BACKGROUND: Existing knowledge about the cultural beliefs of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the UK regarding stigma and mental illness is limited. MATERIAL: Data were collected in 10 focus groups, five with service users and five with laypersons, from BME communities in London. DISCUSSION: Thematic analysis identified that cultural beliefs regarding mental illness reflect four different voices present within the BME communities. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that cultural beliefs influencing both relationships with family and, consequently, help-seeking for individuals with mental illness must be considered in the development of anti-stigma interventions and when engaging communities around mental healt.

Recent European mental health strategies and programmes declare service user involvement to be essential in the development and evaluation of policy and services. In light of the announcement in March 2011 by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe of a forthcoming new mental health strategy for Europe, we propose that service user leadership in research is the most effective way of enhancing such involvement and consider what is required to broaden initiatives across Europe.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the progress at one year of England's Time to Change (TTC) program, launched in 2009, toward meeting its target to reduce mental health-related stigma and discrimination by 5%.  METHODS: TTC comprises three national components: antistigma marketing campaign activities, mass physical exercise events (Time to Get Moving) to facilitate social contact between people with and without mental health problems, and an online resource on mental health and employment (Time to Challenge). Part of the TTC evaluation consists of an annual national phone survey of mental health service users. Participants (537 in 2008 and 1,047 in 2009) were current outpatient service users aged 18-65 registered with National Health Service community mental health teams that are selected annually to represent the range of socioeconomic deprivation. Telephone interviews were conducted with service users with the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC) to document experienced discrimination and anticipated discrimination in the past 12 months.  RESULTS: One or more experiences of discrimination were reported by 9-1% of participants in 2008 and 87% of participants in 2009 (p=.03). In 2009 significantly less discrimination was reported from a number of common sources, including family (reported by 53% in 2008 and 46% in 2009), friends (53% and 39%), finding employment (24% and 16%), and keeping employment (from 17% to 13%). Experiences of discrimination from mental health professionals did not change significantly (reported by about one-third of participants in both years).  CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest positive progress toward meeting the program's targeted 5% reduction in discrimination.(Psychiatric Services 63:451-457, 2012; doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100422).

Five cases of intestinal toxemia botulism in adults were identified within an 18-month period in or near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We describe findings for 3 of the 5 case-patients. Clinical samples contained Clostridium botulinum spores and botulinum neurotoxins (types A and B) for extended periods (range 41-61 days), indicative of intestinal toxemia botulism. Patients' clinical signs improved with supportive care and administration of botulinum antitoxin. Peanut butter from the residence of 1 case-patient yielded C. botulinum type A, which corresponded with type A spores found in the patient's feces. The food and clinical isolates from this case-patient could not be distinguished by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Two of the case-patients had Crohn disease and had undergone previous bowel surgery, which may have contributed to infection with C. botulinum. These cases reinforce the view that an underlying gastrointestinal condition is a risk factor for adult intestinal toxemia botulism.

BACKGROUND Service users express dissatisfaction with inpatient care and their concerns revolve around staff interactions, involvement in treatment decisions, the availability of activities and safety. Traditionally, satisfaction with acute care has been assessed using measures designed by clinicians or academics. AIMS To develop a patient-reported outcome measure of perceptions of acute care. An innovative participatory methodology was used to involve services users throughout the research process. METHOD A total of 397 participants were recruited for the study. Focus groups of service users were convened to discuss their experiences and views of acute care. Service user researchers constructed a measure from the qualitative data, which was validated by expert panels of service users and tested for its psychometric properties. RESULTS Views on Inpatient Care (VOICE) is easy to understand and complete and therefore is suitable for use by service users while in hospital. The 19-item measure has good validity and internal and test-retest reliability. Service users who have been compulsorily admitted have significantly worse perceptions of the inpatient environment. CONCLUSIONS A participatory methodology has been used to generate a self-report questionnaire measuring service users' perceptions of acute care. VOICE encompasses the issues that service users consider most important and has strong psychometric properties.

This work deals with the design of a high sensitivity DNA sequence detector using a 50 MHz quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electronic oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuitry is based on Miller topology, which is able to work in damping media. Calibration and experimental study of frequency noise are carried out, finding that the designed sensor has a resolution of 7.1 ng/cm(2) in dynamic conditions (with circulation of liquid). Then the oscillator is proved as DNA biosensor. Results show that the system is able to detect the presence of complementary target DNAs in a solution with high selectivity and sensitivity. DNA target concentrations higher of 50 ng/mL can be detected.

ACCESSIBLE SUMMARY: •  How near misses in the mental health sector are experienced is not well understood. •  Study findings elucidate the nature of near misses as both (1) vulnerabilities and risk associated with the mental health population (e.g. violence, aggression, fear and error proneness); and (2)'no-harm events' where clinicians or service users minimize or prevent harm from happening. •  Study findings have implications for practice, education, research and policy associated with recognizing and responding to safety threats in a timely manner to prevent harm to service users and providers. ABSTRACT: How service providers and service users view near misses in their daily practice within the rubric of patient safety events is not well understood. Further no studies were located that explored near misses specifically in mental health settings in Canada. In this context, a qualitative study was undertaken to gain insight into how service providers and service users (mental health clients or their family members) experienced and defined near misses. Eight (8) focus groups (n= 88) with service providers and 28 semi-structured interviews with service users were conducted at three mental health care organizations. Content analysis was employed to the dataset that elucidated that near misses were (1) safety threats and vulnerabilities associated with experiencing mental illness; and (2) acts that avert harm and prevent something from happening. Findings are compared to what is currently known about in safety. Implications of findings for practice, research and policy are delineated.