Epidemiological evidence of increased waist circumference,but not body mass index,associated with impaired baroreflex sensitivity

Although an inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was found, the effect of waist circumference (WC) on BRS is still inconclusive. The contradictory results of previous studies may be related to the heterogeneity and relatively small sample size of the subjects examined. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate whether the influence of increased WC is more detrimental to BRS than BMI. A total of 760 community dwellers were recruited and they were classified into Q1 (n = 189), Q2 (n = 183), Q3 (n = 192) and Q4 (n = 196) groups, based on WC quartiles. Spontaneous BRS was determined by spectral α coefficient method. Valsalva ratio was the longest RR interval after release of Valsalva maneuver divided by the shortest RR interval during maneuver. Cardiac autonomic function was calculated by power spectrum of heart rate in low and high frequency (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz; HF, 0.15–0.40 Hz), and LF/HF ratio in supine position for five minutes. There were significant differences in spontaneous BRS and Valsalva ratio among different WC groups. In multivariate analysis, obesity was inversely associated with spontaneous BRS and Valsalva ratio. However, these inverse relationships became insignificant after further adjustment for WC quartiles. In contrast, Q4 vs. Q1, Q3 vs. Q1 and Q2 vs. Q1 of WC were inversely related to spontaneous BRS. Q4 vs. Q1 and Q3 vs. Q1 of WC were negatively associated with the Valsalva ratio. In conclusion, increased and even high-normal WC had a stronger adverse effect on BRS than BMI, independent of cardio-metabolic risk factors.     

Redox active or thiol reactive? Optimization of rapid screens to identify less evident nuisance compounds

Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity are routinely encountered in assays at various stages of drug discovery. We observed that assays for the investigation of thiol-reactive and redox-active compounds have not been collected in a comprehensive review. Here, we review these assays and subject them to experimental optimization to improve their reliability. We demonstrate the usefulness of our assay cascade by assaying a library of bioactive compounds, chemical probes, and a set of approved drugs. These high-throughput assays should complement the array of wet-lab and in silico assays during the initial stages of hit discovery campaigns to pursue only hit compounds with tractable mechanisms of action.     

白内障围手术期结膜囊菌群分布及药敏试验

目的 分析白内障围手术期结膜囊菌群的分布及药敏试验结果。方法 选取264例白内障患者,分别在患者入院后、手术消毒前、手术消毒后、手术结束后四个时间点取样,进行细菌培养及药敏试验,比较不同时期的细菌培养结果和药敏结果。结果 入院后结膜囊细菌培养阳性率明显高于手术消毒前、手术消毒后及手术结束后;入院后结膜囊细菌培养以表皮葡萄球菌为主;革兰氏阳性球菌对头孢西丁、加替沙星、左氧氟沙星等敏感性较高。结论 表皮葡萄球菌是结膜囊最常见的细菌,术前应常规应用抗生素点眼,聚维酮碘冲洗结膜囊等来预防术后感染性眼内炎。     

Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the association between asthma and smoking

Objective: Despite its negative effects, smoking is more common among individuals with asthma compared to those without. Anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) is associated with both smoking and asthma; however, no research, to date, has examined the interplay between these three factors. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in the association between asthma diagnosis and smoking status. Methods: The current study was a secondary analysis of data from three existing datasets of non-smokers and smokers with and without asthma (n?=?433; 56.3% female, M_age?=?34.01 years, SD?=?13.9). Participants provided information on their asthma diagnosis status and smoking status and completed self-report measures. Results: As hypothesized, after controlling for gender, race and age, there was a significant indirect effect of asthma diagnosis on smoking status through anxiety sensitivity (95% CI?=?0.07–0.48). Conclusions: These results indicate that the association between asthma diagnosis and smoking status appears to be driven, in part, by anxiety sensitivity and suggest that anxiety sensitivity may serve as an important target for prevention and intervention efforts for smokers with asthma.     

Optimizing the efficiency of high-field multivoxel spectroscopic imaging by multiplexing in space and time.

A new strategy to yield information from the maximum number of voxels, each at the optimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per unit time, in MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is introduced. In the past, maximum acquisition duty-cycle was obtained by multiplexing in time several single slices each repetition time (TR), while optimal SNR was achieved by encoding the entire volume of interest (VOI) each TR. We show that optimal SNR and acquisition efficiency can both be achieved simultaneously by multiplexing in space and time several slabs of several slices, each. Since coverage of common VOIs in 3D proton MRSI in the human brain typically requires eight or more slices, at 3 T or higher magnetic fields, two or more slabs can fit into the optimum TR (approximately 1.6 s). Since typically four or less slices would then fit into each slab, Hadamard encoding is favored in that direction for slice profile reasons. It is demonstrated that per fixed examination length, the new method gives, at 3 T, twice as many voxels, each of the same SNR and size, compared with current 3D chemical shift imaging techniques. It is shown that this gain will increase for more extensive spatial coverage or higher fields.     

Low level of response to alcohol as associated with serotonin transporter genotype and high alcohol intake in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A low level of response to alcohol has been associated with both the genetic constitution of the regulatory region (SLC6A4) of the human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) and with future alcohol intake and an increased risk for alcoholism. To date, all studies of relevant polymorphisms have been carried out in populations in the United States. METHODS: Data were extracted from a subset (n = 243) of a cohort of children who have been observed since birth through evaluation of the family history of alcoholism and psychosocial risk influences. At age 16 years, the response to alcohol was assessed with the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire, and the average amount of alcohol intake per month was assessed during the prior 6 months. Additional variables that were measured included the 5-HTT genotype, externalizing behavior, and sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age. RESULTS: The level of response to alcohol was significantly lower among carriers of two long alleles of the 5-HTT regulatory region compared with carriers of one or two short alleles (Mann-Whitney U = 5225.0, p = .005). In a multiple regression analysis, the level of response to alcohol and externalizing behavior but not psychosocial factors significantly predicted the average amount of alcohol intake per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that, independent of the assessed psychosocial variables, the 5-HTT genotype correlated with the level of response to alcohol and predicted alcohol intake among 16-year-old adolescents.     

胎儿生长迟缓与新生儿胰岛素敏感性变化的相关性

目的探讨胎儿生长迟缓(FGR)与新生儿胰岛素敏感性变化的关系。 方法昆明医学院第一附属医院于2004年4~12月，对72例小于胎龄儿(SGA)和48例适于胎龄儿(AGA)空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、C 肽、HDL C、LDL C、TG、非酯化脂肪酸(NEFA)等指标，计算葡萄糖/胰岛素比值(G/I)、胰岛素敏感性指数(ISI)、胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA IR)、胰岛β细胞功能(HBCI)等，探讨FGR与新生儿胰岛素敏感性变化的关系。 结果(1)SGA组FPG、HDL C低于AGA组，而FINS、LDL C、TG、NEFA高于AGA组(P<001)；(2)SGA组G/I比值、ISI低于AGA组，HOMA IR高于AGA组(P<001)，而HBCI两组相比差异无显著性(P>005)。 结论FGR儿在生命早期存在胰岛素敏感性降低和不同程度的胰岛素抵抗(IR)，而胰岛β细胞功能无明显变化。