Glue ear, hearing loss and IQ: an association moderated by the child's home environment.

Background: Glue ear or otitis media with effusion (OME) is common in children and may be associated with hearing loss (HL). For most children it has no long lasting effects on cognitive development but it is unclear whether there are subgroups at higher risk of sequelae.

Objectives: To examine the association between a score comprising the number of times a child had OME and HL (OME/HL score) in the first four/five years of life and IQ at age 4 and 8.

A survey of sexual health services in UK prisons.

Sexual health services in prisons are provided without recognized national standards or commissioning guidance and surveillance data are incomplete. This original survey provides essential information on key elements of services in a large sample of UK prisons that will inform planning, development and monitoring of such services in an era of scarce NHS resources.

Availability of services for subjects of sexual assault in genitourinary medicine clinics.

The aim of this study is to gain an understanding of the services available to subjects of sexual assault at genitourinary medicine (GU medicine) clinics throughout the United Kingdom, and to determine whether these services are adequate. By means of a questionnaire, consultants in 106 clinics provided information on the number of patients who reported sexual assault and the services available to them. The study found a marked regional variation in attendances by subjects of sexual assault.

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study of cryotherapy versus cryotherapy and podophyllotoxin cream as treatment for external anogenital warts.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with cryotherapy and podophyllotoxin 0.15% cream versus cryotherapy alone in the treatment of anogenital warts.

Methods: A randomised, double-blind, multicentre controlled trial.

Papular acantholytic dyskeratosis presenting as genital warts.

A 24-year-old woman presented with genital warts which did not respond to treatment. Biopsy confirmed changes in keeping with a diagnosis of Darier's disease. The patient, however, had no other manifestations of Darier's disease, i.

The syphilis outbreak in Northern Ireland.

Since the late 1990s, there has been a resurgence of infectious syphilis, with notable outbreaks in Brighton, Manchester, London and Dublin, predominantly among men who have sex with men (MSM). We report a similar outbreak in Northern Ireland. Genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic attendees were assessed from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2005 to identify those who met the agreed criteria for primary, secondary or early latent syphilis.

Contraceptive provision in genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK.

The objective of this study was to assess current and future contraceptive provision in genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires were sent to 18 British Co-Operative Clinical Group regional representatives for distribution to clinical leads. Of 185 clinics, 124 (67%) responded.

How normalised is HIV care in the UK? A survey of current practice and opinion.

Objectives: The prognosis for individuals infected with HIV has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, with patients living longer and requiring other specialist services. It is apparent that access of other healthcare professionals to clinical information about a patient's HIV care differs between centres in the UK. Lack of awareness of an individual's HIV status may compromise their clinical care.

Mentoring in genitourinary medicine.

Mentoring is a process whereby one doctor (the mentor) facilitates and encourages another doctor (the mentee) to develop their career, in light of their own priorities. Mentees benefit from time dedicated to addressing their needs, challenging the status quo, and exploring ways to change. Mentoring schemes depend on the availability and enthusiasm of suitably trained mentors, as well as the voluntary participation of mentees.

Survey of prioritizing/triaging of appointments in genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK: a British Co-operative Clinical Group survey.

A questionnaire was circulated to all lead genitourinary (GU) medicine physicians in the UK in November 2003 to obtain data on access, waiting times and triaging. Of the 143 responders, 92.3% departments had limited access to some or all GU medicine clinics.

Grommets in otitis media with effusion: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Aims: To identify subgroups of children with otitis media with effusion (OME) that might benefit more than others from treatment with ventilation tubes.

Methods: An individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis on seven randomised controlled trials (n = 1234 children in all), focusing on interactions between treatment and baseline characteristics--hearing level (HL), history of acute otitis media, common colds, attending day-care, gender, age, socioeconomic status, siblings, season, passive smoking, and history of breast feeding. Outcome measures that could be studied were mean time spent with effusion (n = 557), mean hearing levels (n = 557 in studies that randomised children, and n = 180 in studies that randomised ears), and language development (n = 381).

Methods employed by genitourinary medicine clinics in the United Kingdom to diagnose bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: To determine the methods used by genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Methods: A questionnaire survey of UK GUM clinics was conducted.

Results: 148/221 (67%) clinics returned a questionnaire.

Genitourinary medicine/HIV services for persons with insecure immigration or seeking asylum in the United Kingdom: a British Co-operative Clinical Group survey.

Over the past three years many genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics have anecdotally reported large numbers of persons with insecure immigration or seeking asylum (PIISA) attending their facilities. We conducted a national survey to assess the prevalence and demographic background of PIISA who were attending GUM clinics in the UK during 2001 and 2002 and the effect on service provision. A questionnaire was circulated in April 2003 to 182 consultants in the UK of whom 128 (70%) responded.

Critical appraisal of commonly used treatment for genital warts.

Genital warts are one of the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. A variety of treatment options are available but few have been assessed in large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Provider-applied surgical and non-surgical treatments have traditionally been the therapies of choice.

Patient assessment of anogenital warts and the success of treatment with home applied therapy.

Home treatment with podophyllotoxin or imiquimod are commonly prescribed therapies for anogenital warts. It is important to ascertain if patients are locating all lesions for treatment and if they know when they are clear of them. We set out to assess patients' ability to determine the number and location of their genital warts and compare their observation with that of their examining doctor or nurse.