Validating the eating disorder inventory (EDI‐2) in two danish samples: A comparison between female eating disorder patients and females from the general population

The Eating Disorder Inventory, Version 2 (EDI‐2) is a questionnaire used clinically and in research all over the world. EDI‐2 is cross‐culturally valid, yet normative values may depend on culture. Norms and reliability of the Danish version have to date been lacking, and will be presented in this article, comparing patients (N = 575) and controls (N = 881). Also, internal reliability of scales is tested for both groups. Differences between norms of the Danish and the North American version of EDI were small but significant for all scales except asceticism (eating disorder patients) and ineffectiveness, interpersonal distrust and maturity fears (normal controls). For both groups the internal consistency was >0.70 for all subscales except asceticism. Although differences across the eating disorder diagnostic groups were dubious, the EDI‐2 is useful to screen for eating problems in the general population as well as to rate progress and outcome among eating disorder patients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.     

Subclavian vein catheterization for acute and chronic haemodialysis. A safe temporary vascular access

The technique and use of a percutaneous subclavian vein catheter for haemodialysis in 20 patients are reported. The catheterization procedure carried a very low morbidity, and blood flow rates of 200–250ml/min were achieved through the catheters. Use of this angioaccess saves future possible sites for permanent vascular access. Infectious complications were not encountered. Subclavian vein catheterization is a favourable alternative to external Silastic Teflon shunt.     

Effects of dietary broccoli on human in vivo drug metabolizing enzymes: evaluation of caffeine, oestrone and chlorzoxazone metabolism

Ingestion of cruciferous vegetables may prevent chemically inducedcarcinogenesis by their influence on specific cytochrome P450enzymes (CYP) and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in humansand rodents. Thus CYP enzymes are involved in transformationof procarcinogens, mutagens, steroid hormones and a large varietyof other endogenous and exogenous components. In order to learnmore about the influence of cruciferous vegetables on drug metabolizingenzymes in man two CYP enzymespreviously suggested to be inducedby vegetables were selected in an in vivo experiment in humans.Sixteen healthy non-smoking subjects, two females and 14 males,were exposed to three different types of diets and afterwardsassayed for CYP1A2 catalysed caffeine metabolites and for CYP2E1catalysed 6-hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone. Further, 2-hydroxyoestrone:16     

The orthopan tomoscintigram — a new application of emission computed tomography for facial bone scanning

The exact regional correlation of findings of facial bone scans, planar or SPECT, to dental orthopan X-ray films (OPT) is difficult because of the very different projection techniques. To improve correlative imaging in this regard a projection algorithm was developed that uses SPECT data of the skull for reconstructing an orthopan tomoscintigraphic projection. Fourteen conventional SPECT slices of the upper and lower jaws were obtained during bone scanning. All mandibular slices were superimposed resulting in a horseshoe shaped structure, which was marked by an ROI which was divided into segments. All 14 SPECT slices were then masked by this segmental ROI, thereby marking the teeth-carrying bone in all slices. The information from this horseshoe like ROI is then transformed into lines. Line by line arrangement results in an orthopan projection, the orthopan tomoscintigram. This new display allows 1:1 true scale superimposition with the X-ray OPT and markedly facilitates correlative imaging.     

A simple and rapid method for the determination of the concentrations of magnesium, sodium, potassium and sodium, potassium pumps in human skeletal muscle

1. For the diagnosis of electrolyte disorders, data on skeletal muscle composition are often valuable, but rarely available. We have therefore developed a simple and rapid needle biopsy procedure for the determination of the concentrations of K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Na+, K+-pumps in muscle. 2. Using a Bergstr?m needle, biopsies weighing around 25 mg were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle of 18 normal subjects (aged 44-86 years) and extracted with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The concentrations of K+, Na+ and Mg2+ were 90.7 +/- 1.8, 31.9 +/- 1.6 and 9.5 +/- 0.2 mumol/g wet wt., respectively (means +/- SE). 3. The TCA extraction gave the same values as digestion with 65% HNO3 or 35% H2O2, could be used over the weight range 10-55 mg and showed a Mg2+ recovery of 101.7%. 4. The concentration of Na+, K+-pumps was quantified as the total capacity for [3H]ouabain binding. In vastus lateralis biopsies obtained from six normal subjects the mean value was 258 +/- 16 pmol/g wet wt. 5. Comparison of the concentrations of K+, Mg2+ and [3H]ouabain-binding sites in samples obtained post mortem showed modest variation among different muscles with varying fibre composition. 6. Measurements of the concentrations of K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Na+, K+-pumps in duplicate biopsies of the vastus lateralis yield values which seen representative for the total pool of skeletal muscle fibres and can be performed within a few hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum levels of short-chain fatty acids in cirrhosis and hepatic coma

Short-chain fatty acids cause reversible coma in animals and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the hepatic coma in humans. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in peripheral venous blood were significantly elevated in 15 patients with hepatic encephalopathy caused by cirrhosis (362 +/- 83 mumol/L; mean +/- S.E.M.) compared with 17 cirrhotic patients without encephalopathy (178 +/- 57 mumol/L) and 11 normal individuals (60 +/- 8 mumol/L). However, no correlation between the depth of coma and the level of short-chain fatty acids was found after repetitive measurements in the coma group. Compared with normal individuals, all short-chain fatty acids, except valerate, were elevated in patients with hepatic encephalopathy, whereas only the concentrations of isobutyrate and isovalerate were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients without encephalopathy. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in 21 nonencephalopathic cirrhotic patients who underwent catheterization were equally distributed in the aorta (187 +/- 56 mumol/L), the hepatic vein (212 +/- 75 mumol/L), the azygos vein (140 +/- 37 mumol/L) and the renal vein (135 +/- 43 mumol/L) compared with peripheral venous blood (178 +/- 57 mumol/L). This study does not support the idea that short-chain fatty acids are of major importance in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma in patients with cirrhosis.     

Quantification of tricuspid insufficiency--comparison of Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography]

In 40 patients (pts) (ages 34-83 years) the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was graded by pulsed Doppler echocardiographic determination of regurgitant jet extension. Mild TR was assessed in seven pts (group I), mode-rate TR in 20 pts (group II), and severe TR in 13 pts (group III). The enddiastolic diameter of the left ventricle as measured by M-mode-echocardiography was 55 +/- 16 mm in group I, 48 +/- 6 mm in group II, and 50 +/- 10 mm in group III. The regurgitant index (RI), i.e., the ratio of left-to-right-ventricular stroke counts (normal range 0.89-1.97) and the time-activity curve over the liver area were measured by equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RNV). The RI differed significantly between group I (1.6 +/- 0.5), II (1.0 +/- 0.3), and III (0.8 +/- 0.3) (p less than 0.01). An RI-value below 0.89 as an index of right-ventricular volume overload was found in 14% (group I), 45%, (group II) and 77% (group III). The time-activity curve over the liver area, as graded by count variation in phase with the right atrium from 1 (no count variation) to 4 (typical count variation) showed all grades in groups I and II, but only grade 2 to 4 in group III. The RI resp. the time-activity curve over the liver is a sensitive parameter for the detection of moderate to severe TR. If TR is ascertained, severe regurgitation can be differentiated from mild regurgitation by RNV-derived RI as an index of right-ventricular volume overload.     

Flow cytometric DNA ploidy pattern in dysplastic mucosa, and in primary and metastatic carcinomas in patients with longstanding ulcerative colitis

Eighty-nine fresh tissue samples from flat colonic mucosa, polypoid lesions, macroscopically evident carcinomas, and metastatic carcinomas from ten patients with longstanding ulcerative colitis (greater than or equal to 8 years duration) were analysed by DNA flow cytometry and light microscopy. Of a total of ten carcinomas found in six patients, six showed DNA aneuploidy. Three patients developed metastatic carcinomas, all with aneuploid cell populations with similar DNA indices as in the primary carcinoma. Furthermore, aneuploid cell populations with similar DNA indices often occurred, both in separate mucosa samples, as well as in mucosa and carcinoma samples, from the same patient. DNA aneuploidy was found in flat mucosa in five of the six patients with carcinoma, and in one of the four patients without carcinoma (P greater than 0.1). High grade dysplasia was found in only four of the six cases with carcinoma, indicating that high grade dysplasia is insufficient as marker for malignant development. DNA aneuploidy was found in 24% of the dysplastic mucosa samples, and in 18% of the non-dysplastic mucosa samples (n.s., both with regard to high and low grade dysplasia). Since abnormal DNA ploidy pattern was not confined to dysplastic epithelium only, DNA aneuploidy in flat mucosa may constitute an additional marker in the identification of patients at increased cancer risk who could benefit from a closer surveillance.