Spontaneous EEG activity and spontaneous emotion regulation.

Variability in both frontal and parietal spontaneous EEG activity, using α and ß band power and θ/ß and δ/ß ratios, was explored in a sample of 96 healthy volunteers as a potential correlate of individual differences in spontaneous emotion regulation (SER). Following a baseline EEG recording, participants were asked to continuously rate their discomfort while looking at affective pictures, as well as for a period of time after exposure. Greater spontaneous ß band power in parietal locations, lower frontal and parietal δ/ß ratios, and lower parietal θ/ß ratio were associated with lower ratings of discomfort after the offset of unpleasant pictures. Moreover, lower parietal δ/ß ratio was also related to less time needed to recover from discomfort after exposure to aversive pictures, while only a greater frontal and parietal α band power appeared to be associated with faster recovery from discomfort induced by normative-neutral pictures. However, parietal δ/ß ratio was the only predictor of both minimum discomfort ratings and time needed to downregulate following exposure to unpleasant pictures, and frontal α band power the only spontaneous EEG index that predicted variability in spontaneous down-regulation after the exposure to normative-neutral pictures. Results are discussed focusing on the utility of diverse spontaneous EEG measures in several cortical regions when capturing trait-like individual differences in emotion regulation capabilities and processes.

[Cemento-ossifing fibroma: two cases]. / Le fibrome cémento-ossifiant: deux cas.

INTRODUCTION: Cemento-ossifying fibroma is a rare benign tumor which can affect both jaw bones, particularly the mandible. CASE REPORTS: We report two cases of cemento-ossifying fibroma which illustrate the radiological and anatomic features of these tumors. Differential diagnosis between cementifying fibroma and ossifying fibroma was particularly difficult. The cementifying fibroma was treated by surgical resection followed by immediate reconstruction with an iliac bone graft. The ossifying fibroma was treated by enucleation-resection. DISCUSSION: The clinical, radiological and histological features of cementifying and ossifying fibroma allow distinction. Surgical treatment is achieved by enucleation resection for small-sized ossifying fibromas and mono-bloc resection with bone reconstruction for large-sized cementifying and ossifying fibromas.

[Parathyroid cervical hematoma: a case report]. / Hématome cervical d'origine parathyroïdienne: à propos d'un cas.

Haemorrhagic cysts of the parathyroid gland are rare. Our case report concerns a presentation with a constrictive cervical haematoma, confirmed by ultrasound-guided aspiration. The haematoma, rapidly recurred, indicating exploration of the neck and haemostasis. Histological examination of excised tissue showed the haemorrhagic nature of the cyst.

Making bureaucracy work.

What gives bureaucracy such a bad name? Is it bureaucracy in itself, or the ghosts in the system who, in a million minor drifts, contribute to turning efficiency into red-tape? Undesirable side-effects need not be confused with necessary first-level effects. There is nothing wrong with the bureaucratic system as such. Ultimately we could not work without it as it is the only known way of co-ordinating vast numbers of people to treat mass problems. However, like any tool, it is only as good as the people who use it, and its results are largely linked to the very agendas of the users. Understanding what makes bureaucracy work requires a good look at the implicit biases in the bureaucratic model, mostly seeded by its various founders and theoreticians, as well as tackling pragmatic issues of creating and applying rules--and where and when to change them.

Pagetoid Merkel cell carcinoma: epidermal origin of the tumor.

We report a case of intraepidermal Merkel cell carcinoma which occurred on the face of a 76-year-old white male. This slow-growing tumor was mostly confined in the epidermis and pilosebaceous apparatus where tumor cells spread in a pagetoid fashion forming tumor cell nests. Histologically it resembled a superficial spreading melanoma. A heavy lymphocytic infiltration was seen beneath the epidermal lesion as is often seen in pagetoid melanomas. Histochemical and ultrastructural features such as the presence of cytokeratin 20, synaptophysin, neuron specific enolase, desmosomes, and dense cored granules confirmed the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma. Occasional mitotic cells and many apoptotic cells were found in the tumor. Dylon positive, amyloid depositions were seen in the lower epidermis and papillary dermis; they were probably derived from apoptotic tumor cells. It was thought that apoptosis limited the speed of growth of this tumor. We believe that this is probably the most convincing case of intraepidermal Merkel cell carcinoma originating from epidermal Merkel cells or its precursors (stem cells).

Effect of alcohol on glucose, insulin, free fatty acid and triacylglycerol responses to a light meal in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

Alcohol accounts for 4-6% of the average energy intake in most Western countries. Alcohol-induced hypoglycaemia is a well-known and feared complication in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects, but little attention has been paid to the impact of alcohol on carbohydrate metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects the acute metabolic effects of a moderate amount of alcohol taken with a light meal, conditions chosen to mimic an everyday situation. The patients received 500 ml non-alcoholic beer with an alcohol content (ml/l) of 0 (treatment A) and 54 (treatment B) together with a light meal, implying identity of the contents of ingredients except for alcohol. We found similar serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid and triacylglycerol responses irrespective of addition of a modern amount of alcohol. In conclusion, a moderate amount of alcohol can be taken with a meal without eliciting hypoglycaemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

Wine for type 2 diabetic patients?

To ensure an acceptable quality of life for Type 2 diabetic patients, the food recommendations have to be as liberal and individualized as possible. Unfortunately, disagreements exists about the consumption of different types of wine. Diabetic patients are advised by some to restrain their wine intake and to use dry wine containing little carbohydrate, while others are more liberal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry and sweet wine on the glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes. Twelve diabetic patients consumed a light meal with either 300 ml tap water 300 ml dry white wine, 300 ml sweet white wine with ethanol added or 300 ml dry white wine with glucose added. Similar glucose, insulin, and triglyceride responses were obtained in all four situations. There was a greater suppression of the free fatty acid levels in the three situations with wine as compared with water (p < 0.001). This effect may be caused by an attenuation of the free fatty acid mobilization and esterification of free fatty acids to triglycerides induced by alcohol. Our results indicate that patients with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes can drink moderate amounts of wine with meals without risking acute deterioration of glycaemic control. Whether the wine is dry or sweet has no impact on the glycaemic control.

Metastatic umbilical carcinoma: the Sister Joseph's nodule.

Metastatic umbilical carcinoma has been referred to by generations of physicians as Sister Joseph's nodule. Though not common, this characteristic lesion is important to recognize and properly evaluate. We present a case of an eighty-two-year-old woman with a Sister Joseph's nodule due to an unknown primary carcinoma, and we review the diagnostic and prognostic features of umbilical metastases.

The efficacy of adhesives in the application of wound dressings.

The use of adhesive preparations to reinforce surgical tapes and to secure dressings to the skin is standard practice. BioBrane is a biosynthetic membrane for use in dressing clean, well-debrided wounds, particularly partial-thickness burns and skin graft donor sites. The close and undisturbed contact of this material with the wound surface is important during the first 2 days after its application to achieve adherence. This has prompted a study to test the relative anchoring strength of four methods of securing the dressing to the normal skin around the wound: 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) Steri-Strips only; Mastisol, a mastic compound, with and without 1/2-inch Steri-Strips; and compound tincture of benzoin, USP, in combination with 1/2-inch Steri-Strips. The results obtained with a tension of 1.1 pounds/square inch (0.5 kg/6.5 cm2) were not conclusive as to the superiority of any one method. However, with a tension of 2.2 pounds/square inch (1 kg/6.5 cm2), the combination of mastic compound and 1/2-inch Steri-Strips provided the strongest adhesion. This type of application should also prove useful when other types of surgical dressings must be anchored in place.

Alopecia areata.

Although a specific etiology remains undetermined, most evidence points to an autoimmune pathogenesis for alopecia areata. Treatments for alopecia areata are likely to remain palliative until its etiology is better understood. Even it prolonged remissions cannot always be achieved with the treatments presently available, preservation of hair regrowth with maintenance therapy is a reasonable goal. When this is not possible, the value of supportive interaction with patient and family should not be minimized, as the psychologic effects of the disease can be great. Support groups such as those sponsored by the Alopecia Areata Foundation cna assist the physician in this endeavor.

Rehabilitation of Danish dialysis and transplant patients.

An evaluation of the extent of rehabilitation of 512 Danish dialysis and transplant patients, based on a questionnarie, has been carried out. All transplanted patients and dialysis patients and dialysis patients with only slightly limited working capacity before treatment experienced an improvement, whereas disabled dialysis patients did not experience major changes. Sixty per cent of the patients receive disablement pension and the allotment of pension early in the course of treatment is suspected to be one of the main reasons for the low degree of vocational rehabilitation.