Minerva

Death by hanging is the method most commonly chosen by suicidal people from ethnic minorities. A four year sample of people who had committed suicide in England and Wales found that 6% of them were from ethnic minorities, and among this group schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. The authors say that people from ethnic minorities may have more complex health and social needs, which will have to be addressed in order to reduce suicide rates in this group (British Journal of Psychiatry 2003;183: 155-60).

Having had type 1 diabetes mellitus for 10 years, with relatively poor metabolic control, this 16 year old developed significant reduction in the flexibility of her hands. The picture illustrates the “prayer” sign, one of the earliest and most severe complications seen particularly in type 1 diabetes. Some studies have shown that the prayer sign correlates with other microangiopathic complications, especially retinopathy.

Shriraam Mahadevan, senior resident, Pavanasam Velayutham, senior resident, Anil Bhansali, associate professor, department of endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

The level of fatigue after cancer treatment is the largest factor in predicting a return to work. Nearly two thirds (64%) of cancer survivors in a prospective cohort …