• The UK government’s responsibility deal with the alcohol industry promises to remove a billion units of alcohol (about 2% of consumption) from the market, through reducing the strength of […]
The BMJ today
The BMJ Today: History lessons
• In 1938 New Zealand created a national health system, coining the term “from cradle to grave,” and showing the British government what was possible. More recently, the country repealed […]
The BMJ Today: An ancient enemy, School-EduSalt, and “low value care”
TB. An ancient enemy getting stronger • BMJ is supporting the World Health Organization’s End TB strategy by highlighting World TB Day today and offering free access to TB papers and […]
The BMJ Today: Regulator will hunt down apps that harm patients
Action to be taken against apps that harm patients A UK health regulator has issued a warning to makers of mobile medical apps that may harm patients. Speaking at a health […]
The BMJ Today: Alcohol, NSAIDS, and improving end of life care
• Health campaigners have condemned tax breaks on alcohol announced by the UK government. Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, calls this move “thoroughly shameful,” given the […]
The BMJ Today: Are you worried about your cardiovascular risk?
• Sudden cardiac death is the main cause of medical death in athletes. Despite the fact that many cases of sudden cardiac death in athletes aged less than 35 are […]
The BMJ Today: Statins in pregnancy, sexual health in Pakistan, and mammography screening
Statins in pregnancy Bateman and co-workers report a well designed epidemiological study on statins in early pregnancy. Their analysis did not find a significant teratogenic effect from maternal use of […]
The BMJ Today: Prescribing on sparse evidence, homeopathy, and research methodology
How to prescribe when the evidence is lacking • Several observational studies have shown associations between using drugs with anticholinergic side effects—such as loperamide, loratadine, baclofen, amitriptyline, oxybutynin, or chlorphenamine—and […]
The BMJ Today: Treatments for inflammatory diseases
A combination of old drugs is not inferior to biologics for rheumatoid arthritis • Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are safe and effective therapies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis resistant to […]
BMJ Today: Reassurance on varenicline, caring (or not) for NHS staff, and more holiday for emergency doctors
Good news for quitters A research paper in The BMJ today “is the most comprehensive published review to date of the neuropsychiatric safety of varenicline.” It was necessary, say the […]