Research

Influence of GP opening hours on delay in seeking medical attention after TIA and minor stroke

The opening hours of general practices influence patients’ healthcare seeking behaviour after transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke and can delay their assessment, according to a British study. The reasons why patients delay seeking medical help need to be better understood, says an accompanying editorial. (Picture credit:Simon Fraser/Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust/SPL)

News

Study links developmental problems in children to use of antibiotics by some mothers during preterm labour

Researchers have emphasised the importance of long term follow-up of clinical trials after finding that giving antibiotics to some women in preterm labour raises the risk of cerebral palsy and mild functional problems in their children.
Other news published on 19 September:

• Germany's plans to reduce use of tobacco and alcohol provoke protests from industry and local politicians
• Law might change to protect people who have computed tomography
• Doctors should be alert for virulent community acquired Staphylococcus aureus infection

News

Doctors must do more to identify child abuse, Dutch association says

The Dutch Medical Association is urging its members to speak out if they suspect child abuse. Between 100 000 and 170 000 cases, resulting in at least 50 deaths, are believed to occur in the Netherlands each year. But only about 2% of reports in 2007 originated from doctors. Watch inline video: interview with Peter Holland, the president of the Dutch Medical Association.

Comment

Meeting the challenge of antibiotic resistance

The growing phenomenon of bacterial resistance, caused by the overuse of antibiotics and the simultaneous decline in research and development of new medicines, is now threatening to take us back to a pre-antibiotic era, warn Otto Cars and colleagues. (Picture credit:James King-Holmes/SPL)

Education

Endgames

This week's instalment of our new weekly educational clinical quiz is now live. Compiled from peer reviewed contributions from readers, it covers clinical medicine and statistics. There's also a prize quiz, pulled from the BMJ's sister product OnExamination.
This week's Endgames articles:

• Statistical question: t tests
• Prize quiz: The placenta
• Case report: Breathless beyond obvious
• Picture quiz: Breast imaging

Comment

New ways of thinking about autism

Ian McClure's review of two books about autism explores why the condition seems to be becoming more common and why popular Western culture is apparently obsessed with it. Both books address the fundamental question of what it means to be human, he adds.
More comment published on 17 September:

• Medicine and the Media: Picture imperfect
• Medical Classics: Hall of Mirrors
• Bruna Carnevale: I think I’m worth it, why doesn’t NICE?
• Christopher Martyn: Diagnosis by machine
• Theodore Dalrymple: A pinch of salts
• Des Spence: Medicine - a victim of fashion?
• Kinesh Patel: Publish and be damned
• Robert Mayer: Because I’m worth it

Education

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Since its discovery in 1984, H pylori has been recognised as a major cause of several upper gastrointestinal diseases. This clinical review looks at different treatment regimens. (Picture credit: BSIP VEM/SPL)
Other clinical review articles published on 15 September:

• Investigating dyspepsia