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Biomedical subjects

E Salib

Publications and source records attributed to E Salib.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

A case-control study of smoking and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To study the association between Alzheimer's disease and smoking history. DESIGN: An unmatched case-control study. SETTING: Psychogeriatric unit serving an elderly population of Warrington. PERIOD: 2 years 1991-1993. SUBJECTS: 198 cases of Alzheimer's disease (ADRDA-NINCDS diagnostic criteria) were compared to two selected control groups (164 other dementias and 176 non-dementing group) with respect to their smoking history. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relative risk (odds ratio) of Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS: The odds ratio for Alzheimer's disease in patients who smoked was 0.68 (95% CI 0.47-0.98). The negative association was statistically significant only in male patients, OR 0.45 95% CI (0.23-0.87), p < 0.05. The inverse association was also only significant in patients with family history of dementia, OR 0.34 95% CI (0.12-0.92), p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The study supports previous findings of an inverse relationship between smoking and Alzheimer's disease. This, however, does not suggest that smoking is used as a preventive measure for Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Head injury and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: a case control study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to examine the association between Alzheimer's disease and head injury in elderly patients referred to an EMI unit. METHOD: An unmatched case control study comparing 198 cases of Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria) to selected controls (164 other dementias and 176 non-dementing group) with respect to history of head trauma, with or without loss of consciousness, prior to the onset of dementia. SETTING: EMI unit in Warrington serving an elderly population of 28,000. The subjects included all patients referred to and seen by the first author during a 2-year study period 1991-1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relative risk (odds ratio) of Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS: For having history of head injury, the odds ratio was 1.52 (0.98-2.35), significant only in male patients (OR 2.1 p < 0.05). For dementias other than Alzheimer's disease the odds ratio of head injury was 2.36 and 2.46 for all dementias combined (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study confirms a positive association between reported head injury and Alzheimer's disease as well as non-Alzheimer type dementia. Head trauma did not appear to be a specific risk for Alzheimer's disease as previously claimed. The association was modified by sex being only significant in male patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Unexpected death of psychiatric patients: suicide, misadventure, accident or unsolved mystery?

We examined the association between the psychiatric history of patients who were the subjects of a coroner's inquest and the recorded verdict, in a seven-year retrospective review. A suicide verdict was less frequently returned on patients who had inpatient psychiatric treatment compared to other unexpected deaths. History and diagnosis of an alcohol-related condition, method of death and intimation of intent were the main factors that appeared to be associated with the coroner's verdict. Age, sex, duration of illness, time and number of admissions, previous suicide attempts and treatment received did not appear to be significantly associated with the recorded verdict.

Accidents↗
PubMed1997

Weather conditions and fatal self-harm in North Cheshire 1989-1993.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the effect of weather conditions on the rate of all deaths due to fatal self-harm (FSH) reported in a population of 350,000. In this study the term FSH refers to all coroners' verdicts which were recorded in a specified period and included suicide, misadventure and open verdict. METHOD: Five-year data of FSH in North Cheshire was analysed in relation to meteorological data, which were measured at the nearest meteorological office to the study population. RESULTS: Small but significant positive correlations were demonstrated between occurrence of FSH and hours of sunshine (P < 0.01) and diurnal variations in daily temperature (P < 0.05). These effects were independent of gender and psychiatric history. CONCLUSIONS: Weather may influence the occurrence of FSH, probably interacting with biological and social variables. The rate of FSH death appears to be positively related to fine weather conditions, during early summer, and not to extreme weather conditions as previously reported.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

Coroner's verdicts in the elderly: a suicide or an open verdict?

OBJECTIVES: To identify variables, other than legal definitions, that may have influenced North Cheshire's Coroner in returning a verdict of 'suicide' or an 'open verdict' on unexpected deaths of the elderly. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all coroner's verdicts in North Cheshire during a 5-year period 1989-1993. MATERIAL: Forty-seven 'suicide' and 'open verdict' deaths in North Cheshire between 1989 and 1993 as defined in ICD classification 'E' codes E950-E959 and E980-E989, respectively, that were returned on the deceased aged 65 and above who died within North Cheshire. FINDINGS: Logistic regression analysis suggests that the Coroner's decision may be influenced by: intimation of intent, psychiatric history and method of death. Sex of the deceased, history of attempted suicide, social setting and history of alcohol problems did not appear significantly associated with coroner's verdict.

Accidents↗
PubMed1997

Elderly suicide and weather conditions: is there a link?

BACKGROUND: Studies of the effect of meteorological factors on suicide have yielded inconclusive and often contradictory results. This may be due to a variety of methodological problems including small numbers and variability in the definition of suicide. The relationship has not been examined in the elderly. OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of weather conditions on suicide rate in an elderly population of 40,000 of North Cheshire aged 65 and above. In this study, coroner's verdicts of suicide and open verdict which were recorded in a specified period were included. METHOD: Five-year data of deaths resulting from suicide within North Cheshire were analysed in relation to meteorological data, which were measured at the nearest Met office to the study population. RESULTS: Significant positive association was demonstrated between suicide in the elderly and hours of sunshine (p < 0.01) and relative humidity (p < 0.05). These effects were independent of sex. CONCLUSIONS: Weather may influence suicide in the elderly, probably interacting with biological and social variables. The rate of reported suicide appears to be positively related to fine weather conditions, during early summer, and not to extreme weather conditions as previously reported. Method of death appears to be also associated with weather conditions.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Predictors of coroner's verdict: a logistic regression model.

This study is an attempt to understand the effect of various factors that are likely to have influenced North Cheshire's Coroners during a five-year period in their decision to return a 'suicide' or an 'open' verdict. Based on the logistic model, the main factors that appeared to have influenced a Coroners decision are: intimation of intent, method of death and alcohol problem.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A case-control study of Alzheimer's disease and aluminium occupation.

BACKGROUND: We examined clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease patients and controls, and collected information from informants, to examine the association between Alzheimer's disease and aluminium occupation. METHOD: An unmatched case-control study comparing 198 cases of Alzheimer's disease (ADRDA-NINCDS diagnostic criteria), to selected controls (164 other dementias and 176 nondementing group) in respect of their occupational history. The subjects included all patients referred to and seen by the first author during a 2 year study period. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 198 patients with Alzheimer's disease (11.1%) reported having an aluminium occupation at some stage in their working life compared with 39 of 340 controls (11.5%), odds ratio 0.98, 95% Cl 0.53-1.75, P > 0.05. Aluminium workers reported to have worked in direct contact with aluminium dust and fumes did not appear to be at any greater risk than other workers who were employed at the same factory, odds ratio 1.19, 95% Cl, 0.64-4.18, P > 0.05. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence to support an association between having previously worked in an aluminium factory and the risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Brief psychiatric admissions: a review.

Concern about mentally ill patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals for short periods is long standing. Often, admission takes place at night when clinical expertise is in short supply. In this study, the researchers found that these patients were admitted to expensive hospital beds not for health needs but often for social reasons. The authors suggest that community-based, short stay psychiatric units are more suitable for the care of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of 100 applications of section 5(4) Mental Health Act.

Section 5(4) of the Mental Health Act (1983) allows nurses to detain a psychiatric inpatient for up to six hours before a doctor arrives. This article reviews the use of Section 5(4) in 100 cases in North Cheshire between 1985 and 1992. Doctors supported every nurse's decision to detain a patient. Patients detained under Section 5(4) were more likely to be converted to other sections. This suggests that the nurse's decision to detain the patient is a useful predictor of outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seclusion in psychiatry.

The subject of seclusion will always generate professional, legal and moral debate. Lawrence Savage and Emad Salib examined the continuing and regular use of seclusion in a secure mental health unit, and suggest that the seclusion of some patients may continue to be a safe and effective intervention to control incidents of disturbed behaviour.

Adolescent↗