Should we rationalise our practice structure to maximise overall economic efficiency?

Should our focus on inflammation change the way we practice?

Some scientists say, "Forget about bacteria; treat, or even better yet, prevent inflammation." We understand that periodontal diseases originate as bacterial assaults, but some two-thirds of the destruction comes from the inflammatory response to the bacterial invasion. There is growing evidence that inflammation can be transferred from the oral cavity to other parts of the body (and vice versa...

Pain management in our daily practice: should we re-evaluate?

Treatment strategies of back pain are variable. We describe an unusual case of polyuria and erectile dysfunction with a short-term tramadol use. A 29-year-old man presented to our clinic with worsening lower back pain. After poor control of his pain on Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tramadol was prescribed. After 3 days of starting tramadol, he experienced significant polyuria and erect...

Should we start debating medical ethics in our daily practice?

To the Editor: In response to Dr EA Elkhammas editorial In December 2006 of ljm [1], I remembered an incident that happened to one of our colleagues several years ago. My friend was practicing in Libya when he saw a non Libyan patient who is in need for dialysis. This patient was living in Libya with her married daughter for many years. My friend declined to accept this patient in his chronic d...

should we simply rely on international guidelines in our clinical practice?

Efaproxiral: should we hold our breath?

Suh et al breathe a bit of new life into two long-standing endeavors with their report in this issue of a phase III study of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and efaproxiral (RSR13), a hemoglobin modifier meant to increase tissue oxygenation. For decades, radiation oncologists have sought to enhance tumor control and patient survival by addressing the problem of hypoxia and, separately, to impro...