News

Study finds that cancer survival rates are low in many poor nations

Cancer patients in poorer nations have much lower survival rates after diagnosis than those in richer nations, says a global study published in Lancet Oncology. The researchers attribute the stark gap to weak, or in some instances non-existent, treatment and diagnostic services, and emphasise the need for urgent investments in oncology health services, especially in sub-Saharan African countries.
More news published on 29 December:

• Sedentary lifestyle could be masking serious health problems in children

Comment

Round table: The Diet Delusion

Few topics are more widely discussed than what we should eat to stay healthy, says David Colquhoun, and there are few topics where the evidence is so lacking in quality. He reviews journalist Gary Taubes's book The Diet Delusion and finds that it is more complete and more scholarly than most professional scientists could manage. Round table is an occasional column focusing on a current book, film, or television programme that BMJ readers might wish to discuss in our doctors' community doc2doc.
More comment articles published on 23 December:

• Half of all doctors are worse than average
• A Malawian child meets an English surgeon

Education

Management of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the commonest sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, and its prevalence increases with age. Consequently, the public health burden associated with atrial fibrillation is increasing. The therapeutics of atrial fibrillation is evolving, as Carmelo Lafuente-Lafuente and colleagues explain in this clinical review.

Research

Health and disease in 85 year olds

According to this paper, this large cohort of 85 year olds showed good levels of both self rated health and functional ability despite significant levels of disease and impairment. Hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, depression, and dementia may be underdiagnosed. Notable differences were found between the sexes: women outnumbered men and had more disease and disability. The accompanying editorial says that understanding the genetic and modifiable underpinnings of how some people deal with disease better than others should be a priority.
Other recent research articles:

• The association between BMI and mortality using offspring BMI as an indicator of own BMI
• Screening for postnatal depression in primary care: cost effectiveness analysis

Charity Christmas appeal 2009

Please help support the work of Médecins Sans Frontières

For the second year running the BMJ is proud to be launching a joint Christmas fundraising appeal with the charity Médecins Sans Frontières. Last year, the joint BMJ/MSF Christmas appeal raised around £15 000 to support MSF's work overseas. MSF is not accepting funding from any government but chooses to rely solely on such private donations-not only to fund its work, but also to maintain its neutrality and to guarantee access to people in need of medical care in places where often no one else is willing or able to go. You can donate online here.