Medicine and Science from The BMJ

New antiepileptics and the drop in MI deaths

Mabel Chew talks to epileptologists Martin Brodie from the Western Infirmary Glasgow and Patrick Kwan from the University of Melbourne, about the newer drug treatments for the condition. Also, Kate Smolina from Oxford University's Department of Public Health explains what constitutes the drop in deaths from acute myocardial infarction.

Healthcare and corruption in Uttar Pradesh

The Indian government has invested £1.2bn to kick start rural healthcare in its most populous northern state, Uttar Pradesh. Much of that money has now disappeared, and the programme is blighted by corruption and murder. Harriet Vickers hears the details. Also this week, the UK's Department for International Development has to make decisions on sometimes scant evidence. We find out how DFID is trying to improve research into aid programmes.

Cannabis in cars

Journalist Karen McColl interviews Wendell Potter, US health industry lobbying guru turned critic. Mark Ashbridge, an associate professor at Dalhousie University, explains how cannabis intoxication is an increasingly important factor in motor vehicle collisions.

Menopause, HRT, and cancer

This week we look at older women's health, Gita Mishra from the School of Population Health, University of Queensland, explains the trajectories of perimenopausal symptoms. Martha Hickey, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne, and Jane Elliott a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide, give Mabel Chew practical tips on prescribing HRT. Finally Steinar Tretli, research director of the Cancer Registry of Norway, explains the results of their research into how HRT and mammography combine to increase apparent rates of breast cancer.

After the health bill - what next?

With the future of the Health and Social Care bill more certain, how will the health service react to the legislative changes? At this year's Nuffield Trust Health Policy Summit, the BMJ's editor Fiona Godlee hosted a round table to discuss this question.Taking part were:David Bennett, Chairman and CEO, MonitorPaul Corrigan, Management consultant, SouthsidePenny Dash, McKinseysNigel Edwards, Kings FundClare Gerada, RCGPGareth Goodier, CEO, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, CambridgeAlastair McLellan, Editor, Health Services JournalJames Morrow, GP, Sawston, CambridgeJudith Smith, Nuffield TrustSimon Stevens, CEO, Global Health, United Health Group, USAHelen Thomas, Medical Director, Sentinel Commissioning, PlymouthFor more from the summit, and to watch some of the keynote speeches, go to the Nuffield Trust site.

Tackling NCDs in developing countries

Dan Chisholm, a health economist with the World Health Organisation talks to Harriet Vickers about a cluster of articles which examines the more cost effective way to tackle non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia.

Elective ventilation and the future of medical professionalism

Is elective ventilation an acceptable way to increase organs available for transplant? Duncan Jarvies discusses the ethics with Dominic Wilkinson (associate professor of neonatal medicine and bioethics, and consultant neonatologist, at the University of Adelaide).And Harriet Vickers talks to Iona Heath (president of the Royal College of General Practitioners) and David Haslam (president of the British Medical Association) about how the NHS reforms fundamentally threaten medical professionalism.

Neurodegenerative disease and cancer, and peer led parenting

A new peer led parenting group is having success in South London, we visit a session to find out why. Also Jane Driver, an associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, explains how Alzheimer's disease and cancer maybe opposite sides of the same coin.

Emergency contraception, and stopping smoking

Indhu Prabakar, a subspecialty registrar in sexual and reproductive health at Abacus Services for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in Liverpool, goes through the options for emergency contraception. Tim Coleman, a professor of primary care at the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Nottingham, explains his research on methods to help smokers quit.

SSRIs in dementia, and exposure to a rash in pregnancy

Eithne MacMahon, consultant and honorary senior lecturer at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, explains how to test and treat a pregnant woman exposed to a child with a rash. Sverre Bergh, a researcher at the Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research, Sanderud Hospital in Norway, discusses the results of his research into stopping SSRIs in dementia patients in Norway.