Uncoupling protein 3 genetic variants in human obesity: the c-55t promoter polymorphism is negatively correlated with body mass index in a UK Caucasian population

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether genetic variation at the UCP3 locus contributes to human obesity. SUBJECTS: Ninety-one obese children (BMI>4 standard deviations from age related mean) and 419 Caucasian adults from the Isle of Ely Study. DESIGN: Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was used to scan the coding region of the UCP3 gene in 91 severely obese children. A common polymorphism identified in this gene (c-55t) has been shown to associate with lower UCP3 mRNA expression. Polymerase chain reaction-based forced restriction digestion was used to detect this allele in Caucasian adults. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine associations between the c-55t genotype and anthropometric, energetic and biochemical indices relevant to obesity. MEASUREMENTS: For the obese children, SSCP analysis and sequencing of variants were carried out. For the Isle of Ely Study, c-55t genotype and anthropometric (body mass index, waist-hip ratio, percentage body fat), energetic (dietary fat intake, physical activity index, adjusted metabolic rate, maximum oxygen consumption) and biochemical indices (pre- and post-glucose challenge plasma triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, insulin and glucose) were determined. RESULTS: A previously reported missense mutation (V102I) was detected in a single obese Afro-Carribean child. Twenty-one percent of the genes examined in the Isle of Ely study carried the c-55t promoter variant. Age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) was significantly (P=0.0037) lower in carriers of this variant. CONCLUSION: Mutations in the coding sequence of UCP3 are unlikely to be a common monogenic cause of severe human obesity. In a Caucasian population the UCP3 c-55t polymorphism is negatively associated with BMI.     

Electrocortical processing of social signals of threat in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by avoidance, emotional numbing, increased arousal and hypervigilance for threat following a trauma. Thirty-three veterans (19 with PTSD, 14 without PTSD) who had experienced combat trauma while on deployment in Iraq and/or Afghanistan completed an emotional faces matching task while electroencephalography was recorded. Vertex positive potentials (VPPs) elicited by happy, angry and fearful faces were smaller in veterans with versus without PTSD. In addition, veterans with PTSD exhibited smaller late positive potentials (LPPs) to angry faces and greater intrusive symptoms predicted smaller LPPs to fearful faces in the PTSD group. Veterans with PTSD were also less accurate at identifying angry faces, and accuracy decreased in the PTSD group as hyperarousal symptoms increased. These findings show reduced early processing of emotional faces, irrespective of valence, and blunted prolonged processing of social signals of threat in conjunction with impaired perception for angry faces in PTSD.     

朱丹溪气郁用药规律研究

目的:探究朱丹溪气郁的用药规律及其对临床的指导意义.方法:以《朱丹溪医学全书》作为方剂的基本信息来源,收集书中所涉所有相关方剂,运用excel将书中所有涉及方药进行数据库录入,建立数据库,通过数据挖掘技术对药物类别、使用频次、归经、性味进行统计.结果:朱丹溪著作共涉及治气方剂914个,其中出现频数大于100的常用药物有16味,分别是炙甘草、人参、白术、茯苓、陈皮、生姜、当归、香附、白芍、半夏、川芎等;在药物类别上补虚药和理气药使用频次最高;按药性划分使用频率较高依次为温性药57.29％、平性药22.24％、寒性药占20.48％;按归经划分使用频次较高的依次为脾经26.63％、肺经15.68％、胃经13.36％、心经占12.07％;按药味划分使用频次较高依次为苦味药36.27％、辛味药30.03％、甘味药29.46％,酸味药4.23％.结论:朱丹溪在治疗气证时,擅长应用炙甘草,以四君子汤为主方,配以补虚药,补母益子;同时,朱丹溪治气还往往佐以治血、治痰,扶正祛邪.通过对统计结果进行比较发现,朱丹溪在治气药物归经偏于脾胃两经,重视中焦脾胃之气的升提作用.     

阿托伐他汀在缺血性卒中患者中的疗效研究

目的探讨阿托伐他汀对缺血性卒中患者的疗效。方法收集2012年6月~2014年2月来我院诊治的缺血性卒中患者311例为研究对象,依据其来诊的顺序随机分为实验组与对照组。两组均给予常规内科治疗,实验组加用阿托伐他汀治疗,治疗3个月后,观察两组的治疗效果。结果实验组的临床疗效明显高于对照组;治疗后实验组的总胆固醇、甘油三酯及低密度脂蛋白明显低于对照组,而高密度脂蛋白明显高于对照组。结论阿托伐他汀可以改善缺血性卒中患者血脂水平,提高缺血性卒中患者的治疗效果。     

Interferon gamma release assay in the diagnosis of tuberculous mastitis

Tuberculous mastitis is rare, especially in Western countries. We describe a case where the interferon gamma release assay blood test led to diagnosis and successful treatment of the disease.