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This paper describes the experiences of six people who received severe burns in the King's Cross Underground Station fire of 1987. They all developed post-traumatic stress disorder to varying levels of intensity and the problems of psychological intervention as they related to the patients' different mental defence mechanisms are outlined.

Soft x-ray contact images have been obtained of diatom skeletons using laser-generated plasmas of low energy (2 J IR). These images have a resolution of less than 60 nm, which is superior to that reported previously for biological specimens, using this technique.

Levels of anxiety and depression were documented by questionnaire response from a sample of 89 women who were to undergo surgical hysterectomy 3 weeks later. Fifty-four per cent (n = 48) of the sample reported anxiety and 26% (n = 23) reported depression at clinical levels during the preoperative period, with an additional number (n=16 anxiety; n=19 depression) at borderline status. Despite an overall significant postoperative reduction of negative mood states, clinical levels of anxiety were found in a substantial minority of women both 2 (24%) and 6 months (31%) after surgery. Levels of depression at these times were respectively 13% and 11% of the sample which provided postoperative information. These data confirm previous reports of high levels of negative mood states in patients referred for surgical hysterectomy. However, analyses of individual profiles of change confirm that there was a beneficial outcome for the large majority of the women, with 83% of those with clinical levels of anxiety showing improved status. Regression analyses indicated that postoperative outcomes with respect to negative affect could be predicted from preoperative status, and the data provide some support for the hypothesis that for a minority of women, negative mood states co-presented with gynecological symptoms may not be attenuated by surgery. Both dispositional resilience and familial cohesiveness were entered as significant variables in regression models examining postoperative status, although they provided only a limited increase to the postoperative variance prediction from measure of preoperative levels of affect. Preoperative mood status was found to be inversely related to an intrapersonal dimension of 'dispositional resilience' and to family cohesiveness'. It is suggested that measurement of preoperative mood status to family cohesiveness and dispositional resilience may provide useful adjunctive measures in attempts to identify women at risk of reporting an unsatisfactory surgical outcome.

X-ray differential absorption microanalysis is presented as a technique for trace element analysis of hydrated biological specimens of about 0.1–5 μm thickness. For the study of the light elements (Z≲20), the absorption technique minimizes the radiation dose and, thus, damage to such specimens when compared with X-ray fluorescence. A Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope (SXTM) is described, which has been used to map the concentration of calcium in bone with better than 300 nm spatial resolution and a sensitivity to 5% calcium by weight. Future plans are briefly discussed that offer the hope of achieving 0.1% trace element sensitivity and 75 nm spatial resolution.

A toroidal relay optic has been used to overcome the problem of damage caused by debris that has limited previous attempts at soft x-ray lithography and contact microscopy using laser-produced plasma sources. Not only is the specimen preserved, but it is now possible to have a vacuum retaining soft x-ray transparent Si_3N_4 window as a permanent part of the apparatus, greatly simplifying specimen handling. The exposure times are ∼2 ns.

The serum protein binding of maprotiline and phenytoin has been compared in a group of 22 uraemic patients receiving haemodialysis. Determination of protein binding was carried out in vitro using equilibrium dialysis at 37°C and14C-labelled drug. The mean percentage unbound maprotiline found in patients (10.0%, SD 2.5) was not significantly different from that obtained in healthy volunteers (mean 10.5%, SD 1.0). However, there was a significantly increased variability in binding in patients compared with healthy subjects. The mean percentage unbound phenytoin in the same patients (22.2%, SD 3.3) was significantly greater than that obtained in healthy control subjects (12.5%, SD 0.6). Although there was no correlation between maprotiline and phenytoin binding and serum concentrations of a1-acid glycoprotein, there was a significant correlation between percentage unbound maprotiline and serum albumin concentrations. The findings indicate that the binding of this tricyclic antidepressant is essentially normal in uraemia, although there may be increased interindividual variability in the free fraction of drug.

Soft X-ray contact microscopy has been performed using a short-lived laser-produced plasma as the X-ray source. Single-shot exposures have been recorded in X-ray photoresists, for both dried and in vivo conditions using the high-power Nd : glass and KrF excimer laser systems, available at the SERC Central Laser Facility. The short exposure times of 1 ns and 30 ns respectively allow latent images of the specimens to be recorded before the onset of radiation damage.

A novel method of designing coupling reflectors for flash-lamp pumped laser systems is presented. The aim is to improve efficiency and beam quality. The performance of an actual dye laser incorporating such a reflector is compared with one which has a conventional elliptical reflector. The reasons why the novel mirror fails to show an improvement are given, along with suggestions for realizing the theoretically predicted improvements in practice.

The study investigated the effects of human relations training on attitudes toward human nature held by 230 preservice secondary teachers. Four experimental groups (counselor-led, instructor-led, student-led, and no leader) used commercial cassettes on awareness exercises and one active control group were compared for change toward human nature. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among groups on 3 of 6 dimensions of human nature. Further examination demonstrated that the counselor-led group had consistently positive changes in attitude, while the group with no leader consistently showed negative changes.

One hundred and twenty A&E Department daytime attenders were screened for psychiatric disorder in a two stage procedure. Thirty-three patients were identified as General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 'cases' of whom 28 agreed to a psychiatric interview using the Clinical Interview Schedule. Twenty-eight GHQ 'non-cases' were also interviewed. A psychiatric diagnosis was made in 24 patients, 21 of whom were GHQ cases. Patients were more likely to suffer from psychiatric morbidity if the presenting complaint was other than minor trauma. There were trends for psychiatric morbidity to be associated with not being married and living in Bloomsbury Health District (No Fixed Abode or resident) or Northeast London. Sixty-nine percent of cases had a positive past psychiatric history. Ten of 12 cases (83%) requiring primary care intervention were not registered with a GP. It is suggested that appropriate intervention would be for A&E Departments to routinely facilitate such registration. In addition, resources need to be released to make 9am to 5pm walk-in psychiatric services commonplace. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present results that demonstrate the proof of principle of a soft-x-ray reflection imaging microscope in the Schwarzschild configuration. A soft-x-ray laser operating at 18.2 nm was used as the x-ray source. Mo/Si multilayer mirrors with a normal-incidence reflectivity of ~20% per surface at 18.2-nm wavelength were used in the Schwarzschild objective.

This paper describes a case study in which one aspect of the output of a hospital in a London teaching group was measured for one month. The study was related to a theoretical model, which is outlined, and which could be extended as the basis of a health index.