Tolerance In Man Research Articles

Oxytocin does not acutely improve glucose tolerance in men with type 2 diabetes.

To assess oxytocin's acute glucoregulatory impact in men with type 2 diabetes in the context of our previous findings that oxytocin improves β-cell responsivity in healthy men. In a double-blind, crossover comparison, intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) and placebo, respectively, were administered to 25 fasted men with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (age ± standard error of the mean, 63.40 ± 1.36 years; body mass index, 27.77 ± 0.66 kg/m2; HbA1c, 6.86% ± 0.08%; Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR, 3.44 ± 0.39) 60 minutes before an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT). Key outcomes were compared with previous results in men with normal weight or obesity. Oxytocin compared with placebo increased plasma oxytocin concentrations and reduced the heart rate, but did not alter glucose metabolism in the 3 hours after oGTT onset (area under the curve, glucose, 2240 ± 80.5 vs. 2190 ± 69.5 mmol/L × min; insulin, 45 663 ± 4538 vs. 44 343 ± 4269 pmol/L × min; C-peptide, 235 ± 5.1 vs. 231 ± 15.9 nmol/L × min). This outcome contrasts with the oxytocin-induced attenuation of early postprandial glucose excursions in normal-weight individuals, but is in line with the absence of respective effects in men with obesity. We conclude that insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased sensitivity to the acute glucoregulatory effect of oxytocin in male individuals.

Network analysis of DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder: considering sex differences in a large clinical sample.

The fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and its revised version (DSM-5-TR) propose severity levels for gambling disorder (GD) based on the number of criteria met. However, this taxonomy has some limitations. We aimed to assess the centrality of each criterion and its relationship by conducting a network analysis while considering sex differences. We performed a network analysis with the DSM-5 criteria for GD with data from 4,203 treatment-seeking patients (3,836 men and 367 women) diagnosed with GD who sought for treatment in a general tertiary hospital which has a unit specialized in behavioral addictions. The withdrawal criterion ("Restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling") showed the highest centrality values in both sexes. In men, the second most central criterion was the tolerance criterion ("Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement"); while among women, the second was the chasing losses criterion ("After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even"). The most central criteria identified are associated with compulsivity-driven behaviors of the addictive process. Taking into account the high relevance and transitive capacity of withdrawal in both men and women, as well as tolerance in men, and chasing losses in women, the recognition and understanding of these symptoms are fundamental for the accurate diagnosis and severity assessment of GD.

Comprehensive Transcriptional Profiling and Mouse Phenotyping Reveals Dispensable Role for Adipose Tissue Selective Long Noncoding RNA Gm15551.

Cold and nutrient-activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) is capable of increasing systemic energy expenditure via the uncoupled respiration and secretion of endocrine factors, thereby protecting mice against diet-induced obesity and improving insulin response and glucose tolerance in men. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been identified as fine-tuning regulators of cellular function. While certain lncRNAs have been functionally characterised in adipose tissue, their overall contribution in the activation of BAT remains elusive. We identified lncRNAs correlating to interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) function in a high fat diet (HFD) and cold stressed mice. We focused on Gm15551, which has an adipose tissue specific expression profile, is highly upregulated during adipogenesis, and downregulated by β-adrenergic activation in mature adipocytes. Although we performed comprehensive transcriptional and adipocyte physiology profiling in vitro and in vivo, we could not detect an effect of gain or loss of function of Gm15551.

Efficacy of a Psychosocial Pain Management Intervention for Men and Women With Substance Use Disorders and Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is common in those with substance use disorders (SUDs) and predicts poorer addiction treatment outcomes. A critical challenge for addiction treatment is to develop effective methods to improve pain-related and substance use-related outcomes for those in treatment for SUDs. To examine the efficacy of an integrated behavioral pain management intervention (Improving Pain During Addiction Treatment [ImPAT]) for men and women with SUDs to treat pain, functioning, and substance use. In this randomized clinical trial, 8 sessions of ImPAT were compared with 8 sessions of a supportive psychoeducational control (SPC) condition for adults with pain treated at a large residential SUD treatment program. Follow-up occurred at 3, 6, and 12 months postbaseline. A total of 1372 adults were screened, including 960 men and 412 women, and 510 adults were randomized, including 264 men and 246 women. The goal was to recruit approximately equal numbers of men and women to examine results separately in men and women. A total of 470 of 510 participants (92.2%) completed at least 1 follow-up assessment. Data were collected from October 3, 2011, to January 14, 2016. Data were analyzed from February 1, 2016, to May 1, 2020. ImPAT focused on how a psychosocial model of pain was associated with functioning and relapse prevention and provides skills to manage pain. SPC served as the active control condition and involved discussions of topics like nutrition and the course of addiction, which were intended to be relevant to the patient population and to have face validity but be distinct from the content of ImPAT. The primary outcomes were pain intensity, pain-related functioning, and behavioral pain tolerance at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were frequency of alcohol and drug use over 12 months. Of the 510 included participants, the mean (SD) age was 34.8 (10.3) years. A total of 133 men and 122 women were assigned to ImPAT, and a total of 131 men and 124 women were assigned to the SPC condition. Over 12 months of follow-up, randomization to the ImPAT intervention was associated with higher tolerance of pain among men, higher by a mean score of 0.11 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.18; P = .004; Cohen d = 0.40) at 3 months and by 0.07 (95% CI, -0.01 to 0.19; P = .11; Cohen d = 0.25) at 12 months. Women receiving the ImPAT intervention experienced a reduction in pain intensity from 3 to 12 months, while women receiving the SPC condition experienced an increase in pain intensity, resulting in lower pain in the ImPAT condition by a mean score of 0.58 (95% CI, -0.07 to 1.22; P = .08; Cohen d = -0.22) at 12 months. No differences were found between the ImPAT and SPC conditions on alcohol or drug use. Behavioral pain management is not typically included in addiction treatment, but the present results indicate that this type of intervention was associated with better pain-related outcomes, including pain tolerance in men and pain intensity in women. Improvements in substance use-related outcomes beyond that achieved by treatment as usual were not observed. Treatment programs should consider providing psychosocial pain management services to augment standard addiction treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01372267.

161-LB: Inhibition of Kidney SGLT2 Expression following Bariatric Surgery in Mice

Background: Bariatric surgery is known to improve glucose tolerance and weight loss, but can also cause a postprandial increase in renal glucose excretion following oral glucose tolerance test. Both effects have also been observed following treatment with sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Aim: To investigate whether there is an effect of bariatric surgery (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy; VSG) on renal SGLT2 expression in mice. Methods: Fourteen lean mice underwent VSG (n=8) or sham (n=6) surgery. Glucose Tolerance tests with or without treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin were performed four weeks post operatively, in order to assess if exogenous SGLT2 inhibition has the same euglycemic effects as bariatric surgery. Kidneys were harvested from fed mice and analysed using Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence. Results: VSG did not cause any weight loss when compared to sham operated mice (p=0.37, Mann-Whitney test). However, VSG mice displayed significantly improved glucose tolerance (AUC=103 ±6.8; AUC =66.6 ±2.9 in control and VSG mice, respectively; p<0.001), which was not further affected by dapagliflozin (10 mg/kg; p>0.05). In contrast, treatment of sham mice with dapagliflozin increased glucose tolerance, though to a lesser extent than VSG. Nevertheless, qPCR and immunofluorescence analysis on mouse kidneys demonstrated a significant lowering of SGLT2 expression at both the protein (n=5, p=0.0007) and mRNA (n=7, 0<0.0001) levels four weeks after VSG. Correspondingly, glycosuria was observed in 2/5 VSG mice, but not in controls. Conclusions: Both gastric and intestinal surgery in lean animals causes a significant inhibition of SGLT2 in the kidney cortex. These findings are in line with our previous results on the effects of Duodenal Jejunal Bypass in lean rats, and point towards a physiologically-relevant gut-kidney axis. SGLT2 inhibition may thus be an important mechanism through which bariatric surgery improves glucose tolerance in man. Disclosure E. Akalestou: None. L. Lopez Noriega: None. P.L. Chabosseau: None. I. Leclerc: None. G.A. Rutter: Consultant; Self; Sun Pharma. Funding UK Wellcome Trust

Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Glucose Tolerance in Men at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

This study aimed to assess the effects of 9-hour time-restricted feeding (TRF), early (TRFe) or delayed (TRFd), on glucose tolerance in men at risk for type 2 diabetes. Fifteen men (age 55±3 years, BMI 33.9±0.8kg/m2 ) wore a continuous glucose monitor for 7days of baseline assessment and during two 7-day TRF conditions. Participants were randomized to TRFe (8am to 5 pm) or TRFd (12 pm to 9 pm), separated by a 2-week washout phase. Glucose, insulin, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids, and gastrointestinal hormone incremental areas under the curve were calculated following a standard meal on days 0 and 7 at 8am (TRFe) or 12 pm (TRFd). TRF improved glucose tolerance as assessed by a reduction in glucose incremental area under the curve (P=0.001) and fasting triglycerides (P=0.003) on day 7 versus day 0. However, there were no mealtime by TRF interactions in any of the variables examined. There was also no effect of TRF on fasting and postprandial insulin, nonesterified fatty acids, or gastrointestinal hormones. Mean fasting glucose by continuous glucose monitor was lower in TRFe (P=0.02) but not TRFd (P=0.17) versus baseline, but there was no difference between TRF conditions. While only TRFe lowered mean fasting glucose, TRF improved glycemic responses to a test meal in men at risk for type 2 diabetes regardless of the clock time that TRF was initiated.

Double transcranial direct current stimulation of the brain increases cerebral energy levels and systemic glucose tolerance in men.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory method that has been tested experimentally and has already been used as an adjuvant therapeutic option to treat a number of neurological disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases. Beyond its well known local effects within the brain, tDCS also transiently promotes systemic glucose uptake and reduces the activity of the neurohormonal stress axes. We aimed to test whether the effects of a single tDCS application could be replicated upon double stimulation to persistently improve systemic glucose tolerance and stress axes activity in humans. In a single-blinded cross-over study, we examined 15 healthy male volunteers. Anodal tDCS vs sham was applied twice in series. Systemic glucose tolerance was investigated by the standard hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic glucose clamp procedure, and parameters of neurohormonal stress axes activity were measured. Because tDCS-induced brain energy consumption has been shown to be part of the mechanism underlying the assumed effects, we monitored the cerebral high-energy phosphates ATP and phosphocreatine by 31 phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. As hypothesised, analyses revealed that double anodal tDCS persistently increases glucose tolerance compared to sham. Moreover, we observed a significant rise in cerebral high-energy phosphate content upon double tDCS. Accordingly, the activity of the neurohormonal stress axes was reduced upon tDCS compared to sham. Our data demonstrate that double tDCS promotes systemic glucose uptake and reduces stress axes activity in healthy humans. These effects suggest that repetitive tDCS may be a future non-pharmacological option for combating glucose intolerance in type 2 diabetes patients.

Correction to: Mixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell Function by Ruetten H, MD, PhD, Gebauer M, PhD, Raymond RH, MS, Calle RA, MD, Cobelli C, PhD, Ghosh A, PhD, Robertson RP, MD, Shankar SS, MD, Staten MA, MD, Stefanovski D, PhD, Vella A, MD, Wright

Metabolic Syndrome and Related DisordersVol. 17, No. 2 CorrectionFree AccessCorrection to: Mixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell Function by Ruetten H, MD, PhD, Gebauer M, PhD, Raymond RH, MS, Calle RA, MD, Cobelli C, PhD, Ghosh A, PhD, Robertson RP, MD, Shankar SS, MD, Staten MA, MD, Stefanovski D, PhD, Vella A, MD, Wright K, MS, and Fryburg DA, MD; on behalf of the Foundation for the NIH Biomarkers Consortium Beta Cell Project Team Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2018;16:406–415 DOI 10.1089/met.2018.0022is erratum ofMixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell FunctionPublished Online:1 Mar 2019https://doi.org/10.1089/met.2018.0022.correxAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail The authors of the article entitled, Mixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell Function, negelected to list in the Funding and Support section that the work was performed through support to A.V. by the National Institutes of Health (DK78646 and DK116231.The online version of this article has been corrected to reflect this correction.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRelated articlesMixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell Function28 Sep 2018Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders Volume 17Issue 2Mar 2019 InformationCopyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Correction to: Mixed Meal and Intravenous L-Arginine Tests Both Stimulate Incretin Release Across Glucose Tolerance in Man: Lack of Correlation with β Cell Function by Ruetten H, MD, PhD, Gebauer M, PhD, Raymond RH, MS, Calle RA, MD, Cobelli C, PhD, Ghosh A, PhD, Robertson RP, MD, Shankar SS, MD, Staten MA, MD, Stefanovski D, PhD, Vella A, MD, Wright K, MS, and Fryburg DA, MD; on behalf of the Foundation for the NIH Biomarkers Consortium Beta Cell Project Team Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2018;16:406–415 DOI 10.1089/met.2018.0022.Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.Mar 2019.128-128.http://doi.org/10.1089/met.2018.0022.correxPublished in Volume: 17 Issue 2: March 1, 2019PDF download

TheraP: A randomized phase II trial of [177Lu]-PSMA-617 theranostic versus cabazitaxel in progressive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

TPS332 Background: Lutetium-177 [177Lu]-PSMA-617 is a novel radiolabelled small molecule that binds with high affinity to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is commonly overexpressed in prostate cancer. This treatment has demonstrated promising activity and tolerability in men progressing after multiple lines of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. This trial will determine the activity and safety of 177Lu-PSMA-617 compared to cabazitaxel chemotherapy in men with progressive metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. Methods: TheraP is an open-label, randomised, two-arm, multi-centre, phase 2 trial comparing the activity and safety of experimental treatment with [177Lu]-PSMA-617 versus standard 2nd line chemotherapy with cabazitaxel. Key eligibility criteria include prior chemotherapy with docetaxel; rising serum PSA; sufficient PSMA avidity according to central reviewed of imaging with PSMA PET/CT and FDG PET/CT; no discordance between FDG PET and PSMA PET. The trial will include 200 participants randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either [177Lu]-PSMA-617 intravenously every 6 weeks, 8.5 GBq for cycle 1, decreasing by 0.5 GBq with each subsequent cycle, up to maximum 6 cycles (experimental group); or, chemotherapy with cabazitaxel (20 mg/m2) intravenously every 3 weeks, for 10 cycles (standard group). In the event of an exceptional response to [177Lu]-PSMA-617, according to centrally-reviewed, post-therapy SPECT imaging, treatment is suspended but can recommence subsequently on progression. The primary endpoint is a 50% or greater reduction from baseline in serum PSA. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), PSA-PFS, pain-PFS, radiographic-PFS, health-related quality of life, pain response, and adverse events. The outcomes of patients excluded because of discordant disease on FDG PET and PSMA PET will be reported as a tertiary objective. The study has accrued 79 of 200 planned participants from 29 January 2018 to 23 October 2018. Clinical trial information: NCT03392428.

Relationship between carbohydrate intake and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults: data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).

It is well known that dietary factors affect the development of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the associations between carbohydrate intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, 2009. A total of 6,648 Chinese adults aged 18-60 were divided into five groups based on carbohydrate intake (% of energy). Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to estimate the risk factors in relation to carbohydrate intake, and mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. When age was adjusted, carbohydrate intake was negatively correlated with total cholesterol and triglycerides in men and total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women. However, there were positive associations of carbohydrate intake with waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure in women. After additional adjustment for urbanicity index, income, physical activity, education, alcohol and smoking, and dietary intake, the 5th quintile of carbohydrate intake reduced the risk for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women (OR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.99) compared with the 1st quintile. However, the top quintile of carbohydrate intake increased the risk for impaired glucose tolerance in men (OR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.16) compared with the lowest quintile after adjusting for all confounders. Higher-carbohydrate diets may associate with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Moderate carbohydrate intake is recommended for daily consumption. These results suggest that improving dietary patterns may be an important approach to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults.

The effect of passive heat stress on distress andself-control in male smokers and non-smokers

In the current study, we tested the effects of core body temperature increases (e.g. heat stress) on affect, self-reported physical discomfort, and subsequent self-control in male smokers and nonsmokers using a novel passive heat stress paradigm, within a distress tolerance framework. Twenty-eight men (14 smokers), completed both heat stress and control sessions in randomized order. Results revealed that increases in core body temperature were associated with increased anxiety, irritability, and body discomfort as well as decreased happiness, with stronger effects for smokers. Smokers and nonsmokers both evidenced less self-control during the heat session and did not differ on this measure, nor on a measure of interoceptive sensitivity. The current study indicates that heat stress is a viable method for studying distress tolerance in men, and suggests the value in examining dynamic changes in self-control as a function of distress. Implications will be discussed for distress tolerance in general and smokers in specific.

Trunk muscle quality assessed by computed tomography: Association with adiposity indices and glucose tolerance in men

Background/objectivesThigh muscle attenuation measured by computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be a reliable and useful index of skeletal muscle fat infiltration. Thigh muscle fat content assessed by CT has been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes and is a correlate of insulin resistance in sedentary individuals. However, as measurement of mid-thigh fat content requires the assessment of another region of interest beyond the usual abdominal scan required to measure levels of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, this study aimed at testing the hypothesis that skeletal muscle fat measured from a single abdominal scan (L4-L5) would also provide information relevant to the estimation of muscle fat infiltration as it relates to cardiometabolic risk. MethodsAbdominal (L4-L5) and mid-thigh CT scans were performed in a sample of 221 sedentary men covering a wide range of adiposity values. Trunk muscles on the L4-L5 scan were classified into 2 groups: 1) psoas and 2) core muscles. The two scans were segmented to calculate muscle areas, mean attenuation values as well as low-attenuation muscle (LAM) areas, the latter being considered as an index of skeletal muscle fat infiltration. Body mass index (BMI), body composition and waist circumference were assessed and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. ResultsMid-thigh, psoas and core LAM areas were all significantly associated with body composition indices (0.46 ≤ r ≤ 0.71, p < 0.0001) whereas trunk muscle indices were more strongly associated with visceral adiposity and waist circumference (0.54 ≤ r ≤ 0.79, p < 0.0001) than were mid-thigh muscle variables (0.44 ≤ r ≤ 0.62, p < 0.0001). Mid-thigh LAM area as well as psoas and core LAM areas were significantly associated with fasting glucose, 2-h plasma glucose levels, the glucose area under the curve and with the HOMA-IR index (mid-thigh LAM area: 0.18 ≤ r ≤ 0.25, p < 0.01; psoas LAM area: 0.27 ≤ r ≤ 0.33, p < 0.0001; core LAM area: 0.24 ≤ r ≤ 0.34, p < 0.01). Multivariable stepwise regression analyses revealed that the associations between trunk muscle indices and glucose tolerance/insulin resistance were no longer significant after controlling for visceral adiposity measured at L4-L5. ConclusionOur results suggest that CT-imaging derived indices of trunk muscle quality are related to glucose tolerance and visceral adiposity. However, the relationship between skeletal muscle fat and insulin resistance appears to be largely mediated by the concomitant variation in visceral adiposity. Finally, our results suggest that a single CT scan performed at L4-L5 is adequate to assess skeletal muscle fat content related to cardiometabolic risk.

Relationship between urine pH and abnormal glucose tolerance in a community-based study.

Aims/IntroductionThe association between urine pH and abnormal glucose tolerance in men and women is unclear; therefore, we carried out a community‐based, cross‐sectional study to investigate sex‐specific associations between these values, possible indicators of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled 4,945 Japanese individuals (2,490 men and 2,455 women), who had undergone annual health checkups. To investigate the relationship between low urine pH and abnormal glucose tolerance, participants were divided into three groups based on their fasting plasma glucose levels (<6.11 mmol/L, 6.11–6.99 mmol/L and ≥6.99 mmol/L), and three groups based on their glycated hemoglobin levels (≤44.3 mmol/mol, 44.3–47.5 mmol/mol and ≥47.5 mmol/mol). To examine the effects of urine pH on abnormal glucose tolerance, participants were categorized into five groups based on their urine pH (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and ≥7.0).ResultsMultivariate analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine and antidiabetic agent use showed significant associations between low urine pH and both high fasting plasma glucose and high glycated hemoglobin levels (P for trend = 0.0260, 0.0075) in men. Furthermore, after the same adjustments, prevalence rates of abnormal glucose tolerance (≥6.11 mmol/L and ≥6.99 mmol/L), increased significantly as urine pH levels decreased (P for trend = 0.0483, 0.0181) in men. In women, a similar trend was observed without a significant difference.ConclusionsLow urine pH is significantly associated with abnormal glucose tolerance; therefore, measuring urine pH might prove useful for identifying patients at high risk for diabetes.

Prevalence of diabetes in adults in Hebei province

Objective: To understand the prevalence of diabetes in adults in Hebei province. Methods: The survey was conducted among the local residents aged ≥18 years, who were selected through multi stage cluster sampling from September 2013 to April 2014. Design-based methods were used to analyze the prevalence in the last 12 months. Results: A total of 7 678 adults were included in the study. The overall prevalence of diabetes in Hebei was 12.9% (13.1% in men and 12.8% in women), there was no sex specific difference in diabetes prevalence (P=0.09). The prevalence was higher in urban residents (16.2%) than that in rural residents (12.1%), the difference was significant (P<0.01). The prevalence of diabetes increased with age (P<0.01). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 5.1%, the difference was significant between men and women and between rural area and urban area (P<0.01). The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 10.4%. The difference of prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance in men and women and between rural area and urban area was not significant. The rates of awareness, treatment and control of diabetes were 50.7%, 46.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Women had higher awareness rate and treatment rate of diabetes than men, the difference was significant (P<0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes was high in adults in Hebei province, the difference in diabetes prevalence between urban area and rural area was significant. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance were high, but the rates of awareness, treatment and control of diabetes were low.

Real men are made, not born! Incidental exposure to energy drinks may promote men's tolerance of physical pain.

The energy drink market has grown exponentially since the debut of Red Bull. Advertising of energy drinks tends to reinforce an emphasis on masculine identification. However, no previous study has addressed the symbolic effect of energy drinks on pain tolerance, that is, a particular masculine characteristic. We conducted a priming-based experiment to show that energy drink primes elevated men's pain tolerance. Induced conformity to masculinity norms mediated the priming effect of energy drinks on pain tolerance. These findings suggest that mere reminders of masculinity-related products can lead men to behave accordingly in seemingly irrelevant domains (i.e., pain tolerance). Besides distraction and placebo treatment, the connection between a symbolic masculinity prime and greater tolerance of pain may shed lights on an alternative route for pain control.

Sex differences in resting state brain function of cigarette smokers and links to nicotine dependence.

Sex--a marker of biological and social individual differences--matters for drug use, particularly for cigarette smoking, which is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. More men than women smoke, but women are less likely than men to quit. Resting state brain function, or intrinsic brain activity that occurs in the absence of a goal-directed task, is important for understanding cigarette smoking, as it has been shown to differentiate between smokers and nonsmokers. But, it is unclear whether and how sex influences the link between resting state brain function and smoking behavior. In this study, the authors demonstrate that sex is indeed associated with resting state connectivity in cigarette smokers, and that sex moderates the link between resting state connectivity and self-reported nicotine dependence. Using functional MRI and behavioral data from 50 adult daily smokers (23 women), the authors found that women had greater connectivity than men within the default mode network, and that increased connectivity within the reward network was related to increased nicotine tolerance in women but to decreased nicotine tolerance in men. Findings highlight the importance of sex-related individual differences reflected in resting state connectivity for understanding the etiology and treatment of substance use problems.

Priming with Energy Drinks May Promote Men's Tolerance of Social Pain

In advertising of caffeinated energy drinks, there appears to be a consistent emphasis reinforcing masculine identification. Greater tolerance of social pain in a situation of exclusion is a characteristic particularly identified with masculinity. In this study, we tested the priming effect of an energy drink on men's social pain tolerance in the situation of experiencing social exclusion in Cyberball, a virtual ball-tossing game. We recruited 93 men who were undergraduate students at a university in Taiwan to participate in an experimental study. Results showed that the men exposed to a popular caffeinated energy drink (Red Bull) tolerated being excluded from a greater number of throws in Cyberball than did those with a neutral prime or no prime. Induced conformity to masculine norms mediated the link between the energy drink prime and increased tolerance of social pain. These findings suggest that mere exposure to energy drinks may lead men to behave according to masculine norms in a seemingly unrelated domain.

Effects of individualized centrifugation training on orthostatic tolerance in men and women.

AimsExposure to artificial gravity (AG) at different G loads and durations on human centrifuges has been shown to improve orthostatic tolerance in men. However, the effects on women and of an individual-specific AG training protocol on tolerance are not known.MethodsWe examined the effects of 90 minutes of AG vs. 90 minutes of supine rest on the orthostatic tolerance limit (OTL), using head up tilt and lower body negative pressure until presyncope of 7 men and 5 women. Subjects were placed in the centrifuge nacelle while instrumented and after one-hour they underwent either: 1) AG exposure (90 minutes) in supine position [protocol 1, artificial gravity exposure], or 2) lay supine on the centrifuge for 90 minutes in supine position without AG exposure [protocol 2, control]. The AG training protocol was individualized, by first determining each subject’s maximum tolerable G load, and then exposing them to 45 minutes of ramp training at sub-presyncopal levels.ResultsBoth sexes had improved OTL (14 minutes vs 11 minutes, p < 0.0019) following AG exposure. When cardiovascular (CV) variables at presyncope in the control test were compared with the CV variables at the same tilt-test time (isotime) during post-centrifuge, higher blood pressure, stroke volume and cardiac output and similar heart rates and peripheral resistance were found post-centrifuge.ConclusionsThese data suggest a better-maintained central circulating blood volume post-centrifugation across gender and provide an integrated insight into mechanisms of blood pressure regulation and the possible implementation of in-flight AG countermeasure profiles during spaceflights.

Erectile function, erection hardness and tolerability in men treated with sildenafil 100 mg vs. 50 mg for erectile dysfunction

To compare efficacy and tolerability between 100-mg and 50-mg sildenafil doses in five double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) fixed-dose studies. Doses were compared for the change (baseline to end of 8-12 weeks of DBPC treatment) in score on the Erectile Function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; from five fixed-dose studies, > 1500 men); the per-patient estimated percentage of occasions that a specified Erection Hardness Score (EHS; from two of the five fixed-dose studies, > 500 men) was achieved, computed from logistic regression; the odds ratio (OR) of achieving EHS3 (hard enough for penetration, but not completely hard) and EHS4 (fully hard and completely rigid); and the adverse event incidence by treatment (from all five fixed-dose studies). For the 100-mg vs. 50-mg dose, IIEF-EF score improvement was consistently greater across the five studies and was statistically significant when data from two studies with similar design were pooled (10.7 ± 0.64 vs. 8.9 ± 0.83, p = 0.0287); and during the first 2 weeks of treatment, the odds of achieving EHS4 erections were almost doubled in one study (OR = 1.77, p = 0.0398). Sildenafil was generally well tolerated at either dose. Men with erectile dysfunction treated with 100-mg compared with 50-mg sildenafil may be more likely to achieve a greater improvement in erectile function and, within the first 2 weeks, completely hard and fully rigid erections, with little or no greater risk to tolerability.

Dendritic cells and the promise of antigen-specific therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from an autoimmune response to self-antigens, leading to inflammation of synovial tissue of joints and subsequent cartilage and bone erosion. Current disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic inhibitors of TNF, IL-6, T cells and B cells block inflammation nonspecifically, which may lead to adverse effects, including infection. They do not generally induce long-term drug-free remission or restoration of immune tolerance to self-antigens, and lifelong treatment is usual. The development of antigen-specific strategies in RA has so far been limited by insufficient knowledge of autoantigens, of the autoimmune pathogenesis of RA and of the mechanisms of immune tolerance in man. Effective tolerance-inducing antigen-specific immunotherapeutic strategies hold promise of greater specificity, of lower toxicity and of a longer-term solution for controlling or even preventing RA. This paper reviews current understanding of autoantigens and their relationship to immunopathogenesis of RA, and emerging therapeutics that aim to leverage normal tolerance mechanisms for implementation of antigen-specific therapy in RA.