Variations in neurodegenerative disease across the UK: findings from the national study of Progressive Intellectual and Neurological Deterioration (PIND).

Aims: To identify any UK children with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and obtain information about the causes of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration (PIND) and the geographical distribution of cases.

Methods: The PIND Study uses the monthly surveillance card that is sent to all UK paediatricians by the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit. Case details are obtained from the reporting paediatricians by telephone interview, site visit, or self completion of a questionnaire.

SARS: UK public health response--past, present and future.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China, the occurrence of epidemics of SARS in China and a number of Southeast Asian countries, and its spread to countries elsewhere, have presented major challenges to public health systems throughout the world. Although very few true cases of SARS were detected in the United Kingdom, the public health response to the threat of SARS was considerable. The main components of this response were the early detection, isolation and reporting of cases, and the provision of comprehensive information to health professionals, cases, their contacts and the public.

Mutations in a novel gene, NHS, cause the pleiotropic effects of Nance-Horan syndrome, including severe congenital cataract, dental anomalies, and mental retardation.

Nance-Horan syndrome (NHS) is an X-linked disorder characterized by congenital cataracts, dental anomalies, dysmorphic features, and, in some cases, mental retardation. NHS has been mapped to a 1.3-Mb interval on Xp22.

Roles and functions of a European Union Public Health Centre for Communicable Diseases and other threats to health.

An international consensus has been reached that a European Union (EU) Technical Coordination Structure (TCS) for communicable diseases is needed to improve Europe s future response to international communicable disease threats within and beyond its boundaries. After the American events of September 11 2001 and the deliberate releases of anthrax, the EU created a Health Security Committee, adopted a civil protection decision, and established for 18 months a team to develop responses for deliberate releases of biological and chemical agents. These two initiatives, the network s approach and health security work, must converge into a single stream addressing health protection for the people of Europe.

Serum profile of isosorbide mononitrate after vaginal administration in the third trimester.

Vaginally administered nitric oxide donors such as isosorbide mononitrate have been used to ripen the uterine cervix in pregnancy. The pharmacokinetics of isosorbide mononitrate following vaginal administration are unknown. Serum levels of isosorbide mononitrate were determined at baseline and 60, 180 and 360 minutes after vaginal administration of 20 or 40 mg isosorbide mononitrate to pregnant women scheduled for induction of labour at term.

Health protection--a strategy and a national agency.

The Chief Medical Officer for England has published a strategy for health protection and announced the formation of a new body, the Health Protection Agency, to deal with the threats to health from infectious disease, chemicals, toxins and radiation hazards. This reflects international recognition of the need to combat threats to health from the likes of tuberculosis, HIV, influenza, anti-microbial resistance, chemical accidents and bio-terrorism, and the risks to health associated with increased movements of people, animals and goods, climate change and industrialisation. The strategy will strengthen surveillance and response linking contributions from clinical specialities with public health, microbiology, toxicology and radiation science within the health protection family.

Impact of infections on primary care--greater than expected.

Though infection has declined as a cause of death it consumes a major proportion of primary care resources, and because of antibiotic resistance is increasingly important. We examined the burden of illness attributable to infection in primary care by analysing data from the fourth practice-based national morbidity survey which monitored all consultations by diagnosis in 470,000 persons over a 12 month period from September 1991 to August 1992. Rates of persons consulting, new episodes of illness and consultations were calculated according to the list of infections published by Wilson and Bhopal (W&B list), and as amended by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC list); selected comparisons were made with national data on hospital derived finished consultant episodes and deaths.

Effect of omeprazole-induced achlorhydria on trefoil peptide expression in the rat stomach.

Background: Omeprazole is an inhibitor of the H+K+ ATPase of the gastric parietal cell, which is used clinically to suppress gastric acid secretion. It has also been found to inhibit gastric mucin production; however, its effects on the synthesis and secretion of the trefoil peptides, which are also expressed by mucus cells, and which play a key role in cytoprotection and epithelial repair, are unknown.

Methods: Rats (n=8) were given either omeprazole (30 mg/kg per day; p.

Biliary epithelial trefoil peptide expression is increased in biliary diseases.

Aims: Maintenance of the cellular integrity of the biliary epithelium may involve the production of mucins and mucin-associated peptides. In the luminal gastrointestinal tract, mucins and the mucin-associated trefoil peptides (TFF) are integral to cytoprotection and cellular repair of the mucosa.

Methods And Results: Samples of normal and diseased human liver tissue were examined using histological and immunohistochemical techniques, for the expression of TFF and mucins.

Deliberate releases of biological agents: initial lessons for Europe from events in the United States.

The experience of autumn 2001, when anthrax spores were released in the postal system, had considerable consequences in the United States and in Europe. The threat of covert deliberate releases against civilians has become a reality. In Europe, despite the growing number of criminal hoaxes, no cases of anthrax linked to deliberate releases have been reported, and the only contaminated letters were addressed to American embassies abroad.

Simplified antiviral prophylaxis with or and without artificial feeding to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in low and middle income countries: modelling positive and negative impact on child survival.

Background: Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended for HIV positive mothers to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. To date UNAIDS and WHO policy has been based on a study in Thailand which showed a reduction in transmission by half with short course AZT (Zidovudine) treatment together with artificial feeding. We modelled the possible positive and negative effects on child deaths in low and middle resource developing country settings of two interventions to reduce mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV: antenatal testing, short-course antivirals (zidovudine or nevirapine), firstly with and then without artificial feeding.