Surveillance of foodborne infections— the role of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

The paper describes the work of the Public Health Laboratory Service, popularly referred to as “Colindale”, and reviews the types of infection which are commonly food or waterborne and their relative importance. Cholera, typhoid and paratyphoid are rare diseases usually acquired abroad. Bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis and foodborne helmenthiasis have been almost eliminated as indigenous diseases. However, salmonellosis and Campylobacter enteritis are increasing. The increase has not been satisfactorily explained but is probably due to bovine and poultry infections. Although most notified food poisoning incidents are due to salmonella, a number of other organisms have been implicated, the cause being defective food hygiene. Viral foodborne diseases, including hepatitis A, have been associated mainly with shellfish. The incidence of new foodborne infections may be increasing.     

The relationship between communication and marital satisfaction: a review

This paper provides a comprehensive methodological review of the literature assessing the relationship between marital satisfaction and communication. The investigations vary greatly in the adequacy of their assessment measures and soundness of their research design. Although it is generally concluded that both content and process communication are related to marital satisfaction, replication of the better designs is necessary. Specific findings and their practical implications for both future research and marital therapy are discussed.     

Heterogeneous epithelial expression of class II (HLA-DR) determinants and secretory component related to dysplasia in ulcerative colitis

The intensity and degree of heterogeneous epithelial marker expression were evaluated immunohistochemically in 29 mucosal biopsy specimens from 7 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with dysplasia. Biopsy specimens from UC patients with mild (n = 7) or severe (n = 6) inflammation and from histologically normal samples (n = 7) served as controls. HLA-DR showed heterogeneous epithelial expression in all lesions with high grade dysplasia and in 6 of 8 with low grade dysplasia. SC was heterogeneous stained in 17 of 21 lesions with high grade dysplasia and in all but two lesions with low grade dysplasia. In histologically normal mucosa, SC was homogeneously expressed and epithelial DR was virtually absent. In mildly inflamed UC lesions, SC exhibited patchy distribution in only one sample and DR in two, whereas both SC and DR showed a slight degree of heterogeneous expression in all lesions with severe inflammation. Moreover, the overall intensity of SC staining tended to decrease with increasing degree of inflammation, whereas the opposite was seen for DR. Decreased SC and increased DR expression thus seemed to be related to intensified inflammatory activity, whereas heterogeneous expression of these markers was significantly more related to dysplasia.     

Do-not-resuscitate orders for critically ill patients in the hospital. How are they used and what is their impact?

We studied compliance with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders at a university hospital where a DNR protocol has existed since 1979. Documentation of DNR status in patient progress notes and chart orders increased through 1983. During a 12-month period (March 1983 through April 1984), we studied in detail the medical records of 521 patients who had a cardiopulmonary arrest in the hospital. Seventy-five percent (389 of 521) of these patients were designated DNR. Patients who were designated DNR were significantly more likely to be older, to have malignancy or an abnormal mental status, and to be less likely to have acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than patients in whom resuscitation was attempted. Eighty-six percent of families, but only 22% of patients, were involved in the decision to designate a patient DNR. The decision to designate a patient DNR occurred late in the course of a patient's illness, often when the patient was in coma. For 28% of patients, some form of medical care was withdrawn or withheld after they were designated DNR. These data suggest that use of the DNR protocol requires changes if patients are to participate in the decision not to undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Apramycin and gentamicin resistance in Escherichia coli and salmonellas isolated from farm animals

Since the aminoglycoside antibiotic apramycin was licensed for veterinary use in 1980, all isolates of Escherichia coli and salmonellas received at the Central Veterinary Laboratory have been monitored for resistance to apramycin and the related antibiotic gentamicin. During the period 1982-4, the incidence of resistance in E. coli to apramycin increased from 0.6% in 1982 to 2.6% in 1984. In salmonellas the incidence of resistance to apramycin increased from 0.1% in 1982 to 1.4% in 1984. Resistance to both apramycin and gentamicin was detected in six different salmonella serotypes, although an isolate of Salmonella thompson from poultry was resistant to gentamicin but not apramycin. Most of the cultures were isolated from pigs, although the incidence of apramycin resistance in S. typhimurium (DT 204C) from calves has shown a recent dramatic increase. All the isolates with one exception produced the enzyme aminoglycoside 3-N-acetyltransferase IV (ACC(3)IV). The resistance was transferable by conjugation in most of the strains examined, and the plasmids specifying the resistance have been found to belong to a number of different incompatibility groups. Plasmids from three E. coli strains were compatible with all the reference plasmids and belonged to a previously undescribed group which was investigated further. It is suggested that bacteria from humans should be examined for resistance to apramycin and gentamicin to determine the possibility of the antibiotic-resistance bacteria, and their genes, spreading from animals to humans.     

Effects of labeling and treatment of hypertension on perceived health

The effects of labeling a person as hypertensive have important implications for hypertension screening. The Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (HDFP) provides an opportunity to examine the effects of labeling, treatment, and study assignment on a large group of hypertensives (n = 10,070). Their answers to questions regarding perceived health and general well-being asked at baseline and again one year later were analyzed. There was no significant change in the perceived health status of persons who were unaware of their hypertension at baseline and remained untreated at one year (labeling alone). The effect of labeling plus treatment was associated with a significant decrease in perceived health. The effect of antihypertensive drug therapy on perceived health status was examined in persons who were aware of their hypertension but not on treatment at baseline, and on treatment at one year. The stepped care group (SC) had a significant improvement in their perceived health and a significant decrease in the amount of time spent worrying about their health. The referred care group (RC) had no change. Program assignment effects were studied in individuals aware of their hypertension and on treatment both at baseline and one year later. Both the SC and RC groups had a significant improvement in their perceptions of their health status. The SC group had a significant decrease in time spent worrying about their health, while the RC group showed no change. These reassuring results fail to support the suggestion that labeling persons as hypertensive is necessarily followed by negative psychological consequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)