The Aftermath of Hitler’s Fury: a qualitative exploration of the lived experience of motherhood for female holocaust survivors

The traumatic experience of Holocaust survivors is not an under-researched topic. However, whilst the literature offers insight into a general ‘survivor syndrome’, it fails to adequately consider the implications of Holocaust trauma from a gendered perspective. Whilst researchers have considered the experience of the Holocaust for female survivors, they only touch on its impact on their interpersonal relationships with their children, without offering insight into the nature and extent of this impact. Furthermore, the literature approaches the subject from the perspective of survivors’ children, rather than survivors themselves. This piece of qualitative research aims to fill this gap in the literature by asking the following question: How do female survivors of the Holocaust make sense of their experience of motherhood? Eight female Holocaust survivors were interviewed for this study, each in the course of a semi structured interview, lasting between ninety and one hundred and eighty minutes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three Superordinate themes emerged from the study, highlighting how participants made sense of their experience of motherhood following their Holocaust trauma. The first superordinate theme, ‘Making sense of the self in relation to the other’, is linked to three subordinate themes: 1) The Roles and Responsibilities of a Mother; 2) Origins of Mothering Values; 3) The Experience of Change Throughout Motherhood. The second superordinate theme, ‘Navigating the Experience of Distance and Closeness’ constitutes two subthemes: 1) Connection and Disconnection; 2) Gratitude and Taking for Granted. The third superordinate theme, ‘Negotiating Internal Conflicts’, comprises three subordinate themes: 1) Hope and Hopelessness; 2) Fear and Stability; 3) Pride and Shame. These themes are discussed within the study and links are made to the relevant existing literature. The challenges of conducting this research are discussed, along with the strengths and limitations of this study and the implications it has for the field and practice of Counselling Psychology. Finally, ideas for further research are presented

Ultrasonic partial glossectomy

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Chemotherapy-Induced Neuronal Maturation in Sinonasal Teratocarcinosarcoma—a Unique Observation

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is a rare and highly malignant tumour with combined features of a teratoma and carcinosarcoma. We report the first case of a SNTCS in 23 year old male treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by cranio-facial resection. The resection specimen displayed cellular maturation in the neuroectodermal component. The patient presented with a short history of nasal obstruction, epistaxis and headache. On imaging, a bone destroying lesion of left paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity was identified. The diagnosis of SNTCS could be offered only on the third biopsy which showed heterogeneous admixture of primitive neuroectodermal, epithelial and mesenchymal elements. An adequate sampling with high index of suspicion is needed to catch hold this rare tumor. Tumor was excised after 4 cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. On microscopic examination, it showed similar epithelial and mesenchymal components as the pretreatment biopsies. However, the primitive neuroectodermal component displayed extensive neuronal maturation. The undifferentiated neuroectodermal cells were completely absent in the post chemotherapy specimen. This case throws light on the morphologic evidence of chemotherapy induced maturation in the neuroectodermal component within SNTCS, an event hitherto not reported in the literature in case of SNTCS

Thyroid cysts: a new extra-adrenal site of aldosterone synthase expression and increased aldosterone content

Abstract Background The rapid re-accumulation of fluid following aspiration of thyroid cystic lesions suggests that active transport of sodium and water may be involved in volume regulation of these lesions. In this study we address the possibility that aldosterone may take part in this process. Subjects and methods Thirty-one patients (29 women and two men), with a mean age of 52·7 ± 13·2 years (range: 27-77 years) underwent evaluation for thyroid nodules that had a sonographic cystic component. Cystic fluid obtained by FNA biopsy was sent for cytological examination and biochemical measurements. In 10 patients, material was collected for RNA extraction and determination of aldosterone synthase expression by RT-PCR amplification. Results All lesions were benign, cystic, colloid nodules. Cyst fluid aldosterone levels as measured by routine radioimmunoassay (RIA) were elevated above the normal plasma levels in all but five patients. Mean aldosterone levels were 27·1 ± 22·9 ng /dl (SD) (range: 5·9-117·5 ng/dl). In contrast, cyst cortisol values were in the low, low normal serum range (6·2 ± 2·9 µ g/dl, range: 0·2-10·2 µ g/dl). Sodium, chloride and potassium levels were 137 ± 4·7 mEq/l, 98 ± 5 mEq/l and 4·9 ± 1·4 mEq/l, respectively. Plasma aldosterone levels were normal in all patients tested. To confirm these results, 12 samples were assayed after extraction and chromatography using a highly specific antibody. Cyst aldosterone levels in this group were elevated above the normal serum range in all but one patient (mean concentration: 24·5 ± 14·6 ng/dl, range: 8·72-40·1 ng /dl). In this group, 18(OH)B levels were within the normal plasma range (12-55 ng /dl) in all but one patient (34·9 ± 17 ng/dl). Furthermore, aldosterone synthase mRNA expression was found in aspirates of four of 10 patients. Conclusions The increased aldosterone concentration and the presence of aldosterone synthase expression suggest that aldosterone may be locally produced and secreted in thyroid tissue. The pathophysiological implications of this finding remain to be established

Thermal Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules: Radiofrequency and Laser

Although ethanol ablation has been successfully used to treat cystic thyroid nodules, this procedure is less effective when the thyroid nodules are solid. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation, a newer procedure used to treat malignant liver tumors, has been valuable in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules regardless of the extent of the solid component. This article reviews the basic physics, techniques, applications, results, and complications of thyroid RF ablation, in comparison to laser ablation

הפרוייקט הראשון

ניסוי במסגרת הקורס פסיכולוגיה ניסויית קיץ 201