Personality and Serum Lipids: Does Lifestyle Account for Their Concurrent and Long‐term Relationships

This study evaluates concurrent and over time associations of personality with measures of three serum lipids associated coronary heart disease morbidity, namely, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride (TRI). Participants were individuals who underwent a health examination at two points of time, T1 (N = 3835) and T2 (N = 2283), about 2.5 years apart. Personality was assessed by the Five‐Factor Model. Health, socioeconomic status and healthy lifestyle behaviours (smoking intensity, physical activity and body weight) were controlled. Regression analyses indicate that the personality factors of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness are each significantly associated with HDL‐C and TRI, both concurrently and over time. However, most of these associations decreased to marginal significance when adjusted for body weight or physical activity as possible mediators. Both concurrent and over time associations of the openness personality trait with HDL‐C and TRI were significant and persisted after adjustment for measures of a healthy lifestyle. This study emphasizes the importance of collecting measures of a healthy lifestyle to better understand how personality might influence serum lipids. Copyright © 2013 European Association of Personality Psychology     

血清CHO、D-二聚体、FDP与Child-Pugh分级的关系研究

为了探讨血清胆固醇（CHO）、D-二聚体、纤维蛋白降解产物（FDP）与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级的关系,选取73例肝硬化患者按Child-pugh评分分为A、B、C级,与30例健康对照组比较,肝硬化组CHO显著降低,D-二聚体和FDP显著升高,且A级与B级、B级与C级之间均有差异。因此,联合检测肝硬化患者CHO、D-二聚体、FDP含量,对肝脏受损的严重程度、肝病的疗效观察及预后具有重要的临床意义。     

Statin Use,Ageing, and Cognition: A Review

Cholesterol performs a number of important roles in normal brain functioning, including the formation of myelin sheaths and communication between cells, and it has been theorised that statin use could disrupt these roles leading to deficits in cognition. Relevant research was identified via the La Trobe University library Summon^TM search tool, using search terms including “statin cognition,” “statins cognition,” “statin brain,” “cholesterol cognition,” “cholesterol brain,” and “statin adverse effects” in addition to examination of the reference lists of the retrieved research articles. Research was examined from the published literature across several different research modalities: systematic reviews and meta‐analyses, randomised control trials, cohort studies, and case reports. On the basis of the surveyed literature, it is not possible to indicate any consistent caution or limitation with regard to the use of statins and their effects upon cognitive functioning due to the contradictory and inconsistent results arising from this literature. In summary, it is not possible to conclusively determine whether there are either cognitive benefits or detriments associated with the use of the statins. The determination of the effect of these agents on neuropsychological functioning requires more methodologically controlled long‐term longitudinal follow‐up studies of these treatments due to the complex and multisystem effects of these agents.     

Prediction of dietary adherence in cholesterol reduction: Relative contribution of personality variables and health attitudes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify personality and health attitude variables that might predict adherence to a cholesterol-reducing diet.

After taking a battery of psychological inventories, 66 subjects entered a 26 week diet program. Adherence indices included attendance rate at scheduled appointments, changes in diet, and changes in serum cholesterol levels.

Of the 55 subjects with complete data, 7 dropped out, 7 attended inconsistently, and 41 completed the program. Drop-outs scored significantly lower on the Health Belief measures of seriousness, susceptibility, and benefits. Improvement in serum cholesterol was positively correlated with the Health Belief Benefits Scale and negatively correlated with the Health Locus of Control chance scale. Dietary reduction in saturated fat was positively associated with the Health Belief Seriousness and Benefits Scales.

Health attitudes and beliefs were better predictors of adherence than personality trait measures.     

升高高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）面临的挑战——升HDL-C药物的不同机制和HDL-C升高的疗效评价

高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平与发生冠心病的危险性呈负相关。HDL通过促进胆固醇逆转运、改善内皮功能、抗氧化、抗炎和抗血栓而发挥心血管保护作用。HDL已成为冠心病防治工作的新靶点,生活方式和调脂药物的干预能升高HDL-C,然而HDL的功能比HDL-C血浆水平更重要,多项以HDL为靶点新的治疗措施正在研究中,临床上如何评价HDL-C升高的疗效价值及升高HDL-C的药物和策略有着重要意义。进一步研究HDL的结构、代谢和功能能够深入了解脂质代谢过程和动脉粥样硬化发生机制,使干预HDL成为动脉粥样硬化防治新的目标。     

Cholesterol and Aggression: An Ethnocultural Perspective

Although serum cholesterol has for several decades been linked to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, cardiovascular primary prevention studies that have resulted in low or lowered cholesterol have not reduced total mortality. This finding may be due in part to an increase in mortality from suicides, homicides, and accidents among people with low or lowered serum cholesterol. This article attempts to review the literature on cholesterol and aggressive behavior, examines possible links connecting the two, and suggests an ethnocultural perspective to these connections.     

Psychological hardiness predicts cardiovascular health

Many, but not all people experience diminished health, performance and well-being as a function of exposure to stress. However, the underlying neurophysiological processes which characterize hardy or resilient people are not well understood. This study examines psychological hardiness and several indicators of cardiovascular health, including body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol markers in a sample of 338 middle-aged adults enrolled in a national security education program. Hierarchical regression analyses reveal that after controlling for the influence of age and sex, high hardiness is related to higher HDL – high density lipoprotein and less body fat (BMI). Lower hardiness is associated with greater total cholesterol to HDL ratio, a cardiovascular disease risk factor. These results suggest that psychological hardiness confers resilience in part through an influence on cholesterol production and metabolism.