Relationship Between the Flushing Response and Drinking Behavior Among Japanese High School Students

In a study of the relationship between the flushing response and drinking behavior, the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale was used to survey 932 male and female Japanese high school students identified by the ethanol patch test as flushers (338; 36.3%) and nonflushers (594; 63.7%). The goal was to clarify whether the flushing response inhibits adolescent drinking. Students with the flushing response reported drinking significantly less than nonflushers with respect to both frequency and amount. Although the flushing response was associated with less drinking, the flushers and nonflushers had similar drinking partners and reasons for drinking, and their total Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale scores did not differ significantly. The survey showed that many flushers were seeking the pleasures of alcohol despite the discomforts it caused, suggesting that Japanese adolescents need more education on the risks of adolescent drinking.     

Significant Correlation Between Insulin Resistance and Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (γ-GTP) Activity in Non-Drinkers

To understand the significance of elevated serum γ-GTP levels, factors relevant to the serum γ-GTP level were studied using data of health check-ups for the employees of a Japanese corporation. The γ-GTP level was positively correlated with levels of various liver function tests including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Except for them, the γ-GTP level was positively correlated with levels of insulin resistance, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and body mass index. The correlation between the γ-GTP level and LDL cholesterol was also observed only when subjects who drank more than 5 times a week were selectively studied. When non-drinkers and opportunity drinkers were selectively studied, 63.6% of subjects whose γ-GTP level was more than 120 IU/liter showed elevated insulin resistance levels. Multiple factors including insulin resistance may affect serum γ-GTP activity in clinical subjects.     

非糖尿病腹膜透析患者胰岛素抵抗与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性

目的探讨非糖尿病腹膜透析患者胰岛素抵抗与动脉粥样硬化的关系。方法选择非糖尿病腹膜透析的成年患者64例,对其临床资料包括胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)进行分析。采用高分辨二维超声对双侧颈总动脉内膜中膜厚度(IMT)及颈动脉粥样斑块进行测量。按IMT厚度及有无斑块分为两组:无颈动脉硬化组(IMT1.0 mm)和颈动脉硬化组(IMT≥1.0 mm和/或已发现有颈动脉斑块)。结果颈动脉硬化组餐后2 h血糖(2h PBG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDLC)、高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、甘油三酯(TG)和HOMA-IR高于无颈动脉硬化组(P0.05),而血浆白蛋白则低于无颈动脉硬化组(P0.01);颈动脉硬化组胰岛素抵抗患者占53.49%,而无颈动脉硬化组胰岛素抵抗患者仅占4.76%(P0.01)。相关分析显示非糖尿病腹膜透析患者动脉硬化与年龄、2h PBG、LDLC、hs-CRP、TG和HOMA-IR呈正相关(r=0.375、0.373、0.420、0.345、0.351、0.458,P0.05);Logistic回归分析发现,年龄、HOMA-IR、2h PBG、hs-CRP是非糖尿病腹膜透析患者发生动脉粥样硬化的危险因素。结论在非糖尿病腹膜透析患者中HOMA-IR水平与颈动脉粥样硬化正相关,HOMA-IR可能促进了动脉粥样硬化的发生。     

The Relationship Between Genetic Influences on Alcohol Dependence and on Patterns of Alcohol Consumption

Background: Genetic factors impact substantially both on alcohol consumption (AC) and on the risk for alcohol dependence (AD). However, we know little about the degree to which measures of AC index the genetic risk for AD. Methods: We assessed a lifetime history of AD by DSM‐IV criteria and four measures of AC at the time of heaviest drinking (drink frequency, regular quantity, maximum quantity, and drunk frequency) in 5,073 adult twins from same‐sex pairs from the Virginia Twin Registry. Structural models were fitted using Mx. Results: We found evidence for different genetic structure in the sexes. In women, genetic risk for AD and for the four measures of AC was entirely shared. In men, the AC measures captured 85% of the genetic risk for AD. In women, the genetic relationship with AD was strongest for drunk frequency and in men for both drunk frequency and regular quantity. Conclusions: In a population‐based sample of twins, four relatively simple measures of AC obtained for the time of lifetime heaviest drinking were able to capture all (in women) or a very large proportion (in men) of the genetic risk for the complex multi‐dimensional construct of AD. If replicated, these results have practical implications for studies aiming to assess genetic risk for AD.     

Heavy Episodic Drinking and Alcohol Consumption in French Colleges: The Role of Perceived Social Norms

Background:  The effect of normative perceptions (social norms) on heavy episodic drinking (HED) behavior is well known in the U.S. college setting, but little work is available in other cultural contexts. The objective of this study is therefore to assess whether social norms of alcohol use are related to HED in France, taking account of other influential predictors.
Methods:  A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 731 second-year university students in the Paris region to explore the role of 29 potential alcohol use risk factors. The probability of heavy episodic drinking and the frequency of HED among heavy episodic drinkers were modeled independently. Monthly alcohol consumption was also assessed.
Results:  Of the students, 56% overestimate peer student prevalence of HED (37% for alcohol drinking prevalence). HED frequency rises with perceived peer student prevalence of HED. Other social norms associated with HED are perceived friends' approval of HED (increasing both HED probability and HED frequency) and perceived friend prevalence of alcohol drinking (increasing HED probability only). Cannabis and tobacco use, academic discipline, gender, and the number of friends are also identified as being associated with HED.
Conclusions:  Overestimation of peer student prevalence is not uncommon among French university students. Furthermore, perceived peer student prevalence of HED is linked to HED frequency, even after adjusting for other correlates. Interventions correcting misperceived prevalences of HED among peer students have therefore the potential to reduce the frequency of HED in this population.     

胰岛素抵抗与原发性高血压患者合并左心室肥厚的关系

目的：研究胰岛素抵抗与原发性高血压合并左心室心肌肥厚的关系。　　方法：选择４４例原发性高血压（ＥＨ）患者为ＥＨ组,３６ 例ＥＨ合并左心室肥厚（ＬＶＨ）患者为ＥＨ＋ ＬＶＨ组和３８ 例正常血压者为正常血压组。用二维超声心动图测定上述３组左心室重量指数、总心室壁厚度和相对心室壁厚度及血糖、胰岛素并计算胰岛素敏感指数。　　结果：方差分析发现正常血压组和ＥＨ组中胰岛素敏感指数明显高于ＥＨ＋ ＬＶＨ组（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。在直线回归分析中发现胰岛素敏感指数与左心室重量指数明显负相关（ｒ＝ － ０．３０１,Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。胰岛素敏感指数与总心室壁厚度明显负相关（ｒ＝ － ０．２８８,Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。逐步回归分析提示左心室重量指数与胰岛素敏感指数、高血压年限、总外周血管阻力显著相关（Ｒ２＝ ０．２９３５,Ｐ＜ ０．０１）。　　结论：提示胰岛素抵抗在原发性高血压合并ＬＶＨ的发病机制中具有重要的作用     

2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者脂联素水平与胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的 研究2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者脂联素水平和胰岛素抵抗之间的相关性,探讨脂联素在2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者发生胰岛素抵抗中的作用.方法 选择30例2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者、25例2型糖尿病患者及25例非糖尿病对照人员(其中13例为肥胖者),检测体质指数、腰/臀比值、空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白、血清空腹胰岛素、血脂、脂联素水平,计算胰岛素抵抗指数和胰岛素敏感指数.分析血清脂联素与胰岛素抵抗的相关性.结果 (1)糖尿病肥胖组的检测体质指数、糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数、血清空腹胰岛素、腰/臀比值均高于对照肥胖组,脂联素、胰岛素敏感指数低于对照肥胖组(P<0.05).(2)糖尿病非肥胖组甘油三酯、糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数、血清空腹胰岛素均高于对照非肥胖组,胰岛素敏感指数、脂联素低于对照非肥胖组(P<0.05).(3)糖尿病肥胖组甘油三酯、胆固醇、体质指数、糖化血红蛋白、空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数、血清空腹胰岛素、腰/臀比值均高于糖尿病非肥胖组,胰岛素敏感指数、脂联素低于糖尿病非肥胖组(P<0.05).结论 脂联素与2型糖尿病肥胖患者的胰岛素抵抗发生有关,脂联素降低易导致胰岛素抵抗,脂联素水平可作为2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者发生胰岛素抵抗的监测标准.     

Voluntary Alcohol Consumption in BXD Recombinant Inbred Mice: Relationship to Alcohol Metabolism

Studies were initiated to characterize behaviorally and biochemically C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice, as well as BXD Recombinant Inbred (RI) strains derived from them. The C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and 7 BXD RI strains were tested for voluntary alcohol consumption (VAC) by receiving 4 days of forced exposure to a 10% (w/v) solution of alcohol, followed by 3 weeks of free choice between water and 10% alcohol. Measures of VAC included the absolute intake of alcohol (g/kg), as well as alcohol preference. A wide range of VAC was displayed by the various BXD RI strains with a continuous (rather than bimodal) distribution, indicating that there is likely to be additive effects of several genes involved in regulating alcohol-related behaviors. Kinetic characteristics of aldehyde dehydrogenase and catalase in liver and brain of the C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and BXD strains of mice were determined to test the hypothesis that the genetic regulation of the levels of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes mediate differences in VAC. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by observing the change in absorption at 340 nm. Catalase activity was determined by measuring oxygen production with a Yellow Springs Biological Oxygen monitor and oxygen electrode. There was a strong negative relationship between VAC and brain catalase activity in the BXD RI and parental strains. These data suggest that RI strains are likely to be useful genetic models in the examination of quantitative trait loci controlling VAC and other responses to alcohol.