What is meant by the term "binge"?

Systematic examination of the use of the word "binge" by 243 young women revealed discrepancies between the lay and technical uses of the term; the young women placed great emphasis on loss of control and less on the quantity eaten. These discrepancies indicate that the term "binge" should be clearly defined in clinical practice.     

Multiple reference frames in neglect? An investigation of the object-centred frame and the dissociation between "near" and "far" from the body by use of a mirror

In this single case study of a man (AE) who suffered a right hemisphere stroke we showed the co-existence of neglect within different spatial frames: (a) In left hemispace and (b) in 'far' versus 'near' space, both as defined from the patient's viewpoint, as well as (c) for the left side of an object (as defined from an object-centred view). In the experiment, AE's latencies to name the colour of two cubes, each located in one hemispace, were measured. In some conditions, the cubes were placed on a table but in other conditions each cube was held in one hand of an experimenter who could either face the patient or show the cubes while her back was turned towards him. One prediction was that AE would show longer latencies for cubes in left hemispace; however, if object-centred neglect also occurred, then latencies should be even longer for cubes held in the experimenter's left hand. In order to reveal the presence of neglect for 'far' versus 'near' space, the cubes could also be positioned either near to (i.e. reaching distance) or far from the patient (i.e., several metres out of reach), by moving the table or the experimenter. Finally, in some conditions, AE looked at the cubes into a mirror that was positioned far away from his body. Because external objects seen in a mirror can be 'near' the patient's body, the patient actually looked at a 'far' location (i.e. the surface of the mirror) to see an object that is 'near'. The experiment confirmed the presence of all forms of neglect, since AE not only named the colour of a cube seen in his left hemispace more slowly than in right hemispace, but latencies increased for a cube held by the experimenter in her left hand and in left hemispace (both when the left hand was seen directly or as a mirror reflection). Finally, AE's performance was worse for 'far' than 'near' locations, when the cubes were physically located near his body (i.e., within "grasping" space) but seen in the mirror.     

Neurocognitive deficits and functional outcome in schizophrenia: are we measuring the "right stuff"?

There has been a surge of interest in the functional consequences of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The published literature in this area has doubled in the last few years. In this paper, we will attempt to confirm the conclusions from a previous review that certain neurocognitive domains (secondary verbal memory, immediate memory, executive functioning as measured by card sorting, and vigilance) are associated with functional outcome. In addition to surveying the number of replicated findings and tallying box scores of results, we will approach the review of the studies in a more thorough and empirical manner by applying a meta-analysis. Lastly, we will discuss what we see as a key limitation of this literature, specifically, the relatively narrow selection of predictor measures. This limitation has constrained identification of mediating variables that may explain the mechanisms for these relationships.     

Editorial: Evidence in the real world – the need for context and the gender gap

We are in a competitive, burgeoning market for journals and currently in a transition to open access publications, with the aim of making research more widely accessible. Where is the place for practice-based journals in this new and evolving world of publishing? The recent growth of CAMH in terms of Impact Factor, downloads and submissions suggests there is a need for such journals. Professionals are swamped with research findings, often contradictory, sometimes inflammatory, with little time to explore the meaning of these findings within the real world. This editorial reflects on the need for academics and practitioners to be able to debate the evidence base within the real world context (or to consider the lack of it) to inform practice and policy, and also on the importance of providing a platform for topics that are current and/or controversial. Recent contributions to CAMH are highlighted, namely the perceived gender gap in research on emotional disorders in women and girls, and the need for an ethical data sharing framework for academics to investigate the potential harms and benefits of technology. CAMH will continue to ask questions, and aim to remain relevant by focusing on both the evidence and real world context, in order to inform best practice and policy decisions.     

Rathke’s pouch remnant and its regression process in the prenatal period

Objects

During ontogeny, part of Rathke’s pouch, a physiologically superior pouching of the stomodeal ectoderm, may remain, forming the usual anomaly known as Rathke’s cleft cyst. More rarely, however, the entire pouch (i.e., the craniopharyngeal canal) remains, resulting in transsphenoidal meningoencephalocele. This study is aimed to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis.

Materials and methods

We histologically evaluated the inferior protrusion of the putative hypophysial fossa in 35 embryonic and fetal heads, respectively (15 at 5–8 weeks and 20 at 12–16 weeks of gestation).

Results

In 3 of the 35 specimens, we observed a complete cleft originating from the adenohypophysis, passing through the sphenoid and connecting with the pharyngeal epithelium or pharyngobasilar fascia. In another 18 specimens, we observed a duct-like structure protruding from the fossa and ending in the sphenoid. The sellar protrusion contained vein-like structures and debris of red blood cells. The protrusion was located on the anterior or anterosuperior side of the notochord. No ossification center was observed around the sellar region of the embryos. Although ossification occurred in 12 of the 20 fetuses, nine of the latter showed no evidence of cleft or protrusion, indicating that the incidence of Rathke’s pouch remnant was lower in the fetuses (11/20) than in the embryos (11/15).

Conclusion

Rathke’s pouch may be closed by ossification of the sphenoid, but increased cell proliferation and/or large amounts of degenerated veins may provide a structure resistant to the mechanical pressure caused by ossification.     

Correlation between current intensity and effective duration in the treatment of botulinus toxin for cerebral palsy by myoelectricity locating

INTRODUCTIONThe spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type in cerebral palsy,and about 60%- 70% children with cerebral palsy are spastic type [1].Spasticity not only hinders the normal motor development of child, butalso causes the complication such a…     

Privilege in the Federal Courts: should there be a "dangerous patient exception"?

Although a 1996 U.S. Supreme Court decision affirmed that therapists cannot be compelled to testify in federal proceedings about patients' disclosures, a footnote could be interpreted as creating a "dangerous patient exception" when there is a serious threat of harm. This column describes circuit courts' differing views about whether such an exception exists and the value of an exception. Although the footnote appears to indicate the Supreme Court's inclinations to create an exception to psychiatrist-patient privilege in some cases, opponents have made strong arguments that a dangerous patient exception would inhibit help seeking by those in whose treatment society has the strongest interest -- people who have harmed or are likely to harm others.     

BOLD fMRI signal in stroke patients and its importance for prognosis in the subacute disease period – Preliminary report

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows for the assessment of neuronal activity through the blood-level-dependent signal. The purpose of study was to evaluate the pattern of brain activity in fMRI in patients with ischemic stroke and to assess the potential relationship between the activity pattern and the neurological/functional status.

What interests them in the pictures？ - Differences in eyetracking between rhesus monkeys and humans

Studies estimating eye movements have demonstrated that non-human primates have fixation patterns similar to humans at the first sight of a picture.In the current study,three sets of pictures containing monkeys,humans or both were presented to rhesus monkeys and humans.The eye movements on these pictures by the two species were recorded using a Tobii eye-tracking system.We found that monkeys paid more attention to the head and body in pictures containing monkeys,whereas both monkeys and humans paid more attention to the head in pictures containing humans.The humans always concentrated on the eyes and head in all the pictures,indicating the social role of facial cues in society.Although humans paid more attention to the hands than monkeys,both monkeys and humans were interested in the hands and what was being done with them in the pictures.This may suggest the importance and necessity of hands for survival.Finally,monkeys scored lower in eye-tracking when fixating on the pictures,as if they were less interested in looking at the screen than humans.The locations of fixation in monkeys may provide insight into the role of eye movements in an evolutionary context.