Adult separation anxiety disorder: The human-animal bond.

Background: The introduction of an adult onset Separation Anxiety Disorder in the DSM-V recognises that separation anxiety can occur at any stage across the lifespan. In this paper, we examine whether adult separation anxiety, which is known to occur when people are apart from other people close to them, can also develop when people are separated from animal companions. The social and individual psychological correlates of this reported phenomenon are examined.

Neutralising the meat paradox: Cognitive dissonance, gender, and eating animals.

Meat eating is a common behaviour, despite many people claiming to like, love, and care about animals. The apparent disconnection between not wanting animals to suffer, yet killing them for food, has been termed the 'meat paradox.' In this experimental study (N = 460), participants completed pre-affect, post-affect, meat attachment, and attitude towards animals questionnaires, under two conditions: exposure to the life of an Australian meat lamb, and information about the nutritional benefits of meat.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis--a persistent enteroviral infection?

Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a common disability but frequently misinterpreted. Amongst 6,000 patients referred for general microbiological diagnosis between 1975 and 1987, 420 cases were recognized. Coxsackie B neutralization tests, in 205 of these, demonstrated significant titres in 103/205 (50%), while of 124 additionally investigated for enteroviral IgM, 38/124 (31%) were positive.

The toxic shock syndrome in burned children.

Seven cases of presumed Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), occurred in burned children admitted to the Regional Burn Unit at St Andrew's Hospital, Billericay. Four patients died, and three caused concern. 30 per cent of Staphylococcus aureus isolates available for retrospective study were found to be toxin producing.

Analysis of an outbreak of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: strategies for typing 'non-typable' strains.

Thirteen newborn babies were studied during an outbreak of scalded skin syndrome. Staphylococci isolated from seven babies were non-typable using the international set of typing phages; the remainder were of phage group II. In only one instance was there transmission of phage group II strains other than within families.

Outbreak of idiopathic erysipelas in a psychiatric hospital.

In an outbreak of idiopathic erysipelas ten women patients, aged 42-74, in a long-stay unit of a psychiatric hospital were simultaneously affected. Group A streptococci M-type 1 were isolated from two isolated from two patients with erysipelas and 18 carriers, but subsequent serological tests for type-specific antibody, antistreptolysin O, and anti-deoxyribonuclease B showed that the infection had been widespread in the unit. Treatment with ampicillin proved ineffective and to prevent relapse it was substituted by a standard course of intramuscular penicillin.