Two-year results of a prospective, multi-site investigation of patient satisfaction and psychosocial status following cosmetic surgery.

Background: The number of cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in the United States has increased by 500% over the past 10 years. Most studies of psychosocial functioning following aesthetic procedures have reported high levels of patient satisfaction and improved functioning; however, nearly all these studies focused only on changes during the first posttreatment year.

Objective: This paper reports on the 2-year results of a prospective, multi-site investigation of postoperative satisfaction and changes in psychosocial status following cosmetic surgery.

Ochratoxins: a global perspective.

Ochratoxins have been overshadowed by better-known mycotoxins, but they are gaining importance. Here we consider ochratoxins in the context of aflatoxins, which are better understood than ochratoxins on many levels. We review recent work on taxonomic distribution, contamination of commodities, biosynthesis, toxicity and regulatory aspects of ochratoxins.

A prospective, multi-site investigation of patient satisfaction and psychosocial status following cosmetic surgery.

Background: Although several studies have investigated patient satisfaction and changes in body image following aesthetic plastic surgery, few have investigated more specific dimensions of body image, including dysphoric emotions that occur in specific social situations or body image quality of life. In addition, few studies have investigated changes in body image that may occur in concert with changes in more general areas of psychosocial functioning, such as depressive symptoms and self-esteem.

Objective: This prospective, multi-site study investigated postoperative satisfaction and changes in psychosocial status following cosmetic surgery.

Choosing breast implant size: a matter of aesthetics.

The author chooses breast implant volume by balancing the patient's preferences with the limitations imposed by her body type. To achieve the best results, he relies on his aesthetic sense rather than complex measurements, but he recommends general guidelines.

Effects of breast augmentation on pectoralis major muscle function in the athletic woman.

Background: Techniques for augmentation mammaplasty commonly involve incisions through at least a portion of the pectoralis major muscle. The effects of implant position and surgical release of the muscle origin have not been thoroughly addressed.

Objective: In this study the authors report on a group of female athletes, for whom pectoralis major muscle function is particularly important, and attempt to quantify their experience with augmentation mammaplasty.

Aspergillus on tree nuts: incidence and associations.

California exports tree nuts to countries where they face stringent standards for aflatoxin contamination. Trade concerns have stimulated efforts to eliminate aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus from almonds, pistachios and walnuts. Incidence of fungi on tree nuts and associations among fungi on tree nuts were studied.

Normal D-dimer levels in emergency department patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism.

Objectives: We sought to determine:1) whether normal D-dimer enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays predicted the absence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the high-volume emergency department (ED) of the Brigham and Women's Hospital, and 2) whether ED physicians accepted normal D-dimer levels as confirmation of no PE without further diagnostic testing such as lung scanning, chest computed tomography (CT) scanning, or pulmonary angiography.

Background: Although the plasma D-dimer ELISA is a sensitive screening test for excluding acute PE, this laboratory marker has not been widely integrated into clinical algorithms such as creatine kinase-MB fraction or troponin testing for acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: We mandated that ED physicians order D-dimer ELISA tests on all patients suspected of acute PE.

Ochratoxin production by the Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus alliaceus.

Ochratoxin A is a toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolite; its presence in foods is increasingly regulated. Various fungi are known to produce ochratoxins, but it is not known which species produce ochratoxins consistently and which species cause ochratoxin contamination of various crops. We isolated fungi in the Aspergillus ochraceus group (section Circumdati) and Aspergillus alliaceus from tree nut orchards, nuts, and figs in California.

Predicted impact of transgenic, herbicidetolerant corn on drinking water quality in vulnerable watersheds of the mid-western USA.

In the intensely farmed corn-growing regions of the mid-western USA, surface waters have often been contaminated by herbicides, principally as a result of rainfall runoff occurring shortly after application of these to corn and other crops. In some vulnerable watersheds, water quality criteria for chronic human exposure through drinking water are occasionally exceeded. We selected three settings representative of vulnerable corn-region watersheds, and used the PRZM-EXAMS model with the Index Reservoir scenario to predict corn herbicide concentrations in the reservoirs as a function of herbicide properties and use pattern, site characteristics and weather in the watersheds.