海风藤的原植物——腺鳞蒟与山药的比较研究

本文对模式产地的山药Piper haneei Maxim, var, hancei Maxim,和腺鳞蒟P. kancei Maxim var. squamiglanduferum Fan var. nov.进行了原植物形态特征和花序轴、花序梗、茎、叶的显微特征以及化学成分的TLC及UV比较。挥发油的GC—MS研究共鉴定出38个成分,其中28个是胡椒属植物中首次报道的成分。结果证明了在福建长期以来被认为是山药的腺鳞蒟与模式产地的山药有较大差别,尤其是腺鳞蒟叶上表面有腺鳞,是迄今为止第1个发现具有腺鳞的胡椒属植物。据此把腺鳞蒟作为新变种从山药中分出。腺鳞药是福建南部海风藤主要来源之一。     

Fasting insulin and uric acid levels but not indices of iron metabolism are independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common reason for hepatological consultation and may herald severe hepatic and extra-hepatic disease. The aetiopathogenesis of this condition is an area of increasing interest. AIM: To evaluate anthropometric and biochemical factors associated to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a case-control study. Methods. Demographic and biochemical data of 60 consecutive patients with bright liver absent-to-low alcohol consumption, no evidence of viral, genetic and autoimmune diseases, were compared to those of 60 age- and gender-matched historical controls without fatty liver by univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients were more often hypertriglyceridaemic, obese and diabetic than controls (p<.01). Mean values of alanine transaminase, gammaglutamyltranspeptidase, triglycerides, uric acid, fasting and log insulin, transferrin percent saturation and ferritin were significantly higher in the patients, while transferrin and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, a quantitative insulin sensitivity index, were lower. No iron storage was found in those who underwent liver biopsy At univariate analysis the relative risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease significantly increased (p<0. 05) with increasing body mass index, fasting insulin, alanine transaminase, uric acid, triglycerides and gammaglutamyltranspeptidase; it decreased with increasing transferrin and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Multiple logistic regression analysis disclosed only fasting insulin and uric acid to be independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting insulin and serum uric acid levels indicating insulin resistance, but not indices of iron overload, are independent predictors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.     

Reduced Motivation in Perinatal Fluoxetine-Treated Mice: A Hypodopaminergic Phenotype

Early life is a sensitive period, in which enhanced neural plasticity allows the developing brain to adapt to its environment. This plasticity can also be a risk factor in which maladaptive development can lead to long-lasting behavioral deficits. Here, we test how early-life exposure to the selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine, affects motivation, and dopaminergic signaling in adulthood. We show for the first time that mice exposed to fluoxetine in the early postnatal period exhibit a reduction in effort-related motivation. These mice also show blunted responses to amphetamine and reduced dopaminergic activation in a sucrose reward task. Interestingly, we find that the reduction in motivation can be rescued in the adult by administering bupropion, a dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used as an antidepressant and a smoke cessation aid but not by fluoxetine. Taken together, our studies highlight the effects of early postnatal exposure of fluoxetine on motivation and demonstrate the involvement of the dopaminergic system in this process.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The developmental period is characterized by enhanced plasticity. During this period, environmental factors have the potential to lead to enduring behavioral changes. Here, we show that exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine during a restricted period in early life leads to a reduction in adult motivation. We further show that this reduction is associated with decreased dopaminergic responsivity. Finally, we show that motivational deficits induced by early-life fluoxetine exposure can be rescued by adult administration of bupropion but not by fluoxetine.     

Randomized Controlled Trial of Insulin Supplementation for Correction of Bedtime Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Clinical guidelines recommend point-of-care glucose testing and the use of supplemental doses of rapid-acting insulin before meals and at bedtime for correction of hyperglycemia. The efficacy and safety of this recommendation, however, have not been tested in the hospital setting.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this open-label, randomized controlled trial, 206 general medicine and surgery patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a basal-bolus regimen were randomized to receive either supplemental insulin (n = 106) at bedtime for blood glucose (BG) >7.8 mmol/L or no supplemental insulin (n = 100) except for BG >19.4 mmol/L. Point-of-care testing was performed before meals, at bedtime, and at 3:00 a.m. The primary outcome was the difference in fasting BG. In addition to the intention-to-treat analysis, an as-treated analysis was performed where the primary outcome was analyzed for only the bedtime BG levels between 7.8 and 19.4 mmol/L.

RESULTS

There were no differences in mean fasting BG for the intention-to-treat (8.8 ± 2.4 vs. 8.6 ± 2.2 mmol/L, P = 0.76) and as-treated (8.9 ± 2.4 vs. 8.8 ± 2.4 mmol/L, P = 0.92) analyses. Only 66% of patients in the supplement and 8% in the no supplement groups received bedtime supplemental insulin. Hypoglycemia (BG <3.9 mmol/L) did not differ between groups for either the intention-to-treat (30% vs. 26%, P = 0.50) or the as-treated (4% vs. 8%, P = 0.37) analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of insulin supplements for correction of bedtime hyperglycemia was not associated with an improvement in glycemic control. We conclude that routine use of bedtime insulin supplementation is not indicated for management of inpatients with type 2 diabetes.     

Alexithymia,Coping Styles and Traumatic Stress Symptoms in a Sample of Veterans Who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma

The current study examined the association between alexithymia and coping styles (planning, positive reinterpretation and growth, social‐emotion coping, and denial), and trauma symptoms in a clinical sample of 170 male and female veterans who experienced sexual trauma during military service. Denial was the only coping style positively associated with trauma symptoms, and it mediated the relationship between alexithymia and trauma symptoms. Alexithymia was negatively associated with planning. Likewise, alexithymia was negatively associated with social‐emotional coping and with positive reinterpretation and growth. The results speak to the significant role that alexithymia has in predicting individual coping styles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.