The role of personality in body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating: discrepancies between men and women.

BACKGROUND: Body image and disordered eating research has focused mostly on the female experience. The present study examined gender differences in the relationship between personality, disordered eating, and body image dissatisfaction. METHODS: Participants were 238 female and 85 male undergraduates (Mage = 20.52 years, SD = 4.22) at a Canadian university. Materials included a battery of self-report questionnaires pertaining to personality, body image, and disordered eating. RESULTS: As expected, females reported more body dissatisfaction and disordered eating than males. Personality factors were found to be significantly related to the experience of body dissatisfaction in both genders. Further, several personality traits significantly contributed to the prediction of male (high Neuroticism, low Conscientiousness) and female (high Neuroticism) body dissatisfaction beyond the influence of body mass index (BMI). Interestingly, and contrary to findings with female participants, personality traits were not significantly related to disordered eating scores in men. Among women, disordered eating scores were significantly predicted by high Neuroticism and Extraversion, and low Conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS: Although the relationship between disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, and personality is well-documented in females, this relation may differ for males. The focus on male body image has been increasing in Western society; exploring how males view their bodies may be beneficial to researchers and clinicians alike.

Comparison of VivaSight double-lumen tube with a conventional double-lumen tube in adult patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

The efficiency of a double-lumen tube depends on its position in the airways, which can be verified by fibreoptic bronchoscopy. The VivaSight DL is a single-use double-lumen tube with a camera embedded in the tube's right side. The view from the camera appears continuously on a monitor. In this prospective study of 71 adult patients, we compared intubation times using either the VivaSight DL or a conventional double-lumen tube. Median (IQR [range]) duration of intubation with visual confirmation of tube position was significantly reduced using the VivaSight DL compared with the conventional double-lumen tube (51 (42-60 [35-118]) s vs 264 (233-325 [160-490]) s, respectively, p < 0.0001). None of the patients allocated to the VivaSight DL required fibreoptic bronchoscopy during intubation or surgery. The VivaSight DL enables significantly more rapid intubation compared with the conventional double-lumen tube.

Pleural fluid analysis of lung cancer vs benign inflammatory disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Correct diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE) as either benign or malignant is crucial, although conventional cytological evaluation is of limited diagnostic accuracy, with relatively low sensitivity rates. METHODS: We identified biological markers accurately detected in a simple PE examination. We analysed data from 19 patients diagnosed with lung cancer (nine adeno-Ca, five non-small-cell Ca (not specified), four squamous-cell Ca, one large-cell Ca) and 22 patients with benign inflammatory pathologies: secondary to trauma, pneumonia or TB. RESULTS: Pleural effusion concentrations of seven analysed biological markers were significantly lower in lung cancer patients than in benign inflammatory patients, especially in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-3 and CycD1 (lower by 65% (P<0.000003), 40% (P<0.0007) and 34% (P<0.0001), respectively), and in Ki67, ImAnOx, carbonyls and p27. High rates of sensitivity and specificity values were found for MMP-9, MMP-3 and CycD1: 80 and 100%; 87 and 73%; and 87 and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although our results are of significant merit in both the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of lung cancer, further research aimed at defining the best combination for marker analysis is warranted. The relative simplicity in analysing these markers in any routine hospital laboratory may result in its acceptance as a new diagnostic tool.

Immuno-chemotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: long-term results from the rambam and linn medical centers, Haifa, Israel.

Nephrectomy, immuno-chemotherapy and resection of residual disease have been the treatment of choice for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma during the past decades. The aim of this study was to report the long-term results of this treatment approach. Sixty-two patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma participated in a Phase II study. At diagnosis, 32 patients had localized disease, 30 had metastatic disease and 53 underwent nephrectomy. Metastatic sites were lungs, lymph nodes, bones and liver. Immuno-chemotherapy consisted of: interleukin-2, interferon alpha, 5-fluorouracil and vinblastine. All patients were evaluated for toxicity and response to treatment. CR was achieved in 4 patients and PR in 14. Seven patients, with maximum response to immuno-chemotherapy underwent resection of residual tumor and reached CR. Therefore, CR was achieved in 11 patients (18%) with a median survival of +67 months. Flu-like symptoms were the common side effects. Performance status and histology type significantly affected survival. Nephrectomy, immuno-chemotherapy and resection of residual disease are recommended for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax: the long-term benefit.

BACKGROUND: Management of recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax by open surgery was considered the treatment of choice until recently. The major drawbacks of this management are the prolonged postoperative pain and cosmetic results. In the last decade, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has replaced the routine use of open surgery. Most papers that compared limited open surgery to VATS addressed the early postoperative results, and studies that assessed the long-term results focused primarily on the rate of recurrence and pulmonary function tests. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of minithoracotomy and VATS with emphasis on patients' long-term, subjective perspective and satisfaction. METHODS: Medical records of patients with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent surgical treatment by limited thoracotomy (63 patients) or VATS (58 patients) more than 3 years ago were enrolled. Hospital medical charts were used to compare the early postoperative results. Outpatient clinic records and a telephone questionnaire were employed to evaluate long-term results. RESULTS: There was no mortality or major morbidity in either group, and hospitalization time was similar. Patients in the thoracotomy group needed significantly higher doses of narcotic analgesia for a longer period. There were two cases of recurrence in the VATS group (3%). Seventy-eight percent of patients in the VATS and 21% in the thoracotomy group classified their pain as insignificant a month following the operation (P < 0.05). Three years following surgery, 97% of the VATS group patients considered themselves completely recovered from the operation compared with only 79% in the thoracotomy group (P < 0.05). Nineteen percent of the thoracotomy group and 3% of the VATS group suffered from chronic or intermittent pain necessitating use of analgesics more than once a month. Thirteen percent of patients from the open procedure group required services from the pain clinic. Patients in the VATS group were, in general, much more satisfied with their operation and with the surgical scars compared with patients from the thoracotomy group. CONCLUSION: We recommend video-assisted surgery as the first-line surgical treatment for patients with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. This recommendation is based on its somewhat favorable early postoperative course, the superior long-term outcome, and patient satisfaction.

Non-surgical treatment for post pneumonectomy empyema.

We describe an alternative treatment for postpneumonectomy empyema in patients for which Claggett procedure is inappropriate. During the years 1990-2002 eight patients with postpneumonectomy empyema were treated by continuous soft tube thoracostomy, intrapleural fibrinolysis and antibiotics. The medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. The procedure was well tolerated by all patients and there were no significant complications during the treatment period. One patient died 9 months postpneumonectomy due to metastatic disease. The remaining patients have successfully completed the treatment with no recurrence of empyema. Continuous soft tube drainage with intrapleural fibrinolysis and antibiotics is a safe treatment for postpneumonectomy empyema in patients who are not appropriate candidates for operative management.

Modified Seldinger technique for the insertion of standard chest tubes.

Closed tube thoracostomy is a standard procedure for the evacuation of air, blood, or other materials from the pleural space. This paper describes a modification of the Seldinger technique that facilitates chest tube insertion. Either a Nelaton or Thieman catheter is threaded into the side drainage hole and out the tip of a standard Argyle-type chest tube. After using the clamp to insert the catheter into the pleural space through a previously dissected tract, the catheter serves as a guide over which the chest tube is inserted. The technique is simple to use, effective, and safe. It employs standard, inexpensive materials to insert chest tubes in such a way as to minimize the potential traumatic complications inherent in other techniques.

Detection of isolated distant metastasis in soft tissue sarcoma by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: case report.

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), labeled with F-18, is a glucose analog that accumulates in cells in proportion to the rate of glucose metabolism, and increased carbohydrate metabolism has been recognized as a feature of malignant cells versus normal cells. In addition, it permits the detection of metastases not discovered by bone scan. Although detection of the primary site of disease is usually accomplished well with conventional techniques, the performance of FDG positron emission tomography (PET) may be useful to determine metastases that are not clinically evident. The authors describe a case of early detection of distant metastases by FDG-PET in a young patient diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma of the hand.

Graph use in psychology and other sciences.

Since the early 19th century, graphs have been recognised as an effective method of analysing and representing scientific data. However, levels of graph use have varied widely since then, partly due to increasing reliance on inferential statistics in some fields. Recent studies indicate that graph use is closely related to the 'hardness' of scientific disciplines, and that this finding holds for journal articles and textbooks across the subfields of psychology. In the area of animal behaviour, journals devote about one-sixth of their page space to graphs, a level of graph use approximating that of biology and physics. Implications for the training of scientists in the use of visual displays are considered.

[Treatment of sputum retention by minitracheostomy].

Maintenance of bronchopulmonary hygiene is mandatory for preventing complications of respiratory therapy in the hospitalized patient. Removal of secretions from the tracheobronchial tree is crucial. Conventional therapy, designed to assist in dislodging airway secretions, includes chest physical therapy, incentive spirometry, transnasal endotracheal suctioning and bronchoscopy. Minitracheostomy was first described by Matthews and Hopkinson for recurrent endotracheal suctioning in 1984. Since then there have been few papers about it, but they report good results with low morbidity. Despite this, its use is not popular in routine clinical work. We report our experience with minitracheostomy in the prevention of sputum retention. We conclude that its use is easy, safe and very effective in preventing postoperative and post-traumatic respiratory complications.

Primary malignant melanoma of the anterior mediastinum in a child.

Primary malignant melanoma of the mediastinum is extremely rare. We report a case not previously reported of primary malignant melanoma located in the mediastinum in a 11-year-old boy. The tumor could not be completely resected as a result of extensive invasion of the large blood vessels. Histologically, the tumor was heavily pigmented and composed of vague fascicles of spindle cells intermingled with epithelioid cells. Immunohistochemical analysis showed vimentin, S-100 protein, Melan-A, and HMB-45 immunoreactivity in most of the tumor cells. Nearly 50% of the tumor cells were also positive for p53. It is suggested that primary malignant melanoma of the anterior mediastinum may have a histogenetic relationship to the recently described aggregates of nevus cells in the thymus or mediastinal lymph nodes.

Psychology without p values. Data analysis at the turn of the 19th century.

Although the fledgling psychology of 100 years ago was assertively empirical, there were no inferential statistics to guide psychologists' data analyses. However, 19th-century developments had left psychology with a rich array of techniques for analyzing and presenting data, some of which remain underutilized today. These include comparisons across replications, within-subject designs, reanalysis of data, analyses of factorial designs, and especially the use of tables and graphs. As the merits of hypothesis-testing statistics are debated at the turn of the 21st century, the history of data-handling practices can remind psychologists that there are many ways to overcome the current uniformity of statistical practice.

Gastric tube gastrectomy.

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased significantly in recent years. Early detection of a small mucosal tumor by endoscopy is occurring more frequently. This, together with improved results of surgical treatment, has created a new population of patients with prolonged post-esophagectomy survival. Adenocarcinoma in the reconstructed gastric tube is no longer a rare finding and is expected to be even more common in the future. We report a case of a patient treated for metachronous gastric tube carcinoma and discuss the steps of the surgical procedure.

Pleural empyema: An unusual presentation of esophageal perforation.

A 67-year-old patient presented with pleural empyema as the sole manifestation of thoracic esophageal perforation, 2 weeks after accidental fish bone ingestion. Nonspecific chest pain and general deterioration, unusual presenting symptoms in themselves, accounted for the extreme delay in the diagnosis. The empyema was treated surgically, and the esophageal perforation conservatively. Despite the poor prognostic factors, the patient recovered completely after 50 days in hospital.

Is there a role for low doses of mitotane (o,p'-DDD) as adjuvant therapy in adrenocortical carcinoma?

Four patients suffering from adrenocortical carcinoma were treated with low doses (1.5-2.0 g) of mitotane (o,p'-DDD) for the complete follow-up time following surgery (21-68 months). Treatment with mitotane was started shortly after surgical removal of the tumor (three patients) or the tumor and multiple lung metastasis (one patient). No significant side effects or complications from the medication were noted. Two patients remain disease free after 57 and 21 months on treatment. A third patient died of an unrelated reason (varicose vein bleeding) after 68 months on mitotane without evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis. In the fourth patient, two lung metastasis were successfully removed after 48 months of follow-up. The patient is doing well and is disease free 6 months later. Though our series is too small to draw final conclusions, we suggest that low doses of mitotane, which are well tolerated, might offer prolonged disease-free survival in adrenocortical carcinoma. To be beneficial treatment has to be started early after surgical removal of the tumor and metastasis, and be continued for long periods of time.

[Transthoracic approach for removing adrenal masses].

Early results with the transthoracic approach for removing adrenal tumors were evaluated. Between May 1994 and December 1995, 8 women and 5 men (aged 18-74) with adrenal masses underwent transthoracic adrenalectomy. All were excised successfully with short operation times (mean: 86 min), minimal blood loss (151 ml), limited use of parenteral analgesics (1.3 days), early ambulation (1.7 days post operation) and a short period of parenteral nutrition (1.7 days), resulting in reduced hospital stay (mean 6.7 days). With the transthoracic approach procedures are quick and safe even for large, malignant, and hormone-producing tumors. Recovery is easy with brief hospitalization. It provides excellent exposure of the adrenals, enables good control of bleeding vessels and is therefore our preferred method for removing adrenal masses.