Laparoscopically assisted colpopoesis using sigmoid colon]

Presentation of one case of scrotal vesical hernia in a 66-year old patient who presented with scrotal mass, micturition difficulty and two-phase micturition that improved when pressure was exerted on the scrotum. Diagnosis was established by physical examination and CUMS. The patient underwent surgery during which a direct inguinal hernia due to paraperitoneal vesical sliding was found. Right herniorrhaphy was performed with Shouldice's technique. Postoperative radiological monitoring showed normal vesical morphology. The pathogeny, classification and treatment, as well as the differential diagnosis uncommonly reported by the authors consulted, are commented.     

An alternative to DSM-III.

Comments on the article by Schacht and Nathan (see record 1978-29497-001), which presented a critical analysis of the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Schacht and Nathan note the inappropriateness of categorizing all mental disorders as a subset of medical disorders. The current author suggests that this may result in insurers and legislators increasingly relying on psychiatrists for both diagnosis and treatment of mental problems. He suggests that the American Psychological Association should develop its on diagnostic manual to be free of the biases and limitations of the DSM-III. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: An effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders.

Multisystemic therapy (MST) delivered through a community mental health center was compared with usual services delivered by a Department of Youth Services in the treatment of 84 serious juvenile offenders and their multiproblem families. Offenders were assigned randomly to treatment conditions. Pretreatment and posttreatment assessment batteries evaluating family relations, peer relations, symptomatology, social competence, and self-reported delinquency were completed by the youth and a parent, and archival records were searched at 59 wks postreferral to obtain data on rearrest and incarceration. In comparison with youths who received usual services, youths who received MST had fewer arrests and self-reported offenses and spent an average of 10 fewer weeks incarcerated. In addition, families in the MST condition reported increased family cohesion and decreased youth aggression in peer relations. The relative effectiveness of MST was neither moderated by demographic characteristics nor mediated by psychosocial variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emergenesis: An alternative and a confound.

Comments on the proposition of D. T. Lykken et al (see record 1993-16512-001) that there is a genetic explanation (emergenesis) for the similarity of monozygotic twins reared apart (MZA). Emergenesis is challenged and it is argued that the authors' research method is inherently confounded. An environmental explanation is suggested, which holds that MZAs' personalities are similarly molded because of their shared physical appearance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Laparoscopic intracorporeal ultrasound. An alternative to cholangiography?

The purpose of this study was to compare laparoscopic intracorporeal ultrasound (LICU) examination of the biliary duct system with cholangiography for delineation of duct anatomy and determination of presence or absence of ductal calculi. Thirty-one patients had LICU examination of the extrahepatic bile ducts after exposure of the gallbladder but prior to dissection of the cystic duct. After LICU examination, cystic duct dissection and cholangiography were done. Evaluation of duct anatomy and decision for duct exploration were based on findings of both tests. All patients had successful LICU examination and 30 had successful cholangiography. Duct size as determined by LICU corresponded precisely with cholangiography. LICU provided useful anatomical information in two patients with aberrant anatomy and detected cholangiogram. LICU aids in delineation of biliary duct anatomy and accurately determines presence or absence of duct calculi.     

An alternative approach to the surgical correction on malpositions of the uterus]

Endosurgical correction of the uterus was carried out in 57 patients. Indications for surgery were improper positions of the uterus-retroversio, retrodeviatio uteri, excessive mobility of the uterus, and complaints of heaviness at the bottom of the abdomen, leukorrhea, pain of different type in the lower portions of the abdomen, profuse and long menses, dyspareunic pain upon deep penetration, reduced libido, a sensation of a foreign body in the vaginal cleft, urine incontinence upon strain. The mean age of the patients was 35 +/- 3 years. The disease duration varied from 1 to 8-9 years. In 9 women endosurgical correction of the uterus was combined with other interventions on the pelvic organs: colpoperine-orrhaphy with levator plasty was carried out in 5, laparoscopic myomectomy in 2, and dissection of intraperitoneal adhesions in 2 patients. In addition, surgical sterilization was carried out in 54 patients. After surgery the patients were administered only nonnarcotic analgetics. All the patients were discharged on days 2-3, those subjected to combined treatment on days 8-9. The patients were followed up for up to 2 years. The general and psychoemotional status of the majority of patients improved, and the incidence of such symptoms as leukorrhea, pain at the bottom of the abdomen, profuse and long menses was 4, 6, and 5 times reduced, respectively. Endosurgical correction of the uterus in women of a reproductive age should be a method of choice; it can be carried out separately or in combination with plasty of the vaginal walls.     

Diagnosis and treatment of a urinary leak after ureteroileal conduit for diversion

Of 1,120 cases of ileal loop urinary diversion reviewed from our hospital 21 postoperative loop leaks were noted (1.87 per cent). Definite indications for diagnostic studies of urinary extravasation include persistent postoperative azotemia, sepsis and/or urinary leakage via the drains. In this series 2 types of loop leaks were noted--an early postoperative leak within the first 24 hours and a leakage 6 to 12 days postoperatively. More aggressive management of postoperatively urinary extravasation is urged, especially in patients who had been irradiated and suffered leakage later on in the postoperative course.     

An alternative approach to method effects by using latent-variable models: Applications in organizational behavior research.

Reviews recent research in the area of organizational behavior on social desirability and negative affectivity as potential sources of artifactual covariance. An example of a latent-variable structural equation approach is presented as a more appropriate strategy for analyzing method effects that circumvents problems associated with prior statistical techniques. This example, using data from 286 adults attending evening MBA classes, illustrates the specification of a structural equation model with and without method effects and describes the sequence of model comparisons that provides direct tests for the presence of method effects and for the impact of these effects on estimates of substantive relationships. Finally, this latent-variable approach is discussed with regard to other potential applications involving method effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Endometrial resection for refractory menorrhagia. An alternative to hysterectomy

ENDOMETRIAL RESECTION: Whether resection is total or partial, the superficial layer of the myometrium is exposed to a certain degree of damage. SEVERAL METHODS: Radiofrequency thermal resection, the standard method, offers the advantage of allowing histology examination. Other destructive methods have also been proposed including the more recent laser Ng-Yag ablation technique. INDICATION: Ideally, endometrial resection is indicated in women with a small uterus who develop drug resistant menometrorrhagia after the age of 40 years. MODERATE RATE OF SUCCESS: In a personal series of 105 patients who underwent radiofrequency thermal resection and with a mean follow-up of 15.5 +/- 6.6 months, results were in agreement with data reported in the literature: perforation of the uterus < 5%, hemorrhage < 1%, metabolic syndrome < 2%. Patients were entirely satisfied in 58% of the cases but secondary hysterectomy was required in 14%. PRECISE INDICATIONS: Despite the advantages over hysterectomy, endometrial resection should be reserved for selected patients in order to avoid an unsatisfactory high rate of failure.     

Career compromise: An alternative account to Gottfredson's theory.

We tested two competing theories of career compromise with a fuzzy graphic rating scale. Two studies were undertaken with 73 career-dissatisfied adults and 90 high school students who were chosen to represent approximately equal numbers of high and low social class men and women. Both studies failed to support predictions from L. S. Gottfredson's (see record 1982-03363-001) theory that sex type was more important than prestige and prestige more important than interests in career-related decisions. Instead, the data supported the alternative account that postulated that interests were more important because of their compound nature, which incorporates sex type and prestige. The discussion contrasts the more optimistic view of attempts to encourage entry into nontraditional careers implied by the alternative account with the pessimistic view implicit in Gottfredson's theory. Practical suggestions for theoretically driven career programs are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dual scaling: An alternative approach to categorical data.

Reviews the book, Analysis of Categorical Data: Dual Scaling and its Applications by S. Nishisato (1980). The reviewer provides a detailed analysis of the ideas explored by the author in this book about dual scaling, or optimal scaling as it is sometimes known. The reviewer believes that the text is an important resource in statistics and psychometrics, and that it undoubtedly will continue to be the standard work on this branch of the new "attribute statistics". For anyone serious about categorical data analysis, the reviewer strongly recommends this book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transcendental interpretation: An alternative approach to psychological inquiry.

Presents the transcendental interpretation approach to psychological inquiry based on the use of the Kantian transcendental argument, which relies on the criterion of consistency. Kant's purpose in employing this argument was as a means for justifying particular knowledge claims. Use of this approach is illustrated by examining the intersubjective and moral conditions necessary for the practice of selfhood. It is argued that phenomena of interest to psychological study differ fundamentally from those of natural science, rendering some of the methods applied in the latter inappropriate to the study of the former. The transcendental argument can provide a direction for psychological research in 2 ways: By helping it to lend intelligibility to its subject matter, and extending ordinary practices by making explicit the goods and norms that motivate them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An alternative interpretation of oneness.

Comments on L. H. Silverman and J. Weinberger's (see record 1986-15022-001) interpretation of their data as supporting the concept that subliminally induced gratification of wishes can enhance adaptation in both schizophrenic (SCZ) and non-SCZ individuals. This interpretation was strongly biased by Silverman and Weinberger's original intent. An alternative interpretation of their data is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An alternative to arch-bar maxillomandibular fixation

This report details a pilot study of the maxillomandibular fixation screw. A longer study with a greater number of patients will allow for better evaluation of this technique.     

Musical mood induction: An alternative to the Velten technique.

Investigated the use of a musical mood induction technique as an alternative to E. Velten's (1968) method in 2 experiments with 80 undergraduates. Results show that music induced affect differences between elated and depressed groups, as measured by the Depression Adjective Checklist. In addition, psychomotor performance was affected by mood induction. Moreover, these effects were achieved without the strong demand characteristics and gender differences typically associated with the Velten technique. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)