Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Bias and peer review are of universal importance to all those that produce scholarly work. Fiona Godlee and Rob Tarr, editors in chief of The BMJ and JNIS respectively, share their insights and experience on these highly topical issues with Joshua Hirsch. Read the related paper: http://jnis.bmj.com/content/early/2015/04/17/neurintsurg-2015-011781.full

By 2050 an estimated 135 million people worldwide will have dementia. Of all chronic diseases, dementia is one of the most important contributors to dependence and disability. In this part of a 2-part podcast, Sue, who cared for her mother who had dementia, and Louise Robinson, GP and professor of primary care at Newcastle University, join us to discuss what GPs can do to support carers. Listen to part 1 of the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/diagnosis-and-management-of-dementia Read the full clinical review: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h3029

Cervical screening programmes in many countries stop at around the age of 65 and much of the focus is often on younger women. However, comparatively little attention has been given to older women despite the fact that they account for about a fifth of cases each year and half of deaths. In this podcast Susan Sherman, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University, and Esther Moss, consultant gynaecological oncologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, argue that the upper age limit for cervical screening needs revisiting and call for awareness campaigns to target older as well as younger women. Read the full analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2729

By 2050 an estimated 135 million people worldwide will have dementia. However, increasing evidence showing that dementia may be preventable. In this part of a 2-part podcast, Sue, who cared for her mother who had dementia, and Louise Robinson, GP and professor of primary care at Newcastle University, join us to discuss how to diagnose and manage the condition. Listen to part 2 of the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/how-gps-can-help-dementia-carers Read the full clinical review: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h3029

Martin McShane, medical director of long term conditions at NHS England, questions the validity of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and suggests how it should change in the future. Read the related article: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2540

Caesarean delivery can improve maternal and child health, and even save lives. But recent research points to latent risks for chronic disease: children delivered by caesarean have a higher incidence of type diabetes, obesity, and asthma. Jan Blustein, from New York University, joins us to discuss why she and colleage Jainmeng Liu believe this evidence should be examined and taken into account when considering elective caesarean. Read their full analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2410

Information on the effectiveness and safety of healthcare should be valid, precise, up to date, clear, and freely available. Currently none of these criteria are fully satisfied, and Cochrane systematic reviews are not the solution. Ian Roberts, co-director of the clinical trials unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, joins us to describe what the Cochrane Injuries Group is doing to address some of these problems. Read the full analysis article: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2463

In Glaziers and Window Breakers: the Role of the Secretary of State for Health in Their Own Words, published by the Health Foundation, Nicholas Timmins and Edward Davies find out what 10 of our recent health secretaries think the job is about. Read the feature on The BMJ http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2954

The BMJ website is 20 years old this week - the first general medical journal online. Launch editor Tony Delamothe discusses with fellow digital pioneers Richard Smith and John Sack how the internet transformed doctors’ reading habits and the journal’s international reach. David Payne reports www.bmj.com/twenty

The movement to make data from clinical trials widely accessible has achieved enormous success, and it is now time for medical journals to play their part. From 1 July The BMJ will extend its requirements for data sharing to apply to all submitted clinical trials, not just those that test drugs or devices. The BMJ's Elizabeth Loder explains what this means for authors, and how we expect researchers to make their data available. Read the full editorial: http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2373