A new, very simple and inexpensive method for measuring body image is described. A number of female patients with different somatic complaints were investigated. A specific patterning of body image related to the localization of somatic complaints is revealed. Anorexic and obese patients have an overall larger body image while the distortions in other conditions mostly go on the elevation in the vertical axis. Different aspects of this way of measuring body image are discussed, but the difference of the patterning is clear. This is a preliminary report on the new method.
Biopsies from four young women with advanced anorexia nervosa were examined to investigate the effect of malnutrition on skeletal muscles. None of the patients showed signs of neuromuscular disease and all were physically active at the time of examination. Cryostat sections from the vastus lateralis muscle were stained with hematoxylin-azophloxin-safran and with stains for myofibrillar ATP-ase activity. In addition to routine examination of the sections, the size and distribution of the type 1 and type 2 fibres were calculated by means of a Kontron Digiplan MOP 02. Routine stained sections showed a small grouped atrophy in three cases and a more diffuse atrophy in the fourth. Enzyme histochemical stains revealed a distinct type 2 atrophy, a finding which should serve to distinguish the changes of pure malnutrition from those of conventional denervation. Exact measurements confirmed the predominant type 2 atrophy but showed definite atrophy also of the type 1 fibres. Compared with normal controls the type 1 fibres were reduced by 46% and the type 2 fibres by 75%. These findings are largely in agreement with the recent observations by Essén et al. (1981) on anorexia nervosa. However, in contrast to Essén et al. we did not find any change in the numerical distribution of the fibre types, especially no increase in type 1 fibres. Thus, we could not confirm the hypotheses of a conversion of the fibre types in cachexia.
Two female monozygous twin pairs discordant for anorexia nervosa are reported, and literature reports on 18 other monozygous pairs are reviewed. Four of the reported pairs are inadequately described and there is doubt about the diagnosis. When the 2 pairs reported here are included, 16 pairs remain: 6 (38%) were concordant and 10 discordant. Only 3 pairs fulfilled rigorous criteria for anorexia nervosa and zygosity and one of the pairs was concordant. The population prevalence is probably about 2 promille for hospitalized cases, and there is a 6% risk for female sibs of anorectic probands. Hence, if about 1/3 of monozygotic pairs are in fact concordant, a role of genetic factors in the etiology may be suggested.
One third of the Norwegian sailors in the merchant navy, who survived World War II, are today disabled and on invalid pension. The majority suffer from a syndrome which is very similar to that present in the concentration camp survivors. The syndrome falls into two parts, the one consisting of non-neurotic anxiety repeating the terrors of war time, the other being a brain-organic one. This last part has in a few cases been confirmed by neuroradiology and neuropsychology. This is taken as an indicator that prolonged stress, as constant fear of death, may cause brain damage without physical trauma.
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