Beer à no-go: learning to stop responding to alcohol cues reduces alcohol intake via reduced affective associations rather than increased response inhibition

Aims Previous research has shown that consistently not responding to alcohol‐related stimuli in a go/no‐go training procedure reduces drinking behaviour. This study aimed to examine further the mechanisms underlying this go/no‐go training effect. Design, setting and participants Fifty‐seven heavy drinkers were assigned randomly to two training conditions: in the beer/no‐go condition, alcohol‐related stimuli were always paired with a stopping response, while in the beer/go condition participants always responded to alcohol‐related stimuli. Participants were tested individually in a laboratory at Maastricht University. Measurements Weekly alcohol intake, implicit attitudes towards beer, approach–avoidance action tendencies towards beer and response inhibition were measured before and after the training. Findings Results showed a significant reduction in both implicit attitudes (P = 0.03) and alcohol intake (P = 0.02) in the beer/no‐go condition, but not in the beer/go condition. There were no significant training effects on action tendencies or response inhibition. Conclusions Repeatedly stopping pre‐potent responses towards alcohol‐related stimuli reduces excessive alcohol use via a devaluation of alcohol‐related stimuli rather than via increased inhibitory control over alcohol‐related responses.     

Different Effect of Rho Kinase Inhibition on Calcium Signaling in Rat Isolated Large and Small Arteries

In addition to its role in the regulation of artery contraction, Rho kinase (ROCK) was reported to be involved in the cytosolic calcium response to vasoconstrictor agonists in rat aorta and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). However, it remains to be determined whether ROCK also contributes to calcium signaling in resistance arteries, which play a major role in blood pressure regulation. The investigation of the effect of ROCK inhibition on the calcium and contractile responses of rat resistance mesenteric artery (RMA), in comparison with aorta and SMA, indicated that the calcium response to noradrenaline was inhibited by the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 in aorta and SMA but not in RMA. The effect of Y-27632 on the calcium signal was unaffected by cytochalasin-D. ROCK activation in noradrenaline-stimulated arteries was confirmed by the inhibition of myosin light chain phosphorylation by Y-27632. Moreover, noradrenaline-induced calcium signaling was similarly inhibited by nimodipine in aorta, SMA and RMA, but nimodipine sensitivity of the contraction increased from the aorta to the RMA, suggesting that the contraction was controlled by different sources of calcium. In pressurized RMA, Y-27632 and H-1152 depressed pressure-induced calcium responses and abolished myogenic contraction. These results stress the important differences in calcium signaling between conductance and resistance arteries.     

GLP1 and cancer: friend or foe?

The new incretin-based therapies, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor agonists are widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes because of their glucose-lowering capacity with low risk of hypoglycemia. As they are weight neutral or induce weight loss in this mostly overweight population, they are popular among clinicians and patients alike. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised about GLP1's trophic effects. While increased β cell mass observed in rodents sounds appealing for treatment of diabetes, there was also an increased incidence of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in some species. We reviewed literature available in the Medline database until March 2012. Safety signals have emerged for MTC and pancreatic carcinoma from adverse event databases in the United States and Europe. Considering the relatively short duration of these studies, it is more likely that premalignant lesions are stimulated in presence of GLP1, rather than new neoplasms induced. Moreover, interpreting results of animal studies is difficult because of species-specific differences in presence and density of GLP1 receptors. Furthermore, data are emerging suggesting beneficial effects of GLP1 on colon and breast cancer. In conclusion, presently, the benefits of using DPP4 inhibitors or GLP1 receptor agonists for treatment of type 2 diabetes outweigh the risks. Nonetheless, their safety profile should be monitored and their indications should be widened cautiously. At present they remain contra-indicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.     

Screening for determinants of self-care in patients with chronic heart failure

Heart failure self-care is vital to achieving clinical stability and improved health outcomes. Yet despite the attention it has been given, in both research and clinical practice, effective self-care remains elusive. It is recognised that there are many patient factors that impact on attaining effective self-care skills. Systematic research is warranted to resolve the knowledge gap of how patients process information and develop the necessary self-care skills. In addition, sound screening tools are needed to assess factors that hinder the development of effective heart failure self-care skills. In this manner, education and support strategies can be applied on an individualised needs basis to enhance health outcomes.     

Multi-Centre European Experience with Intragastric Balloon in Overweight Populations: 13 Years of Experience

Background

The request to lose weight is expanding not only in obese and morbidly obese patients but also in overweight patients affected by co-morbidities as diabetes and hypertension and who do not tolerate diet regimen or lifestyle changes. The aim of this study is a multicenter evaluation of outcomes of intragastric balloon in overweight patients.

Methods

Patients (BMI 27–30 kg/m²) treated with a BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) between 1996 and 2010 were extracted from the database of the participating centres in Rome (Italy), Liège (Belgium) and Madrid (Spain). Primary endpoints were the efficacy and safety at 6 and 42 months from balloon positioning. Secondary endpoints included resolution of co-morbidities.

Results

A total of 261 patients were included in this study. The most common indication for balloon placement was a psychological disorder (54 %). Mean body mass index (BMI) fell from 28.6?±?0.4 at baseline to 25.4?±?2.6 kg/m² at 6 months and to 27.0?±?3.1 kg/m² at 3 years from BIB removal. The mean %EWL was 55.6 % at 6 months and 29.1 % at 3 years. Forty-seven patients (18 %) had complications associated with placement of the intragastric balloon (leak?=?28, intolerance?=?14, duodenal ulcer?=?2, gastritis?=?1, oesophagitis?=?1, duodenal polyps?=?1). The rate of patients with hypertension decreased from 29 % at baseline to 16 % at 3 years. Diabetes decreased from 15 to 10 %, dyslipidaemia decreased from 20 to 18 %, hypercholesterolaemia decreased from 32 to 21 % and osteoarthropathy decreased from 25 to 13 %.

Conclusions

The intragastric balloon is safe and effective in overweight patients, helping to reduce progression to obesity and decreasing the prevalence of a number of important co-morbidities.     

Assessment of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography for imaging of cartilage during fracture healing

Assessment of the early stages of fracture healing via X‐rays and computed tomography is limited by the low radio‐opacity of cartilage. We validated a method of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for non‐destructive identification of cartilage within a healing fracture callus. Closed, stabilized fractures in femora of C57BL/6 mice were harvested on post‐operative day 9.5 and imaged ex vivo with micro‐computed tomography (µCT) before and after incubation in a cationic contrast agent that preferentially accumulates in cartilage due to the high concentration of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the tissue. Co‐registration of the pre‐ and post‐incubation images, followed by image subtraction, enabled two‐ and three‐dimensional delineation of mineralized tissue, soft callus, and cartilage. The areas of cartilage and callus identified with CECT were compared to those identified with the gold‐standard method of histomorphometry. No difference was found between the areas of cartilage measured by the two methods (p = 0.999). Callus area measured by CECT was smaller than, but strongly predictive of (R² = 0.80, p < 0.001), the corresponding histomorphometric measurements. CECT also enabled qualitative identification of mineralized cartilage. These findings indicate that the CECT method provides accurate, quantitative, and non‐destructive visualization of the shape and composition of the fracture callus, even during the early stages of repair when little mineralized tissue is present. The non‐destructive nature of this method would allow subsequent analyses, such as mechanical testing, to be performed on the callus, thus enabling higher‐throughput, comprehensive investigations of bone healing. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 567–573, 2013     

From inhibition to activation,from emotional hyporeactivity to emotional hyperreactivity: Two pathways to discriminate mood in bipolar disorders

To better explore the clinical heterogeneity of bipolar mood states, we developed a dimensional scale for assessing all mood episodes (depressive, hypomanic, manic, mixed states) using the same tool. The Multidimensional Assessment of Thymic States (MATHYS) (Henry et al., 2008) provides two scores, a total score measuring a level of activation and a sub-score of emotional reactivity. The aim of this study was to establish the appropriate cut-off in total activation versus inhibition and in the emotional reactivity sub-score in bipolar disorders. Patients (n=187) during an acute episode and controls (n=89) filled in the MATHYS. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the global score and the emotional reactivity sub-score of the MATHYS, in order to differentiate patients from controls. ROC curves showed very satisfactory sensitivity and specificity levels both for the total score and the sub-score of emotional reactivity, thus providing an appropriate cut-off. Concerning the total score between 0 and 200, patients with a score lower than 91 had significant global inhibition and those with a score higher than 109 had significant global activation. Regarding the emotional reactivity sub-score between 0 and 40, patients with a score lower than 16 had significant emotional hyporeactivity and those with a score higher than 24 had significant emotional hyperreactivity. Our results provide cut-offs for the MATHYS to identify patients in an acute phase.