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Around 1.2 million people signed a petition calling for existing general practices in England to be protected in the face of government plans to create large health centres known as polyclinics. Relations between the government and the BMA have grown increasingly bitter over this issue.
Clinical governance was looked on by some as the saving of the moral heart of the NHS. Others thought it a substance-lacking smokescreen that would have little effect, although it does protected time for departments to meeting. Are UK doctors contractually obliged to attend the meetings?
In more than 600 children aged less than 5, two predictive factors (baseline parent reported exercise induced wheeze and a history of atopy) indicated a likelihood of 53.2% of developing asthma in early adolescence, report the authors of this longitudinal postal questionnaire study 1993-2004. The accompanying editorial agrees that these two factors strongly predict persistent asthma.
This rare abnormality, commonest among babies of teenage mothers, is increasing: this US study (findings from the national birth defects prevention study, 1997-2003) found a significant association with self reported infections in early pregnancy. The accompanying editorial agrees that genitourinary infection in early pregnancy can be added to the existing list of risk factors.
Vitamin A supplementation reduces mortality in older children, but a global recommendation of high dose supplementation for all newborn infants may not contribute to better survival, say the authors of this randomised controlled trial. The accompanying editorial says that benefit depends on the setting, baseline infant mortality, and vitamin A deficiency.
Chinese, Australian and UK obstetricians have organised the translation of a pioneering research paper on abortion by vacuum aspiration, in an attempt to get recognition for its authors 50 years after it was first published.
Why are there so few women speakers at medical conferences, asks BMJ editor-in-chief Fiona Godlee (pictured). Cancer is a conversation-killer at parties, Anna Donald discovers. "But of course your hair will come back." "Actually no." "Oh." (Exit right). And Liz Wager asks if anybody has studied why life seems to speed up as you get older.
World leaders met in Rome earlier this month to discuss coordinated international action to tackle the food price crisis currently causing widespread hunger and social unrest. Olivier De Schutter, the UN’s new special rapporteur on the right to food, spoke to the BMJ about the current food crisis and what should be done about it. Listen to the podcast.
Yes, says Arthur Matas. Payment for living kidney donation is illegal in most countries. Changing the law to allow payment would help to shorten waiting times, he believes. No, argues Jeremy Chapman, who says that such a step would reduce supply of all organs. Also:
In this national household survey of more than 10
What can you learn from this BMJ paper? Read Leanne Tite's Paper+