The BMJ: Leading Medical Research, News, Education, Opinion
WEBLebanon: Israeli attack endangers a healthcare system reliant on Hezbollah. With 3.5 million people in need, a doctor exodus, and some regions served by the very military group that Israel seeks to rout, Lebanon’s healthcare system is in crisis. Sally Howard reports. News. ∙ Lebanon’s health system struggles as dozens of clinics close ...
Management of pneumonia in critically ill patients | The BMJ
WEBSevere pneumonia is associated with high mortality (short and long term), as well as pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications. Appropriate diagnosis and early initiation of adequate antimicrobial treatment for severe pneumonia are crucial in improving survival among critically ill patients. Identifying the underlying causative pathogen is also critical for antimicrobial stewardship. However ...
Gout: diagnosis and management—summary of NICE guidance
WEBAug 30, 2022 · Measure the serum urate level in people with symptoms and signs of gout to confirm the clinical diagnosis (serum urate level ≥360 μmol/L (6 mg/dL)). If serum urate level is <360 μmol/L during a flare and gout is strongly suspected, repeat the serum urate level measurement at least two weeks after the flare has settled.
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - The BMJ
WEBDec 30, 2021 · Overall prevalence is estimated to be 2-4% in the general population, and increases with age. 1 Because of under-detection, the true prevalence is unknown. In prospective cohort studies, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among individuals aged 75-76 ranges between 12.3% and 14.3%, 2 3 and increases to 17.8% in those aged 85 and older 4.
Strengthening the basics: public health responses to prevent the …
WEBNov 29, 2021 · Victoria Haldane and colleagues argue that to make covid-19 the last pandemic, public health responses to outbreaks must be strengthened, starting with their most basic functions The covid-19 pandemic has challenged countries to mount and sustain comprehensive public health responses that identify and control an emerging infectious hazard. These challenges have persisted into 2021 and likely ...
Acute vertigo: getting the diagnosis right | The BMJ
WEBAug 12, 2022 · Acute vertigo is the most common symptom of posterior circulation stroke (47%), and isolated vertigo, nausea, and unsteadiness can be the sole presenting symptoms, making it hard to differentiate from a benign inner ear disorder: one of the reasons that these strokes are often missed.14 In many posterior circulation strokes there will be associated neurological signs, such as an occipital ...
Vitamin B12 - The BMJ
WEBNov 20, 2023 · ### What you need to know Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water soluble vitamin required for several physiological processes, including normal nervous system functioning, and red blood cell development and maturation. It has antioxidant effects, is a co-factor in mitochondrial energy metabolism, and contributes to DNA synthesis, the methylation cycle, and epigenetic regulation.12 B12 is present ...
Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorders | The BMJ
WEBApr 12, 2023 · Bipolar disorders (BDs) are recurrent and sometimes chronic disorders of mood that affect around 2% of the world’s population and encompass a spectrum between severe elevated and excitable mood states (mania) to the dysphoria, low energy, and despondency of depressive episodes. The illness commonly starts in young adults and is a leading cause of disability and premature mortality.
Covid-19: Two rare vaccine side effects detected in large ... - The BMJ
WEBFeb 26, 2024 · The largest vaccine safety study to date has identified two new, but very rare, side effects associated with covid-19 vaccines—transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The Global Vaccine Data Network cohort study included 99 million vaccinated people from 10 sites across eight countries. Researchers compared the observed with expected rate for 13 neurological, blood, and ...
Virology, transmission, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 - The BMJ
WEBOct 23, 2020 · SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped β-coronavirus, with a genetic sequence very similar to SARS-CoV-1 (80%) and bat coronavirus RaTG13 (96.2%). 2 The viral envelope is coated by spike (S) glycoprotein, envelope (E), and membrane (M) proteins (fig 1). Host cell binding and entry are mediated by the S protein. The first step in infection is virus binding ...