Body image disturbance, parental bonding and alexithymia in patients with eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate if body image disturbance and alexithymia, two major clinical features of eating disorders (ED), are predicted by an altered parental bonding. SAMPLING AND METHODS: 64 female ED outpatients and 68 female healthy controls were assessed by means of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Pearson's correlations and multiple stepwise regression analysis were applied to explore the contribution of PBI factors on BUT and TAS scores. RESULTS: BUT weight phobia, body image concerns, avoidance, depersonalization, Global Severity Index and positive symptom total were predicted by low parental care, while compulsive self-monitoring was predicted by parental overprotection. TAS total score and difficulty in describing feelings were predicted by low maternal care. CONCLUSIONS: Body image disturbance in ED may be conceptualized as a deficit in self-development, resulting from failures in parent-child interactions which impaired the ability to distinguish bodily needs from emotional experiences.

Eating Attitudes Test and culture: a study in northern and southern Italy.

The EAT (Eating Attitudes Test) has been widely used to compare eating morbidity in cultural groups and variations in it have been taken as indicative of cultural differences. This study assumed the existence of cultural differences between the north and the south of Italy. The EAT scores of female students from a northern and a southern Italian high school were compared. They were both higher than in other European studies, though there were no significant differences between the two groups. The result could be due to sampling limitations, but could also indicate that the EAT is not a reliable yardstick of cultural differences.

[Rational informative nuclear medicine diagnosis for cardiology]. / Rationell informative nuklearmedizinische Diagnostik für die Kardiologie.

A combined program in SYMA has been developed. It gives parameters for the left ventricle (LV) as well as for the right ventricle (RV); it also can be used as a basis for more specific details. We tried indeed to get more informations with less costs and time. Studying 163 patients (the mean age was 62 years) we have seen that ejection fraction (EF), wallmotion (WM) and CINE data show good results even in more complex events. From different points of view positive and negative aspects were discussed mainly concerning the role of nuclear medicine in clinic al cardiology. Typical samples have been shown. Final results are built up by two components; primarily the number of theoretical ideas are very helpful but otherwise practical experiences perfect the whole impression.

[Radionuclide cardangiography as non-invasive assessment in coronary heart disease (author's transl)]. / Die Radionuklidkardangiographie zur nichtinvasiven Beurteilung der koronaren Herzkrankheit.

The method of radionuclide cardangiography (RNCA) has become a well-established method amongst non-invasive assessments in coronary heart disease (CHD). By means of RNCA the most important parameters of left ventricular function, viz. ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion (WM), can be determined very exactly. The first bolus pass method (FBP), which allows satisfactory separation between right and left heart, enables the additional determination of EF distribution, stroke volume (SV) and SV distribution. This method requires the technical necessity of a multicrystal gamma camera. Special nuclear medicine characteristics have been worked out for different groups of CHD. EF and WM show typical signs of angina pectoris, caused by exercise correlating with reduced perfusion in the referring section of WM. While these changes may be reversible after nitrate administration, pathological myocardial function caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or manifest heart failure is not reversed by nitroglycerine. Typical findings were seen in the course of AMI: initial decrease in global EF and diffuse (multilocated) asynergies in the left ventricular wall; in the second week possible start of recovery, including regression of dyskinesia to akinesia at the end of hospitalization. Especially in the early phase of AMI it was demonstrated that FBP--as a non-invasive technique--gives high information quality which is unequalled by other comparable methods. Therefore, the described method of FBP should be classified as very useful and effective in clinical cardiology.

[Bone scintigraphy in osteodystrophia deformans (Paget's disease)]. / Knochenszintigraphie bei Osteodystrophia deformans (M. Paget).

The value of combined investigations using both scintiscanning and radiological procedures has been proved for the disease's extension and activity in 28 patients suffering from osteodystrophia deformans (Pagets disease). It was seen that such a method leads to more precise results concerning the patient's condition. Special therapy indications were set up, based on these summarized findings. A further advantage of bones scanning alone is the lower radiation dose, which is mainly indicated for control tests in Paget's course. At present, we have no experience of malignant forms of this disease among our group of patients.

[Diagnostic procedure in osteodystrophia deformans Paget]. / Diagnostisches Vorgehen bei Osteodystrophia deformans Paget.

Simultaneous scintigraphic and X-ray examination has been evaluated in 30 patients with Paget's disease for estimation of extension and activity of the disease. Scintigraphy produces a comprehensive picture of the pathophysiologic condition. When compared with X-rays the procedure is more economic with regards to cost, time and radiation dosage. Therefore, the use of radioisotopes for evaluation of the skeleton is strongly recommended for follow-up examination in Paget's disease.

[First clinical experiences with scintiphotosplenoportography]. / Erste klinische Erfahrungen mit der Szintiphotosplenoportographie

This paper reports on the clinical applicability and efficiency of Scintiphotosplenoportography (SPSP) by means of 99mTc Pertechnetate. This diagnostic process permits obtaining the following data: actual route and patency of the portal vein, localizing of collaterals, as well as information on the actual speed of portal flow. By determining the time of transit of the radionuclid via the collateral pathways into systemic circulation, additional assessments as to the hemodynamic functional importance of these collaterals can be made. This process is of particular value for the speedy assessment of the patency of a surgically effected portocaval shunt in cases of shunt-bleeders. In patients without cirrhosis, a stop in the filling along the course of the portal vein indicates portal thrombosis. In cases of manifest cirrhosis, however, the lack of an SPSP image for the proximal portal vein and the liver itself, merely points to the existence of extensive caudal collaterals. Traumatization as the result of intrasplenal application of a volume of less than 1 ml (of tracer) remains minimal. In contrast with radiological splenoportography this methods entails practically no risks. However, as a result of the restricted field of view and the relatively coarse power of resolution, the quality obtainable by szintiphotosplenoportography is somewhat inferior to that of X-ray splenoportography.