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R du Bois

Publications and source records attributed to R du Bois.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Autoantibodies in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.

The pathogenesis of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) involves injury, an immune/inflammatory response and fibrosis. The cause of the injury is unknown, but the identification of serum autoantibodies makes an autoimmune aetiology attractive. The core study on which this commentary is based used novel cloning and serum screening technologies in order to identify new public and private autoantibodies in sera from 12 patients with CFA. Largely negative conclusions were drawn from that study. However, we suggest that the prevalence of autoantibodies may have been underestimated, that the study was timely and that this approach is worth pursuing further.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2000

Allegations of sexual abuse in child custody disputes.

OBJECTIVE: Allegations of sexual abuse are increasingly made in the context of divorce proceedings. The aim of the study was to describe ideal typical patterns of family dynamics when sexual abuse is alleged in divorce proceedings. METHOD: Development of an assessment plan according to the methods of the qualitative descriptive social sciences and retrospective assessment of 24 legal cases of custody and visitation right proceedings in which allegations of sexual abuse (N = 30 children) were made. RESULTS: In our sample, we found a significant incidence of sexual deviations of a parent. With respect to the allegations of sexual abuse in divorce cases, we were able to identify four types of family dynamics. Our qualitative assessment of the data showed that distinguishing between actual abuse and false allegations cannot adequately help to clarify the family dynamics. Rather, it tends to conceal the fact that even a false allegation usually originates from a sexualized atmosphere in the family. The main family structures which were observed without exception in our sample generally already existed before the separation phase and had corresponding effects on the child which must be considered in the evaluation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Detection of human retrovirus 5 in patients with arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether human retrovirus 5 (HRV-5) infection is associated with autoimmune rheumatic disease. METHODS: DNA from patients with various disorders including inflammatory diseases and from normal subjects was tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HRV-5 proviral DNA. Positive results were confirmed by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: HRV-5 proviral DNA was detected in 53% of synovial samples from arthritic joints, in 12% of blood samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in 16% of blood samples from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast, it was not detectable by PCR of affected tissues from patients with several other autoimmune diseases and was found in only 1 of >200 tissue specimens obtained at autopsy from non-RA patients. Sequence analysis of the amplified viral segment showed genetic variation between samples with maintenance of the open reading frame, typical of a replicating infectious retrovirus. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the frequent detection of HRV-5 in any disease. We propose that the possible involvement of HRV-5 in autoimmune and rheumatic disease should be investigated further.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1999

[Distinction between regression and retardation].

Retardation is an impairment of functioning, which has affected individual growth from the onset of life. Regression is a temporary developmental flaw which is more easily amenable to psychdynamic understanding and treatment. In reality both retardation and regression are interlaced in great complexity. The structural axis of the OPD system has for methodological reasons decided to assess both states separately. Once the developmental level has been assessed, the structural level can be determined. Difficulties of this procedure are discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1999

[Brief report of working group OPD-CA (children and adolescents) Axis IV: structural standard].

Apart from the structural differentiation of the body and its functions, the enlargement of the child's repertoire of possibilities to make experiences and to act is a manifestation of the development of the child's psychic structure which, advancing in years, may be considered as a treasure of all the experiences one has made with oneself, with the world and with the others. Structure will develop along with the interactional experiences with the world around us and becomes manifest in one's behaviour which may be witnessed and observed. The description of the psychic structure comprises three dimensions (perception of the self and of the objects, control, communication and bonding) which will be described by certain capabilities and will be assessed with the help of an anchoring example typical for each age which serves the purpose of clinical illustration. The adaptational achievement may then be assessed on the basis of a structural standard independent of age and may be ranged on a structural level. It appears that the exemplary description of different scopes of tasks typically to be performed at certain ages which serves as a basis for the assessment of the adaptational competence during childhood and adolescence seems to be a good policy. The purpose of our studies is the development of a valid instrument which is easy to handle in practice and which has a high interrater-reliability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Congenital and pediatric interstitial disease.

Congenital and pediatric interstitial lung disease (ILD) is set in the context of the maturing lung and immune system, and thus differs completely from its adult equivalents in presentation, therapy, and outcome. We first establish the background by briefly reviewing normal maturational changes and then describe recent advances in diagnosis. We then highlight three specific topics: drugs and the lung (treatment and iatrogenic ILD); the histiocytic disorders of the lung; and congenital ILD (specifically congenital surfactant protein deficiency).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Dynamics of child suggestibility in accusations of sexual abuse in divorce proceedings].

A case of a mother confabulating an extended sexual abuse of her 13 and 15 year old children involving bizarre sadistic features is presented and discussed. The kinship to Munchhausen Syndrome by proxy, identity diffusion, Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome, folie à deux and other concepts is highlighted. It is suggested that sexual confabulations are generated within incestuous family structures as a means to stimulate and satisfy needs of personal closeness when losses and disruptive events have occurred. The disclosure or suspicion of sexual abuse may prove neither true nor false but may hint to an impending emotional breakdown of a parent and to ongoing subtle incestuous traumatisation of a child.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Rapidly changing ego states in inpatient long-term therapy of psychotic adolescents].

The paper reports about some aspects of a major retrospective case study of 43 psychotic adolescents in long term in-patient treatment. One of five items to classify these treatments were rapidly changing ego-states. In 17 patients this phenomenon was seen as having essential repercussions on the therapeutic course. The discussion is centered round the day by day interactions with these patients on the ward. The question is raised, how holding structures and continuity of personal relations can be reached and maintained in view of rapidly changing levels of ego functioning. Much emphasis is laid on the understanding of interpersonal dynamics between nursing staff and patients. Such understanding enables the team to adapt to the patients' needs without being overwhelmed by their impact. A thus reflected shaping of everyday interactions on the ward is highlighted as an essential factor in the treatment of psychotic adolescents. The term "rapidly changing ego-states" refers to the adolescent problem of maturation and separation and to the restating of this problem in a treatment setting. Mental illness evolves to be understood a developmental crisis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Echography of the corpus luteum].

The authors analyse the ultrasound aspects of normal and abnormal corpora lutea after reviewing the techniques for studying ovaries. The abnormalities include unruptured luteal follicles, cystic corpora lutea, haemorrhage into corpora lutea and ovarian hyperstimulation.

Corpus Luteum↗
PubMed1982

[Problem in echographic diagnosis: intrauterine pseudo-sac].

The authors report eight cases of an intra-uterine pseudo-sac giving a wrong diagnosis of intra-uterine pregnancy. In two cases there was hypertrophy of the uterine mucosa and in six cases there was decidual change. The pseudo-sac corresponds to: either a blood clot held by the uterine mucosa; or a marked hypertrophy of the endometrium with intense decidualization and massive oedema. Certain characteristic criteria suggest that a pseudo-sac may be in the uterus; the oblong shape, dimensions which do not accord with the period of amenorrhoea, absence of peripheral and linear thickening, the variety of sites in which the picture is seen and in particular its disappearance, which makes it difficult to localise it in all sections. On the other hand it is not possible to diagnose between an intra-uterine pseudo-gestational sac and an early intra-uterine pregnancy which is not growing, in our present state of knowledge.

Diagnostic Errors↗