C M G Buttery

This month the American Academy of Family Physicians, College of Physicians, Academy of Pediatrics and the Osteopathic Association delivered a joint statement on the value of a Patient Centered Medical Home in an effort to raise the consciousness of the public in having a single point of care rather than choosing the yellow pages for [...]

In this week’s BMJ, a report on a preventive intervention in parents of preschool children at risk of developing conduct disorder. The study shows that effective community level prevention is possible using regular service staff if they are properly trained in an evidence based program. Conduct disorder is a major health and social problem. It [...]

In this week’s BMJ [BMJ 2007;334:662-663 (31 March)] A fascinating review of development of a British Genetic Database and discussion of the pros and cons of such data bases from both epidemiologic and privacy view points. Well worth reading

In this week’s BMJ is a report [BMJ 2007;334:646 (31 March)] on a preventive intervention in parents of preschool children at risk of developing conduct disorder. While an early report it shows promise and is worth following. The study shows that effective community level prevention is possible using regular service staff if they are properly [...]

From Sheffield University in the UK and Baylor University in the USA; scientists have discovered that a component of green tea called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, prevents HIV from binding to our immune system cells by getting there first. Once EGCG has bound to our immune system cells there is no room for HIV to [...]

Those interested in the history of health & disease should take a look at “In Sickness and in Health“: from the Unversity of Nottingham in the UK. An Historical Perspective on Medical Matters — illustrates both scientific progress, such as Jenner’s development of inoculation as a preventative for smallpox, and the private experience of individuals [...]

How many more times will it be necessary to reinforce the benefits of breast feeding? Now in the Lancet, March 31st issue, we find that breast feeding, without supplements, is protective against the development of HIV infection in newborns of HIV positive mothers.

Travellers continue to import rare diseases. The MMWR reports 12 imported cases of Chikungunya fever in the March 30 edition. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquitoborne alphavirus indigenous to tropical Africa and Asia, where it causes endemic and epidemic chikungunya (CHIK) fever, an acute illness characterized by fever, arthralgias, and sometimes arthritis, commonly accompanied by [...]

Easter will be here shortly and some families will buy chicks and baby rabbits for their children. In today’s [March 30] MMWR the lead feature concerns Salmonella outbreaks among people in contact with baby birds. Ths is preventable and purchases of small animals for Easter should be forgone

From this week’s NEJM [Volume 356:1338-1343 March 29, 2007 Number 13] is a recommendation for that a single dose of the Zoster vaccine be universally administered to persons over 60, provided there is no contraindication.