Mycoplasma pneumoniae in community acquired pneumonias

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is best thought of as a bacterium without a cell wall, a property that has important therapeutic considerations. It is an exclusively human pathogen. As most cases of human infection are either sub clinical or result in a relatively mild infection of the respiratory tract, infections with this organism are much more common in the community than people generally realize.peer-reviewe

Book review: Orbán: Europe's new strongman by Paul Lendvai

In Orbán: Europe's New Strongman, Paul Lendvai examines how, via a 'lightning-speed assault' on its democratic features, Hungary can now be better characterised as an authoritarian system under the rule of Viktor Orbán. Exploring such topics as the deterioration of the country’s rule of law, the end of the separation of powers and mass clientelism, Lendvai succeeds in tracing Hungary’s rapid slide towards authoritarianism in this excellent book, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia

Book review: places in need: the changing geography of poverty by Scott W. Allard

In Places in Need: The Changing Geography of Poverty, Scott W. Allard challenges the impression that the American suburbs offer a hub of prosperity and a safe haven from issues such as unemployment and crime. Demonstrating the alarming growth in suburban poverty across the USA and proposing some policy changes to try and fix the decline, this is a deeply ..

Book review: analysing corruption: an introduction by Dan Hough

In Analysing Corruption: An Introduction, Dan Hough offers a new textbook that particularly underscores the difficulties of defining, measuring and and analysing corruption. While arguing that some of the challenges facing corruption research and policy may be overstated in the book, this is a good wide-ranging introduction to some of the main ideas and evidence driving the study of corruption today, finds Paul Caruana-Galizia

Book review: trading barriers: immigration and the remaking of globalization by Margaret E. Peters

In Trading Barriers: Immigration and the Remaking of Globalization, Margaret E. Peters explores how freer international trade has led to more restrictive immigration policies around the world. While questioning some elements of its structure and style, Paul Caruana-Galizia nonetheless welcomes this as a timely and well-researched study that offers valuable insight into the trade-offs between free trade and immigration. Trading Barriers: Immigration ..

Book review: the violence of austerity edited by Vickie Cooper and David Whyte

In The Violence of Austerity, editors Vickie Cooper and David Whyte bring together contributors to explore the negative impact of austerity upon citizens in the UK, covering such topics as health, education, homelessness, disability and the environment. This is a powerful description of the consequences of austerity policies for the UK’s most vulnerable people, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia, and should be read widely. The Violence of Austerity. Vickie Cooper and David Whyte (eds). Pluto Press. 201

Book review: Orbán: Europe’s new strongman by Paul Lendvai

In Orbán: Europe’s New Strongman, Paul Lendvai examines how, via a ‘lightning-speed assault’ on its democratic features, Hungary can now be better characterised as an authoritarian system under the rule of Viktor Orbán. Exploring such topics as the deterioration of the country’s rule of law, the end of the separation of powers and mass clientelism, Lendvai succeeds in tracing Hungary’s rapid slide towards authoritarianism in this excellent book, writes Paul Caruana-Galizia

Corruption, Reform and the Euro

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Most policymakers and academics predicted that the European monetary union would lead to economic and institutional modernizaon in its least productive members – Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. In fact, apart from Ireland, these countries became even more corrupt and their governments even less effective. This paper suggests an explanation that links the reluctance of peripheral countries to reform with the increase in their corruption levels. It also argues that their societies were stuck in a collective action problem: individuals have understood that corruption is antithetical to institutional quality and reform, but, as they cannot trust each other to refrain from corrupt practices, they stand to lose individually from not being corrupt themselves. Monetary union was seen as an external authority that would resolve this problem. Yet weak EU and eurozone monitoring and sanctioning discouraged the formation of social norms while making it attractive for formerly non-corrupt actors to engage in corruption, given the low risk of being caught. Survey evidence supports growth in perceptions of corruption and bribery, along with the weakening of social trust, trust in the police and in politicians across the periphery after the euro’s introduction.Peer Reviewe

Concordance with the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) 2010 recommendations on eligibility criteria for the first biologic agent

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess concordance with the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) 2010 recommendations on the use of biologic therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS 28), a composite numerical score is included in these recommendations to assess disease activity and response to treatment. Methods: Clinical notes of fifty patients who were commenced on biologic treatment between March 2010 and June 2011 were reviewed for documentation of DAS 28 scores at baseline, after approximately 6 months of commencement of treatment and at approximately 6 monthly intervals during treatment. Results: Twenty two patients were eligible for this audit. Of these patients only half had a DAS 28 score performed prior to starting treatment, four patients had the score performed within 3-9 months of commencement of therapy and only 2 patients had continuous scores performed at six monthly intervals during treatment. Conclusions: This audit shows that we are not adhering to the BSR recommendations. In order to improve our adherence we plan to train all staff in contact with patients on biologic treatment to perform DAS 28 scores and have a DAS 28 calculator readily available at out patients. A proforma is being developed for patients on biologic therapy to ensure that DAS 28 scores are performed at baseline and during treatment.peer-reviewe

Coexistence of Takayasu Arteritis and Crohn’s Disease in a Maltese patient

Takayasu arteritis (TA) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are uncommon chronic granulomatous disorders affecting the large arteries and the gastrointestinal tract, respectively. At least 40 occurrences of these two conditions in the same patient have been reported in the literature, raising the possibility of an association between them. We report the coexistence of TA and CD in a young Maltese patient and review the literature to discuss possible aetiological mechanisms that might explain this association.peer-reviewe