Ethics in health care and research in European transition countries: reality and future prospects
	Ana Marusic
	BMJ  2005;331:230, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.230 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Managing healthcare reform in Hungary: challenges and opportunities
	Miklós K Szócska, János M Réthelyi, Charles Normand
	BMJ  2005;331:231-233, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.231 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Letters

This week's letters [PDF]

	A tale of two Germanys: Health problems in eastern Germany are clearly related to transition
	Friedrich Wilhelm Schwartz, Kurt Buser
	BMJ  2005;331:234, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.234 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	A tale of two Germanys: Some patients in former East Germany were more equal than others
	Herbert H Nehrlich
	BMJ  2005;331:234, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.234-a [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	A tale of two Germanys: East Germany's health system provides lessons 14 years on
	Dirk Meusel, Ulf Maywald, Isabel Hach, Wilhelm Kirch
	BMJ  2005;331:234-235, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.234-b [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Health care based on priorities is lost in decentralisation
	Aleksandar Dzakula
	BMJ  2005;331:235, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.235 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Poland is losing its doctors
	Malgorzata M Bala, Wiktoria M Lesniak
	BMJ  2005;331:235, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.235-a [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Perindopril monotherapy and PROGRESS in Europe
	Richard Wennberg, Camilla Zimmermann
	BMJ  2005;331:235-236, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.235-b [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	From the former Soviet Union: Maternal education seems to determine pregnancy outcomes in Russia
	Andrej M Grjibovski, Lars Olov Bygren
	BMJ  2005;331:236, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.236 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	From the former Soviet Union: Socioeconomic health inequalities exist in post-communist Lithuania
	Antanas Jurgelenas, Diana Mieliauskaite, Rima Filipaviciute
	BMJ  2005;331:236, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.236-a [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Georgia to Georgia initiative
	H Kenneth Walker, Bijan Falollahi, Zviad Kirtava, Judith Wold
	BMJ  2005;331:237, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.237 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Nuclear weapons are another post-communist health hazard
	Nick Wilson
	BMJ  2005;331:237, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.237-a [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	TB in immigrants is not public health risk, but uncontrolled epidemics are
	Ulf R Dahle
	BMJ  2005;331:237, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.237-b [Full text] [Request Permissions]

Obituaries

This week's obituaries [PDF]

	Dame Cicely Saunders
	Caroline Richmond
	BMJ  2005;331:238, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.238 [Full text]

	Thomas Ballantyne Begg
	D Ward
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239 [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	Mark Fernell
	Andrew Wijnberg
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-a [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	William James Hay
	George Turnbull, John Hay
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-b [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	Katharine Neil Maxwell (née Brittain)
	Ian W Campbell
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-c [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	Bala Krishna Hareendran Nair
	Hari Sugunendran
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-d [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	Robert D Romanis
	H Beric Wright
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-e [Full text] [extra: Longer version]

	Michael Heinz Salz
	Maher Halawa
	BMJ  2005;331:239, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.239-f [Full text]

reviews

This week's reviews [PDF]

	Press: Beneath the surface of stoicism
	Philip Thomas
	BMJ  2005;331:240, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.240 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	Books: Health Care Systems in Transition: Cyprus/Germany/Slovakia/Estonia
	Jane Salvage
	BMJ  2005;331:241, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.241 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	PERSONAL VIEWS: Transformation of minds and souls
	Vladimir J Simunovic
	BMJ  2005;331:242, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.242 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	PERSONAL VIEWS: Projectitis? Supporting health reform
	Peter D Toon
	BMJ  2005;331:243, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.243 [Full text] [Request Permissions]

	SOUNDINGS: Uncompassionate care
	George Dunea
	BMJ  2005;331:243, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.243-a [Full text] [Request Permissions]

Minerva

	Minerva
	BMJ  2005;331:244, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.244 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Fillers

	POEM*: Aspirin prevents stroke, but not MI, in women
	BMJ  2005;331, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.0-f [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Don't give up hope
	Kaushal Raj Pandey
	BMJ  2005;331:207, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.207 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Endpiece: Patients' library in Leeds 1775
	Jeremy Hugh Baron
	BMJ  2005;331:215, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.215 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

	Randomised controlled trials for the BMJ need to be registered
	BMJ  2005;331:219, doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7510.219-a [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions]

Career focus

Read this week's articles on http://bmjcareers.com/careerfocus

Website extra

Webchat transcript: Europe in transition [Full text]

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