Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Given the number of effective treatments for type II diabetes, which have good evidence about safety and efficacy, should any new drugs for the condition be subject to a higher regulatory bar? In this podcast, Huseyin Naci from the London School of Economics, John Yudkin from Univerity College London, and Ben Goldacre from the University of Oxford, explain why they believe the current process is inadequate, and suggest some ways in which it could be improved. Read the full analysis article: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5260

The current orthodoxy is that home is the best and preferred place of death for most people, but in this podcast, Kristian Pollock a sociologist from Nottingham University questions these assumptions and calls for greater attention to improving the experience of dying in hospital and elsewhere. Read the full analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4855

The “correct” rates of discretional interventions are difficult to define. However, David Hamilton and Colin Howie point out that discrepancies in usage of knee arthroscopy within the UK suggest the organisation of the care pathway may be an important determinant Read their full analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4720

With improved survival and and ageing population, the number of people living with coronary heart disease in the UK has increased to an estimated 2.3 million. There is increasing evidence that cardiac rehabilitation benefits these patients, and as such it has been included in international clinical guidelines. To discuss cardiac rehabilitation in this podcast, we're joined by Hasnain Dalal, a GP and honorary clinical associate professor at the University of Exeter Medical School, Rod Taylor, academic lead for Exeter Clinical Trials Support Network and NIHR senior investigator, and Jenny Wingham, a senior clinical researcher in cardiac rehabilitation. Read the full clinical review online: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5000 Listen to our podcast with a patient who's been through cardiac rehabilitation: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/cardiac-rehab-patient

With improved survival and and ageing population, the number of people living with coronary heart disease in the UK has increased to an estimated 2.3 million. There is increasing evidence that cardiac rehabilitation benefits these patients, and as such it has been included in international clinical guidelines. ​In this podcast, we're joined by Kevin Paul, who explains what it's like to receive cardiac rehabilitation, and what doctors should be aware of when they recommend it to patients. Read the full clinical review online: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5000

They have a big impact on the diet of American citizens, and those of most Western nations, so why does the expert advice underpinning US government dietary guidelines not take account of all the relevant scientific evidence asks Nina Teicholz. Read the full investigation: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4962

Discussing the global risk of Dengue fever, the changing epidemiology, and the alarming number of cases in children under 5. Professor Kularatne shares insights on symptoms that should prompt a Dengue fever diagnosis, along with early detection methods and treatment strategies.

Pleural effusions are common, with an estimated 1-1.5 million new cases in the United States and 200 000-250 000 in the United Kingdom each year. Rahul Bhatnagar, academic clinical lecturer at the University of Bristol, describes how pleural effusions may be investigated and treated in the community and secondary care, with a particular focus on the emerging phenomenon of ambulatory management. We're also joined by Ron who boasts that he could have filled his car twice over, with the fluid drained over the two years he had a catheter in situ. Read the full clinical review: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4520

Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer in women world wide, and 5 year survival continues to remain low - in the UK this has been attributed to delayed diagnosis. In this podcast Sophie Cook is joined today by two women who have had, and been treated for, ovarian cancer. Adele and Rosemary describe their experience, and what they think doctors should know about what patients are feeling. Read the full clinical review: www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4443 Listen to the podcast on diagnosing ovarian cancer: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/diagnosing-ovarian-cancer

Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer in women world wide, and 5 year survival continues to remain low - in the UK this has been attributed to delayed diagnosis. In this podcast Sudha Sundar, senior lecturer in gynaecological oncology at the University of Birmingham, discusses how doctors can identify women at risk, and who to refer for specialist evaluation. Read the full clinical review: http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4443 Find out what patients are experiencing: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/being-diagnosed-with-ovarian-cancer