RESUMEN
Attentional biases may influence the eye-movements made when judging bodies and so alter the visual information sampled when making a judgment. This may lead to an overestimation of body size. We measured the eye-movements made by 16 anorexic observers and 16 age-matched controls when judging body size and attractiveness. We combined behavioural data with a novel eye-movement analysis technique that allowed us to apply spatial statistical techniques to make fine spatial discriminations in the pattern of eye-movements between our observer groups. Our behavioural results show that anorexic observers overestimate body size relative to controls and find bodies with lower body mass indexes more attractive. For both judgments, the controls' fixations centre on the stomach, but the anorexic observers show a much wider fixation pattern extending to encompass additional features such as the prominence of the hip and collar bones. This additional visual information may serve to alter their behavioural judgments towards an overestimation of body size and shift their ideal body size towards a significantly lower value.
Asunto(s)
Anorexia/psicología , Atención/fisiología , Movimientos Oculares/fisiología , Juicio/fisiología , Adulto , Imagen Corporal , Tamaño Corporal , Femenino , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcome following open versus laparoscopic appendicectomy. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were randomized to LA (51) or OA (54) between 1997 and 1999 at one hospital. Perioperative factors and follow-up data from the outpatient clinic were recorded. Information about symptoms and overall satisfaction was obtained by telephone interview. In addition, appendicectomy data for 2008 were analysed retrospectively for comparison in a contemporary setting. RESULTS: Data from 52 patients who had OA and 47 who had LA were analysed. OA was performed mostly by trainees, but LA was more likely to be undertaken by a consultant. The open procedure was quicker than the laparoscopic operation in the trial period (median 38 versus 65 min respectively; P < 0.001), but the difference was only 10 min in 2008. The OA group returned to work later than the LA group (median 13 versus 8 days; P = 0.013) and had more complications (22 versus 6; P = 0.014). Only one patient (OA) had a reoperation, owing to abdominal adhesions. Among 76 patients available for telephone interview, satisfaction scores were marginally higher for LA than OA. CONCLUSION: LA has some advantages compared with an open approach. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00908804 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Asunto(s)
Apendicectomía/métodos , Apendicitis/cirugía , Laparoscopía/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Laboratory rats are commonly fed ad libitum (AL). Moderate dietary restriction (DR) decreases mortality and morbidity when compared with AL feeding, but there are several obstacles to the implementation of DR. Traditional methods of restricted feeding disrupt normal diurnal eating rhythms and are not compatible with group housing. We have designed a novel method, the diet board, to restrict the feeding of group-housed rats. Animals fed from the diet board had 15% lower body weight than the AL-fed animals at the age of 17 weeks. The welfare effects of diet board feeding were assessed by comparing the stress physiology of diet board fed animals with that of AL-fed animals. Diet board feeding was associated with higher serum corticosterone levels and lower faecal secretion of IgA, suggesting the diet board causes a stress reaction. However, the AL-fed group had larger adrenal glands with higher adrenaline and noradrenaline content than the diet board animals. No gastric ulcers were found in any of the animals at necropsy. The diet board thus appears to cause a stress reaction when compared with AL-fed rats, but no apparent pathology was associated with this reaction. The diet board could help to solve the health problems associated with AL feeding, while allowing the rats to be group-housed and to maintain their normal diurnal eating rhythms. The diet board can also be seen as a functional cage furniture item, dividing the cage into compartments and thus increasing the structural complexity of the environment. In conclusion, the diet board appears to possess refinement potential compared with traditional methods of DR.