Disordered eating and suicidal intent: the role of thin ideal internalisation, shame and family criticism.

OBJECTIVE: We explored the effect of thin ideal internalisation, shame proneness and family criticism on disordered eating and suicidal intent in female Mexican adolescents. METHOD: We studied a probabilistic sample of 2537 high school students in central Mexico, stratified by marginalisation status and migratory intensity. We used a generalised logistic regression model to estimate the odds of disordered eating and suicidal intent across scores for three predictors: Internalisation of the thin ideal, shame and family criticism. RESULTS: Disordered eating was reported by 4.2% (95% CI = 0.9-7.5%) and suicidal intent by 13.2% (95% CI = 12.0-14.4%) of girls. The unadjusted odds ratios of any disordered eating for thin ideal internalisation, shame proneness and familial criticism were 1.2, 1.1 and 3.2, respectively. The positive association between thin ideal internalisation and disordered eating remained even after controlling for shame proneness and familial criticism. The association of these variables with suicidal intent was weaker. DISCUSSION: Results support stronger effects for disordered eating than suicidal intent across the three unadjusted predictors. It also highlights the presence of the relationship of criticism and disordered eating in female adolescents from low and middle socio-economic backgrounds.

Review: Strategies for enteric methane mitigation in cattle fed tropical forages.

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) produced and released by eructation to the atmosphere in large volumes by ruminants. Enteric CH4 contributes significantly to global GHG emissions arising from animal agriculture. It has been contended that tropical grasses produce higher emissions of enteric CH4 than temperate grasses, when they are fed to ruminants. A number of experiments have been performed in respiration chambers and head-boxes to assess the enteric CH4 mitigation potential of foliage and pods of tropical plants, as well as nitrates (NO3-) and vegetable oils in practical rations for cattle. On the basis of individual determinations of enteric CH4 carried out in respiration chambers, the average CH4 yield for cattle fed low-quality tropical grasses (>70% ration DM) was 17.0 g CH4/kg DM intake. Results showed that when foliage and ground pods of tropical trees and shrubs were incorporated in cattle rations, methane yield (g CH4/kg DM intake) was decreased by 10% to 25%, depending on plant species and level of intake of the ration. Incorporation of nitrates and vegetable oils in the ration decreased enteric CH4 yield by ∼6% to ∼20%, respectively. Condensed tannins, saponins and starch contained in foliages, pods and seeds of tropical trees and shrubs, as well as nitrates and vegetable oils, can be fed to cattle to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions under smallholder conditions. Strategies for enteric CH4 mitigation in cattle grazing low-quality tropical forages can effectively increase productivity while decreasing enteric CH4 emissions in absolute terms and per unit of product (e.g. meat, milk), thus reducing the contribution of ruminants to GHG emissions and therefore to climate change.

Endolithic blue-green algae in the dry valleys: primary producers in the antarctic desert ecosystem.

Endolithic unicellular blue-green algae occur under the surface of orthoquartzite rocks in the dry valleys of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. This report of primary producers in the Antarctic desert ecosystem suggests that, in future efforts to detect life in extraterrestrial (for example, martian) environments, scientists should consider the possible existence of endolithic life forms.

Medical ethnobotany of the Teribes of Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Ethnomedical uses of 108 medicinal plant species, belonging to 52 families, 89 genera, used by the Teribe Amerindians of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama, along with their socio-cultural practices are reported here. The methods of administration of the herbal remedies, the plant parts used, their families and local names are also documented. The recorded medicinal plants were used mainly for fever, various type of pain and inflammation. The potential value of 26 plants and their traditional uses was elucidated through literature search.

Autosomal recessive spondylo-epi-metaphyseal dysplasia (Irapa type) in a Mexican family: delineation of the syndrome.

Three sibs from a Mexican mestizo family affected with a spondylo-epi-metaphyseal dysplasia were studied. The clinical, radiological, and genetic findings were similar to those previously described in Venezuelan Indians of the Irapa tribe. The present patients permit confirmation of the syndrome and provide evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance. Genetic drift is postulated.

Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MR imaging of dural sinus thrombosis.

A patient with dural sinus thrombosis had progressively worsening symptoms and signs that resolved after intradural thrombolysis. Intradural sinus pressures were 54 mm Hg. Echo-planar MR imaging revealed complex abnormalities of diffusion and widespread delay in mean transit time that improved immediately after thrombolysis. This case suggests that diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging can provide valuable information noninvasively to help triage patients with dural sinus thrombosis between conservative and aggressive management.

Non-contrast computed tomography-guided intra-articular corticosteroid injections of severe bilateral hip arthritis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.

Progressively destructive hip arthritis is a common complication of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Palliative intra-articular corticosteroid hip injections are helpful in younger patients who wish to delay joint replacement surgery. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT)-guided intra-articular procedures can potentially minimize radiation exposure compared to fluoroscopy-guided techniques. We describe a CT-guided technique for intra-articular corticosteroid hip injections for severe bilateral hip arthritis which avoids the use of radiologic contrast by documenting the presence of a pre-injection air bubble underneath the fibrous capsule. Significant reduction in symptoms within 48 hours and at 6 weeks post-injection confirmed the successful outcome of this technique.

Synthesis of 1-hydroxylated bile acids: methyl 1 alpha, 3 alpha-dihydroxy 5 beta-cholan-24-oate.

Methyl 1 alpha,3 alpha-dihydroxy 5 beta-cholan-24-oate was synthesized to provide a model compound for the mass spectrometric identification of 1 alpha-hydroxylated bile acids.

Sagittal synostosis.

Sagittal synostosis comprises a spectrum of deformities caused by premature fusion of the sagittal suture. The treatment of sagittal synostosis is dependent on the age of the patient and the characteristics of the presenting deformity. Immediate correction of the scaphocephalic deformity is the goal of operative treatment. The operative procedures proposed involve whole-vault cranial reshaping, active shortening of the anteroposterior axis, and widening of the mediolateral dimension of the skull leading to a more normal, "rounded" skull shape.

The predictive value of lymphoscintigraphy for nodal metastases of cutaneous melanoma.

Lymphoscintigraphy is used to identify ambiguous drainage patterns in cutaneous melanoma of the head, neck and trunk. This study evaluated the efficacy and reliability of lymphoscintigraphy to identify the drainage nodes in 51 patients undergoing both elective and therapeutic lymphadenectomy over a seven-year period. All 13 patients who had lymph node metastases during this follow-up period had the metastatic disease in the very lymph node basins identified by lymphoscintigraphy. Most significantly, none of the 51 patients had metastatic disease in lymphatic basins that were not previously identified by lymphoscintigraphy.

Subtalar arthrorisis and associated procedures.

Not all flatfeet require surgical correction. Through a careful history obtained from the child's parents, useful clues may be gathered pertaining to the disability arising from the flatfoot. There are three distinct classifications of flexible pes pronatus that require specific procedures for correction of the primary deformity. The STA-Peg, alone or in combination with other medial arch procedures, is used for correction of hindfoot pronation in the coronal planar dominant foot. The postoperative disability associated with the STA-Peg is relatively minimal, and complications are usually due to improper insertion of the implant.

PRIMER REPORTE DE Cryptosporidium parvum EN TERNEROS HOLSTEIN (Bos taurus) DE MANIZALES, CALDAS, COLOMBIA / FIRST REPORT OF Cryptosporidium parvum IN HOLSTEIN CALVES (Bos taurus) FROM MANIZALES, CALDAS, COLOMBIA

El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar especies o genotipos del protozoario parásito Cryptosporidium presentes en heces colectadas de terneros Holstein del municipio de Manizales, Departamento de Caldas, Colombia. El ADN fue extraído a 80 muestras de materia fecal, de las cuales 11 fueron diagnosticadas positivas para Cryptosporidium spp., mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). El análisis PCR-RFLP del locus 18S ADNr, identificó la presencia de Cryptosporidium parvum en todas las muestras positivas analizadas. Este hallazgo sugiere que el ganado puede ser una fuente potencial de infección por Cryptosporidium en humanos y se constituye en el primer reporte publicado de C. parvum en bovinos de Manizales, Caldas.

The objective of this study was to identify species or genotypes of Cryptosporidium parasite present in feces collected from Holstein calves in Manizales city, Caldas Department, Colombia. DNA was extracted from 80 fecal samples, which 11 were diagnosed positive for Cryptosporidium spp., by the Polymerase Chain Reaction method. PCR-RFLP analysis of 18S rDNA locus identified the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum in all samples tested positive. This finding suggests that cattle may be a potential source of human infection by Cryptosporidium, and it becomes the first published report of C. parvum in cattle in Manizales, Caldas.

Compressive strengths of a new foil and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

This study evaluated the compressive strengths of Renaissance foil and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns on polycarbonate test dies. Both crown types were veneered with feldspathic porcelain. The compressive strength of the PFM crowns, 1895 +/- 317 N, was statistically higher than that of the Renaissance foil crowns, 1060 +/- 89 N. Comparison of the Renaissance foil crown's compressive strength to published biting forces indicated that the Renaissance crown should function without difficulty.

Isotopic compositions and probable origins of organic molecules in the Eocene Messel shale.

The sediments that now comprise the Messel shale accumulated 47 +/- 2 million years ago in anaerobic waters at the bottom of a lake. Subsequent depths of burial have not exceeded 300 m, nor has the temperature of the shale exceeded 40 degrees C. Contents of organic carbon reach 25%, and preservation of molecular structures has been excellent. Sixteen different geoporphyrins, including three derived from bacteriochlorophylls of the d series and thus indicative of the existence in the lake of an anaerobic photic zone, have been isolated and identified. Here, we show that the carbon isotopic compositions of these and other biomarkers allow identification of specific sources for some materials and reconstruction of carbon flows within the lake and its sediments. The 13C content of organic matter synthesized by lacustrine primary producers can be estimated from the observed 13C content of the geoporphyrins derived from their chlorophylls. Total organic material in the shale is depleted in 13C by six parts per thousand relative to that input. This difference cannot be explained by selective loss of components enriched in 13C, nor, as shown by isotopic compositions of other biomarkers, by inputs from land plants surrounding the lake or from methanogenic bacteria.

Catalyzed Reformatsky reactions with ethyl bromofluoroacetate for the synthesis of alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy acids.

The presence of catalytic amounts of CeCl(3) improves yields and simplifies procedure in the Reformatsky reactions of ethyl bromofluoroacetate with aldehydes and ketones to generate diastereomeric mixtures of alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy esters, some of which can be separated by crystallization or column flash chromatography. Diastereomerically pure alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy acids are obtained by mild alkaline hydrolysis of the resolved alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy esters. Detailed NMR data of new alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy esters and alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy acids are also presented.

Barrett's esophagus in children. Diagnosis and management.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the local prevalence and optimal therapy for children with Barrett's esophagus (BE), the authors studied children with esophageal strictures or gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or both, to diagnose BE and to follow after therapy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Barrett's esophagus is seldom reported in children and therapeutic recommendations are unclear. Barrett's esophagus usually develops during the mucosal reparative process after acid-reflux injury to the esophageal mucosa. Risk factors for BE include conditions that are associated with GER such as mental retardation, esophageal stricture, esophageal atresia, and reversed gastric tube esophagoplasty. Barrett's syndrome increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma by 30 to 40 times. METHODS: All children with the risk factors had repeated esophagoscopy and multiple mucosal biopsies before and after therapy. RESULTS: Eleven children have been documented with BE. The initial diagnoses were: GER, 5; esophageal atresia, 4; nasogastric intubation, 1; lye ingestion, 1. A gastric tube esophagoplasty had been performed in three patients with BE in the esophagus proximal to the anastomosis. Three children with mid-esophageal strictures and long segments of BE had total resection with colic interposition. An additional two patients with tight stricture were treated with colic-patch esophagoplasty without resection. The final three patients were treated with fundoplication alone. CONCLUSIONS: Barrett's esophagus can be caused by acid from gastric tubes but responds to H2 blockers and diet. Resection eliminates BE; esophagoplasty only controls the stricture and must be accompanied by fundoplication. Barrett's esophagus persists in patients with fundoplication alone if reflux control is incomplete. The authors conclude that acid reflux must be controlled to treat BE successfully or the involved segment must be resected. Esophagogastrostomy apparently predisposes to BE.

Screening for red blood cell sorbitol dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with diabetes or cataracts.

Quantitative screening for red blood cell sorbitol dehydrogenase (RBC-SORD) deficiency in 111 patients with juvenile onset diabetes, 92 patients with adult onset diabetes, 42 patients with idiopathic cataracts and 192 professional blood donors was performed. A wide variability in RBC-SORD activity in controls and patients was observed. No significant differences in SORD activity either between patients with diabetes and patients with idiopathic cataracts or between diabetics with and without cataracts were observed. Whether or not there were carriers for either amorphous or hypomorphous alleles of the SORD locus in the population studied could not be defined in terms of enzymatic activity levels.

Dual-angled CT-guided biopsy.

A new computed tomographic (CT)-guided biopsy technique is described which employs angling both the CT-gantry and the patient to access lesions considered unapproachable using conventional CT techniques. Angling the gantry and the patient, or dual angulation, was applied in five patients with masses located in the pelvis and retroperitoneum that were not easily accessible using gantry angling or patient tilting alone. In each case, the needle tip was demonstrated in the lesion and diagnostic tissue was retrieved. No complications were recorded. A dual-angled approach defines a safe path to a mass and allows obtaining a CT image in the plane of the biopsy needle.

[The inequality of health services for the uninsured population in Mexico]. / Inequidad de los servicios de salud a población abierta en México.

In order to assess the coverage of health services for non-insured population receiving health care from the Ministry of Health (SSA), a cross-sectional study was developed. With official statistics of SSA and data from the XI General Census of Population and Housing (1990), ratios of coverage and mortality rates in hospitals were assessed. The data were processed through simple analysis. In addition, states were stratified by groups according to poverty indicators obtained through a factorial analysis with the method of multiple components. The results showed that a polarized health economy for the non-insured population in Mexico is the cause of complex difficulties in the health care provision. The low financial resources affect the distribution of health care services in the states. Seventy-six per cent of the non-insured population is concentrated in those states with the highest levels of poverty, with a potential coverage of only 34.2 per cent and just 63.4 per cent of potential population use. The coverage of health care services in the states with lower poverty indicators is 1.9 times that of the states with higher poverty indicators. It was also observed that hospital mortality rate among children less than one year old was 1.7 times higher in poor regions. In general, the health services coverage is low. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the access to health care and improve the quality of services as well as life conditions of the population in the states with the highest poverty indicators. If this occurs, it will be possible to close the gap in order to build a better National Health System.