Monocular band optic atrophy.

Band or "bow tie" optic atrophy is characterized by well-described ophthalmoscopic findings in the optic nerve and nerve fiber layer and homonymous hemianopia. It is typically associated with compressive lesions of the pregeniculate postchiasmal visual pathway or, less commonly, congenital malformations affecting the postgeniculate radiations or cortex. A unique case with band optic atrophy is described because of the unilateral visual defect. The optic atrophy is strictly unilateral and without an obvious structural lesion that could explain the optic disc damage. However, incidental cerebral gray matter cortical heterotopia may mark a congenital insult that contributed to both of these abnormal findings.

The development of the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) and its use among primary-care attenders with common mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Recent anthropological studies have documented the importance of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of mental illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has facilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengthy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explanatory models for use in field work. METHOD: The development of the SEMI, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The interview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenting problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness. RESULTS: The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorders among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different ethnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings. CONCLUSIONS: The simplicity and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in different cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quantitative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.

The development of the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) and its use among primary-care attenders with common mental disorders

BACKGROUND: Recent anthropological studies have documented the importance of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of mental illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has facilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengthy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explanatory models for use in field work. METHOD: The development of the SEMI, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The interview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenting problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness. RESULTS: The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorders among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different ethnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings. CONCLUSIONS: The simplicity and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in different cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quantitative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.(Au)

Evolving patterns of iatrogenic multifetal pregnancy generation: implications for aggressiveness of infertility treatments.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the changes in multifetal pregnancy generation as a function of utilization of ovulation stimulation and assisted reproductive techniques and to document the relative control of hyperstimulation between the methods. STUDY DESIGN: The methods of infertility treatment, number of fetuses, and outcomes of 220 patients referred for multifetal pregnancy reduction were compared over three time periods (1986 to 1989, 1991 to 1992, and 1992 to 1993). Clomiphene, human menopausal gonadotropin, and ovulation stimulation with urofollitropin were compared against gamete intrafallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, and in vitro fertilization (assisted reproductive techniques). RESULTS: The proportion of multifetal pregnancies generated by assisted reproductive techniques has steadily risen from 26% in the first two time periods to nearly half in the last 2 years. However, the number and proportion of quintuplet and greater pregnancies from assisted reproductive techniques have steadily fallen while for ovulation stimulation the proportion has remained about one third. CONCLUSION: Despite considerably increased use and proportionate generation of triplet and quadruplet pregnancies, the incidence of quintuplets has fallen for assisted reproductive techniques while there has been no improvement for ovulation stimulation. Continued, greater vigilance, particularly in the use of human menopausal gonadotropin and urofollitropin, must be emphasized.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: specific relations to ventricular size and negative symptomatology.

A number of studies of schizophrenia have demonstrated associations between cognitive impairment and both cerebral ventricle size and negative symptomatology. The nature of these associations, however, have been obscured by interstudy differences in the assessment of cognitive functioning and by the lack of function-related specificity in measures of structural brain abnormality. In this study, 28 SCID-diagnosed chronic schizophrenic inpatients were administered a brief comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, a computed tomography (CT) scan, and were rated for positive and negative symptomatology. Enlarged ventricle-to-brain ratio (VBR) of the anterior portion of the lateral ventricles, the frontal horns, was found to be related to deficits in general intellectual level, conceptual thinking, immediate verbal memory, and psychomotor speed. VBR of the more usually studied bodies of the lateral ventricles was associated only with deficits in verbal memory and motor speed. VBRs were unrelated to both positive and negative symptom measures in this sample. Results suggest that more widespread impairment of schizophrenics' cognitive functioning may be related to structural abnormality within the frontal lobes, complementing recent findings linking structural and metabolic abnormalities of this area of the brain to the disease itself.

Computed tomography and the thyroglossal duct cyst.

Thyroglossal duct cysts (TDC) classically present as midline neck masses in close relation to the hyoid bone; yet--not uncommonly--their locations may be varied from the midline and from the hyoid. By means of the diagnostic modality of computed tomography (CT), high-resolution images of several cases of alternate presentations and locations of the TDC are examined. Included are examples of TDC in the suprahyoid, transhyoid, infrahyoid, and lateral positions. The potential value of CT in the diagnosis of the unusual cyst will be demonstrated and discussed.

Treatment of total retinal detachment in morning glory syndrome.

A 14-year-old girl had headaches and sudden loss of vision as a result of total retinal detachment in association with the morning glory optic nerve anomaly. Metrizamide cisternography with contrast dye introduced into the subarachnoid space disclosed migration of metrizamide with radiographic enhancement in the subretinal space. The demonstration of an abnormal communication between the subarachnoid and subretinal spaces suggested that the subretinal fluid is of cranial origin. The patient underwent surgical removal of a window of dura from the optic nerve sheath. This resulted in retinal reattachment and improvement of visual acuity to 20/200. The retina was still attached after a 15-month follow-up period.