Self-report alexithymia, depression, and anxiety inventories were completed by 204 (84 women and 120 men) psychoactive substance-dependent patients during their first week of hospitalization. Eighty-five of the 204 patients (41.7%) scored in the alexithymic range on the revised Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Women's average alexithymia, depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State [STAI-S]) scores were higher than men's average scores. Ethnic (Hispanic whites v non-Hispanic whites) and diagnostic (alcohol v drug v mixed-substance dependence) group differences were not significant. To examine the interrelationships among alexithymia, depression, and anxiety, a causal model confirmed in medical students was tested. The model was reconfirmed; state anxiety predicted depression and alexithymia, and depression predicted alexithymia. These findings are consistent with previous research and compatible with the view that a state of alexithymia can result from severe anxiety and depression.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood soft tissue chondroma: a case report.

In this paper we draw attention to the existence of soft tissue chondromas in childhood. This entity is well recognized in adults, where over 90% of the recorded cases have occurred in the hands and feet. Our case is unusual in that the child was only 10 years of age and the lesion was on the back, not in the extremity. The importance of recognizing this condition is that these chondromas may exhibit increased cellularity and mitoses and should not be mistaken for a malignant condition.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The synthetic phosphagen cyclocreatine phosphate inhibits the growth of a broad spectrum of solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: The brain isoform of creatine kinase (CKBB), an enzyme involved in energy metabolism, has been implicated in cellular transformation process. Cyclocreatine (CCr), a creatine kinase (CK) substrate analogue, was shown to inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum of solid tumors expressing high levels of CK. Cyclocreatine phosphate (CCrP) generated by CK, was proposed to be the active form responsible for growth inhibition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We synthesized CCrP and tested its cellular uptake and anti tumor activity in stem cell assays and in athymic mouse models. RESULTS: CCrP seems to be taken up by cells and inhibits the growth of solid tumors with high levels of CK. CCr and CCrP have similar specificity and potency. CONCLUSION: The observation that only high-CK cell lines were responsive to CCrP, similar to CCr, indicates that the enzyme requirement was not bypassed. We propose that CK is a target for CCrP, and is involved in mediating its antiproliferative activity.

Animals↗