Registration of myocardial infarction and stroke in the Kilkenny Health Project: methodology.

A myocardial infarction and stroke register was established in January 1987 as part of the evaluation of the Kilkenny Health Project. This is a community programme which aims to reduce risk factors for coronary heart disease. The register records acute myocardial infarction and stroke in residents of County Kilkenny and of the reference county.

Regular planned respite admissions to a geriatric unit.

A programme of regular planned respite admissions to the geriatric unit in Cork was established in 1984, for dependent elderly being cared for at home. Retrospective analysis of the respite programme sought to establish its bed utilisation, type of patients admitted, factors in their selection process, their outcome and any associated hospital morbidity. Twenty-four patients have used the scheme during the four years since its commencement, with an efficiency of bed utilisation in 1987 of 14 patients occupying a mean of 4.

An outbreak of foodborne botulism associated with contaminated hazelnut yoghurt.

The largest recorded outbreak of foodborne botulism in the United Kingdom occurred in June 1989. A total of 27 patients was affected; one patient died. Twenty-five of the patients had eaten one brand of hazelnut yoghurt in the week before the onset of symptoms.

The Stafford outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

A large outbreak of Legionnaires' disease was associated with Stafford District General Hospital. A total of 68 confirmed cases was treated in hospital and 22 of these patients died. A further 35 patients, 14 of whom were treated at home, were suspected cases of Legionnaires' disease.

Precipitation of hypercalcaemia in sarcoidosis by foreign sun holidays: report of four cases.

Hypercalcaemia after foreign sun holidays in four patients is described. Although only one was a known case, all had sarcoidosis. The pathogenic mechanisms are discussed and the implications of excessive sun exposure for the mode of presentation and the management of sarcoidosis are highlighted.

An outbreak of Salmonella saint-paul infection associated with beansprouts.

In March 1988, there was an outbreak of infection by a strain of Salmonella saint-paul with a distinctive antigenic marker. A total of 143 reports were received between 1 March and 7 June. Preliminary investigations suggested that raw beansprouts were a possible source of infection and a case-control study confirmed the association.

Two outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in Bolton Health District.

In 1988, there were two outbreaks of legionellosis in Bolton Health District. Altogether 37 cases of Legionnaires' disease and 23 cases of non-pneumonic legionellosis were identified. Twenty-five patients with Legionnaires' disease were associated with an engineering plant, 4 with Bolton town centre, and 8 with both the plant and town centre.

A large outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 associated with eggs from overseas.

In February 1989 the largest reported outbreak to date in the United Kingdom of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4) infection occurred following a wedding reception at a hotel. One hundred and seventy-three people met the case definition of illness of whom 118 had the organism isolated from their stools. A further 17 were found to be S.

The tangible cost implications of a hospital outbreak of multiply-resistant Salmonella.

A hospital outbreak of multiply-resistant Salmonella heidelberg infection, which affected 17 patients and 2 staff, is described. The tangible cost of the outbreak was estimated at 21 pounds 151, 17 pounds 989 (85.1%) of which was borne by the hospital.

Legionnaires' disease and the sick-building syndrome.

In October 1985, six cases of legionnaires' disease were associated with a police headquarters building. Four were amongst staff who worked in or visited the communications wing of the headquarters and two cases occurred in the local community. A case-control study implicated the operations room of the communications wing as the main area associated with infection.

A national outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium DT 124 caused by contaminated salami sticks.

An outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium DT 124 infection which affected 101 people in England in December 1987 and January 1988 was detected through surveillance of laboratory reports from medical microbiology laboratories of the NHS and PHLS. Within 1 week of noting the increase in reports, epidemiological and microbiological investigations identified a small German salami stick as the vehicle of infection and the product was withdrawn from sale. The epidemiological investigation highlighted the occurrence of a long incubation period, bloody diarrhoea.

Case-control study of infections with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in England.

Objective: To determine the source of indigenous sporadic infection with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4.

Design: Case-control study of primary sporadic cases identified by the Public Health Laboratory Service between 1 August and 30 September 1988.

Setting: PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Division of Enteric Pathogens, 11 PHLS laboratories, and 42 local authority environmental health departments in England.

Two outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 infection associated with the consumption of fresh shell-egg products.

In 1988 there were two outbreaks of infection with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in adjacent local authorities. The first affected 18 of 75 helpers and guests who attended a private function. Investigations revealed that home-made vanilla ice-cream containing uncooked eggs was the vehicle of infection and the causative organism was identified at the premises of the egg producer.

Changes in incidence of hepatitis B in Ireland from 1970-1987.

This paper analyses data on 2,226 cases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection detected during the years 1970 to 1987. Of those where information on risk-group was available (1,301), infection among intravenous drug-abusers accounted for the largest proportion (49%). Most became infected during and since an outbreak of hepatitis B and Delta hepatitis which originated in this group in 1980.

An outbreak of viral gastroenteritis in a psychiatric hospital.

In September and October 1987, an outbreak of gastroenteritis due to small round structured viruses occurred in a large psychiatric hospital. A total of 149 people, 83 patients and 66 members of staff, were affected over a 26-day period. Most cases were associated with three psychogeriatric wards.

Large outbreak of food poisoning caused by Salmonella typhimurium definitive type 49 in mayonnaise.

An investigation was conducted to determine the vehicle of infection of an outbreak of food poisoning in a large metropolitan building early in 1988. A questionnaire was distributed to 700 people who had eaten in the building during the week of the outbreak, and attack rates for specific food were calculated. Food and stool samples, environmental samples, and eggs and environmental swabs from the egg suppliers were examined microbiologically.

Widespread Legionella pneumophila contamination of dental stations in a dental school without apparent human infection.

Following isolation of Legionella pneumophila from a special dental station water circuit, used primarily to cool high-speed dental drills which produce fine aerosols, a case finding and environmental survey was undertaken. Widespread colonization of the dental stations was found and the results suggested that amplification of the background levels of L. pneumophila was taking place within the stations.

An outbreak of gastroenteritis on a passenger cruise ship.

In an outbreak of gastroenteritis on board a cruise ship 251 passengers and 51 crew were affected and consulted the ship's surgeon during a 14-day period. There was a significant association between consumption of cabin tap water and reported illness in passengers. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were isolated from passengers and crew and coliforms were found in the main water storage tank.

A comparison of English and Japanese taste languages: taste descriptive methodology, codability and the umami taste.

Everyday taste descriptions for a range of stimuli were obtained from selected groups of American and Japanese subjects, using a variety of stimuli, stimulus presentation procedures and response conditions. In English there was a tendency to use a quadrapartite classification system: 'sweet', 'sour', 'salty' and 'bitter'. The Japanese had a different strategy, adding a fifth label: 'Ajinomoto', referring to the taste of monosodium glutamate.

Roses in December: imaginary companions in the elderly.

This paper focuses on one mental mechanism used in alleviating distress viz. illusion. Three patients are discussed with particular reference to their use of this mechanism.