An e-mail and telephone helpline for sexual problems - results of a 2-year survey of men's sexual concerns.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual problems are relatively common in the community. The under-reporting of such problems calls for alternative ways of getting a true perspective of the prevalence of sexual dysfunction. AIM: To assess and investigate the concerns, ages and nationality of male users of a electronic helpline using it over 2 years (2009-2010). METHODS: Detailed records were kept of all emails and telephone calls to the helpline which included administrative and clinical queries. The clinical calls and some of the emails were answered by the administrator, while the majority of the emails were answered by a physician. This presentation will deal with the users who emailed for assistance with male sexual dysfunction. (n = 673). RESULTS: The helpline received a total of 6142 calls over the period of investigation, including administrative and press calls. Men accounted for 88% of the callers about sexual dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction accounted for 68% of the complaints by men who used the e-mail service. Premature ejaculation, loss of sex drive, genital problems and masturbation worries were other concerns that were received. A large number of men from the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent used the email service, mostly for premature ejaculation and masturbation worries, related to their arranged marriage. CONCLUSIONS: We found confirmation that the commonest sexual complaints in men were of erectile dysfunction and loss of sex drive. Significant correlations were identified between the types of sexual dysfunction and the age and ethnicity of the men who presented with them.

Evolution of organic aerosols in the atmosphere.

Organic aerosol (OA) particles affect climate forcing and human health, but their sources and evolution remain poorly characterized. We present a unifying model framework describing the atmospheric evolution of OA that is constrained by high-time-resolution measurements of its composition, volatility, and oxidation state. OA and OA precursor gases evolve by becoming increasingly oxidized, less volatile, and more hygroscopic, leading to the formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with concentrations comparable to those of sulfate aerosol throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Our model framework captures the dynamic aging behavior observed in both the atmosphere and laboratory: It can serve as a basis for improving parameterizations in regional and global models.

Teaching student-centred educational approaches to general practice teachers.

The people responsible for undergraduate medical education are being urged to devise curricula which are more learner centred and community oriented. This has huge implications for teacher training. A project is reported aimed at helping general practice teachers develop learner-centred educational approaches through one-day workshops, themselves arranged on learner-centred lines. An evaluation indicates these workshops met their aim, and seem most useful when participants have an opportunity to practise newly acquired skills as soon afterwards as possible.

The Guildford (University of Surrey) release course for trainee general practitioners.

A day-release course for trainee general practitioners is described, where the trainees decide on their own educational needs and work out a curriculum each term to meet those needs.