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OBJECTIVE: To assess whether, among new out-patients at secondary care medical clinics, people of South Asian origin have a higher proportion of medically unexplained symptoms, and receive different care compared to white Europeans. METHOD: A retrospective case note study was performed in a district general hospital with a high proportion of ethnic minorities in the local population. We examined the notes of 100 people each of South Asian and white European origin who were in the 20-39 years age range and attending as new medical out-patients. We recorded the presenting symptoms, investigation results, and management plan, and from this we classified them as either explained by recognized organic disease or medically unexplained. We also recorded the number of investigations and whether psychosocial factors were mentioned in the letter to the referring doctor. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 93 people of South Asian origin and 98 white Europeans. The proportion of each who had medically unexplained symptoms was 52% and 49% respectively. The mean number (SD) of investigations in each was 1.8 (1.5) and 1.7 (1.6). Psychosocial factors were mentioned in correspondence of 42% and 45% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms, in this UK clinic, is similar among younger adults of South Asian and white European origin. South Asians undergo similar investigation and psychosocial inquiry to their white counterparts, suggesting that younger South Asians are managed similarly to white Europeans with respect to this aspect of medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is unclear whether the APOE ε4 allele is associated with distinct clinical features in dementia. Method 100 cases meeting ICD criteria for dementia were interviewed using standardized instruments and genotyped for APOE. The presence of the ε4 allele was used by a genetic algorithm neural network (GANN) to discriminate symptoms and signs. Results The GANN selected six features: gender, systolic blood pressure, absence of ankle tendon reflexes, history of weight loss, history of falls, and interviewer observed lability of mood. Using these features, a neural network discriminated cases according to ε4 highly accurately (area under receiver operating characteristic=0.83, sensitivity=0.78, specificity=0.78). Conclusions A GANN is able to discriminate a clinically distinct group of features among dementia patients who express the ε4 allele. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the structure, fabrication, and measured performance of a 1543 nm wavelength photonic crystal surface emitting laser. An asymmetric double lattice design was used to achieve single mode lasing with side mode suppression ratios >40 dB. The photonic crystal was formed using encapsulated air holes in an n-doped InGaAsP layer with an InGaAlAs active layer then grown above it. In this way a laser with a low series resistance of 0.32 Ω capable of pulsed output powers of 171 mW at 25 °C and 40 mW at 85 °C was demonstrated.

Objective: To assess whether, among new out-patients at secondary care medical clinics, people of South Asian origin have a higher proportion of medically unexplained symptoms, and receive different care compared to white Europeans., Method: A retrospective case note study was performed in a district general hospital with a high proportion of ethnic minorities in the local population. We examined the notes of 100 people each of South Asian and white European origin who were in the 20-39 years age range and attending as new medical out-patients. We recorded the presenting symptoms, investigation results, and management plan, and from this we classified them as either explained by recognized organic disease or medically unexplained. We also recorded the number of investigations and whether psychosocial factors were mentioned in the letter to the referring doctor., Results: Complete data were available for 93 people of South Asian origin and 98 white Europeans. The proportion of each who had medically unexplained symptoms was 52% and 49% respectively. The mean number (SD) of investigations in each was 1.8 (1.5) and 1.7 (1.6). Psychosocial factors were mentioned in correspondence of 42% and 45% respectively., Conclusions: The prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms, in this UK clinic, is similar among younger adults of South Asian and white European origin. South Asians undergo similar investigation and psychosocial inquiry to their white counterparts, suggesting that younger South Asians are managed similarly to white Europeans with respect to this aspect of medical care.

Objective: The aims of this study were (a) to determine the frequency of APOE genotypes in dementia, (b) to relate e4 allele frequency to clinical symptomatology of dementia and (c) to relate e4 and assess risk factors for different types of dementia., Design: Prospective clinical study setting older patients with dementia known to a community-based old age psychiatry service., Sample: 101 patients fulfilling ICD 10 criteria for dementia., Results: Replication of previous findings of an association between APOE4 and Alzheimer's disease: younger age of onset of dementia; family history of dementia; persecutory ideation; and (retrospectively determined) rate of competent decline. No association was found between APOE4 and vascular dementia. The association between APOE4 and 'mixed dementia' was intermediate between that of pure Alzheimer's disease and pure vascular dementia., Conclusion: The results confirm the relationship between clinical features of dementia and APOE4 status. It may be that APOE can be used as an adjunct to clinical diagnosis.