News in brief - May 23, 2011

Study examines extreme form of self-injury

Patients who perform self-embedding behavior are mostly white teenage females with multiple psychiatric diagnoses, according to a study posted online May 9 in Pediatrics. The study authors encourage physicians who treat young patients to be aware of this extreme form of self injury, which often is accompanied by suicidal intentions. Self-embedding behavior involves people putting foreign objects -- often items made of glass, wood or metal -- under their skin.

Researchers examined data on 600 patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who were receiving radiologic treatment for foreign objects in their soft tissue. Of these cases, 11 adolescents had embedded the items into their skin, subcutaneous tissue or muscle (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21555492).

The authors said self-embedding behavior is a manifestation of a larger problem. They recommend that physicians refer patients who partake in such acts to a mental health professional.

Back to top

Influenza viruses selected for 2011-12 seasonal flu vaccine

The 2011-12 seasonal influenza vaccine will contain the same three flu viruses that were included in the 2010-11 immunization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those viruses are the pandemic 2009 (H1N1)-like virus, an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccine-selection.htm).

The Food and Drug Administration selected the three influenza viruses based on the recommendations from the World Health Organization.

Back to top