Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Daniels.
The prevalence of schizophrenia in a large hostel for homeless men in an inner city area was found to be in the order of 15%. Concern is expressed that this figure represents a recent increase in the number of mentally ill among homeless men and may be related to changes in the management of chronic mental illness. Literature relating mental illness and homelessness is reviewed.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Nipah virus, family Paramyxoviridae, caused disease in pigs and humans in peninsular Malaysia in 1998-99. Because Nipah virus appears closely related to Hendra virus, wildlife surveillance focused primarily on pteropid bats (suborder Megachiroptera), a natural host of Hendra virus in Australia. We collected 324 bats from 14 species on peninsular Malaysia. Neutralizing antibodies to Nipah virus were demonstrated in five species, suggesting widespread infection in bat populations in peninsular Malaysia.
A postal questionnaire on heartburn sent to 6760 randomly selected subjects yielded 3971 replies suitable for analysis. Heartburn had never been experienced by 1665 (42%) respondents. Significant symptoms of more than three months' duration that had occurred at least once a month in the preceding 12 months were reported by 1337 (34%) respondents. Of these, 875 had not consulted their general practitioner and were invited to attend for a structured interview with questionnaire and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A total of 177 were interviewed, and 143 underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Of those endoscoped, 106 (74%) experienced symptoms at least once a week. These were relieved by alginate consumption in 97 (68% of) cases. Just nine (6%) patients had been taking H2-receptor antagonists. Macroscopic appearances of oesophagitis were seen in 46 cases [13 (6%) grade 1, 24 (11%) grade 2, five (2%) grade 3, two (1%) grade 4, and two (1%) grade 5]. Three patients had mild strictures and six patients had Barrett's oesophagus. There were no appearances suggestive of malignancy. Biopsies were taken in 122 cases, including all those in which abnormalities had been seen. Histological evidence of oesophagitis was seen in 47 cases. Gastric metaplasia was found in six cases and dysplasia seen in three. Patients who self-medicate for reflux symptoms have a low prevalence of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic pathology. A substantial proportion, however, have histological evidence of oesophagitis and a small number have metaplasia.