The interaction of personality disorders and eating disorders: a two-year prospective study of patients with longstanding eating disorders

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the relation between personality disorders and symptoms of both eating disorders and general psychopathology over time. METHOD: Seventy-four patients, with a mean age of 30 years and admitted to a hospital for treatment of a chronic eating disorder, were assessed using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders (SCID-II) at admission, and after 1 and 2 years. RESULTS: At the 2-year follow-up, there was considerable reduction in both personality and symptoms (effect size = 0.83-0.94). Panel modeling using structural equation modeling techniques indicated that symptomatic changes generally preceded changes in the personality disorder. DISCUSSION: Eating disorder symptoms and general symptomatology had direct effects on a dimensional personality disorder index. Thus, personality disorders may be at least partially a consequence of general symptomatology in chronic eating disorders. Symptom improvement appears to precede changes in personality in this sample of patients with chronic eating disorders.     

A multivariate analysis of the outcome of endodontic treatment

In the present study, multivariate analyses were performed on clinical and treatment variables that may influence the outcome of endodontic treatment. Data collected in a previous clinical-radiographic follow-up study were used. Of 810 treated, 675 roots in 498 teeth were followed for 6 months to 4 yr. Of these, 192 (the CAP group) had pre-existing, chronic apical periodontitis and 483 (the NAP group) had not. Root canal treatment followed a standard procedure with one of three sealers chosen at random. Demographic, clinical and radiographic variables were recorded at the start of, and during treatment. The periapical index (PAI) score was used to record the outcome of treatment, and applied in two different endpoint modes (END1 and END2) as the dependent variable for multivariate statistical analyses using logistic regression and the general model. The modes reflected increasing PAI scores (END1) and conventional success/failure assessment (END2). Dropouts were largely similar to the cases followed up. A total of 10 preoperative and peroperative variables were found to be significantly associated with treatment outcome by the multivariate analyses of either the total material or the NAP or CAP subgroups. Several of these were not significant in univariate analyses (e.g. the effect of sealer). Conventional success/failure analyses (END2) identified fewer of the influential variables and had low explanatory power, whereas PAI scores on an ordinal scale (END1) were most sensitive in identifying variables of influence on the treatment outcome.     

The Kola Birth Registry and perinatal mortality in Moncegorsk, Russia

BACKGROUND: A population-based birth registry has been set up for the Arctic town of Moncegorsk in north-western Russia. In this investigation, the quality and the content of the registry are assessed and the perinatal mortality (PM) rates in the period 1973-97 estimated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Enrollment in the Kola Birth Registry (KBR) involved the retrospective inclusion of all births with at least 28 weeks of gestation in Moncegorsk in the period 1973-97. The data in the registry were assessed for data entry errors, completeness of data and population coverage. The annual PM rates were estimated for live- and stillborns with at least 28 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: The KBR contains detailed information about the newborn, delivery, pregnancy and mother for 21 214 births by women from Moncegorsk, covering at least 96% of all the births by the population in the period studied. No records were missing data for gender and birth date of the newborn, and more than 99.9% of the records contained data about gestational age and birthweight. Data concerning the mothers' employment were missing in 0.4% of the records. The annual PM rate fell from more than 20 to less than 10 deaths per 1000 births during this period. CONCLUSION: The KBR provides an extensive data source useful for case-control and register-based prospective studies, and constitutes the first such compilation in Russia. The homogeneity of the population in Moncegorsk makes it advantageous for epidemiological investigations. The PM rate in Moncegorsk was lower than the overall rate in Russia.     

Second-trimester asynchronous multifetal delivery results in poor perinatal outcome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to estimate the maternal and fetal morbidities associated with asynchronous delivery. METHODS: A review of maternal and fetal medical records was performed at 2 tertiary care centers over 12 years. Charts were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes for twin and triplet gestations. Asynchronous delivery was defined as an active attempt (tocolysis and/or emergent cerclage placement) to increase latency between delivery of the first fetus and subsequent fetuses. RESULTS: Fourteen cases of asynchronous delivery were identified out of 96922 deliveries including 1352 pregnancies complicated by multifetal gestation. The occurrence rate of asynchronous delivery was 0.14 per 1000 births. The etiology of preterm birth of the first fetus in 12 (86%) of 14 cases was second-trimester rupture of membranes. The mean gestational age for delivery of the first fetus was 21.+/- 2.0 weeks. All women received tocolysis and intravenous antibiotics. Two of 3 attempts at cerclage placement were successful. Median latency obtained was 2 days (range less than 1-70 days). There was 1 survival of a first born. There were 19 retained fetuses, 2 died in utero, 10 died between birth and day 57 of life, and 7 survived (37%; 95% confidence interval 16%, 62%) until hospital discharge. Six of 7 survivors had major sequelae from prematurity. One of 19 fetuses was discharged without major sequelae (5%; 95% confidence interval 0%, 25%). Maternal morbidity included 2 placental abruptions and 8 cases of infectious morbidity including 1 case of septic shock. CONCLUSION: Attempts at asynchronous deliveries are uncommon and are associated with a high rate of perinatal death. Most fetal survivors have significant damage from preterm birth.     

In vitro characterization of 5-carboxyl-2,4-di-benzamidobenzoic acid (NS3763), a noncompetitive antagonist of GLUK5 receptors

Accumulating preclinical data suggest that compounds that block the excitatory effect of glutamate on the kainate subtype of glutamate receptors may have utility for the treatment of pain, migraine, and epilepsy. In the present study, the in vitro pharmacological properties of the novel glutamate antagonist 5-carboxyl-2,4-di-benzamido-benzoic acid (NS3763) are described. In functional assays in human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells expressing homomeric GLU(K5) or GLU(K6) receptors, NS3763 is shown to display selectivity for inhibition of domoate-induced increase in intracellular calcium mediated through the GLU(K5) subtype (IC(50) = 1.6 microM) of kainate receptors compared with the GLU(K6) subtype (IC(50) > 30 microM). NS3763 inhibits the GLU(K5)-mediated response in a noncompetitive manner and does not inhibit [(3)H]alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-tertbutylisoxazole-4-propionic acid binding to GLU(K5) receptors. Furthermore, NS3763 selectively inhibits l-glutamate- and domoate-evoked currents through GLU(K5) receptors in HEK293 cells and does not significantly inhibit alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid- or N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced currents in cultured mouse cortical neurons at 30 microM. This is the first report on a selective and noncompetitive GLU(K5) antagonist.     

Short-term day treatment programmes for patients with personality disorders. What is the optimal composition?

Research evidence indicates that approximately 10 h a week is a sufficient intensity for short-term day treatment programmes for patients with personality disorders. In this article, we discuss which therapeutic components should be included in such a programme. Relevant research and clinical literature are reviewed. The fit between the therapeutic components and the programme as a whole is discussed according to: 1) scientific evidence of the effectiveness of the therapeutic components, 2) a sound theoretical rationale, 3) evidence of user satisfaction among patients, 4) clinical experiences of staff, 5) comprehensiveness and consistency, and 6) available therapeutic skills and resources. We advocate an 11-h treatment programme comprising small group psychotherapy, art group therapy, large group psychotherapy, cognitive group therapy, problem-solving group therapy and optional adjuncts (cognitive behavioural group therapy) for patients with additional anxiety and eating disorders.     

Gaucher disease in children: radiology of non-central nervous system manifestations

The radiological findings in paediatric Gaucher disease (GD) are reviewed and future challenges for radiology are discussed. This overview is based on a literature review and our experience of children with GD in one of two national institutions for paediatric GD in the UK. GD is known to progress more rapidly in childhood. Current imaging is mainly suitable for ascertaining the complications of GD. The UK recommendations for routine radiological surveillance are discussed. With enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), which dramatically modifies the course of the disorder, the challenge for radiology in the future is likely to be assessing treatment efficacy rather than the detection of disease complications. Disease manifestations are likely to change in those on ERT and the most notable recent alteration in the disease profile in childhood is the virtual disappearance of the acute bone crisis in this population.     

Frequency and patterns of psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of primary care patients with anxiety disorders

The current report examines the rates of psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of 539 primary care patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV). Though not a typical psychiatric sample, rates of comorbidity were found to be as high or higher than those reported in studies conducted in traditional mental health settings. Multiple anxiety disorders were diagnosed in over 60% of participants and over 70% of participants had more than one current axis I diagnosis. Rates of current and lifetime comorbid major depression were also very high. Patterns of diagnostic comorbidity were also examined, with significantly elevated risks for the co-occurrence of several specific pairings of disorders being found. The study results are discussed in context of a recently published, large-scale study of anxiety disorder comorbidity in psychiatric patients (Brown et al., 2001). Implications of these results for both the mental health and primary care fields are also discussed.