The impact of obesity on outcome after major colorectal surgery.

Purpose: There is an epidemic of obesity in the Western world and its associated substantial morbidity and mortality. This review examines the data on the impact of obesity on perioperative morbidity and mortality specifically in the context of colorectal surgery.

Methods: MEDLINE, PUBMED, and the Cochrane library were searched for relevant articles.

The psychobiology and diagnostic significance of amenorrhea in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Amenorrhea is a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa (AN), although menstrual cycles have been found to persist in some women with all the other features of AN. This study sought to determine factors that are associated with amenorrhea in 39 women with current primary spectrum AN. The use of exercise to control weight (odds ratio (OR) = 3.

Childhood gastrointestinal complaints in women with bulimia nervosa.

Objective: The current study describes childhood gastrointestinal (GI) complaints in adult women presenting for a treatment trial for bulimia nervosa (BN) and examines the correlates of BN symptomatology.

Method: The sample comprised 135 women with BN who underwent an assessment including questions regarding childhood GI complaints. Individuals were grouped into one of three categories: no GI complaints, GI complaints with/without constipation (GI complaints), and constipation only.

Patterns of weight change after treatment for bulimia nervosa.

Objective: The current study examined changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) at 5-year follow-up among women treated for bulimia nervosa.

Method: The study comprised 80 women who had participated in a randomized clinical trial evaluating cognitive-behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa. The women had attended assessments at posttreatment and at 5-year follow-up while not pregnant.

Thyroid indices and response to fluoxetine and nortriptyline in major depression.

We investigated: (i) the status of thyroid hormones and their clinical correlates in patients with major depression; (ii) changes in thyroid hormone status after treatment with fluoxetine versus nortriptyline; and (iii) whether blunted thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) challenge predicts improvement after 6 weeks of fluoxetine versus nortriptyline treatment. Patients with major depression entering a treatment trial were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and were rated on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Blood samples were taken for TSH, thyroxine (T4) and free thyroxine (FT4) measurement, and the maximum TSH response (deltamaxTSH) to a TRH challenge test was undertaken.

Anxiolytic effects of acute tryptophan depletion in anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Recent studies have raised the question as to whether a dysregulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin may contribute to the alterations in mood seen in anorexia nervosa (AN). People with AN tend to be anxious, obsessional, perfectionistic, and harm avoidant. These traits are premorbid and persist after recovery.

The effect of bulimia nervosa on plasma glucose and lipids.

This analysis examined changes in plasma lipids and glucose after 3 years in women treated for bulimia nervosa (BN). One hundred and thirty-five women aged 17-45 years with DSM-III-R BN entered a 12-week cognitive behavioral therapy treatment programme. Prior to and 3 years after treatment, patients completed psychiatric and behavioral assessments and fasting blood samples were drawn.