Implicit and explicit memory for shape, body weight, and food-related words in patients with anorexia nervosa and nondieting controls

Twelve patients with anorexia nervosa and 12 control participants watched a series of 64 words. There were 4 word types: anorexia related, positive, negative, and neutral. The last 3 types were anorexia unrelated. Anorexia-related words had the same affective valence as the neutral control words. Next, the participants completed an explicit memory test (cued recall) and an implicit memory test (word stem completion). Results showed a strong explicit memory bias for anorexia-related words for patients with anorexia nervosa but not for nondieting controls. There was no evidence for a similar bias in implicit memory. Results are discussed in the context of cognitive biases in psychopathology.

Body size estimation in anorexia nervosa patients: the significance of overestimation

Using the video distortion method on a life-size screen, we have studied body size estimation in 100 female restricting anorexia nervosa patients. About half of the patients were accurate in estimating their own body dimensions and only 20% clearly showed overestimation. We then tested whether differences in accuracy of estimation were related to scores on the following questionnaires: Eating Disorder Inventory; Body Attitude Test; and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90). Overestimators reported a more negative body attitude and a more "neurotic profile" on the SCL-90. These differences might have both prognostic and therapeutic implications.

Body size estimation in eating disorder patients: testing the video distortion method on a life-size screen

The video distortion method on a life-size screen is a new method for studying eating disordered patients' estimations of their own body width. Testing this method in female patients (53 with anorexia nervosa, 38 with bulimia nervosa) and 36 normal females, yielded high to very high reliability scores (consistency and test-retest stability). A careful analysis of the 'just noticeable difference' showed that a 5% deviation from the undistorted image should be considered as within the range of accuracy. Taking this into account, anorectic patients appear to score below, above, as well as within the normal range. Bulimia nervosa patients are either accurate in their body estimations or overestimate their body width. All control Ss are correct in their estimations. With this method no significant differences were found between the anorectic patients and the controls. Bulimics differ significantly from anorectics and controls on their optative responses (i.e. what they wanted to look like) and their affective responses (i.e. what they felt they looked like).

Patient's age is a simple predictive factor for the development of Nelson's syndrome after total adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease

Reportedly between 8-38% of patients who receive bilateral adrenalectomy for treatment of Cushing's disease will develop Nelson's syndrome. We investigated which factors may predict the development of the syndrome. Eight of 48 patients, bilaterally adrenalectomized for pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome 1-30 yr previously, developed Nelson's syndrome 1.5-13 yr (6.6 +/- 4.3 yr) after adrenalectomy. The mean age at adrenalectomy in the group of patients who developed Nelson's syndrome was significantly lower than that in the group without the syndrome (mean +/- SD, 26.0 +/- 6.0 and 35.6 +/- 11.7 yr, respectively; P < 0.02). In the patients adrenalectomized before the age of 35 yr, 8 of 27 (30%) developed Nelson's syndrome, whereas in the patients older than 35 yr, no one did (P < 0.02). No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in sex ratio, duration of disease before adrenalectomy, or duration of follow-up thereafter. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mean plasma cortisol and ACTH levels before adrenalectomy, cortisol suppressibility after the administration of 8 and 16 mg dexamethasone, or cortisol responses to CRH, TRH, and LH-releasing hormone before adrenalectomy. We conclude that age at the time of adrenalectomy is an important predictive factor for the development of Nelson's syndrome.

Residual adrenocortical function after bilateral adrenalectomy for pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome

The incidence of residual, functioning adrenal tissue in patients treated by total bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease is not known. Between 1962 and May 1988 50 patients with Cushing's disease were treated by bilateral adrenalectomy. Of these patients, 29 underwent surgery between 1962 and 1980, when bilateral adrenalectomy was the treatment of first choice in our hospital in patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome. In 37 patients the presence or absence of cortisol-producing tissue could be evaluated (follow-up period, median and range, 8.3 and 0.1-18.9 yr). Evidence of functioning cortisol-producing tissue (plasma cortisol level > 50 nmol/L after stopping glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid substitution therapy for 24 h) was found in 9 patients (24%). Plasma cortisol levels in these 9 patients varied between 60 and 330 nmol/L (mean +/- SD, 180 +/- 100 nmol/L). Signs and symptoms of recurrent Cushing's syndrome were present in only 1 patient. There was no difference in plasma ACTH levels and duration of follow-up between the patients with and without evidence of functioning cortisol-producing tissue. In all 9 patients detectable aldosterone levels indicated endogenous mineralocorticoid production, whereas in only 1 patient adrenaline was detectable in the circulation. In 8 of the 9 patients suspected of functioning cortisol-producing tissue we performed a stimulation test with synthetic ACTH (1-24). In 2 patients plasma cortisol levels rose, in 6 they remained virtually unchanged. Although we found clinically relevant signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome in only 1 of the 50 patients, the relatively high incidence of residual, functioning adrenal tissue after "total" adrenalectomy for pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome necessitates continuous surveillance for recurrent Cushing's syndrome. There is no place for routine administration of full replacement doses of glucocorticoids after total adrenalectomy.

Concurrent hypercortisolism and hyperaldosteronism due to an adrenal adenoma

The case of a 39-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome, hypertension and severe hypokalemia, caused by a unilateral adrenal adenoma composed of cells of the zona fasciculata histological type, is described. Plasma renin activity, plasma levels of mineralocorticoids and the aldosterone secretion rate were determined before and after surgical removal of the adenoma. The tumor appeared to produce autonomously cortisol as well as corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone. This condition has not previously been described in the literature and might be explained by strong expression of the full spectrum of activities of the mitochondrial enzyme P450 C11 by the tumor cells. Interestingly, despite hyperaldosteronism, plasma renin activity was not suppressed.

Do weak mineralocorticoids affect the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease?

Few studies have examined the effect of the weak mineralocorticoids corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone on the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease. Therefore we measured plasma levels of these mineralocorticoids together with plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity and the aldosterone secretion rate in 12 patients with Cushing's disease and in seven patients with essential hypertension. Plasma levels of aldosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone and the aldosterone secretion rate were similar in both groups of patients. Plasma renin activity, determined after 4 h of ambulation, was significantly higher in Cushing's disease than in essential hypertension. We conclude that it is unlikely that either aldosterone or the weak mineralocorticoids corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone play a specific role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease.

Lateral decompression of a pathological disc in the treatment of lumbar pain and sciatica

The posterolateral approach external to the vertebral canal allows decompression and the escape of disintegrating bits of abnormal nucleus pulposus. This simple, rapid, and least traumatic procedure is sufficient to relieve and to cure a significant number of patients (approximately 40%) suffering from intervertebral disc-related lumbar pain or sciatica. Among 225 patients with 338 discs operated on by the lateral decompression technique in the interval from 1978 to 1984, the overall results are encouraging.

Hypocalcemia due to osteoblastic metastases and diminished parathyroid reserve in a patient with advanced breast cancer

Symptomatic hypocalcemia is an uncommon finding in patients with malignant tumors. A patient with advanced breast cancer is described, who developed severe hypocalcemia in the course of her disease. The hypocalcemia was caused by the combination of enhanced calcium need due to progression of osteoblastic metastases and diminished parathyroid reserve due to tumorous infiltration of the parathyroid glands.

Role of proaggregatory and antiaggregatory prostaglandins in hemostasis. Studies with combined thromboxane synthase inhibition and thromboxane receptor antagonism

Thromboxane synthase inhibition can lead to two opposing effects: accumulation of proaggregatory cyclic endoperoxides and increased formation of antiaggregatory PGI2 and PGD2. The elimination of the effects of the cyclic endoperoxides by an endoperoxide-thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist should enhance the inhibition of hemostasis by thromboxane synthase blockers. We have carried out a series of double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies in healthy volunteers to check if this hypothesis may be operative in vivo in man. In a first study, in 10 healthy male volunteers, the combined administration of the thromboxane receptor antagonist BM 13.177 and the thromboxane synthase inhibitor dazoxiben gave stronger inhibition of platelet aggregation and prolonged the bleeding time more than either drug alone. In a second study, in 10 different healthy male volunteers, complete inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin reduced the prolongation of the bleeding time by the combination BM 13.177 plus dazoxiben. In a third study, in five volunteers, selective cumulative inhibition of platelet TXA2 synthesis by low-dose aspirin inhibited platelet aggregation and prolonged the bleeding time less than the combination BM 13.177 plus dazoxiben. In vitro, in human platelet-rich plasma stimulated with arachidonic acid, the combination of BM 13.177 and dazoxiben increased intraplatelet cAMP while the single drugs did not affect it. Our results indicate that prostaglandin endoperoxides can partly substitute for the activity of TXA2 in vivo in man and that an increased formation of endogenous antiaggregatory and vasodilatory prostaglandins, as obtained with selective thromboxane synthase inhibitors, may contribute to the impairment of hemostasis.

The role of epinephrine in the circulatory effects of coffee

The circulatory response to coffee was studied in 10 normotensive, 10 bilaterally adrenalectomized, and 10 hypertensive subjects. In the normotensive group, drinking coffee exerted a rise in blood pressure (+5.1/+11.5 mm Hg), a fall in heart rate (-6.0 bpm), a rise in plasma epinephrine (+257.2%), and no change in plasma norepinephrine. The response to coffee in the hypertensive group was similar or even enhanced. In the patients who had undergone adrenalectomy, the coffee-induced rise of diastolic blood pressure was attenuated (+7.9 mm Hg; P less than 0.05), whereas plasma norepinephrine showed a fall (-20.8%) and plasma epinephrine remained undetectable throughout all tests. Additionally, a fall of plasma renin activity after coffee was observed in all three groups. We conclude that the pressor response to coffee is not purely a result of circulating epinephrine or to stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. On the other hand, the coffee-induced increase of plasma epinephrine may increase the pressor response to coffee.

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea during treatment with bromocriptine for prolactinoma

A 47-year-old man exhibited loss of libido and impotence in association with plasma hyperprolactinemia and a pituitary mass with downward extension of the tumor to the sphenoid sinus and to the suprasellar cisterns. Bromocriptine, 15 mg daily, reduced the hyperprolactinemia as well as tumor size. After 8 months on this therapy, the patient developed overt CSF liquorrhea. Five days after discontinuation of bromocriptine, the CSF rhinorrhea stopped, and when bromocriptine was given again 2 weeks later, CSF rhinorrhea returned within 3 days. We believe this phenomenon to be due to retraction of tumor by bromocriptine exposing a defect in the sella floor. Transient occurrence of CSF rhinorrhea can be considered as a consequence of tumor regression in patients on bromocriptine. The possibility of this complication, especially in patients with downward extension of tumor, should be noted.

Tamoxifen versus ethinyl estradiol in the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer

In a randomized study, 63 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with ethinyl estradiol (EE2) or the antiestrogen tamoxifen to compare the efficacy and side effects of both drugs. EE2 was always given in combination with chlorothiazide to prevent fluid retention. Pretreatment characteristics of the patients of both groups did not differ significantly. Objective remissions were achieved in 31% of the EE2-treated patients and in 33% of the tamoxifen-treated patients. The median duration of remission was 12 months (range, 5-32) for the EE2 group and 11 months (range, 5-26) for the tamoxifen group (P greater than 0.1), and the estimated median survival times from the start of treatment were 31 and 25 months, respectively (P greater than 0.1). The best treatment results in both groups were obtained in patients with estradiol receptor-positive tumors and less advanced disease. After therapy was stopped, objective withdrawal responses were observed in EE2- but not in tamoxifen-treated patients. Two patients receiving EE2 had to discontinue treatment because of drug-related liver function impairment. Both patients had cholelithiasis. Two patients in the tamoxifen-treated group discontinued therapy because of nausea. Deep venous thrombosis occurred in one patient receiving EE2, whereas two patients receiving tamoxifen developed superficial thrombophlebitis. Other side effects in both groups of patients, including initial hypercalcemia, were mild. It is concluded that both treatment regimens, EE2 or tamoxifen, are equally effective with respect to induction and duration of remission in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. Side effects of EE2 therapy appeared to be more serious than those of tamoxifen treatment.