Temperament and one-year outcome of gastric bypass for severe obesity

BackgroundThe role of temperament traits in shaping the outcome of gastric bypass for severe obesity has not been established yet. This study evaluated whether temperament traits influence weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass, controlling for the potential confounding effect of Axis I and II disorders.MethodsForty-nine patients with severe obesity (body mass index = 46.4±6.7) undergoing gastric bypass completed a thorough psychiatric evaluation before surgery, including structured interviews, rating scales, and questionnaire assessing the presence and severity of co-morbid Axis I and II disorders. Temperament was evaluated with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Weight loss 1 year after surgery was calculated as percent total weight loss (%TWL). Predictors of weight loss were investigated with multivariate linear hierarchical regression.ResultsAfter accounting for psychiatric covariates, higher TCI persistence scores independently predicted 1-year outcome of gastric bypass and explained 40% of the variance in %TWL. Patients with low persistence scores showed a significantly lesser weight loss than patients with high scores.ConclusionTemperament traits denoting the ability to persevere in one’s goals in spite of immediate frustration (persistence) are associated with greater weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass. These data suggest the utility of preoperatively assessing and reinforcing such capacity to optimize surgical outcome. Future research will clarify the behavioral mechanisms mediating this relationship as well as the influence of temperament on weight maintenance.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses in Scotland: A cross-sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey

BackgroundIncreasing prevalence of overweight and obesity represents a global pandemic. As the largest occupational group in international healthcare systems nurses are at the forefront of health promotion to address this pandemic. However, nurses own health behaviours are known to influence the extent to which they engage in health promotion and the public's confidence in advice offered. Estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses is therefore important. However, to date, prevalence estimates have been based on non-representative samples and internationally no studies have compared prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses to other healthcare professionals using representative data.ObjectivesTo estimate overweight and obesity prevalence among nurses in Scotland, and compare to other healthcare professionals and those working in non-heath related occupations.DesignCross-sectional study using a nationally representative sample of five aggregated annual rounds (2008–2012) of the Scottish Health Survey.SettingScotland.Participants13,483 adults aged 17–65 indicating they had worked in the past 4 weeks, classified in four occupational groups: nurses (n = 411), other healthcare professionals (n = 320), unqualified care staff (n = 685), and individuals employed in non-health related occupations (n = 12,067).Main outcome measuresPrevalence of overweight and obesity defined as Body Mass Index ≥ 25.0.MethodsEstimates of overweight and obesity prevalence in each occupational group were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A logistic regression model was then built to compare the odds of being overweight or obese with not being overweight or obese for nurses in comparison to the other occupational categories. Data were analysed using SAS 9.1.3.Results69.1% (95% CI 64.6, 73.6) of Scottish nurses were overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in nurses than other healthcare professionals (51.3%, CI 45.8, 56.7), unqualified care staff (68.5%, CI 65.0, 72.0) and those in non-health related occupations (68.9%, CI 68.1, 69.7). A logistic regression model adjusted for socio-demographic composition indicated that, compared to nurses, the odds of being overweight or obese was statistically significantly lower for other healthcare professionals (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.45, CI 0.33, 0.61) and those in non-health related occupations (OR 0.78, CI 0.62, 0.97).ConclusionsPrevalence of overweight and obesity among Scottish nurses is worryingly high, and significantly higher than those in other healthcare professionals and non-health related occupations. High prevalence of overweight and obesity potentially harms nurses’ own health and hampers the effectiveness of nurses’ health promotion role. Interventions are therefore urgently required to address overweight and obesity among the Scottish nursing workforce.     

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion increases circulating bone marrow-derived progenitor cells and tumor growth in a mouse model of colorectal liver metastases

BackgroundHepatic pedicle clamping is often required to reduce blood loss and transfusion during liver resection. However, the question remains whether use of hepatic pedicle clamping promotes tumor growth. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are mobilized from bone marrow in response to tissue ischemia, which allows neovascularization of ischemic tissue. It has been suggested that EPCs are involved in tumor progression. We hypothesized that hepatic ischemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced mobilization of EPCs could enhance growth of microscopic tumor, therefore promoting liver metastasis in a mouse model of colorectal cancer.Materials and methodsWe used mouse models of hepatic I/R and hind limb ischemia. For comparison, we studied mice that underwent limb ischemia as positive controls of EPC mobilization. At day 0, we divided 40 mice into four groups: hepatic I/R, hind limb ischemia, combined hepatic I/R and hind limb ischemia, and control (sham midline incision laparotomy). At day 2, we induced liver metastasis in all mice by injecting CT-26 cells into the spleen. Time-dependent circulating EPCs were determined by flow cytometry. We evaluated liver metastasis and microvascular density on day 21.ResultsThe number of circulating progenitor cells increased rapidly in the ischemic groups compared with the control group. Hepatic I/R significantly increased tumor outgrowth compared with the control group. Increased tumor growth was associated with enhanced CD31-positive microvascular density in liver tissue.ConclusionsHepatic I/R leads to mobilization of bone marrow–derived EPCs and enhanced intra-hepatic angiogenesis, which is associated with increased tumor burden in an animal model of colorectal liver metastasis.     

Cardiac metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Two patients with cardiac metastasis from head and neck cancer are reported. Cardiac metastasis located in the left atrium was detected on a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan 15 months after partial glossectomy for a tongue carcinoma in a 60-year-old man. The diagnosis was confirmed as cardiac metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by surgical excision of the cardiac lesion. The patient died 3 weeks after surgery. In a 69-year-old man with a partial maxillectomy for primary soft palate cancer, a follow-up CT scan 5 months after surgery revealed a mass in the right atrium and ventricle, and multiple lung metastases. He died of heart failure 3 weeks after the diagnosis of cardiac metastasis. Information on these cases should add to knowledge about rarely encountered cardiac metastasis.     

Expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in hepatocytes from rat fibrotic liver

The pathological changes of parasympathetic nerve are considered as an independent prognostic factor of the survival rate of patients with chronic liver disease. The non-selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchR) agonists and antagonists can affect the proliferation of hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, but the subtypes of mAchR expressions in HCs are still uncertain. Here, we investigate the expression of mAchR in hepatic fibrosis on rats. 3 ml/kg 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) was given to induce hepatic fibrosis on rats and the hepatocytes were isolated. Compared to the normal state, the expression levels of m1, 3, 5 in fibrotic liver tissues or hepatocytes were obviously increased, while m2, 4 decreased. 10 μM pilocarpine or 10 μM acetylcholine could increase the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hydroxyproline (Hyp), collagen I, III in the hepatocytes, and decreased albumin (ALB). They also changed the expressions of mAchR similarly as the fibrotic hepatocytes and livers. However, atropine could ameliorate the state of fibrotic hepatocytes. These data indicate that mAchR played an important role in the regulation of hepatic fibrosis process. Targeting mAchR would have therapeutic potential for hepatic fibrosis.     

NAc Shell Arc/Arg3.1 Protein Mediates Reconsolidation of Morphine CPP by Increased GluR1 Cell Surface Expression: Activation of ERK-Coupled CREB is Required

Background:

Relapse into drug abuse evoked by reexposure to the drug-associated context has been a primary problem in the treatment of drug addiction. Disrupting the reconsolidation of drug-related context memory would therefore limit the relapse susceptibility.

Methods:

Morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) was used to assess activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) and correlative molecule expression in the Nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell during the reconsolidation of morphine CPP. U0126 and Arc/Arg3.1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide were adapted to evaluate the role and the underlying mechanism of Arc/Arg3.1 during the reconsolidation.

Results:

The retrieval of morphine CPP in rats specifically increased the Arc/Arg3.1 protein level in the NAc shell, accompanied simultaneously by increases in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (pERK1/2), the phosphorylation of Cyclic Adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding (pCREB), and the up-regulation of the membrane α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptors GluR1 subunit level. Intra-NAc shell infusion U0126, an inhibitor of the Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), prevented the retrieval-induced up-regulation of pERK1/2, pCREB, Arc/Arg3.1, and membrane GluR1 immediately after retrieval of morphine CPP. The effect of disrupting the reconsolidation of morphine CPP by U0126 could last for at least 14 days, and could not be evoked by a priming injection of morphine. Furthermore, the specific knockdown of Arc/Arg3.1 in the NAc shell decreased the membrane GluR1 level, and impaired both the reconsolidation and the reinstatement of morphine CPP.

Conclusions:

Arc/Arg3.1 in the NAc shell mediates the reconsolidation of morphine-associated context memory via up-regulating the level of membrane of GluR1, for which the local activation of the ERK-CREB signal pathway, as an upstream mechanism of Arc/Arg3.1, is required.     

The application of the Chinese version of the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

This study aimed to translate the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ) into Chinese and evaluate its reliability and validity in a sample of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Following the translation and revision of the Chinese version of the BIDQ, 169 patients with SLE were chosen as respondents to test the questionnaire''s reliability and validity. We tested the content''s validity through expert group evaluation. It is structural validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability was evaluated using Cronbach''s α and test-retest reliability.The Chinese version of the BIDQ showed a content validity of .92. A two-factor structure was revealed by exploratory factor analysis, which explained 67.83% of the variance and proved by confirmatory factor analysis. Its overall Cronbach''s α was .82 (P < .001), and the Cronbach''s α for each item ranged from .76 to .83. The test-retest reliability was .82, with the Cronbach''s α for each item ranging from .76 to .84.Thus, adequate reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the BIDQ were demonstrated for use in patients with SLE.     

Enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stems cells on citric acid-modified chitosan hydrogel for tracheal cartilage regeneration applications

Congenital tracheal stenosis in infants and children is a worldwide clinical problem. Tissue engineering is a promising method for correcting long segmental tracheal defects. Nonetheless, the lack of desirable scaffolds always limits the development and applications of tissue engineering in clinical practice. In this study, a citric-acid-functionalized chitosan (CC) hydrogel was fabricated by a freeze–thaw method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that citric acid was successfully attached to the chitosan hydrogel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and compression tests showed that the CC hydrogel had an interconnected porous structure and better wet mechanical properties. Using morphological and proliferation analyses, cell biocompatibility of the CC hydrogel was shown by culturing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on it. Specific expression of cartilage-related markers was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The expression of chondrocytic markers was strongly upregulated in the culture on the CC hydrogel. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the cells had the characteristic shape of chondrocytes and clustered into the CC hydrogel. Both Alcian blue staining and a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) assay indicated that the CC hydrogel promoted the expression of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In a nutshell, these results suggested that the CC hydrogel enhanced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Thus, the newly developed CC hydrogel may be a promising tissue-engineered scaffold for tracheal cartilage regeneration.

A novel citric acid functionalized chitosan hydrogel for tracheal cartilage regeneration applications.     

孕哺期大鼠全氟辛烷磺酸暴露对子代糖代谢的影响

[目的]探讨孕哺期全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)暴露对子代大鼠糖代谢的影响. [方法]将Wistar孕鼠自孕0天(GD0)随机分为对照组(0mg/kg)、低剂量组(0.6 mg/kg)和高剂量组(2mg/kg),每组10只;PFOS灌胃染毒至仔鼠出生后21天(PND21)断乳为止.采用高效液相/质谱法检测PND0、PND21时仔鼠血清PFOS含量;观察仔鼠体重变化趋势;比较9周龄和15周龄仔鼠空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素水平;检测仔鼠瘦素和抵抗素基因表达水平变化. [结果] PND21时低剂量组和高剂量组仔鼠血清中PFOS浓度分别为(16.00±1.27)mg/L和(80.54±6.55) mg/L(P＜0.05).低剂量组雌性仔鼠出生后8、9周龄和高剂量7～9周龄,低剂量组雄性仔鼠出生8～12周龄、高剂量7、8、10周龄的体重均明显低于对照组(均P＜ 0.05).高剂量组9周龄和低剂量组15周龄雌性仔鼠的胰岛素水平分别为(10.85±1.37)mU/L和(13.62±1.87) mU/L,均高于对照组(P＜0.05);高剂量组9周龄雄性仔鼠的空腹血糖和胰岛素水平分别为(5.43±0.77) mmol/L和(13.23±1.81)mU/L,15周龄雄性仔鼠低剂量组分别为(4.99±0.54) mmol/L和(13.57±1.22)mU/L,15周龄高剂量组分别为(5.71±0.56) mmol/L和(13.44±2.97)mU/L,均高于对照组(P＜0.05).高剂量组15周龄雄性仔鼠的抵抗素基因表达上调1.25±0.03(P＜ 0.05),瘦素基因表达下调0.67±0.08(P＜0.05). [结论]PFOS孕哺期暴露可能引起子代大鼠糖代谢异常,增加糖尿病患病风险.