Hello and welcome to episode 34.

This episode again returns to the topic of Covid 19 but this time with a different perspective: the genetic aspects that determine the of risk of developing disease and its subsequent severity. The article presented is from Nature, the prestigious science journal.

A section of the introduction is read along with the abstract to give a taster of a complex and technical subject, but with enough to impart some key messages.

The link to the article is in the text.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03767-x

Hello and welcome to episode 33.

This week’s episode is based on an educational article that appears in the BMJ . It provides an insight into the interpretation of lateral flow tests used in COVID-19 detection. However, additionally it provides a useful overview of how to assess test results by considering test function, the epidemiology of the disease as well as the limitation of so called ‘gold standard’ tests.

The article provides a useful diagram which helps to explain the concept of pre-test and post-test probability and how the latter is derived from knowledge of test sensitivity and specificity, plus how a post-test probability is used and informs the necessary next steps.

Certain parts of the article are read which you can follow in the text which is available on the BMJ website. The link to the article is in the notes.

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1411

Hello and welcome to episode 32.

This week’s episode is somewhat briefer than usual as I've just come back from my holidays.

The article chosen this week is shorter but still of interest to listen to and to read. It comments on the United States’ FDA decision regarding the approval in a specific way of a new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease and touches on the use of interim outcome measures to indicate effectiveness and how to press forward with treatments for conditions that otherwise have limited care options.

The article is published by The Lancet and the link is included in the notes for you to access.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01455-0/fulltext

Hello and welcome to episode 31

This week’s article is taken from the Lancet journal and provides evidence regarding screening for ovarian cancer. It is important and interesting to note that this trial actually shows negative results. There is a recognised tendency for negative results not to be published leading to bias in the production of clinical evidence.

The link the article is shown in the text and is freely available to download.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00731-5/fulltext

Hello and welcome to episode 30

This episode presents the personal views of a GP working in the UK regarding the working style and potential ways of improving working methods for the future. It is a short and more lighthearted episode than usual but equally an important way to consider how general practice works and could work differently.

The link to the article is included in the notes and is freely available to read.

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1496

Hello and welcome to episode 29.

The dermatological effects of mask wearing have increased as a result of the Covid pandemic with the increased use of protection by healthcare workers and others.

This podcast is based on an article from the BMJ which is openly accessible. There is a lot of detail regarding the skin conditions that can develop or be exacerbated by mask wearing. Additionally, the article includes a useful diagram to aid diagnosis of skin conditions, taking into account the distribution on the face of the dermatosis and the other areas of the body affected.

Some of the passages are read and you will be able to follow the written word at the same time as listening. The link to the text is below.

Hello and welcome to episode 28.

This week's chosen article has American focus but some of the messages I think can be applied universally.

The article published in the New England Journal of Medicine considers the use of financial incentives to increase vaccination rates for the current Covid-19 pandemic. However the ideas are applicable to other areas of health improvement and so the concepts are worth noting.

Parts of the article are read and the full article is available on the NEJM website to allow you read while you listen and if you wish read further for fuller details.

The link to the article is in the notes.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2107719?query=featured_home

Hello and welcome to episode 27.

This week's topic is taken from an open source BMJ article on the commonly considered subject of the use of night sedation medication to help people with sleep.

I cannot give exact data but sleep disturbance in a common problem to deal with in primary care and one that has a significant impact on people and their quality of life. As such, there is often a pressure to use medication to help sleep, although it is well recognised that these medications have an addictive quality and so short-term use is usually recommended. However, these medications may be initiated for all the best intentions but some people use them in the longer term possibly with little benefit. The following article considers the long-term use of medication and the possible benefits, or not, for sleep quality.

The introduction and abstract are read for your listening practice and the full article is openly available and the link is included in the notes below.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/5/e045074

Hello and welcome to episode 26 and a special welcome to those who have started listening recently.

This week’s subject is taken from an editorial that appears in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the role of ‘grommets’ or tympanostomy tubes in the management of recurrent acute otitis media in children. The article references a study published in the same edition which reports a randomised controlled trial comparing the insertion of grommets with medical treatment for recurrent infections.

However the experience in the trial is a demonstration of the difficulties of producing valuable results and providing clinical evidence when there is significant crossover within the two arms of the trial. As a result of the crossover the effects of the intervention are diluted and the ‘intention-to-treat’ analysis shows a non-significant effect.

Most sections of the editorial are read for you to listen and the links to both articles are shown in the notes.

Additionally, I would be very grateful if you would visit the website of the podcast and leave a comment on the blog entry to indicate where you are listening from and say what, if any, your connection is with healthcare. Thanks and keep well.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2104952?query=recirc_curatedRelated_article

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027278?_ga=2.209131026.1410344250.1621347011-502440880.1621347011

Hello and welcome to episode 25 The  subject matter this time is miscarriage a common event for a lot of women. The subject article is an editorial published in the Lancet which is based upon a series of three articles published in the same edition.These articles provide information on the epidemiology and the physical and … Continue reading Miscarriage →