Psychological and weight-related characteristics of patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting type who later develop bulimia nervosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting type (AN-R) sometimes develop accompanying bulimic symptoms or the full syndrome of bulimia nervosa (BN). If clinicians could predict who might change into the bulimic sub-type or BN, preventative steps could be taken. Therefore, we investigated anthropometric and psychological factors possibly associated with such changes.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>All participants were from a study by the Japanese Genetic Research Group for Eating Disorders. Of 80 patients initially diagnosed with AN-R, 22 changed to the AN-Binge Eating/Purging Type (AN-BP) and 14 to BN for some period of time. The remaining 44 patients remained AN-R only from the onset to the investigation period. Variables compared by ANOVA included anthropometric measures, personality traits such as Multiple Perfectionism Scale scores and Temperament and Character Inventory scores, and Beck Depression Inventory-II scores.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In comparison with AN-R only patients, those who developed BN had significantly higher current BMI (p < 0.05) and maximum BMI in the past (p < 0.05). They also scored significantly higher for the psychological characteristic of parental criticism (p < 0.05) and lower in self-directedness (p < 0.05), which confirms previous reports, but these differences disappeared when the depression score was used as a co-variant. No significant differences were obtained for personality traits or depression among the AN-R only patients irrespective of their duration of illness.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings suggest a tendency toward obesity among patients who cross over from AN-R to BN. Low self-directedness and high parental criticism may be associated with the development of BN by patients with AN-R, although the differences may also be associated with depression.</p

Effects of antidepressant treatment on heart rate variability in major depression: A quantitative review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The literature measuring effects of antidepressant and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depression on heart rate variability (HRV) in medically well individuals was reviewed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fourteen studies evaluating HRV were included. Twenty three pre-post or within group comparisons were available. Treatment impact on measures of HRV was pooled over studies. We examined different classes of antidepressants, and for short and long electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings separately.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were associated with declines in most measures of HRV and significant increase in heart rate (HR) in studies with short recording intervals. No significant changes were found for longer recording times.</p> <p>Treatment effects with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were more variable. Short-recording studies revealed a significant decrease in HR and an increase in one HRV measure. In two 24-hour recording studies no significant changes were observed. No relationship between ECT and HRV has been established in the literature. The effects of other drugs are reported.</p> <p>Limitations</p> <p>Few studies measure the effects of treatment of depression on HRV. Existing studies have generally used very small samples, employing a variety of measurements and methodologies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We confirm that TCAs are associated with a large decrease in HRV and increase HR. However, data for SSRIs is not clear. Although the effect of SSRIs on HRV is weaker than for TCAs, evidence shows that SSRIs are associated with a small decrease in HR, and an increase in one measure of HRV. The use of TCAs in depression leads to changes in HRV that are associated with increased risk of mortality.</p

Improved glucose metabolism by <i>Eragrostis tef</i> potentially through beige adipocyte formation and attenuating adipose tissue inflammation

<div><p>Background</p><p>Teff is a staple food in Ethiopia that is rich in dietary fiber. Although gaining popularity in Western countries because it is gluten-free, the effects of teff on glucose metabolism remain unknown.</p><p>Aim</p><p>To evaluate the effects of teff on body weight and glucose metabolism compared with an isocaloric diet containing wheat.</p><p>Results</p><p>Mice fed teff weighed approximately 13% less than mice fed wheat (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The teff-based diet improved glucose tolerance compared with the wheat group with normal chow but not with a high-fat diet. Reduced adipose inflammation characterized by lower expression of <i>TNFα</i>, <i>Mcp1</i>, and <i>CD11c</i>, together with higher levels of cecal short chain fatty acids such as acetate, compared with the control diet containing wheat after 14 weeks of dietary treatment. In addition, beige adipocyte formation, characterized by increased expression of <i>Ucp-1</i> (~7-fold) and <i>Cidea</i> (~3-fold), was observed in the teff groups compared with the wheat group. Moreover, a body-weight matched experiment revealed that teff improved glucose tolerance in a manner independent of body weight reduction after 6 weeks of dietary treatment. Enhanced beige adipocyte formation without improved adipose inflammation in a body-weight matched experiment suggests that the improved glucose metabolism was a consequence of beige adipocyte formation, but not solely through adipose inflammation. However, these differences between teff- and wheat-containing diets were not observed in the high-fat diet group.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Teff improved glucose tolerance likely by promoting beige adipocyte formation and improved adipose inflammation.</p></div

Comparison of body weight and glucose metabolism between mice fed a high-fat diet with wheat (HFD-wheat: Blue) or teff (HFD-teff: Red).

<p>A: Study design. B: Body weight. C: Energy intake. D: Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) at week 6 (2 g/kg). E: Blood glucose levels after oral mixed meal administration of each assigned diet (2.2g/kg body weight, 33% solution in dH₂O) after 16 h of fasting at week 6. F: Plasma insulin levels during OMTT. G: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at week 9 (2 g/kg). H: Insulin concentration during OGTT. I: Intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT) at week 9 (0.5 U/kg). * <i>p</i> < 0.05, n.s. = not significant. n = 5–9 in each groups.</p

Composition and energy density of experimental diets.

<p>Composition and energy density of experimental diets.</p

Comparison of body weight and glucose metabolism between mice fed a chow diet with wheat (CD-wheat: Blue) or teff (CD-teff: Red).

<p>A: Study design. B: Body weight. C: Energy intake. D: Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) at week 6 (2.0 g/kg). E: Blood glucose levels after oral mixed meal administration of each assigned diet (2.2g/kg body weight, 33% solution in dH₂O) after 16 h of fasting at week 6. F: Plasma insulin levels during OMTT. G: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at week 9 (2 g/kg). H: Insulin concentration during OGTT. I: Intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT) at week 9 (0.5 U/kg). * <i>p</i> < 0.05, n.s. = not significant. n = 5–9 in each groups.</p

Adipose tissue inflammation in mice fed a chow diet with wheat (CD-wheat) or chow diet with teff (CD-teff) for 14 weeks.

<p>A: Immunostaining of the macrophage marker F4/80 (brown) in adipose tissue (scale bar = 100 μM). B: mRNA levels of the macrophage marker, <i>F4/80</i> and <i>CD11c</i>, tumor necrosis factor α (<i>TNF</i>α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (<i>Mcp-1</i>), Forkhead Boxprotein P3 <i>(Foxp3</i>), and adiponectin in adipose tissue. All mRNA expression data were normalized to <i>36B4</i>. C: Immunofluorescence staining for DAPI (blue), F4/80 (red) and TNFα (green) in adipose tissue (scale bar, 100 μm). * <i>p</i> < 0.05. n.s. = not significant.</p