Sleep disturbance and quality of life among university freshmen in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China.

Purpose: University freshmen are particularly vulnerable as they are undergoing the transition from high school to university with a range of changes. Sleep problems among this group in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China were barely studied. This study aimed to explore sleep disturbance, and its association with quality of life (QoL) and demographic and clinical characteristics among university freshmen in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Methods: A multistage stratified cluster random sampling method was performed to recruit student participants with a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and lifestyle behaviors. Sleep disturbance including three aspects of sleep disturbance (i.e., difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), and early morning awakening (EMA)) was assessed using standardized measurement. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to analyze the data. Results: Among included 2,769 freshmen, the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 14.8% (95% CI: 14.2-15.5%), and corresponding prevalence of DIS, DMS, and EMA was 8.2% (95% CI: 7.7-8.7%), 8.3% (95% CI: 7.8-8.8%), and 4.2% (95% CI: 3.8-4.6%), respectively. Freshmen with sleeping disturbance had significantly lower QoL in physical [F (1, 2769) = 60.23, p < 0.001], psychological [F (1, 2769) = 46.18, p < 0.001], social [F (1, 2769) = 23.04, p < 0.001], and environment [F (1, 2769) = 6.07, p = 0.01] domains. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that having breakfast five times a week or less (less than three times, OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.34-2.40; 3-5 times, OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09-1.79), self-perceived severe Internet dependence (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.11-2.65), self-perceived poor health status (OR = 3.44, 95% CI: 2.06-5.74), high academic stress (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.78), poor relationship with classmates (OR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.53-7.71), and severe ADHD symptoms (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05-1.12) were positively associated with sleeping disturbance. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance was common among freshmen and is associated with poorer QoL. Prevention and intervention strategies should be developed and implemented, especially among the vulnerable university freshman groups.

Retinal Nerve and Vascular Changes in Prediabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to observe vascular and neuroretinal alterations in people with prediabetes [impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)] and normal glucose metabolism. METHODS: A total of 21 patients with prediabetes (42 eyes) and 20 healthy controls (40 eyes) participated in our study. All patients underwent a complete eye examination [including fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT)] and a related general examination (complete biochemical analysis, routine blood tests, and glycosylated hemoglobin). RESULTS: On FFA, no patients in either group showed any microvascular alterations. The total peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in the prediabetic group was significantly thinner than that in the healthy control group (p < 0.0001). Only the temporal pRNFL thickness was significantly less in patients with prediabetes compared to the normal people. There was no significant difference in the thickness of retina in the range of 1 mm diameter of macular fovea (p = 0.286), but in the prediabetic group, the macular retinal thickness within the diameter of 6 mm in nasal side (p < 0.0001), superior side (p < 0.0001), temporal side (p = 0.008), and inferior side (p = 0.001) were lower than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: In the prediabetic group, there was no microvascular alterations, but the total pRNFL and the temporal pRNFL was significantly thinner, and the macular retinal thickness within the diameter of 6 mm in the nasal, temporal, and inferior side were lower than that in the healthy control group. These data confirm neuroretinal alterations in prediabetes prior to microvascular injury.

The intestinal absorption properties of flavonoids in Hippophaë rhamnoides extracts by an in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the absorption properties of isorhamnetin (IS), quercetin (QU), and kaempferol (KA) in total flavones of Hippophaë rhamnoides L. (TFH) by an in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion model. The results indicated that IS, QU, and KA in TFH were absorbed site-dependently, and both enterohepatic circulation and intestinal flora could participate in their absorption processes. The absorption mechanisms of IS, QU, and KA in TFH were involved in both passive diffusion and active transport, and the mediation of efflux transporter multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) should not be neglected.

Urinary Metabolomic Study of Chlorogenic Acid in a Rat Model of Chronic Sleep Deprivation Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

The urinary metabolomic study based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) had been developed to investigate the possible antidepressant mechanism of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in a rat model of sleep deprivation (SD). According to pattern recognition analysis, there was a clear separation among big platform group (BP), sleep deprivation group (SD), and the CGA (model + CGA), and CGA group was much closer to the BP group by showing a tendency of recovering towards BP group. Thirty-six significantly changed metabolites related to antidepressant by CGA were identified and used to explore the potential mechanism. Combined with the result of the classic behavioral tests and biochemical indices, CGA has significant antidepressant effects in a rat model of SD, suggesting that the mechanism of action of CGA might be involved in regulating the abnormal pathway of nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; and arginine and proline metabolism. Our results also show that metabolomics analysis based on GC-MS is a useful tool for exploring biomarkers involved in depression and elucidating the potential therapeutic mechanisms of Chinese medicine.

Combination treatment with quercetin and resveratrol attenuates high fat diet-induced obesity and associated inflammation in rats via the AMPKα1/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Diet-induced obesity is associated with systemic inflammation, which is considered to originate predominantly from the adipose tissue. Quercetin and resveratrol are two dietary polyphenols that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and anti-insulin resistance when administered in isolation or combination (CQR). It remains unknown whether CQR reduces high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and inflammation in rats. In the current study, 46 male Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one of which was fed a normal diet (ND, 5.4% fat, w/w) and one of which was fed a HFD (45% fat, w/w) for 3 weeks. Following removal of the 12 most obesity-resistant rats from the HFD group, the remaining rats were divided into two sub-groups: A HFD group and a HFD+CQR group (administered 120 mg/kg/day resveratrol and 240 mg/kg/day quercetin). The results revealed that the HFD+CQR group had significantly lower body weights at 11 weeks compared with the HFD group and had significantly reduced visceral adipose tissue weights and adipocyte sizes. Serum lipid profiles were also significantly ameliorated in the HFD+CQR group. CQR attenuated the expression of systemic proinflammatory adipokines, including leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6. It also reduced the recruitment of mast cells to the epididyotic adipose tissue (EAT). Furthermore, CQR reversed the HFD-induced suppression of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) phosphorylation and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in EAT. In conclusion, CQR may suppress obesity and associated inflammation via the AMPKα1/SIRT1 signaling pathway in rats fed a HFD.

Serum and Brain Metabolomic Variations Reveal Perturbation of Sleep Deprivation on Rats and Ameliorate Effect of Total Ginsenoside Treatment.

Sleep loss or sleep deprivation (SD) refers to shorter sleep than average baseline need, and SD has been a serious problem of modern societies which affects health and well-being. Panax ginseng is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Our previous study has demonstrated that total ginsenosides (GS), the extracts from Panax ginseng, could effectively improve cognition and behavior on SD rats. However, little is known about its metabolomic study. In this study, serum and brain metabolomic method based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed to evaluate the efficacy and study the mechanism of GS on a rat model of SD. With pattern recognition analysis of serum and brain tissue metabolite profile, a clear separation of the model group and control group was acquired for serum and brain tissue samples; the MGS (model + GS) group showed a tendency of recovering when compared to control group, which was consistent with behavioral and biochemical parameters. 39 and 40 potential biomarkers of brain tissues and serum samples, respectively, were identified and employed to explore the possible mechanism. Our work revealed that GS has significant protective effects on SD, and metabolomics is a useful tool for evaluating efficacy and elucidating mechanism in TCM.

[An analysis of subhealth status based on partial least squares].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the discrimination model of subhealth with statistical method of partial least squares (PLS). METHODS: This study was based on the Subhealth State Rating Scale (SHSRS). A total of 88 subhealth subjects (scoring less than 85 in SHSRS) and 64 healthy people (scoring over 85 in SHSRS) were enrolled randomly. Information regarding the clinical symptoms was screened by stepwise regression as independent variables. Mathematical models were established by leave-one-out in PLS program for subhealth recognition before and after stepwise regression respectively. Accuracy rates were observed and compared by using the Visual Basic 6.0. RESULTS: The practical accuracy rate of PLS models in subhealth recognition was 89.47%, and increased to 92.10% after stepwise regression for variables. CONCLUSION: PLS has certain reference value in establishing subhealth discrimination models. It can also play an important part in item selection of the scale.

[Sub-health and the "treatment of pro-disease" in Chinese medicine].

The relationship between sub-health and " pro-disease" in Chinese medicine was clarified through analyzing the background of sub-health coming forth and its connotation, as well as the multiple meaning of "pro-disease" in Chinese medicine. The authors offered, thereupon, their clews and methods for treatment of "pro-disease" and intervention on sub-health.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicines on spontaneous chronic pancreatitis in rats and the pathological relationships between formulas and syndromes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Guizhi Decoction, Chaihu Guizhi Decoction, Xiaochaihu Decoction and camostat on rat spontaneous chronic pancreatitis and the pathological relationships between formulas and syndromes. METHODS: Fifty-seven male WBN/Kob rats at age of 4 weeks were divided into five groups: untreated group (n=18), Guizhi Decoction-treated group (n=9), Chaihu Guizhi Decoction-treated group (n=9), Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated group (n=9) and camostat-treated group (n=12). The rats in each group were fed with corresponding drugs for 12 weeks. The pancreatic wet weight and histopathological changes of pancreatic tissue were observed every four weeks. Meanwhile, the expression level of pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) in pancreas was detected by RT-PCR technique and immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In the untreated group, the histopathological changes in pancreas were observed in rats at 12-week age, while such changes were absent in the Guizhi Decoction-treated group. The histopathological changes in pancreas were quite remarkable in rats at 16-week age in both the Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated and the camostat-treated groups. The expression level of PAP mRNA was lower in the Guizhi Decoction-treated group than those in the other groups. The PAP expressions were absent in rats at 12-week age in the Guizhi Decoction-treated and the Chaihu Guizhi Decocion-treated groups. CONCLUSION: Guizhi Decoction, Chaihu Guizhi Decoction, Xiaochaihu Decoction and camostat are all beneficial to prevention and cure of chronic pancreatitis, and Guizhi Decoction is the most effective one. It is speculated that Taiyang exterior syndrome may be the pathogenesis of basic syndrome may be the pathogenesis of basic syndrome of spontaneous chronic pancreatitis, and the expression of PAP may be its pathological basis.