Methodological issues in menstrual research: menorrhagia reconsidered

BACKGROUND: Menorrhagia (excessive periods) is a very common reason for consultation with general practitioner, and the most common reason for referral to gynaecology clinic. The clinical definition is blood loss exceeding 80mls per period but measurement is seldom undertaken in routine clinical practice. Research has shown that many women presenting with menorrhagia have volume of blood loss in the normal range and that women's concerns are mainly the impact of periods on their lives, less about the volume of blood loss. The clinical definition of menorrhagia requires reconsideration, to better reflect the contemporary menorrhagia complaint.AIM: To examine the multi-faceted menorrhagia complaint in terms of: subjective account of menstrual periods and symptoms, psychosocial measures, socio-demographic factors, and objective measurement of the menstrual loss.STUDY DESIGN: The research comprises three overlapping parts: (1) a cross-sectional survey with (2) an embedded detailed prospective menstrual collection study, and (3) a follow-up (cohort) study of the earliest recruits to the survey group, the latter undertaken by case-note review. Local Ethical Research Committee approval was obtained for the study.STUDY POPULATION: All women aged 25 to 49 years newly referred for menstrual problems to collaborating consultants at gynaecology clinics at Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmaries, and Glasgow Western Infirmary. Problems eligible for inclusion in the survey were excessive periods, period pain, premenstrual changes, 'period problems' (non-specific) and irregular periods. Only those with putatively heavy periods (referral for that reason, or subjective judgement) were invited to have their blood loss measured

Descriptors and accounts of alcohol consumption:methodological issues piloted with female undergraduate drinkers in Scotland

Excessive drinking among young women continues to attract adverse media attention and is the target of UK government-led initiatives. Reliable research on alcohol consumption is needed to inform/evaluate public health interventions. This pilot study, investigating descriptors of alcohol drinking in female Scottish undergraduate students, comprised: (i) self-completed questionnaire survey (n=95); (ii) interview plus test pouring of a ‘drink’ (n=19). Self-reports by 70% of drinkers (n=90) indicated alcohol consumption for the ‘week past’ meriting classification as ‘binge’ drinking, and 83% of this group reported drinking in this fashion at least fortnightly. However, binge-drinking may be under-estimated, since poured drinks were measured to be on average double the alcohol content for a standard drink, drinking often occurred outwith licensed premises, and respondents preferred to quantify consumption in (fractions of) bottles, rather than glasses. Qualitative analysis showed that interviewees oriented to drinking as an accountable practice but were unaware of the clinical definition of binge drinking. They defined it in terms of the effect of alcohol consumed on individual behaviour, not in absolute quantities. Given the unreliability of self-reported consumption, future health surveys and initiatives should consider ‘quantifying’ alcohol in a way more meaningful to the population of interest, in terms of effect

Review of The Papered Wall: The History, Patterns and Techniques of Wallpaper by Lesley Hoskins

Translation from French to English by Pamela J. Warner of Jérémie Cerman\u27s book review of: Lesley Hoskins, ed. The Papered Wall: The History, Patterns and Techniques of Wallpaper, 2nd ed. London and New York: Thames & Hudson, 2005. 272 pp., 216 color pls., 153 b/w ills., bibliog., gloss., index. Paper, $34.95, £19.95

A New Method of Interpreting the Valois Tapestries, through a History of Catherine de Médicis

Translation of Pascal-François Bertrand\u27s article from French to English

Topical Themes from the Oberkampf Textile Manufactory, Jouy-en-Josas, France, 1760-1821

Translation of Aziza Gril-Mariotte\u27s article from French to English

The GSBI Methodology for Social Entrepreneurship: Lessons from 12 Years of Capacity Development with 365 Social Enterprises

The Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI®), a pioneer in social enterprise capacity development, has continuously improved its methodology since its founding in 2003. The lessons GSBI has learned from working with 365 social enterprises are broadly applicable to capacity development efforts across sectors and geographies. This paper introduces GSBI and explains the GBSI® methodology, with the goal of helping the global social enterprise movement create more exits from poverty

Diplomatic Gifts on Henri III\u27s Visit to Venice in 1574

Appendix 1 (pp. 101-6) translated from the French by Pamela J. Warner

Documents of Court Gifts Collected by Johann von Besser (1654-1729)

Appendix (pp. 121-73) translated from the German by Nicola Imrie, from the French by Pamela J. Warner, and from the Latin by Frederick J. McGuinness