Needs assessment in forensic learning disability.

This paper gives the results of a needs assessment of a group of learning-disabled forensic patients from two Strategic Health Authority areas in the north of England. The patients were found to be a heterogeneous group with wide-ranging psychiatric needs. The majority were cared for outside their geographical area of origin, either in specialist NHS facilities or the independent sector. Those with an additional diagnosis of mental illness were most likely to be detained in NHS facilities within the region: a diagnosis of personality disorder was associated with placement in either a high secure setting or the independent sector. Individuals with a clinical diagnosis of mental retardation were most likely to be detained in services provided by specialist learning disability/mental health trusts out of area. There was a small group of females who were all placed outside the region. Offending behaviour was most likely to consist of violence against the person, sexual offences and arson. The majority assessed were felt to have long term needs. The study raised important implications for future provision of forensic services in the area, particularly the need to offer services with treatment programmes tailored to the needs of the population under review.

Genome-wide screening for complete genetic loss in prostate cancer by comparative hybridization onto cDNA microarrays.

We demonstrate that comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) onto cDNA microarrays may be used to carry out genome-wide screens for regions of genetic loss, including homozygous (complete) deletions that may represent the possible location of tumour suppressor genes in human cancer. Screening of the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC3 and DU145 allowed the mapping of specific regions where genome copy number appeared altered and led to the identification of two novel regions of complete loss at 17q21.31 (500 kb spanning STAT3) and at 10q23.1 (50-350 kb spanning SFTPA2) in the PC3 cell line.