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Background Disparities in sleep duration are a modifiable contributor to increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders in communities of color. We examined the prevalence of short sleep duration and interest in improving sleep among a multi-ethnic sample of women participating in a culturally tailored wellness coaching program and discussed steps to engage communities in sleep health interventions. Methods Secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial were used. The wellness coaching trial utilized a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach. Data were from the baseline survey and baseline wellness coaching notes. Short sleep duration was defined as Results A total of 485 women of color participated in the study. Among these, 199 (41%) reported short sleep duration. In adjusted models, Blacks/African Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders had higher odds of reporting Conclusion Despite the high prevalence of short sleep duration, interest in sleep improvement was generally low. This study highlights a discrepancy between need and interest, and our process of community engagement, which can inform intervention development for addressing sleep duration among diverse women.

Ninety-three new 40Ar-39Ar laser step-heating plateau dates for igneous rocks and alteration minerals from the El Indio-Pascua Au-Ag belt permit significant refinement of the Tertiary volcanic stratigraphy and the definition of a succession of alteration events in this major mineralized district. Eight distinct Tertiary stratigraphic units are now recognized (two newly defined in this research): (1) the 30-36 Ma Bocatoma Unit, comprising dioritic and granodioritic shallow-level intrusions; (2) the voluminous 23-26 Ma Tilito Formation, consisting predominantly of dacitic tuffs; (3) the 17.5-21 Ma Escabroso Group made up of extensive successions of andesitic flows and coeval hypabyssal intrusions; (4) the 14-17 Ma, andesitic, Cerro de las Tortolas Formation and its intrusive lithodeme, the Infiernillo Unit; (5) the dacitic, 11.0-12.7 Ma, Vacas Heladas Formation; (6) the rhyodacitic 7.5-8 Ma Pascua Formation, defined in this study; (7) the 5.5-6.2 Ma rhyolitic Vallecito Formation; and (8) the recently define...

5337 men aged 65 were invited for ultrasound examination of the abdominal aorta between September 1990 and October 1992 as part of a General Practice based aneurysm screening programme covering the County of Gloucestershire. 4232 (79%) attended. 3877 (91.6%) had aortic diameters equal to or less than 2.5 cm. 302 (7.1%) had aortic diameters in the range 2.6-3.9 cm and 53 (1.3%) had a diameter of 4.0 cm or greater. Mean aortic diameter was 2.04 cm (S.D. 0.50 cm). The practicalities, costs and benefits of a community based aneurysm screening programme are discussed.

The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of confirmed infections, antibiotic exposure, and monitoring practices with normothermia protocol utilization for traumatic brain injury patients. Treatment and prevention of fever is a focus of therapy for patients with severe neurological injury as fever has been identified as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality [1].

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death and a reason for hospital admissions. The hospital stay is a window of opportunity to assist smokers to quit.Patients from selected wards in four teaching hospitals in Sydney, Australia were screened using a self-completed general health questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on demographic variables, tobacco and alcohol consumption, attitudes towards tobacco and alcohol use, and a measure of readiness to charge high-risk lifestyle behaviors, based on that proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente [1].The total number of screening questionnaires completed was 2,815: 78% men and 22% women. The average age of the sample was 44 years, 48% were married or living in a de facto relationship whilst 35% never married, with the rest widowed, separated or divorced. A total of 877 (31%) patients reported smoking: 33% of men and 24% of women screened. Predictors of smoking were sex, age, marital status, education level and socio-economic status. A significant association was found between excessive drinking and smoking. Among the smoking patients, 157 (18%) planned no change in smoking (precontemplation), 379 (43%) were ambivalent about smoking (contemplation), and 334 (38%) were serious about quitting.As about one third of patients in hospital are smokers, the hospital is an ideal setting for the delivery of brief interventions by a range of health personnel at the patients bedside. The use of a detection instrument measuring levels of intake and readiness to change tobacco use is described, as a practical method for targeting patients in hospital who are at risk or have already developed cigarette-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.

SummaryIn a study of the evolution of behavioural symptoms in severely and profoundly mentally retarded adults in hospital over a period of six years, items of abnormal behaviour were found to be remarkably persistent. There is a high prevalence rate of psychiatric disorder in this population, when this disorder is defined in a widely descriptive sense. A substantially improved living environment, and increased staff-patient ratios, are prerequisites for improving disturbed behaviour in these patients.

SummaryOne hundred elderly patients with chronic organic brain syndromes were assessed by standard interviews, nursing ratings and from historical information. The data were subjected to cluster analysis and eight clusters were isolated. The significance of these clusters is discussed and other features of the patients reviewed.

Two versions of the grid test of thought disorder were derived which used similar elements, and were of equal difficulty, but one of which employed psychological, and the other non-psychological, constructs. They were administered to thought-disordered schizophrenic patients and to psychiatric and normal controls. On one measure (consistency), although not on the other (intensity), the results strongly supported the hypothesis that thought-disordered patients are maximally disordered in the area of psychological construing. The results support those of an earlier study (McPherson et al. 1975) and are compatible with those theories which postulate a role for social factors in the aetiology of thought disorder.

Phillips (1977) has criticized the investigation of statistical interactions in a series of related papers concerned with the specificity hypothesis of schizophrenic thought disorder. In a discussion of these criticisms, some are accepted and some rejected. However, when the relevant data are reanalysed by a correct method for the investigation of nominated interactions, the specificity hypothesis is broadly supported. A new finding to emerge from the reanalysis is that, in two experiments where level of 'difficulty' of constructs was controlled, the specificity effect appears much reduced or non-existent when intensity scores are employed while remaining intact for consistency scores.

Objective: To determine the long-term outcome for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) less than 4 cm in AP diameter (very small AAA). Design: Population-based screening study. Materials and methods: One hundred and forty-two patients who had AAA less than 4 cm at presentation were assessed by ultrasound at intervals of 6–12 months. The records of these patients were reviewed. Results: During the period of follow-up the median annual growth rate for aneurysms while under 3.0 cm was 1 mm, rising to 2 mm when between 3.0 and 3.9 cm, and 3 mm when between 4.0 and 4.9 cm in diameter. Elective aneurysm repair was undertaken when aneurysms exceeded the threshold value, which itself increased from 4 cm to 5.5 cm in the 9 years of follow-up. More patients died with their aneurysm ( n = 35) then underwent surgery ( n = 23). There was one perioperative death, and three unrelated late deaths after resection. One aneurysm ruptured in a patient who had refused follow-up 5 years previously. Conclusions: This study suggests that aneurysms less than 4.0 cm diameter are relatively benign, and questions the appropriatness of early intervention.

SYNOPSISThe relationship between herpes simplex virus type 1 and mental retardation is explored by studying the antibody levels to this virus in a group of 86 severely and profoundly retarded adults. A tendency towards higher antibody levels is found in patients whose retardation is of unknown aetiology. The relationship of these observations to previous research findings and the possible significance of herpes simplex virus in the aetiology of mental retardation are discussed

Despite the popularity of the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 1961), only Salkind (1969) has attempted to validate this instrument for a general practice population. For some purposes, particularly clinical research, measurement of change in a depressive mood is more important than an absolute measure. So far only Little and McPhail (1973) have considered this aspect of use.

SynopsisVery little is known about psychiatric disorders in severely and profoundly retarded adults. We have investigated these disorders by systematically recording and collecting data about the behaviour of 100 severely and profoundly retarded hospitalized adults and subjecting the data thus derived to cluster analysis. Eight clusters were isolated. The clinical psychiatric significance of these clusters is discussed and their relationship to cause of retardation, duration of stay in hospital and visiting is considered. A diagnostic framework for psychiatric disorder in severely and profoundly retarded adults is put forward and some possible treatment approaches are suggested.

It has frequently been argued that requests for cosmetic rhinoplasty, particularly in patients with minimal disfigurements, may be indicative of psychological disturbance. Authors such as Meerloo (1956) and Roubichek (1960) have further argued that corrective operations in these minimally disfigured patients are contra-indicated, as the patients are always dissatisfied by surgery, sometimes demanding restoration to the original state.

Uncontrolled shivering may have negative consequences by increasing metabolic demand and subsequently neutralize the benefits of therapeutic normothermia [1]. Previous anti-shivering protocols that utilize the least sedation have been described in therapeutic temperature modulation (TTM) [2]. Our aim is to describe and evaluate an anti-shivering protocol that emphasizes the least sedating regimen with the least number of pharmacologic agents for patients undergoing therapeutic normothermia.