A comparative appraisal of the relationship of education, income and housing tenure with less than good health among the elderly in Europe

The objective of this study was to determine the strength of various socio-economic indicators for predicting less than good health among elderly people aged 60-79 years. Data were obtained from national health surveys from 10 European countries. Education, income and housing tenure were examined in relation to less than good health using standardised prevalence rates and (multiple) logistic regression analyses. The results illustrated that there are substantial health differences among the elderly according to education and income in each country. Both education and income (with men) showed a strong independent relationship with health status. Health differences according to housing tenure were generally somewhat smaller. However, in Great Britain and the Netherlands housing tenure demonstrated large health differences, even after adjustment for education and income. It is recommended that more refined socio-economic measures are developed and that in the meantime both education and income are used when studying socio-economic health differences among the elderly. In some countries, like Great Britain and the Netherlands, however, housing tenure has an additional value.     

A polarographic method for the determination of the N-oxide, N-oxide-sulphoxide and sulphoxide metabolites of chlorpromazine

Cathode ray polarography has been used to measure chlorpromazine-N-oxide, N-oxide sulphoxide and chlorpromazine sulphoxide in mixtures. The response was linear when the metabolites were present in the range 10^?5 to 5 times 10^?8m in aqueous solutions. Reductive polarography of the mixed oxides in solution gave an additive wave from which individual oxides were determined by subtraction. Ultraviolet and Potentiometrie titration methods were used to determine the pKa values of the oxide metabolites of chlorpromazine. The mechanism of the reduction process was investigated using d.c. polarography and preparative micro-electrolysis. Polarographic analysis was applied to the determination of the metabolites after their separation from urine, plasma and microsomal preparations.     

Endometrial biopsy using a plastic curette (Mi-Mark)

Using soft (Mi-Mark) and sharp (Novak) curette endometrial biopsies were performed for the purpose of cancer screening and ovulation detection in five and 44 cases, respectively. The new devised plastic curette (Mi-Mark) when compared to the metal curette proved to be equally effective in obtaining an adequate endometrial sample for histologic evaluation. Due to the flexibility of the plastic curette endometrial biopsies were performed atraumatically and with the least amount of pain in most cases.     

EMQN Best Practice Guidelines for molecular genetic testing of SCAs

Other participants at the EMQN Best Practice Meeting and/or at the electronic discussions thereafter were Isabel Alonso, Anna Andersson, David Barton, Nazli Bazac, Kyproula Christodoulou, Luís Correia, Mark Davis, Mary Davis, Rob Elles, Marina Frontali, Javier Garcia-Planells, Paola Giunti, Petra Hämäläinen, Jenni Jonasson, Outi Kamarainen, Nina Larsson, Eric Leguern, Monique Losekoot, Carla Martins, Michael Morris, Clemens Müller-Reible, Simon Patton, M Luiza Saraiva-Pereira, Jorge Pinto-Basto, Beatriz Quintáns, Simon C Ramsden, Anna Ravani, Laura Rooke, Isabel Silveira, Richard Sinke, Su Stenhouse, Laura Stewart, Katrien Storm, Anna Sulek-Piatkowska, Francine Thonney, Victor Volpini, Jon Warner, Helga Weirich, Stefan Wieczorek and Christine Zühlke.     

The impact of a situationally focused individual human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted disease risk-reduction intervention on risk behavior in a 1-year cohort of Nigerian military personnel

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted disease (STD)-related risks in peacekeeping troops is a concern when they are stationed in areas of high HIV prevalence. We carried out an assessment of a situationally focused individual HIV/STD reduction intervention (where avoidance of risk situations, as well as risk behaviors, are emphasized) in one Nigerian military unit (N = 1,222), with a comparable unit from the same service as a waiting list control (N = 987). The intervention consisted of a possible five modules that were presented to groups of up to 50 personnel. Data were collected on reported sexual behaviors, condom beliefs, sexual risk behaviors with casual partners, and number of interventions attended. Data indicated significant increases in reported condom use with casual partners and positive condom beliefs at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Risk behavior was reduced 30% from baseline at 6 months and 23% from baseline at 12 months. There was also a significant dose-response effect for number of interventions attended. These data suggest that relatively brief situationally focused individual interventions are effective in military and West African contexts in reducing HIV/STD risk behaviors.     

华人遗传性混合息肉病综合征BMPR1A基因种系突变检测

[目的]探讨遗传性混合息肉病综合征华人家系中BMPR1A基因是否存在种系突变.[方法]34个家系成员外周血提取基因组DNA,利用聚合酶链式反应分别扩增BMPR1A基因全部外显子,进行DNA测序与突变分析,对突变外显子PCR扩增产物作变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳鉴定.[结果]家系12和2所有发病成员BMPR1A基因2号外显子位于codon23处缺失11个碱基(AAAGTCAGAAA),同时2号外显子PCR扩增产物变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳也发现异常迁移条带,而家系中正常成员的检测未发现这一突变.[结论]两华人HMPS家系中BMPR1A基因缺失突变与疾病共遗传,该基因极可能是HMPS华人家系的致病基因.     

Position paper on the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: joint recommendations by the European Society of Hypertension, by the European Respiratory Society and by the members of European COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on obstructive sleep apnea

This article is aimed at addressing the current state of the art in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures and treatment options for appropriate management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cardiovascular (particularly hypertensive) patients, as well as for the management of cardiovascular diseases (particularly arterial hypertension) in OSA patients. The present document is the result of the work done by a panel of experts participating in the European Union COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on OSA, with the endorsement of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). These recommendations are particularly aimed at reminding cardiovascular experts to consider the occurrence of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with high blood pressure. They are at the same time aimed at reminding respiration experts to consider the occurrence of hypertension in patients with respiratory problems at night.