Lipid Accumulation Product Index to Predict Metabolic Syndrome in People Living with HIV

Background:Dyslipidemia and central obesity are the main components of metabolic syndrome, which represent important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index has been shown in studies as an efficient marker of metabolic syndrome in general adult population and its applicability in HIV-infected population is not discussed. We aimed to assess the accuracy of the LAP index to identify metabolic syndrome in people living with HIV.Methods:It is a cross-sectional study with 141 HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy, conducted in a reference centre of infectious diseases in southeast Brazil. Evaluations included LAP index, anthropometric measurements and clinical and laboratorial variables. Metabolic syndrome was defined by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.Results:The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sample was 10.6%. A positive and significant correlation was found between the metabolic syndrome and LAP (r=0.401; P<0.01), metabolic syndrome and body mass index (r=0.361; P<0.01) and metabolic syndrome and waist circumference (r=0.427; P<0.01) in our sample. The analysis of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that the best cut-off value for LAP index to define metabolic syndrome was 59.4 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 79% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.875. In female and male, analysis of the ROC curve revealed that the best cut-off value for LAP index to define metabolic syndrome was 56.3 (sensitivity 100%, specificity 82% and AUC of 0.929) and 52.0 (sensitivity 78%, specificity 74% and AUC of 0.838), respectively.Conclusion:Despite the low prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sample, the ROC curves analyzes demonstrated a good diagnostic accuracy as an additional screening tool of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF.     

Organ Accumulation in Mice After Inhalation of Single or Mixed Essential Oil Compounds

Essential oils are composed of multiple components. It is thought that the effect of essential oils is due to specific component ratios, which may differ from the original ratio when the essential oil is absorbed. However, very little detailed research exists in this area. We studied the distribution of essential oil components after inhalation of single and mixed components in mice. This research was done using four main components of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt. and R. M. Sm.: α‐pinene, p‐cymene, 1,8‐cineole, and limonene. After inhalation of single or mixed components for 90 min, component levels in the brain and liver of mice were measured. The results indicated that the amount of α‐pinene in the brain and liver was twofold greater after mixed‐component inhalation than that after single‐component inhalation. In a comparison of the components of the mixed inhalation, the ratio of α‐pinene increased to about three times that of 1,8‐cineole. It is thought that the absorption via the nasal mucus greatly influences this phenomenon. The results of this investigation of the bodily distribution of essential oil volatile components may provide clues for elucidating their action. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A genome-wide view of Caenorhabditis elegans base-substitution mutation processes

Knowledge of mutation processes is central to understanding virtually all evolutionary phenomena and the underlying nature of genetic disorders and cancers. However, the limitations of standard molecular mutation detection methods have historically precluded a genome-wide understanding of mutation rates and spectra in the nuclear genomes of multicellular organisms. We applied two high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies to identify and characterize hundreds of spontaneously arising base-substitution mutations in 10 Caenorhabditis elegans mutation-accumulation (MA)-line nuclear genomes. C. elegans mutation rate estimates were similar to previous calculations based on smaller numbers of mutations. Mutations were distributed uniformly within and among chromosomes and were not associated with recombination rate variation in the MA lines, suggesting that intragenomic variation in genetic hitchhiking and/or background selection are primarily responsible for the chromosomal distribution patterns of polymorphic nucleotides in C. elegans natural populations. A strong mutational bias from G/C to A/T nucleotides was detected in the MA lines, implicating oxidative DNA damage as a major endogenous mutagenic force in C. elegans. The observed mutational bias also suggests that the C. elegans nuclear genome cannot be at equilibrium because of mutation alone. Transversions dominate the spectrum of spontaneous mutations observed here, whereas transitions dominate patterns of allegedly neutral polymorphism in natural populations of C. elegans and many other animal species; this observation challenges the assumption that natural patterns of molecular variation in noncoding regions of the nuclear genome accurately reflect underlying mutation processes.     

The impact of Salmonella Enteritidis on lipid accumulation in chicken hepatocytes

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is a public health concern and infected chickens serve as a reservoir that potentially transmits to humans through food. Although SE seldom causes systemic disease in chickens, virulent SE strains can colonize in intestines and lead a persistent infection of the liver. The liver is the primary organ for lipid metabolism in chickens and the site for production and assembly of main components in yolk. We performed a time-course experiment using LMH-2A cells that were infected with SE and co-incubated with β-oestradiol to evaluate if SE infection affected lipid metabolism and subsequently changed lipoprotein formation for egg yolk. The results indicated that lipid accumulation significantly increased in infected LMH-2A cells while the viability of these cells was only slightly decreased. The mRNA expressions of lipid transportation and most lipogenetic genes including sterol regulatory element binding protein 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty-acid synthase, long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) II were significantly up-regulated while the expression of lipogenetic-related stearoyl-CoA denaturase 1 was down-regulated. Moreover, decline in lipid transportation of hepatocytes was evidenced by the down-regulation of oestrogen receptor α which promotes VLDLy formation, an increase of intra-cellular accumulation of Apoprotein B (ApoB) protein, and a decrease of cellular excretion of VLDL protein. Conclusively, SE infection could elevate lipid synthesis and reduce lipid transportation in the chicken hepatocytes. These changes may lead excessive lipid accumulation in liver and slower lipoprotein deposition in yolk.     

1,3-dichloro-2-propanol induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells through cAMP/protein kinase A and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways via Gi/o-coupled receptors

1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) is a food born hepatoxic chloropropanol contaminant that has been detected in a wide range of foods. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of 1,3-DCP on lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The data showed 1,3-DCP significantly increased intracellular content of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) at 0.5–2 μg/mL. Further results showed that 1,3-DCP greatly decreased cyclic AMP (cAMP) level. In addition, 1,3-DCP inhibited PKA and AMPK signaling pathway, but had no influence on intracellular calcium and regulated proteins. Moreover, Gi/o protein inhibitor PTX significantly inhibited 1,3-DCP induced decrease of cAMP, p-PKA and p-AMPK expression. Furthermore, 1,3-DCP significantly decreased GPR41 and GPR43 expression, but had no effect on GPR109B.Thus, we concluded that 1,3-DCP induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells through cAMP/PKA and AMPK signaling pathways via Gi/o-coupled receptor.     

Long‐term effects of health investments and parental favoritism: the case of breastfeeding

This paper re‐examines the effects of breastfeeding on long‐term educational outcomes using longitudinal data on siblings. While family‐fixed effects allow controls for all shared family factors, these estimators are sensitive to compensating or reinforcing behaviors by parents. These biases may be particularly important for estimating the effects of parental investment such as breast feeding, where sibling discordance may be difficult to treat as a random outcome and may result in persistence in differential investments between siblings. This paper uses a unique question asked to adolescent siblings about parental favoritism to adjust for potential reinforcing behavior by parents. Standard fixed effects estimates suggest important long‐term educational effects of breastfeeding; however, these effects are uniformly eliminated after focusing on families who treat siblings equally. These findings shed light on the mechanisms linking associations between breastfeeding and longer term outcomes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

平胃散对湿阻中焦模型醛固酮和神经降压素的影响

目的揭示湿阻中焦证的本质并阐明平胃散的作用机理。方法通过放免法测定各组大鼠血浆醛固酮(ALD)、神经降压素(NT)浓度的变化。结果与模型组及空白组比较,自然恢复组及平胃散组ALD均明显降低(P<0.05),平胃散组NT减少(P<0.05)。结论醛固酮(ALD)、神经降压素(NT)是湿阻中焦证的病机变化之一;而其中调控NT水平可能也是平胃散的直接作用机制之一。     

论我国现阶段医疗保险个人账户存在的必要性

目的:探讨我国现阶段医疗保险个人账户存在的必要性。方法:比较医疗保险个人账户设计初衷与实际运行效果,分析其有必要存在的原因。结果:医疗保险个人账户约束和积累作用不佳且在一定程度上抑制了老年人和慢性病患者的医疗需要,但从我国国民的心理承受力、国民素质及人口老龄化等方面原因考虑,现阶段其有存在的必要。结论:为完善医疗保险个人账户,应扩大医疗保险覆盖对象,调整使用范围,取消退休人员个人账户,加强对供方的管理以及其他配套措施的完善。     

药用菊花不同栽培类型总黄酮动态积累研究

目的：研究药用菊花总黄酮花期动态积累，为药用菊花总黄酮资源合理利用及最佳采收期确定提供依据。方法：测定不同栽培类型药用菊花花期不同时期的总黄酮含量，确定其总黄酮成分动态积累过程。结果与结论：药用菊花在舌状花开放50%管状花开放30%或者舌状花开放70%管状花开放50%，不同栽培类型药用菊花总黄酮积累普遍达到较高的水平。只有少数类型在舌状花、管状花全部开放时总黄酮积累达到最高值。     

刘公望教授针药结合治疗粉刺经验

粉刺临床证型多为瘀热结聚,病位在肺和脾胃,刘公望教授治疗粉刺方法独到,方用麻黄连翘赤小豆汤合黄连解毒汤化裁,针刺取风池、曲池、尺泽,并大椎、膈俞或至阳刺络拔罐。