Educational bits from the BMJ
In addition to papers, lots of educational articles are published every week in the BMJ. Here are some useful ones that you might have missed. These articles are free on bmj.com, and to access them click on the links in the education section at studentbmj.com. Or you can search by citation on bmj.com
Editorials
Persistent atrial fibrillation: rate control or rhythm control?
Discusses data from five randomised trials and suggests that rate control is a good initial strategy for most patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
(BMJ 2003;326:1411-2)click here
Managing agitation and aggression after head injury
Head injuries are often associated with agitation and aggression, but the editorial discusses a recent finding that drugs are probably not the best option to treat these, and instead promotes early rehabilitation. (BMJ 2003;327:4-5)click here
The metabolic syndrome
A new look at the clinically important and common conditions of obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, and hypertension. (BMJ 2003;327:61-2)click here
Clinical reviews
American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) and the role of molecular epidemiology in guiding control strategies
Pathology bonus points! Good description of an infection that has widespread consequences in Latin America and also a good example of the application of epidemiology in relation to transmission cycles. (BMJ 2003;326:
1444-8)click here
Viral lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children.
A useful overview of the epidemiology, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention of these infections. (BMJ 2003;327:36-40)click here
Preventing fractures in elderly people
Fractures in elderly people are a major public health issue and this wonderfully clear overview describes factors contributing to fracture, interventions to prevent fracture, and the various treatments. (BMJ 2003;327:89-95)click here
.Cirrhosis: new research provides a basis for rational and targeted treatments.
Another really useful review (with pictures!) of fibrosis, its pathogenesis, and potential treatments. (BMJ 2003;327:143-147)click here
ABC of interventional cardiology
Hopefully you're all familiar with the easy to use ABC guides.The topics covered in this series all relate to interventional cardiology and are worth checking out if you're getting your head around cardiology at the moment.
You can read these and all of the previous articles in the series at bmj.com
- Percutaneous coronary intervention: cardiogenic shock (BMJ 2003;326:1450-2)click here
- Interventional pharmacotherapy (BMJ 2003;327:43-6)click here
- Non-coronary percutaneous intervention (BMJ 2003;327:97-100)click here
- New developments in percutaneous coronary intervention (BMJ 2003;327:150-3)click here
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