Highlights

In vitro fertilization

Medicare should cover in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, say Bouzayen and Eggertson. The refusal by most provincial governments to pay for the treatment of infertility is driving higher rates of multiple births. See Editorial, page 243

Education to help children breathe easier

Small-group, interactive education sessions reduced the number of visits to emergency departments by children with asthma, report Watson and colleagues. Their program improved the management of asthma, reduced prescriptions for oral corticosteroids and led to fewer days off work for primary caregivers. See Research, page 257

Education in a small-group format gives children with asthma and their families the opportunity to ask about specific concerns and share their experiences, says Cates. See Commentary, page 248

Hip and spine fractures and mortality

People with hip or vertebral fractures are at greater risk of death than those without such fractures, say Ioannidis and colleagues. This is the finding of a 5-year prospective observational cohort study involving randomly selected participants from among non-institutionalized Canadians aged 50 and over. The strength of the associations was strong, with most hazard ratios being about 3. See Research, page 265

Hip and vertebral fractures need to be treated as the life-threatening conditions they are, say Ashe and Khan. See Commentary, page 247

Hereditary colorectal cancers

Targeted surveillance may help reduce the risk of death from hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes, say Lynch and colleagues. They use the Lynch syndrome as an example to describe the management of hereditary colorectal cancer. See Review, page 273

Recession and health

The current economic crisis offers an opportunity for rich countries to rethink the social purpose of their economies, says Bezruchka. See Analysis, page 281

Crusted Norwegian scabies

Immunosuppressed patients and elderly people are at increased risk for the highly contagious and frequently misdiagnosed crusted Norwegian scabies. See Clinical images, page 289