Minerva

Denture cream clearly has its uses—but beware the rare cases in which the zinc it contains is absorbed excessively. Although rare, copper deficiency myeloneuropathy in association with hyperzincaemia has been attributed to chronic use of denture creams containing zinc. Some patients show signs of zinc overload with raised concentrations in urine, but normal levels in plasma, and this state can last years after they stop using the cream. Although misuse of denture cream is a possible cause, other factors—such as previous gastric surgery, malnutrition, and other malabsorption syndromes—may be at play (Neurology 2009;73:76, doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000349696.89948.b7).

Users of psychiatric services were interviewed about the content and delivery of the undergraduate curriculum in psychiatry, to explore what they thought was important for medical students to learn. The interviewees were clearer about the attitudes they felt that students should convey than about the skills and knowledge that are needed. Those who develop student curriculums need to take the views of service users into account (Psychiatric Bulletin 2009;33:260-4, doi:10.1192/pb.bp.108.020727).

Data from 15 randomised controlled trials and observational studies of total knee replacement …