Chronic somatizers and the Government White Paper.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C M Deighton.
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The contribution of genes within the major histocompatibility complex to rheumatoid arthritis has been calculated (Rotter & Landaw 1984). Separate data from hospital- and population-based studies of monozygotic twin concordance rates and sibling recurrence risks have been used, along with material from published haplotype-sharing studies. Using either source of information gives the same result, a contribution of 37%.
It has been suggested that polymer coating might retard jejunal absorption of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) and thus promote delivery to its colonic site of action. Twenty three patients with active (nine), or quiescent (14) ulcerative colitis were given either uncoated or coated 5-ASA (Asacol) 400 mg qds for one to three weeks, after which they ingested five 1.5 ml dialysis membrane sachets which were recovered from the stool in the next 72 hours. After one week of treatment the concentration of 5-ASA in the faecal dialysate, urine, and fasting plasma in those receiving the coated and uncoated preparations were respectively: 25.4 +/- 5.1 compared with 1.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (p less than 0.001); 0.34 +/- 0.21 compared with 0.70 +/- 0.29 mmol/24h (NS) and 11.1 +/- 4.2 compared with 0.07 +/- 0.03 mumol/l (p less than 0.02). Faecal excretion of the drug appeared to be greater in patients with active colitis than in those with quiescent disease. Thus coating with pH dependent methacrylic acid copolymer B is a very effective method of promoting delivery of 5-ASA to the colon, stool dialysate concentrations being 20 fold more than those in controls. Increased trough plasma concentrations in the polymer coating group probably reflect delayed intestinal absorption but no evidence of plasma accumulation after 21 days of therapy was found.
In a study of abnormal behaviour in women aged 16-25 in one large group practice a screening instrument and an interview were used to identify Briquet's Syndrome. The prevalence, 2.04 per 1000, was lower than that found in previous studies. The fact that many other patients showed both the high consultation rates and the other correlates of Briquet's Syndrome brings the usefulness of a discrete syndrome into doubt.
The concept of recurrent illness behaviour and the importance of problem patients in general practice are discussed. The need for further research and the early identification of these patients is emphasized. The medical records of 1134 women between the ages of 16 and 25 years were analysed. The annual rate of potentially functional complaints was determined for each woman. The 51 women with the highest annual rates were selected as cases for interview, along with 51 randomly selected controls.Analysis showed there were significant differences between the cases and controls. The cases reported more health and emotional problems and had a higher dependence on alcohol and cigarettes than the controls. They had more social disadvantages, such as a history of parental death and unemployment; they were more likely to be housewives with children; they had fewer qualifications, held jobs for shorter periods of time and had a history of truancy from school. They were heavy users of primary care facilities and also hospital services but, despite this, were dissatisfied with the service provided and were less compliant with treatment. Finally, despite a need to discuss health problems, they experienced less family support in this area. Significant variables were entered into a step-wise multiple regression analysis to predict rates of potentially functional complaints and a logistic discriminant analysis was also carried out. The results of these analyses were used in a further discriminant function to form an index for the identification of recurrent abnormal illness behaviour.