WEMJ Volume 110 No. 2 - March 2011
West of England Medical Journal (online) ISSN 2050-8530
Editorial
The second edition of the e-journal of the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society includes an excellent article by Professor Angus Dalgleish on therapeutic vaccines for HIV and AIDS. Several major breakthroughs have recently been made in this field and Prof. Dalgleish was at the forefront in this work.
There are major problems in the NHS and few people would deny this. Your editor looks at the development of these problems, discusses the causation and possible answers.
Professor Nutt gave a fascinating lecture to the society in February of this year. William Barnes gives a report on the meeting.
General Practitioners will know that medical and surgical intervention are not the answer to all problems.
Dr. Martin Hime has provided a fascinating case report showing how Bowls helped one of his patients and may help people generally.
Prof. Paul Goddard Editor-in-chief
Publisher's Note
While the advice and information in this e-journal is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors, the editors, the publisher or the Society can accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained in the e-journal. In particular it should be noted that archive materials from the previously published journals are historic documents and should not be used as a guide for treatment of any condition. Diagnostic methods and treatment have changed considerably over the period of publication of the journal and are not an indicator of present methods.
1) Therapeutic Vaccines for HIV and Cancer: The Long Fox Memorial Lecture
WEMJ Volume 110, Number 2, Article 1, March 2011
Presented to the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Society at Bristol University 10.11.2010
Professor Angus Dalgleish, Professor of Oncology, St George’s Hospital,
University of London
Abstract:
A classical vaccine approach to HIV vaccination has been elusive for many reasons. However, the fact that chimps and about 5% of humans who become infected do not progress to AIDS has raised the question of a vaccine to prevent disease progression and not necessarily infection. Targeting the bits of the virus that stimulate the disease process is theoretically possible and a vaccine along these lines is under preparation for clinical trials. Therapeutic vaccines are also used in cancer and the first one "provenge" has just been approved by the FDA for use in advanced prostate cancer. Many more are in development. Recent research suggests that certain drugs can enhance the effect of vaccines and the most impressive candidates for this are the thalidomide derived IMiDS such as Revlimid(Lenolidomide) and Pomalidomid.
Keywords: HIV, therapeutic vaccine, C5gp120, Graft versus host disease, cancer vaccines for prostate, lung, melanoma, Immunomodulatory drugs, Revlimid/lenalidomide, Pomalidomide.
2. What Went Wrong with the NHS? Examining Myths and Legends of State Medicine
Presidential Address to the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society October 2010
Professor Paul R Goddard WEMJ Volume 110, Number 2, Article 2, March 2011
Abstract:
Any discourse on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is liable to be bogged down in misconceptions unless the accompanying myths and legends are first examined. The article reviews the history of the NHS and examines where things went wrong.
Keywords: NHS, National Health Service, State Medicine, History, Management, Medicine, Politics
3. Meeting Report: Professor David Nutt
WEMJ Volume 110, Number 2, Article 3, March 2011
Reviewed by William Barnes (Abstract)
David’s lecture, “Science and non-science in drug policy”, filled the theatre with medical professionals, medical students, representatives of scientific bodies and a few guests like me. David presented an irrefutable evidence based technical argument that alcohol and tobacco cause death more reliably than “harmful substances”, including cannabis, ecstasy and heroin.
4. Bowls: Martin Hime
WEMJ Volume 110, Number 2, Article 4, March 2011
Bowls is an accessible sport. It involves physical activity. You need to develop considerable coordination skills, and having physical disabilities such as arthritis is absolutely no bar to playing. Remarkably, bowling by partially sighted and blind people is very popular. Possibly the most important aspect is that it is very sociable.
5. From the Archives
WEMJ Volume 110, Number 2, Article 5, March 2011
A few fascinating advertisements reproduced from the Bristol Medico Chirurgical Journal 1883