Temporal endothelin dynamics of the myocardial interstitium and systemic circulation in cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVE: Increased systemic levels of the bioactive peptide endothelin 1 during and after cardioplegic arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass have been well documented. However, endothelin 1 is synthesized locally, and therefore myocardial endothelin 1 production during and after cardiopulmonary bypass remains unknown. METHODS: Pigs (n = 11) were instrumented for cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardioplegic arrest was initiated. Myocardial interstitial and systemic arterial levels of endothelin 1 were measured before cardiopulmonary bypass, throughout bypass and cardioplegic arrest (90 minutes), and up to 90 minutes after separation from bypass. Myocardial interstitial endothelin 1 was determined by microdialysis and radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Baseline myocardial endothelin 1 levels were higher than systemic endothelin 1 levels (25.6 +/- 6.7 vs 8.3 +/- 1.1 fmol/mL, P <.05). With the onset of bypass, myocardial endothelin 1 increased by 327% +/- 92% from baseline (P <.05), which preceded the increase in systemic endothelin 1 levels. CONCLUSION: Myocardial compartmentalization of endothelin 1 exists in vivo. Cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest induce temporal differences in endothelin 1 levels within the myocardial interstitium and systemic circulation, which, in turn, may influence left ventricular function in the postbypass period.     

Factors associated with treatment seeking in a community sample of European American and Mexican American women with eating disorders

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with treatment seeking in a community sample of European American and Mexican American women with eating disorders. We also explored which variables were associated with receiving treatment. Participants were 190 women with eating disorders (80 Mexican American, 110 European American) who were diagnosed using the SCID‐IV and Eating Disorder Examination. Results indicated that treatment seeking is associated with ethnicity (i.e. being European American), suffering from bulimia nervosa and more frequent purging, longer duration of disorder and psychiatric comorbidity and, for Mexican American women, higher degree of acculturation. Detection and treatment of eating disorder was associated with ethnicity (European American), earlier age of onset and lower BMI. Given the debilitating and chronic nature of eating disorders, further knowledge of factors that impede or facilitate help seeking and detection and treatment is needed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.     

Does ethnicity influence body-size preference? A comparison of body image and body size

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is most common in the United States among women of ethnic minority groups (black and Hispanic). Researchers have hypothesized that these subcultures are more accepting of overweight figures. The purpose of this study was to examine body image and body size assessments in a large community sample of men and women. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were 801 women and 428 men: 23% Asian, 45% Hispanic, 17% black, and 15% white. The figure rating scale was used to rate: body dissatisfaction, attractive male and female shapes, acceptable female size, and perceptions of underweight to obese female figures. RESULTS: Controlling for age, education, and body weight, no ethnic differences were found for men. Asian women reported less body dissatisfaction than the other groups. Women were more dissatisfied with their size than men and chose thinner female figures as attractive and acceptable. DISCUSSION: Ethnicity, independent of age, education, and body weight, does not influence preference for female and male shapes or tolerance for obesity.     

Dieting and its relationship to smoking, acculturation, and family environment in Asian and Hispanic adolescents

The objective of this article was to examine dieting and its relationship to smoking behaviors and attitudes, acculturation, and family environment in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Participants were 211 adolescent girls and boys: 57% Asian, 16% Hispanic, 27% White. Regular dieting was determined using the Restraint Scale (Herman, 1978). Dependent variables were measured using the Smoking Beliefs and Attitude Questionnaire (Pederson & Lefcoe, 1985), Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire (Roelofse & Middleton, 1985), and Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (Suinn, Rickard-Figurroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987). Dieting girls, as compared to nondieters, had more favorable attitudes toward smoking, more strongly believed that smoking keeps one from eating, and first experimented with cigarettes at an older age. Chronic dieting was related to reports of poorer family functioning, and Asian dieters were more acculturated than nondieters. For boys, there was no relationship between dieting and smoking, acculturation, or family environment. Smoking prevention programs targeted toward ethnic minority adolescent females need to address the issue of weight concern.     

Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to identify preliminary comprehensive and brief core sets for multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE: To identify the preliminary comprehensive and brief core sets for multiple sclerosis (MS), in a Delphi process using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). METHOD: Focus groups and a consensus process were used to identify ICF core sets for MS. This included: preliminary ICF studies; empirical patient data collection for 101 MS participants; review of the evidence base and treatment in MS literature followed by a Delphi exercise with 23 physicians and allied health professionals in Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four (40%) second level ICF categories were selected by 23 participants in three rounds. The comprehensive MS ICF core set includes 34 (24%) categories from the component 'body function', six (4%) categories from 'body structures', 68 (47%) from 'activities and participation' and 36 (25%) from the component 'environmental' factors. Ten categories in 'personal factors' in MS were also suggested by the participants after intensive discussions. The brief set comprises 30 categories, 21% of categories in the comprehensive core set. CONCLUSION: Consensus expert opinion can use ICF categories to identify the core set for MS which reflects disease complexity and care burden for persons' with MS. Further research is needed to identify ICF categories of relevant personal factors to improve our understanding of the large social and cultural variance associated with them.     

Treatment of chronic disruption of the patellar tendon in Osteogenesis Imperfecta with allograft reconstruction

We present a case of chronic disruption of the patellar tendon in a patient with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This patient was treated with a customized extensor mechanism allograft. Results were excellent at 5 years follow up. To our knowledge this treatment has not previously been published in this situation. We present this as a reliable treatment option.     

Comparison of women with various levels of dietary restraint on body image, personality, and family environment

The authors compared college women with various levels of dietary restraint (42 nondieters, 23 medium-restraint, 36 chronic dieters) on measures of body image, personality and psychopathology, family environment, and eating- and weight-related concerns. Chronic dieters displayed significantly higher scores on body distortion, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, feelings of ineffectiveness, and depression and schizophrenia on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI). There were no differences in locus of control or reported family environment. Drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction increased linearly with degree of dietary restraint. By contrast, greater body distortion, ineffectiveness, and some psychological maladjustment (as measured by the MMPI) qualitatively differentiated the chronic-dieting group. These variables may point to continuities between chronic dieting and the development of eating disorders.