Recent trends in HIV and other STIs in the United Kingdom: data to the end of 2002.

Sexual health in the United Kingdom has deteriorated in recent years with further increases in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in 2002. This paper describes results from the available surveillance data in the United Kingdom from the Health Protection Agency and its national collaborators. The data sources range from voluntary reports of HIV/AIDS from clinicians, CD4 cell count monitoring, a national census of individuals living with HIV, and the Unlinked Anonymous Programme, to statutory reports of STIs from genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and enhanced STI surveillance systems.

Acute gastroenteritis in northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: a telephone survey.

Most people with acute gastroenteritis do not seek medical care and are therefore not captured by routine surveillance. For this reason, population-based studies are needed to measure the burden of illness. A study of acute gastroenteritis in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland surveyed 9,903 people by telephone over the 12-month period from December 2000 to November 2001.

Children attending addiction treatment services in Dublin, 1990-1999.

In Europe, adolescent substance misuse increased during the 1990s. Ireland has among the highest rates of substance misuse among schoolchildren in Europe. We sought to describe the socio-demographic and drug misuse profile of children presenting to addiction treatment services in Dublin during the 1990s.

Recent advances in the cell biology of polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a significant familial disorder, crossing multiple ethnicities as well as organ systems. The goal of understanding and, ultimately, curing ADPKD has fostered collaborative efforts among many laboratories, mustered on by the opportunity to probe fundamental cellular biology. Here we review what is known about ADPKD including well-accepted data such as the identification of the causative genes and the fact that PKD1 and PKD2 act in the same pathway, fairly well-accepted concepts such as the "two-hit hypothesis," and somewhat confusing information regarding polycystin-1 and -2 localization and protein interactions.

An outbreak of Norwalk-like viral gastroenteritis in holidaymakers travelling to Andorra, January-February 2002.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate an outbreak of Norwalk-like viral gastroenteritidis that occurred in Irish holidaymakers visiting Andorra, in January-February 2002. Preliminary results showed the risk exposure was higher for tourists who stayed in Soldeu and consumed ice cubes in their drinks (OR = 2.5, 95% CI [1.

Influenza vaccinations in Northern Ireland: are older patients missing out?

Background: Influenza is a common respiratory disease that may affect a large proportion of the population annually. Vaccination is recommended for those most at risk of complications; namely everyone aged 65 and over and those under 65 who are immunosuppressed or who have chronic disease.

Objective: To explore the variations in influenza vaccination rates for the winter of 2000, with special reference to uptake amongst older patients.

Mumps outbreak among young people in Northern Ireland.

An outbreak of mumps occurred in the Mid-Ulster area of Northern Ireland between 1st November 1999 and 31st August 2000, with 729 cases notified. Salivary test results were obtained for 430 (59%) reported cases, of which 332 (77%) were positive for mumps IgM antibody. Three hundred and sixteen (95.

Strial marginal cells play a role in basement membrane homeostasis: in vitro and in vivo evidence.

The interaction of extracellular matrix and receptors plays a role in tissue homeostasis. The thickened strial capillary basement membrane (SCBM) reported in animal models of presbycusis and Alport's syndrome might be secondary to elevated synthesis and/or decreased turnover of specific basement membrane (BM) components. In this study, expression of specific BM proteins, integrin receptors and mediators of matrix turnover in the murine lateral wall were determined using cDNA probes and antibodies.

Heroin smoking by "chasing the dragon" in young opiate users in Ireland: stability and associations with use to "come down" off "Ecstasy".

We explored the frequency of commencing opiate use by "chasing the dragon" to "come down" off Ecstasy and the stability of heroin smoking in young opiate takers by assessing 102 subjects in Dublin using a semistructured interview. Ninety-two subjects had used Ecstasy. Of these, 68 reported "chasing" to "come down" off Ecstasy at some point in their history and were found to have used Ecstasy more frequently and in larger amounts.

Syringe borrowing persists in Dublin despite harm reduction interventions.

Aims: To measure the frequency of syringe borrowing in young Irish injecting drug users (IDUs) and identify associated characteristics.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Addiction treatment services in Dublin.

Trends in treated opiate misuse in Dublin: the emergence of chasing the dragon.

Aims: To examine trends in treated opiate misuse and identify factors associated with route of heroin use.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Services providing addiction treatment in Dublin.

Assessment of hepatitis C infection in injecting drug users attending an addiction treatment clinic.

Background: Injecting drug users represent a high risk group for hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Currently, screening of this group for HCV is inconsistently implemented.

Aim: We designed a HCV assessment algorithm and sought to determine the frequency with which injecting drug users completed the assessment process.

Quantification of N-(glucitol)ethanolamine and N-(carboxymethyl)serine: two products of nonenzymatic modification of aminophospholipids formed in vivo.

Chemical, nonenzymatic modification of protein and lipids by reducing sugars, such as glucose, is thought to contribute to age-related deterioration in tissue protein and cellular membranes and to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. This report describes the synthesis and quantification of N-(glucitol)ethanolamine (GE) and N-(carboxymethyl)serine (CMS), two products of nonenzymatic modification of aminophospholipids. GE is the product of reduction and hydrolysis of glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), while CMS is formed through reaction of phosphatidylserine (PS) with products of oxidation of either carbohydrate (glycoxidation) or lipids (lipoxidation).

Evacuation behaviours of occupants with learning difficulties in residential homes.

Purpose: This paper reports the results of unannounced evacuation of two residential care premises providing accommodation for people with learning disabilities.

Method: Awareness of disability has in relation to fire safety focussed generally on mobility. With the advent of performance-based fire safety engineering codes which require the characterization of buildings and their occupants it is necessary to obtain knowledge of the likely behaviours of people with learning difficulties in an emergency.

Reconstruction of the proximal interphalangeal joint collateral ligaments using the Mitek Micro Arc Anchor: an in vitro biomechanical assessment.

Proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) collateral ligament injuries are common and sometimes result in painful, stiff fingers. A number of techniques have been utilized in the past to reconstruct complete collateral ligament injuries. Recently, bone anchor systems have been described that allow collateral ligament reconstruction without the necessity of pull-out wires and other more cumbersome methods to reconstruct these ligaments.

Bloodborne viral infection in Irish injecting drug users.

Aims: In Dublin, harm reduction strategies have greatly expanded since 1990. We sought to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) against this background.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

A study of the classification and treatment of noncarious cervical lesions by general practitioners.

Purpose: This study presented a survey to determine what general practitioners in Nova Scotia perceived to be the cause of noncarious cervical lesions, and to ascertain their most frequent method of treatment.

Methods: The survey was completed by 63% of the 343 dentists polled.

Results: Ninety-four percent classified the lesion as abrasion, and 66% rated toothbrushing as the most likely cause.

Decline in the endocochlear potential corresponds to decreased Na,K-ATPase activity in the lateral wall of quiet-aged gerbils.

The ion transport-mediating enzyme, Na,K-ATPase, is abundantly present in the cochlear lateral wall. This enzyme is essential for the generation and maintenance of the endocochlear potential. Diminished enzyme activity has been observed previously in the lateral wall of quiet-aged gerbils.

Casualties of the sun.

A retrospective review was carried out of all sunburn related attendances, during the periods 1/6/94-31/8/94 and 1/6/95-31/8/95, at the four A&E departments and at one of the general practices within the Northern Health and Social Services Board area. Four hundred and thirty patients had attended. The modal age group was 16-30 years.

Effect of proximal and distal venting during intramedullary nailing.

During intramedullary manipulation, 2 main phenomena occur. A dramatic rise in intramedullary pressure occurs followed by intravasation of damaged marrow tissue. There are concerns about the development of increased interosseous pressure during reaming and the potential for this to contribute to fat embolism syndrome.