The Effects of Psychoeducation and Self-Monitoring in a Cognitive-Behavioral Program for Body-Image Improvement

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious treatment for body-image difficulties and disorders. The current study evaluated two combined components of Cash's (1997) self-administered bodyimage CBT program-psychoeducation and self-monitoring. Twenty-five body-dissatisfied college students enrolled in the threeweek program and were required to hand in homework weekly in brief meetings with the experimenter. From pre- to posttest, participants became significantly more satisfied with their appearance and reported less situational body-image dysphoria, less weightrelated concern, and less investment in their appearance as a source of self-evaluation. Changes generalized to improved self-esteem, eating attitudes, and social anxiety. Better self-monitoring compliance predicted greater reductions in body-image dysphoria. The study's methodological limitations and clinical implications are considered, and mechanisms of change are discussed.     

ANALYSIS OF THE RET PROTO-ONCOGENE IN SPORADIC PARATHYROID ADENOMAS

Missense germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene have recently been identified in the hereditary cancer syndromes MEN2A, MEN2B, and FMTC, all characterized by medullary carcinoma, but also including phaeochromocytoma in MEN2A and MEN2B and parathyroid disease in MEN2A. In addition, somatic RET proto-oncogene mutations have been identified in a subset of sporadic medullary carcinomas and phaeochromocytomas. This study investigated the possibility that RET plays a role in sporadic parathyroid neoplasia. Firstly, normal and neoplastic parathyroid tissues were screened for expression of the RET proto-oncogene, using an RT-PCR approach on autopsy material. Secondly, 20 archival parathyroid adenomas were screened for somatic mutations in the transmembrane region of RET, the region associated with germline mutations in MEN2A and hence parathyroid disease, using a PCR–solid phase direct sequencing approach. RET expression was identified in all the parathyroid tissues analysed. However, no mutations were identified in any of the 20 adenomas, suggesting either that other mechanisms of RET activation occur, such as translocation, or that RET plays a more minor role in the growth control of the parathyroid cells than in C cells or phaeochromocytes.     

The association of antinuclear antibodies,antilymphocyte antibodies,and c4 activation among the relatives of children with systemic lupus erythematosus. preferential activation of complement in sisters

We studied 31 children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 108 first-degree relatives of the children to determine if HLA type, familial relationship to patient, or gender influenced the familial aggregation of SLE and the serologic and serum complement abnormalities associated with SLE. There were no significant relationships between the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antilymphocyte antibodies (ALA), or circulating immune complexes. Furthermore, there was no correlation between the occurrence of ANA, ALA, or circulating immune complexes with HLA type or relationship to patient. Both ANA and ALA were associated with a reduction in the mean serum C4 level, without a corresponding reduction in mean serum C3 or CH50. The reduction in mean serum C4 level with ALA occurred without regard to the subject's relationship to the patient, but the reduction in mean serum C4 level with ANA was significant only among the sisters. Because of these data, it seems that the sisters of patients with SLE are more likely than other relatives to have activation of the complement system in association with serologic abnormalities. Those sisters with ANA and ALA had the greatest amount of complement activation and may be the relatives at greatest risk for the subsequent development of SLE.     

Blood pressure analysis

SUMMARY  Arterial blood pressure is influenced by sleep-related breathing disorders. As cardiovascular consequences can be diagnosed by an accurate recording and analysis of blood pressure, new recording methodologies and an approach to analysis are presented here. Invasive continuous blood pressure recording is the common reference for all methodologies. As blood pressure varies rapidly in parallel with sleep-related breathing disorders it is indispensible to record blood pressure continuously. To introduce non-invasive methodology the Finapres system was used during sleep studies; a validation study showed severe limitations. This study was followed by the validation of an improved system called Portapres, which is portable, has two finger cuffs and a hydrostatic height compensation.
Analysis of continuous blood pressure in patients with sleep apnoea is carried out to detect mechanisms which influence the cardiovascular risk. Spectrum analysis of systolic blood pressure showed two different major oscillations present in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. One oscillation (<0.06 Hz) occurs in parallel with each apnoeic episode and the other oscillation (0.2-0.4 Hz) occurs in parallel with the obstructive efforts during each apnoea and in parallel with respiration during periods of snoring. These two oscillations were so specific that the use of non-invasive continuous blood pressure recording allowed an estimation of the extent of underlying breathing disorders, and assessment of cardiovascular risk in a patient with obstructive apnoea in terms of hypertension and on the basis of ambulatory monitoring.     

British Society for Haematology,slide session,annual scientific meeting,Glasgow, 2008

A morphology session is held each year at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Society of Haematology. Prior to the meeting this year, eight morphology cases were made available to BSH members as glass slides and also digitally as ‘virtual slides’. A panel of invited commentators who had no prior knowledge of the diagnosis discussed the eight cases. An initial limited history and blood count are given with representative images from the case material; this is followed by the discussants’ comments and suggested diagnosis. The actual clinical diagnosis is then given with other relevant information.