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Microminipig, a non-rodent experimental animal optimized for life science research:novel atherosclerosis model induced by high fat and cholesterol diet

Atherosclerotic lesions were observed in male and ovariectomized female Microminipig (MMP) fed a high fat and cholesterol diet with sodium cholate (HFCD/SC) for 3 months. HFCD/SC induced hypercholesterolemia accompanied by an increase in serum total cholesterol (T-Cho), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and cholesterol ester (CE). Unlike the mouse or rabbit, a dominant LDL-C fraction in the intact MMP, similar to that in humans, was observed by serum lipoprotein analysis. HFCD/SC increased body weight gain. At the end of the experiment, computed tomography scans of conscious animals showed that HFCD/SC had decreased liver attenuation values (Hounsfield unit) and increased subcutaneous and abdominal fat, suggesting the induction of fatty liver and obesity. HFCD/SC induced atherosclerotic lesions in systemic arteries, including the external and internal iliac arteries, abdominal aorta, coronary artery, and cerebral arterial circle. Atherosclerosis and pathological findings induced by HFCD/SC in MMP were similar to those in humans. The MMP is a potentially suitable tool for investigating human atherosclerosis.     

单纯性肥胖的中医疗法及生活方式干预

目的：探讨单纯性肥胖的的治疗方法和生活方式干预的临床疗效。方法：从单纯性肥胖的病因病机、中医特色治疗、中医传统疗法、生活方式干预等方面治疗单纯性肥胖。结果：在辨证基础上,采取具有中医特色的综合疗法配合生活方式干预,对单纯性肥胖的治疗取得了较好的疗效。结论：中医治疗结合生活方式干预治疗单纯性肥胖具有疗效好、不良反应少、疗效稳定等优点,易于被患者接受,并有广泛的适应性,是目前单纯性肥胖治疗调理的主流。     

The incidence of atopic dermatitis in school entrants is associated with individual life-style factors but not with local environmental factors in Hannover,Germany

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease in childhood. Micro- and macro-environmental factors have not yet been studied simultaneously in a large cohort of the same area in detail. OBJECTIVES: The incidence of AD was investigated in 97% of all school entrants (n = 4219) in the city of Hannover, Germany, with regard to the influence of individual and environmental factors. METHODS: A standardized questionnaire based on the criteria of Hanifin and Rajka that has the sensitivity and specificity of 97% compared with the clinical diagnosis of a dermatologist and a logistic regression model were used. Multiple local-based environmental factors were analysed for all 49 city quarters. RESULTS: Of all children studied, 10.5% suffered from AD at some time in their lives. The frequency of AD was significantly increasing with more privileged socio-economic status (P < 0.01). Independent factors that were associated with a higher frequency of AD were German nationality (12.4% AD compared with 2.1% in non-German), higher paternal socio-economic status (i.e. father's profession), higher daily duration of the fathers' professional work and the lack of paternal shift work. In contrast, there was no significant association between the frequency of AD and local environmental factors such as the biological effective level of air pollution and urbanization. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we confirm an association between a privileged life-style and a higher incidence of AD in a large number of investigated children between 5 and 9 years of age (97.6% of children were 6 or 7 years old) for the German city of Hannover. We propose the socio-economic status as a marker for different life-styles and social micro-environments in further studies as there were multiple significant correlations between individual social and environmental factors. The macro-environment seems to be less important for the disease outcome in this context.     

Monitoring health risk behavior of Dutch adolescents and the development of health promoting policies and activities: the E-MOVO project

This paper describes a new way of monitoring the health status of Dutch adolescents in order to stimulate the development of health policies at school and local levels and providing individual feedback using modern technology. The project is called E-MOVO that stands for Electronic Monitor and Health Education, in which seven Regional Health Authorities and the University of Maastricht collaborate. In this project, adolescents completed an electronic questionnaire via the Internet which measured topics related to demographics, school, physical health, mental health, well-being, lifestyle, criminality and leisure time activities. These data were used for feedback at three levels. On the basis of their answers, adolescents received tailored feedback on lifestyle in a personal 'E-MOVO score', including links to relevant websites or other tailored information. The aggregated data were used to provide schools and municipalities with information on the health and well-being of their adolescent population. These data were used to encourage the development of health promoting policies and activities at both levels. This project was evaluated and is now adapted to implement at a national level.     

Polymorphic light eruption may be associated with cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption

BACKGROUND: Although the genetic influence on polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is well established, the role of lifestyle factors is less well defined. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted that included 74 PLE patients and 102 controls. Each participant was interviewed about demographic, disease and lifestyle characteristics such as smoking, alcohol consumption and use of medications. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Compared with the controls, patients with PLE were significantly more likely to be younger females (P<0.05). Univariate analysis did not show a significant association between any of the smoking-related questions and PLE. However, after adjusting for gender and drinking alcohol, patients with PLE were significantly more likely to smoke 15 cigarettes or more daily [adjusted OR=4.06 (95% CI=1.19, 13.80) compared with 0 daily cigarettes] than controls. Participants who consumed six or more drinks a week were less likely to have PLE [adjusted OR=0.24 (95% CI=0.07, 0.80)]. In contrast, women who used oral anticonceptives for a longer period were four-fold more likely to have PLE [adjusted OR=4.74 (95% CI=1.33, 16.86)]. CONCLUSION: Several lifestyle factors may be associated with PLE, but further studies are warranted to confirm these retrospective findings.     

影响老年人便秘的多因素分析

目的:研究影响老年人便秘的相关因素。方法:应用非条件单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析方法,分析便秘与饮食行为、生活方式、心理等因素的关系。结果:多因素Logistic回归分析发现,年龄增高(OR1.488)、不吃豆芽菜(OR1.103)、不运动(OR1.123)、睡眠质量差(OR1.441)、心理压力(OR1.247)等因素均与便秘发生联系显著(P<0.05);而不喝牛奶与喜食甜食为便秘的保护因素。结论:结果提示老年人不合理的饮食行为、生活方式及心理压力与便秘的发生关系较大。     

Determinants of specific serum insulin concentrations in a general Caucasian population aged 50 to 74 years (the Hoorn study)

The aim of this study was to investigate anthropometric and life-style determinants of insulinaemia. Specific fasting serum insulin (FI) was analysed in a general Caucasian population aged 50–74 years, not known to have diabetes mellitus (n = 2226, sample 1). The analysis was repeated some weeks later in a subgroup of sample 1 in which two individual measurements of FI were available (n = 540, sub-sample 2). Specific serum insulin 2 h after ingestion of 75 g glucose (2hI), also measured on two occasions, was analysed in this same subgroup after excluding 59 subjects with fasting plasma glucose >7 mmol l⁻¹ (n = 481, sub-sample 3). Multiple regression analyses were performed, stratified for sex, with ¹⁰log insulin as the dependent variable. All determinants were adjusted for each other. FI was positively associated with BMI and waist–hip ratio (men and women) and inversely associated with intake of fibre (women), moderate alcohol use (men), and current smoking (women). 2hI was positively associated with BMI and waist–hip ratio (men and women), and intake of fat (women). 2hI was inversely associated with physical activity and moderate alcohol use (men and women), and current smoking (men). Family history of diabetes was not associated with insulinaemia. In conclusion, various life-style factors are related to insulinaemia, independent of obesity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者应用生活方式干预护理的临床观察

目的探讨分析阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者应用生活方式干预护理的临床疗效。方法选取本院就诊相关患者160例,按照随机数表法分为实验组和对照组各80例,2组患者均行UPPP,实验组患者在此基础上接受生活方式干预护理;对照组患者不进行生活方式干预护理,生活如常。对2组患者随访多年,干预后1年时进行症状评估,多导睡眠监测,体质量指数评估。比较干预前后2组患者的肺活量、AHI、LSAT、体质量指数和最长呼吸暂停时间。结果干预前2组患者体质量、体质量指数、肺活量、AHI、LSAT、最长呼吸暂停时间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);干预后实验组患者的体质量、体质量指数下降(P0.05),肺活量升高(P0.05)。干预前后对照组患者的体质量、体质量指数、肺活量、AHI、LSAT、最长呼吸暂停时间差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),干预后实验组患者的体质量、体质量指数低于同期对照组(P0.05),肺活量高于对照组(P0.05)。干预后实验组患者的AHI、最长呼吸暂停时间下降(P0.05),LSAT升高(P0.05),且均优于对照组(P0.05)。结论生活方式干预能够有效改善患者症状,降低体质量、体质量指数,增大患者肺活量,降低AHI、提高LSAT、减少最长呼吸暂停时间水平,对术后远期疗效有重要作用。