Spongiform degeneration in mahoganoid mutant mice.

mahoganoid is a mouse coat-color mutation whose pigmentary phenotype and genetic interactions resemble those of Attractin (Atrn). Atrn mutations also cause spongiform neurodegeneration. Here, we show that a null mutation for mahoganoid causes a similar age-dependent neuropathology that includes many features of prion diseases but without accumulation of protease-resistant prion protein.

Chlamydia trachomatis omp1 genotypic diversity and concordance with sexual network data.

Sexual and social network analysis have been proposed as novel sexually transmitted disease control and research tools. Here, the concordance between chlamydia genotype data and a large sexual network constructed from routinely collected contact tracing data was examined. A sexual network was constructed for Manitoba, Canada, from province-wide contact tracing data.

Essence of Care: making a difference.

Essence of Care (DoH 2001) developed from a commitment to explore the benefits of benchmarking in improving the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care (DoH 1999). The NHS Plan (DoH 2000) reinforced the importance of getting the basics right and improving the patient's experience. During the 18 months since the publication of the Essence of Care clinical benchmarks (DoH 2001), it has moved steadily from political rhetoric to clinical reality in the Central South Regional Group (CSRG).

Heterosexual outbreak of infectious syphilis: epidemiological and ethnographic analysis and implications for control.

This study describes the epidemiology and ethnography of an outbreak of infectious syphilis in Vancouver, British Columbia. Between 1996 and 1999, British Columbias's rate of infectious syphilis rose from 0.5 to 3.

Gonorrhoea and chlamydia core groups and sexual networks in Manitoba.

This paper summarises the results of the R0 equation in sexually transmitted infection (STI) repeaters in Manitoba, Canada, in the early 1990s, with both concurrent and more recent descriptions of sexual networks in the same population. The research presented provides empirical network and sex partner data to refine definitions of sexual networks and core groups in phase IV epidemics. New challenges for both practice and research are also discussed.

Essence of care involving nursing students.

In 2001 the Department of Health published The Essence of Care, which aims to improve patient care by identifying and measuring good practice benchmarks. Educators and trainers need to integrate such initiatives into course curricula and develop innovative approaches to enable the contribution of nursing students. This paper describes the initial phase of collaborative work between the University of Southampton's School of Nursing and Midwifery and the local NHS trust which was designed to achieve these aims, including the development of a good practice evaluation tool which students complete at the end of their clinical placements.

Sexual networks and sexually transmitted infections: a tale of two cities.

Research on risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has revealed that they seldom correspond with actual risk of infection. Core groups of people with high-risk behavior who form networks of people linked by sexual contact are essential for STI transmission, but have been overlooked in epidemiological studies. Social network analysis, a subdiscipline of sociology, provides both the methods and analytical techniques to describe and illustrate the effects of sexual networks on STI transmission.

Evaluating psychological debriefing: are we measuring the right outcomes?

The efficacy of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) and psychological debriefing (PD) following potentially traumatising events has recently been challenged after a number of recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) failed to demonstrate that CISD or PD prevents or reduces the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These studies have used measures of PTSD as the principal outcome and have generally not measured comorbid psychopathology, behavioral or social dysfunction. In a recent RCT of group debriefing amongst British soldiers returning from peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, PD had a significant effect in reducing a worrying level of alcohol misuse in the sample.

Sampling individuals with large sexual networks: an evaluation of four approaches.

Background: Methods for accessing large sexual networks are essential for investigating the mechanisms for the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

Goal: Four samples of cases were compared with the total population to determine which identified the largest networks.

Study Design: Individuals with positive test results for chlamydia during a 6-month period were selected from a laboratory database and linked with sex partner information from a notifiable disease registry.

Patterns of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection in sexual networks in Manitoba, Canada.

Background: The use of sexual network analysis has the potential to further our understanding of sexually tranmitted disease (STD) epidemics and contribute to the development of more effective targeted control strategies.

Goal: To use sexual network analysis to study transmission patterns of chlamydia and gonorrhea in Manitoba, Canada.

Study Design: Routinely collected case/contact information gathered by public health nurses was used to construct the sexual network.

Preventing psychological trauma in soldiers: the role of operational stress training and psychological debriefing.

Armed conflict is associated with significant long-term psychiatric morbidity. Interventions to reduce the incidence of psychiatric disorder following psychological trauma may be classified into three categories. Primary prevention includes the selection, preparation and training of individuals likely to be exposed to potentially traumatizing events.

Current diagnostic methods for diisocyanate induced occupational asthma.

Background: Diisocyanates are among the most frequent causes of occupational asthma in industrialized countries. Early diagnosis of diisocyanate asthma followed by prompt termination of chemical exposure can prevent chronic morbidity due to persistent asthma. The accurate diagnosis of diisocyanate asthma requires a systematic approach that combines information obtained from the occupational history, immunologic tests and physiologic studies.

Indigenous mental health care among Gurkha soldiers based in the United Kingdom.

This paper looks at the concept of the indigenous healer and draws on experiences of those closely involved with the progress of one soldier who, after feeling unwell, believed he was destined to become a shaman. Initially treated by Western methods, which failed to resolve his situation, he returned to Nepal to consult with the local traditional healers. He spent six weeks in Nepal and was seen by three different types of local shamans.

Comparative evaluation of chlamydiazyme, PACE 2, and AMP-CT assays for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens.

We conducted a comparative evaluation of the Chlamydiazyme (Abbott Laboratories), PACE 2 (Gen-Probe), and AMP-CT (Gen-Probe) assays for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical samples. Specimens from 787 females were included in the study. The sensitivities of the PACE 2 and Chlamydiazyme assays in comparison to the results of the AMP-CT assay were 79.

Pair-bonding, female aggression and the evolution of lemur societies.

Lemur societies have been described as convergent with those of anthropoids, including Papio-like female-bonded multi-male groups. Recent research, however, shows at least 5 pair-bonded species among the Lemuridae and Indriidae. Three more, Eulemur mongoz, Eulemur fulvus and Varecia variegata, have societies combining aspects of pairing with aspects of troop life.

The dose-related effects of phenylbutazone and a methylprednisolone acetate formulation (Depo-Medrol) on cultured explants of equine carpal articular cartilage.

The dose-related effects of phenylbutazone and Depo-Medrol on chondrocyte viability and chondrocyte-mediated synthesis and depletion of proteoglycans were investigated using cultured explants of equine middle carpal joint articular cartilage. Explants from 12 horses (941 x 3 mm diameter) were cultured for a total of 5 days, which included 3 days' exposure to either phenylbutazone (0, 2, 20, 200 or 2000 micrograms/mL) or Depo-Medrol (0, 20, 200 or 2000 micrograms/mL). For each explant, amino sugar content was used as a measure of proteoglycan content, 35S incorporation as a measure of the rate of proteoglycan synthesis and the number of pyknotic nuclei as a measure of cell death.

Risk factors for infection in women undergoing testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Manitoba, Canada.

Background And Objectives: Despite sharing common modes of transmission, characteristics of individuals infected with Chlamydia trachomatis differ in several respects from those with Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. Further characterization of women at high risk for chlamydial infection is needed to deliver appropriate and effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic care to this population.

Goal Of This Study: The demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of women with laboratory confirmed chlamydia, gonorrhea, or coinfection were compared with those of control women who tested negative for both pathogens.