{"id":3588,"date":"2010-08-20T11:00:19","date_gmt":"2010-08-20T10:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/?p=3588"},"modified":"2010-08-27T12:39:22","modified_gmt":"2010-08-27T11:39:22","slug":"us-highlights-20-august-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2010\/08\/20\/us-highlights-20-august-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"US highlights – 20 August 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FionaThe BMJ<\/em> has a new policy of asking authors of eligible research articles to pay a publication fee.\u00a0 It only applies when the funder has already pledged to pay for open access publication and when authors can claim from their funder, the BMJ<\/em> fee, in full, for that specific piece of research.<\/p>\n

The move does not affect the journal\u2019s publication policy. All submitted research will continue to be judged entirely on its importance, originality, quality, and relevance, and all research will remain openly accessible, regardless of whether a fee has been paid for its publication.<\/p>\n

Trish Groves and I explain more in an editorial<\/a>, and Trish talks through the policy in this week\u2019s podcast, out on Friday August 20.<\/p>\n

Finally, BMJ Group is set to launch a new open access peer reviewed research journal, BMJ Open, in September. You can follow developments by reading managing editor Richard Sands’ blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best wishes,
\nFiona Godlee, editor in chief BMJ<\/em><\/p>\n

Latest research:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus<\/a>
\nAccording to this systematic review and meta-analysis, eating more green leafy vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Patrice Carter and colleagues believe that fruit and vegetables can prevent chronic diseases because of their antioxidant content. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach may also act to reduce type 2 diabetes risk due to their high magnesium content. The authors argue that \u201cour results support the evidence that \u2018foods\u2019 rather than isolated components such as antioxidants are beneficial for health \u2026 results from several supplement trials have produced disappointing results for prevention of disease.\u201d Editorialists Jim Mann and Dagfinn Aune<\/a> are cautious about the results, given the limited number of studies.<\/p>\n

Latest from the BMJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contemporary castration: why the modern day eunuch remains invisible<\/a>
\nRichard J Wassersug from Nova Scotia, and Tucker Liebermann from Boston, Massachusetts, say that, \u201cEveryone should be aware that a multitude of men are either chemically or surgically castrated for a variety of reasons in contemporary Western society.\u201d They estimate that in North America, as many as 600 000 patients with prostate cancer are coping with the effects of medical emasculation. \u201cUntil doctors, scholars, and researchers are forthright with their language, the emasculated will remain invisible. This invisibility, in turn, castrates the study of emasculation,\u201d they conclude.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Circumcision: divided we fall
\n<\/a>\u201cOpinion on routine circumcision for boys is already divided across the world, but recent research is sparking fresh debate. The American Academy of Pediatrics is assessing the mass of evidence that has become available since it took the position, in 1999, that although there may be “potential medical benefits . . . these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision.” The academy plans to publish its updated position later this year amid growing pressure from both sides of the debate,\u201d reports Sophie Arie.<\/p>\n

Quick links \u2013 a selection of recent news stories
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