WEMJ Volume 115 No.1 - March 2016

Introduction

Eight articles in this issue ranging from Ankylosing Spondylitis to Zika Virus.

WEMJ 115 No1. March 2016 Article 1

Role of cross-sectional imaging in management of occult spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis – literature update and a pictorial review. William W Loughborough, MBChB (Hons),  Sanjay Gandhi,

This pictorial review highlights the importance of having a high index of suspicion when dealing with suspected spinal injury in patients with a history of ankylosing spondylitis. We also include a review of relevant current literature, which emphasises the importance of cross-sectional imaging particularly CT scan to manage such patients. This concise article also includes practical case illustrations.

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No1. March 2016 Article 2

Edith and Florence Stoney, X-ray pioneers, Bristol Medico-Historical Society, Proceedings, Francis Duck. Presented to the Bristol Medico-Historical Society16.6.2014

Edith and Florence Stoney both demonstrated high organizational skills in challenging circumstances. They showed considerable bravery and resourcefulness in the face of extreme danger, and imagination in contributing to clinical care under the most difficult conditions of war. In the history of early years of radiology and of medical physics, Edith and Florence Stoney stand out as two of the most able pioneers.

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No1. March 2016 Article 3

The Early Use of Neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Bristol. Peter Dunn.

The outcome of treating their first 20 severe RDS babies using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was duly reported in the June issue of the New England Journal of Medicine in 1971. As soon as I got back to Bristol I asked my lecturer, John Thearle, to request the Medical Physics Department in Bristol to help us to set up our own apparatus for administering CPAP.

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No 1. March 2016 Article 4

The Rise and Fall of Childbed Fever. Peter M. Dunn

Childbed fever is one of the oldest diseases known to man.  It strikes women within hours or days of giving birth and has therefore been also called puerperal fever, or more recently puerperal sepsis.  No disease, except perhaps for rickets, has had a greater impact on childbirth or on the fear with which it came to be regarded.  I intend to trace the course of this disease over a period of 2½ thousand years using the observations and contributions of twelve doctors and one nurse as stepping stones in the rise and subsequent fall of this scourge of reproduction.

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No 1. March 2016 Article 5

The Case for Intravenous Prophylactic Antibiotic Treatment. Antonia Northam

This case study describes the challenges of treatment strategies for a 63-year-old lady with a 38-year-history of bronchiectasis

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No 1. March 2016 Article 6

The Junior Doctors’ Dispute 1975. Paul Goddard

The doctors’ disputes broke the career of Barbara Castle and Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister, not the angry red queen. Industrial action served to show the serious intent of the doctors and the fact that we still looked after emergencies kept the public on our side. The media were iimportant in creating pressure on the Government and the LSE were very helpful behind the scenes. There are interesting similarities with the present junior doctors' dispute.

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No 1. March 2016 Article 7

Editorial: Viruses in the News: Little and Large. Paul R Goddard, Judy Holt

The association between microcephaly and Zika virus is in the news constantly and Brazil is the worst affected country. So what is the Zika virus, what does it do and how is it transmitted?

Download the full article


WEMJ 115 No 1. March 2016 Article 8

Obituary: Rev. Dr. G.D. Teague. Paul Main, Joy Main.

 Download the full article


Welcome to the West of England Medical Journal. This is the online journal of the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Society. The journal was formerly known as the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Journal and was first published in 1883.

This is a general medical journal and is available for everybody to read online. To access the issue please click on the link in the column to the left of this introduction.

Please see the Instruction for Authors if you wish to submit an article or send a letter.

View details of the WEMJ Editoral Board