From the Editor
Welcome to the first issue of 2016. As always, it is difficult to choose what to highlight in the current issue.
In the last few months, Zika, a ‘new’ disease, has seized the attention of both the medical and lay press. Brett-Major and Roth offer a timely review of Zika, not such a new disease.
Soiza and Shields provide an excellent example of why Clinical Opinions are among the most popular sections of the journal. They provide a critical appraisal of the recently published SPRINT trial reporting on the benefits of intensive blood pressure control, and suggest a pragmatic response to this paper.
Also in the Clinical section we introduce a new type of paper: Images in Medicine. Myint and colleagues present an unusual case of petechial haemorrhage.
The Education section includes an important paper about whether food or soda taxes could improve health.
In the History and Humanities section, Riddoch and colleagues tell a fascinating family history story of a lady who survived a traumatic spinal injury. There is also a major paper by Boes on Osler and Gowers, two giants of late 19th and early 20th century medicine.
Finally, I would like to thank our reviewers for 2015 (listed online with this issue). The JRCPE relies on colleagues who volunteer their time and expertise to review submissions. As I am sure our authors will attest, our reviewers provide thoughtful and timely reports.
Martyn Bracewell
Editor
