Exercise and eating disorder symptoms among young females.

BACKGROUND: In various settings, eating disorder symptoms have been linked to physical activity. METHODS: A random sample of 726 females, aged 17-23 years, responded on a self-administered questionnaire. "High level exercisers" (HiEx) were defined as subjects exercising > or =6 sessions/week, > or =1 h/session. "Exercisers with obligatory attitudes" (ObEx) were those obtaining a result above the 95th percentile on a composite score of obligatory exercise items. These groups were compared to controls regarding composite scores of eating disorder symptoms and other symptoms. RESULTS: While HiEx did not, ObEx obtained a significant result at the p<0.001 level regarding the score for body image problems, recurrent weight-reducing attempts, bingeing and post-prandial impulses to vomit. ObEx was also associated with symptoms related to stress and in particular with a high level of general activity coupled with perfectionistic ambitions. CONCLUSIONS: Eating disorder symptoms in young females seem to be associated with obligatory attitudes to exercise rather than with exercise quantity.

Leptomeningeal spread of intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Report of three cases.

Three patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors and secondary leptomeningeal spread of their tumors are presented. Two patients had astrocytomas and one had a ganglioglioma. Two tumors were located in the cervical spinal cord and one within the thoracic spinal cord. Review of the past and recent literature shows leptomeningeal dissemination of spinal cord tumors to be relatively rare, but it should be suspected and investigated in any patient whose condition deteriorates following removal of a spinal cord neoplasm.