Mortality from interpersonal violence in Great Britain

Data accessed from both death certificates and police reports show that mortality from interpersonal violence is extremely uncommon in Great Britain, particularly in comparison with other countries; in 1985, it accounted for only 0.1 per cent of all deaths and 0.4 per cent of deaths among individuals under 65 years of age. Despite a steady increase in the rate of homicide over the past 20 years, homicide can only be considered to be a minor public health issue in Great Britain. In contrast, data accessed from the British Crime Surveys and from studies conducted both in accident and emergency departments and among individuals hospitalized with head injuries, show that morbidity associated with interpersonal violence may be relatively common in Great Britain. However, until more valid estimates of morbidity can be made, the overall importance of interpersonal violence as a public health issue in Great Britain cannot be assessed with accuracy.     

Prolonged remission of Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoma secondary to T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation

High grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed 42 days after allogeneic T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for idiopathic aplastic anaemia. DNA hybridization studies confirmed clonality and incorporation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome. Prolonged remission followed low dose chemotherapy, local radiotherapy and early withdrawal of cyclosporin.     

Why do some anorexics steal? Personal, social and illness factors

There is a recognised association between anorexia nervosa and stealing. Anorexics who steal are usually also bulimic. However, not all bulimic anorexics steal. The question of why some do and others do not is explored with respect to features of the illness and personal and social variables. Bulimic anorexics who stole differed from their non-stealing counterparts in older age at presentation and in terms of greater sexual activity. These and other findings are discussed with reference to clinical understanding and aetiological theories of other aberrant behavior displayed by the adolescent female.     

Comparison of cefazolin, cefamandole, vancomycin, and LY146032 for prophylaxis of experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis.

We evaluated antibiotic prophylaxis in the rabbit model of experimental endocarditis with three strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis of differing susceptibility patterns. For the first strain, which was highly susceptible to methicillin and cephalosporins, vegetations grew S. epidermidis for all 15 untreated rabbits compared with 1 of 20 rabbits receiving cefazolin, 3 of 20 receiving cefamandole, none of 20 receiving vancomycin, and none of 20 receiving LY146032. For the second strain, which was methicillin resistant but cephalosporin susceptible, vegetations were positive for 14 of 15 untreated controls, 4 of 20 receiving cefazolin, 5 of 22 receiving cefamandole, none of 20 receiving vancomycin, and none of 20 receiving LY146032. For the third strain, which was methicillin resistant and only intermediately susceptible to cephalosporin antibiotics, vegetation cultures were positive for 15 of 17 untreated controls, 14 of 21 receiving cefazolin, 11 of 20 receiving cefamandole, 5 of 20 receiving vancomycin, and 0 of 22 receiving LY146032. In conclusion, these studies in the endocarditis model indicate that cefazolin and cefamandole have some protective value against certain strains of S. epidermidis. Vancomycin and LY146032, however, were more active than cephalosporins for all three strains included in this analysis. These findings support the need for trials of vancomycin and LY146032 prophylaxis in patients undergoing placement of prosthetic heart valves.     

Diagnostic fine needle core biopsy of deep lymph nodes for the diagnosis of lymphoma in patients unfit for surgery

The use of a technique for safe percutaneous fine needle biopsy of inaccessible lymph nodes is described. In a prospective study of 24 patients, including five cases positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), this technique was used to provide diagnostic material. A firm diagnosis was made in 21 cases; four cases of Hodgkin's disease, 14 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, one case of Kaposi's sarcoma, one case of mycobacterial infection, and one which showed the features of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL). In the cases of lymphoma, available serial sections allowed characterization of the tumour with immunocytochemistry. In three cases, no diagnosis could be made, with one of these requiring a subsequent open biopsy. Percutaneous fine needle biospy is ideal for patients unfit or unsuitable for general anaesthesia or surgery. The biopsy obtained gives the pathologist sufficient tissue for an accurate diagnosis in the majority of cases. The preservation of architecture and multiple sections available are advantages over fine needle aspiration.     

The effect of concurrent infections of haemorrhagic enteritis virus or marble spleen disease virus and Eimeria meleagrimitis in turkeys.

Turkey poults given the combination of marble spleen disease virus and Eimeria meleagrimitis (EM) exhibited a greater pathogenic effect caused by the virus and illustrated by an increased spleen weight:gain index and antigen titre. Poults inoculated with both haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) and EM exhibited an ameliorated pathogenic effect, in that the spleen weight:gain index and mean antigen titre were reduced. A reduction in the faecal score of the same birds was also noted when HEV was combined with EM. Poults receiving EM had lower numbers of circulating heterophils and a higher number of lymphocytes compared to the controls. These effects, however, were lost when either virus was simultaneously present with EM. Poults receiving both EM and HEV had the highest level of circulating monocytes.     

Cancer-specific self-efficacy and psychosocial and functional adaptation to early stage breast cancer

Background: Although self-efficacy is considered a key psychological resource in adapting to chronic physical illness, this construct has received less attention among individuals coping with cancer.Purpose: To examine changes in cancer self-efficacy over time among women with early stage breast cancer and associations between task-specific domains of selfefficacy and specific psychological, relationship, and functional outcomes.Methods: Ninety-five women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer completed surveys postsurgery and 1 year later.Results: Cancer-related self-efficacy was relatively stable over 1 year, with only 2 domains of efficacy—(a) Activity Management and (b) Self-Satisfaction—evidencing significant increases over the 1-year time period. Cross-sectional findings were relatively consistent with predictions and suggested that specific domains of self-efficacy were more strongly related to relevant domains of adaptation. Longitudinal findings were not as consistent with the domain-specificity hypothesis but did suggest several predictive associations between self-efficacy and outcomes. Personal Management self-efficacy was associated with higher relationship satisfaction, higher Communication Self-Efficacy was associated with less functional impairment, and higher Affective Management self-efficacy was associated with higher self-esteem 1 year later.Conclusions: Specific domains of cancer-related self-efficacy are most closely related to relevant areas of adaptation when considered cross-sectionally, but further study is needed to clarify the nature of these relationships over time. We acknowledge Briana Floyd, Nicole Fasanella, Jenette Hosterman, ChristinaWeakland, and Jennifer Stillman for collection of study data; Sandra Corbett and Joseph Zike for project management; and Dorothy Weber for data management.We thank the oncologists who referred patients to this study as well as the patients who participated. This study was supported by grant CA 77857 from the National Cancer Institute.