Lancet Digest May 17-23
Plenty of variety in this week’s issue. In november this year the united states will elect a new president to succeed George W Bush. And while the battle for the democratic candidate continues, what of the health policies of the republican candidatde senator John McCain?In this week’s World report Todd Zwillik outlines the McCain health plan, and he also discusses it in this week’s Lancet podcast.
Also in World Report this week:
Alice Springs faces epidemic of stab injuries. Last year, researchers reported that Alice Springs had the highest known incidence of stab injuries in the world and that these attacks were only the tip of the iceberg of the violence in Aboriginal communities. Stephen Pincock visited the small town in central Australia to investigate……
Czechs open up about mental-health problems. Mental health is coming out from under the shadows in the Czech Republic, with more people now seeking professional help. But, despite this positive step, psychiatric care in the country is largely lagging in the past, with too much emphasis on hospitalisation. Katka Krosnar reports……
In research…
Phoenix I and Phoenix II highlight how the monoclonal antibody ustekinumab could be an effective treatment option for psoriasis. Ustekinumab has an immunomodulatory effect on interleukin 12 and interleukin 23 synthesis. Authors of a linked Comment state: “Not only does ustekinumab compare favourably to the best available therapies for psoriasis, the maintenance of response between injections every three months also provides a more convenient regimen than those currently available.”
Less good news for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining. A research Article concludes that the addition of chemotherapy to active symptom control has no benefit on mortality or quality of life.
In Correspondence, a letter from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine calling for the promotion of healthy urban transport policies, such as walking and cycling, which would help reduce both world oil demand and global food insecurity-not only through less car use overall, but by reducing the excess demands on food and car use from the obese part of the population.
Also Look out for editorials on world hepatitis day taking place on may 19, modernising medical careers in the UK, and the need for more human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines.
Two seminars this week, both on cancer: head and neck cancer, and prostate cancer.
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