Differential involvement of the senses in disgust memories.

One prediction derived from the disease avoidance account of disgust is that proximal disgust cues (smells, tastes and touches) should elicit this emotion more intensely than distal disgust cues (sights and sounds). If correct, then memories of disgusting experiences should involve smelling, tasting or touching to a greater degree than seeing or hearing. Two surveys were conducted on university students to test this idea, drawing upon their naturalistic experiences.

Delirium screening in intensive care: A life saving opportunity.

Background: Delirium is described as 'acute brain failure' and constitutes a medical emergency which presents a hazard for people cared for in intensive care units. The Scottish intensive care society audit group recommend that all people cared for in intensive care units be screened for signs of delirium so that treatment and management of complications can be implemented at an early stage.

Clinical Implication: There is inconsistent evidence about when and how the assessment of delirium is carried out by nursing staff in the intensive care setting.

Survey of bilingualism in autism spectrum disorders.

This survey study investigates issues related to bilingualism and autism. Bilingualism is common around the world but there is little published information to guide professionals and parents in making decisions about bilingualism for children with autism. Participants were 49 parents or guardians of children with autism who were members of a bilingual family; 75% were raising their child with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to be bilingual or multilingual.

Container contamination as a possible source of a diarrhoea outbreak in Abou Shouk camp, Darfur province, Sudan.

Diarrhoea is one of the five major causes of death in an emergency setting and one of the three main causes of death in children (Curtis and Cairncross, 2003). In June 2004, an outbreak of shigellosis was confirmed in Abou Shouk camp in the Northern Darfur province of Sudan. As water testing showed no contamination, it was assumed that post-collection contamination was happening.

Hydration monitoring in the prevention of recurrent idiopathic urinary tract infections in pre-menopausal women.

Objective: To assess whether the use of simple hydration monitoring can encourage adequate hydration and reduce urinary osmolality and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a population of susceptible pre-menopausal women with recurrent idiopathic urinary infections.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 28 pre-menopausal women who had at least two idiopathic UTIs in the previous 6 months. Urinary osmolality was assessed by the patients at each void by a simple hand-held probe, and the readings over 4 months compared.

The significance of abdominal straining in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Objective: To determine the relationship between the symptom of straining to void, the presence of objectively demonstrated abdominal straining and bladder outflow obstruction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and to assess the effect of straining on flow rate in these men.

Patients And Methods: The presence of straining to void as a symptom was determined from a symptom questionnaire in 61 men presenting with LUTS. Objective evidence of straining to void was assessed by rectal pressure measurement and the presence of bladder outflow obstruction was determined by pressure-flow studies.