Description

The Editorial Board and I have been very pleased to receive the positive and encouraging feedback that the first issue of CPD Rheumatology stimulated. There has clearly been a requirement for such a Journal in Rheumatology. I am delighted to announce that we are moving from strength to strength and CPD Rheumatology has now been selected for abstracting in Embase and Excerpta Medica from the year 2000 and future articles will be cited on these databases. In addition, later in 2000, CPD Rheumatology will be published on the Internet, as well as conventionally. This will provide an opportunity for the circulation to increase and allow the Journal to become truly international.

In this second issue, we continue to present articles from a broad base, from basic science to practical clinical issues. The problems associated with septic arthritis and the disturbing lack of good evidence-base to direct treatment are discussed by Jones and Weston. Maddison presents a scholarly review of the perplexing issue of mixed connective tissue disease. Pridgeon and Moots discuss simple principles underlying T cell involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, Grassi et al review the use of ultrasound in imaging musculoskeletal lesions. The latter represents an exciting application of an established technique to rheumatological diseases that may reach general usage sooner than we expect.

If you are considering attempting the MCQ’s at the end of the Journal but, like me, are a little concerned about the results – you will be comforted to learn that many have overcome their fears and successfully gained CME credits from the Royal College of Physicians by completing the MCQ’s in the first issue.

Finally, we continue to invite your comments about this Journal. We aim to keep the standard as high as possible. However it is essential that CPD Rheumatology meets your needs, to be informed and kept up to date, in a specialty that is, in my opinion, perhaps the most rapidly advancing and challenging of all medical specialties.