"You feel dirty a lot of the time" : policing 'dirty work', contamination and purification rituals

Following the controversial adoption of spit-hoods by some UK police forces, most recently by the London Metropolitan Police in February 2019, this article contributes to and extends debates on physical and symbolic contamination by drawing on established considerations of ‘dirty work’. The article argues that, for police officers, cleansing rituals are personal and subjective. As a relatively high-prestige occupation, police officers occupy a unique position in that they are protected by a status shield. Reflections from this ethnographic study suggest that the police uniform can be used as a vehicle for contamination and staff employ purification rituals and methods of taint management

To treat snoring with nasal steroids - effects on more than one level?

Conclusion. An inflammatory swelling in the uvula and nose due to vibration might be a contributing factor in snoring. The presence of corticosteroid receptors in the uvula indicates the possibility for treatment with local steroids. Use of mometasone furoate (MF) for 3 months reduced snoring and related symptoms in some patients. Objective. To investigate the effect of a nasal steroid, MF, on snoring and related discomfort. Subjects and methods. In the first part of the study, uvular and nasal biopsies from six patients with social snoring were examined using immunohistochemistry to evaluate whether corticosteroid receptors were present. Then 100 snoring patients were invited to participate in the second part of the study. In all, 72 men and 22 women with a mean age of 47 years and BMI 27 answered a questionnaire about symptoms, had ENT status assessed and reported sleep and related variables for a 7 day period. After randomization to placebo or MF, they used a nasal spray for 3 months at a dosage of 200 mu g. Thereafter the procedure was repeated. Results. Corticosteroid receptors were present in the mucous membranes and around the blood vessels in all uvulas examined. A total of 84 patients were evaluated. No decrease in mean snoring score was seen. Daytime sleepiness showed a slight improvement in the MF group and partners were less disturbed. Minor side effects were equal for both groups.This is an electronic version of an article published in:Elisabeth Hultcrantz, Lena Harder, Eva-Lena Zetterlund and Karin Roberg, To treat snoring with nasal steroids - effects on more than one level?, 2010, ACTA OTO-LARYNGOLOGICA, (130), 1, 124-131.ACTA OTO-LARYNGOLOGICA is available online at informaworldTM: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00016480902934211Copyright: Taylor & Francishttp://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.as