The neuromuscular system in patients with anorexia nervosa: electrophysiological and histologic studies.

The effects of cachexia on the neuromuscular system were investigated in ten young women with anorexia nervosa and in two patients with hysteric neurosis. Ten women, matched for age and height, served as controls. A neurologic examination was performed on all subjects and sensory and motor neurographic recordings were carried out in the upper and lower limbs.

Social class and psychosomatic illness.

In six diseases considered psychosomatic (asthma, angina pectoris, migraine, duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis and anorexia nervosa), two factors have been studied: social background and social mobility. For none of the first five has any influence of social status on the disease been demonstrated. This means that social learning (norms and values) does not influence the disease.

Changes in skeletal muscles of young women with anorexia nervosa. An enzyme histochemical study.

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.