Here are the topics covered by my selection of this year’s anniversaries, illustrated below: • chemistry (discovery of cadmium, lithium, and selenium; the Law of Mass Action); • infectious diseases […]
Month: January 2017
David Zigmond: Dying with, or from, dementia? An important distinction
Last month BBC Radio 4’s Today programme transmitted more ominous alarms about dementia. The rate of our dying from dementia is rapidly increasing, we are informed. But this is a […]
Xiao Guan on social media based money raising platforms in China
Social media based money raising platforms have gained popularity in China. Many patients and their families use these platforms to raise money to pay for medical care. However, there are problems […]
Collette Isabel Stadler: Childhood and adolescent anxiety and social media
Recently the NSPCC revealed that it had counselled 11,706 young people for anxiety in 2015-2016 via its Childline telephone counselling services—a 35% rise from the previous year. Most shockingly, a child […]
Chris Simms: The Global Risk Report 2016—who listened?
What has the global community learnt from the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risk Report released last January? The evidence suggests it has not learnt enough to prioritize and take […]
Richard Smith: Tales of sustainability I—transforming mental health services in Lambeth
In 2010 adult mental health services in Lambeth in South London were at breaking point, with most acute wards running at over 100% capacity (possible because of overspill into the […]
Tim Cross: Should we screen heavy drinkers for liver disease?
The festive season is behind us and many people’s thoughts are now turning to the new year and New Year’s resolutions, which for many may include an aim to cut […]
Dave deBronkart: Can a compelling graphic lead to better care plans?
This graphic was published last year with little fanfare. Recently it appeared on social media in patient circles, and was immediately met with dozens of shares, comments, tweets, and retweets: • […]
Desmond O’Neill: Singing in the New Year
Little in human nature escapes the scrutiny of scholarship, and New Year resolutions are no exception. We tap into a tradition that dates back to Babylonian times. Their new year […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—3 January 2017
NEJM 22-29 Dec 2016 Vol 375 Co-amoxiclav for OM in under-twos This trial firmly establishes the superiority of a ten day over a five day course of co-amoxiclav for babies […]