Function and regulation of cholecystokinin-octapeptide, β-endorphin and gastrin in anorexic infantile rats treated with ErBao Granules

AIM To study the role of cholecystokinin- octapeptide (CCK-8). β-endorphin (β-EP). and gastrin in an anorexic infantile rat model and no subsequent regulation of nose peptides by the Yunpi complex prescription ErBao Granule. METHODS We fed infantile rats with special prepared forage. A liquid extract of ErBao Granule was administered to the rats daily for 3 weeks, CCK-8, β-EP, and gastrin concentrations in hypothalamus, gastric antrum, and plasma of the rats were measured by radioimmunoassay, and were compared with controls. RESULTS Treatment of rats with ErBao Granule inhibited CCK-8 secretion and increased β-EP and gastrin secretion. CCK-8 concentration in hypothalamus and plasma of model control group increased significantly and correlated negatively with food intake of models, respectively. β-EP concentration in gastric antrum and plasma of model control group decreased significantly and showed a positive correlation with food intake of models, respectively. Hypothalamus concentration of β -EP was similar in models and controls. Gastrin concentration in gastric antrum of models was lower than in the blank control group, and correlated positively to food intake of models. Finally, CCK-8 concentrations in plasma of rats showed a positive correlation with plasma β-EP (r=-0.68, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The increased plasma and hypothalamus concentration of CCK-8, decreased gastric antrum and plasma level of β -EP, and decreased gastric antrum concentration of gastric are associated significantly with the anorexia of infantile anorexic rat models produced by special forage. ErBao Granule can reverse these changes, which may be the major mechanisms of ErBao Granule simulating feeding.

Overlap of orthorexia,eating attitude and psychological distress in some Italian and Spanish university students

BACKGROUND Orthorexia nervosa(ON)is the persistent concern of maintaining the self-imposed diet to improve one's health.Many factors have been associated to ON in university students.AIM To assess the prevalence of ON in Italian and Spanish university students in relation to eating attitude and psychological distress,and the possible overlaps between ON(evaluated with different scored questionnaires from the originally proposed ORTO-15),distress and risk of eating disorders.METHODS This study was carried out on 160 students recruited at La Sapienza University of Rome and at the Catholic University of Murcia.Questionnaires were administered to evaluate ON(ORTO-15 and sub-scores),body concerns(Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire,MBSRQ,and Body Uneasiness test,BUT),psychological distress(Kessler Psychological Distress Scale,K10),physical activity(International Physical Activity Questionnaire,IPAQ),eating attitude(Eating Attitudes Test,EAT-26)and malnutrition(Starvation Symptom Inventory,SSI).Sex differences,within the same country,and differences between Italian and Spanish students,within the same sex,were evaluated.RESULTS The ORTO-15 positive subjects,assessed with the originally proposed cut-off,were above 70%in both Italian and Spanish students,with a higher prevalence in the Spanish sample(Italian females 76.3%,Italian males 70.7%;Spanish females 97.0%,Spanish males 96.3%).According to ORTO-7,about 30%of Italian and 48%of Spanish students were positive to ON with no significant sex differences.When excluding students underweight(UW),overweight(OW)or obese(OB),as well as those potentially at risk of eating disorders or presenting mild,moderate and severe distress,in the resultant normal weight(NW)-K10neg-EAT-26neg subgroup,we did not find many correlations observed in the whole sample,including those between ORTO scores and BUT,SSI,Total MBSRQ and some of its components.Moreover,ORTO-7 resulted in the only ON score unrelated with Body Mass Index,MBSRQ components and IPAQassessed intense activity,in the NW-K10neg-EAT-26neg subgroup.After this sort of“exclusion diagnosis”,the prevalence of ON of these students on the overall sample resulted in 16.9%,12.2%,15.2%and 25.9%for Italian females,Italian males,Spanish females and Spanish males,respectively.CONCLUSION In some university students ON could be a symptom of other conditions related to body image concerns and distress,as well as to high physical activity and appearance,fitness,health or illness orientation(from MBSRQ).However,ORTO-7 became independent from these confounding variables,after the exclusion of UW,OW,OB and students positive to EAT-26 and K10,suggesting the possibility of identifying orthorexic subjects with this specific questionnaire.