Diagnosis

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children worldwide, accounting for 35-40% of hospital admissions for gastroenteritis - currently located behind a paywall. Your institution may have access through Athens/Elservier or similar.  

Objectives To review, summarise, and compare the evidence for effectiveness of screening sigmoidoscopy and screening colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer occurrence and deaths.  

Few healthcare issues have generated as much controversy as prostate specific antigen (PSA) based screening for prostate cancer.1 2 Enthusiasm for such screening is high in part because a seemingly simple blood test can lead to early detection and treatment of a common and potentially lethal disease. Screening has resulted in a noticeable increase in incidence of prostate cancer and near universal active treatment for screen detected disease. However, recent science shows that screening for prostate cancer, as with all screening strategies, is a complex process and double-edged sword. This provides the background for the linked paper by Carlsson and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.g2296).3 Though some men may benefit from screening, many more are harmed by testing and the cascade of diagnostic and treatment related events that follow. Further, men and society bear the financial costs of this screening cascade.  

Objectives To review, summarise, and compare the evidence for effectiveness of screening sigmoidoscopy and screening colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer occurrence and deaths.  

In a commentary an oncologist from New York said that enough evidence had now accumulated from observational studies to recommend aspirin to patients with new diagnoses of stage III colon cancer.2  

Periodontitis is the most common chronic inflammatory disease seen in humans, affecting nearly half of adults in the United Kingdom and 60% of those over 65 years.1 It is a major public health problem, causing tooth loss, disability, masticatory dysfunction, and poor nutritional status.2 Periodontitis also compromises speech, reduces quality of life,3 and is an escalating burden to the healthcare economy. In the UK alone it was estimated to cost £2.8bn (€3.4bn; $4.6bn) in 2008,4 not including raised all cause mortality, an association that has been noted in several populations.5 Worryingly, the disease is often silent, being present for decades before diagnosis and treatment. It can leave a substantial pathological footprint on multiple organ systems, as well as the oral cavity.  

Few healthcare issues have generated as much controversy as prostate specific antigen (PSA) based screening for prostate cancer.1 2 Enthusiasm for such screening is high in part because a seemingly simple blood test can lead to early detection and treatment of a common and potentially lethal disease. Screening has resulted in a noticeable increase in incidence of prostate cancer and near universal active treatment for screen detected disease. However, recent science shows that screening for prostate cancer, as with all screening strategies, is a complex process and double-edged sword. This provides the background for the linked paper by Carlsson and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.g2296).3 Though some men may benefit from screening, many more are harmed by testing and the cascade of diagnostic and treatment related events that follow. Further, men and society bear the financial costs of this screening cascade.  

Periodontitis is the most common chronic inflammatory disease seen in humans, affecting nearly half of adults in the United Kingdom and 60% of those over 65 years.1 It is a major public health problem, causing tooth loss, disability, masticatory dysfunction, and poor nutritional status.2 Periodontitis also compromises speech, reduces quality of life,3 and is an escalating burden to the healthcare economy. In the UK alone it was estimated to cost £2.8bn (€3.4bn; $4.6bn) in 2008,4 not including raised all cause mortality, an association that has been noted in several populations.5 Worryingly, the disease is often silent, being present for decades before diagnosis and treatment. It can leave a substantial pathological footprint on multiple organ systems, as well as the oral cavity.  

Objectives To review, summarise, and compare the evidence for effectiveness of screening sigmoidoscopy and screening colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer occurrence and deaths.  

In a commentary an oncologist from New York said that enough evidence had now accumulated from observational studies to recommend aspirin to patients with new diagnoses of stage III colon cancer.2  

In 85% of patients, the diagnosis comes from the history; blood tests, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging are important for classification and risk prediction  

Objective To compare the performance of two new approaches to risk adjustment that are free of the influence of observational intensity with methods that depend on diagnoses listed in administrative databases.  

Parminder Sangha believes her positive attitude helped her overcome a brain tumour that could have killed her.  

Half of patients who are given a diagnosis of cancer today will survive at least 10 years, whereas only a quarter would have done so 40 years ago, show figures published today by Cancer Research UK.  

Stream Solving the case, making the diagnosis: Neurology and detective writing by BMJ talk medicine from desktop or your mobile device  

Stream Solving the case, making the diagnosis: Neurology and detective writing by BMJ talk medicine from desktop or your mobile device  

The medical world can be a confusing place. Patients and their families might feel overwhelmed by the large vocabularies and complicated explanations they get from their health care providers. Students entering health care also struggle to grasp the complexity of health sciences, and are forced to memorize huge amounts of information. We hope to make understanding the medical world a bit easier. Look around! These videos do not provide medical advice and are for informational purposes only. The videos are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any Khan Academy video.  

A review of the EKG diagnosis of atrioventricular block, including discussion of the 3 different degrees of block, including the 3 different types of 2nd deg...