Top ten most read in July: re-analysis of the STAR*D antidepressant study and combination drug therapy among US adult users of CNS stimulants

Only one new entry made its way into our top ten most read articles in July—Pigott et al’s re-analysis of patient-level data from the STAR*D study, which reached seventh place in the top ten despite its publication towards the end of the month. STAR*D re-analysis The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study was […]

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Childhood trauma may heighten subsequent risk of pregnancy complications

Pregnancy-related diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, low birthweight/premature babies more likely Childhood trauma, such as abuse, emotional neglect, and exposure to domestic violence, may heighten a woman’s subsequent risk of pregnancy complications, and of giving birth to a low birthweight or premature baby, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the […]

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Mid-life structural jawbone changes may signal women’s subsequent height loss

Dentists likely to spot these on x-ray, and should tell doctors about them, say researchers  Mid-life structural changes to the jawbone may signal subsequent height loss in women, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. Dentists, who are likely to spot these on mouth x-rays during routine check-ups, should collaborate with patients’ doctors […]

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Top ten most read in June: Impact of fatigue in long COVID; hydroxychloroquine as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19; development of a rurality index for healthcare research and a new patient decision aid for Achilles tendon rupture management.

  June saw four new articles enter into the top ten most read, including the number one spot.  The impact of fatigue in long COVID Our most read article of June reports the results of a study evaluating the characteristics and symptoms of treatment-seeking in patients with ‘long COVID’ (Walker et al.). The impact of […]

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Top ten most read in May: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis; global burden of inflammatory bowel disease; associations between autistic traits and early ear and upper respiratory signs

The month of May includes some long-standing top ten entries, as well as some newcomers with a diverse range of topics.  Environmental toxicants and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis Published this month, a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016 by Beidelschies et al. has quickly jumped to the top spot. […]

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Bhopal explosion may have heightened risk of disability and cancer among future generations

And it may have curbed educational attainment and prompted fall in proportion of male births Disaster likely affected people across a substantially more extensive area than previously thought  The Bhopal gas explosion in 1984—one of India’s worst industrial disasters—may have heightened the risk of disability and cancer in later life among future generations, curbed their educational […]

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Top ten most read in April: Atypical pathogens in patients with severe pneumonia; menu calorie counts; and need to clamp indwelling urinary catheters before removal

Welcome to our ‘Most Read’ blog where we highlight the articles that have resonated the most with our readers. This month we have several new entries spanning a diverse array of topics, from mental health to respiratory health to health economics.  Atypical pathogens in patients with severe pneumonia In order to understand the prevalence of […]

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons strongly linked to raised rheumatoid arthritis risk

These environmental toxicants seem to mediate most of smoking’s effects on risk The amount of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH for short, is strongly linked to a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. These chemicals, formed from the burning of coal, oil, gas, […]

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Doctors more extroverted, but also more neurotic and less open than patients: study

Character trait differences might have clinical implications for doctor–patient relationships Doctors are more extroverted, agreeable, and conscientious, but also more neurotic and less open than their patients, finds an analysis of responses to two nationally representative Australian surveys, published online in the open access journal BMJ Open. These character trait differences might have clinical implications for […]

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Common ear, nose, and throat issues in pre-schoolers may be linked to later autism risk

Early identification and treatment of these conditions may improve their quality of life Young children with common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues may be at subsequent risk of autism or high levels of demonstrable autism traits, suggests research published online in the open access journal BMJ Open. Early identification and treatment of ENT conditions may […]

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