科學家發明對抗壓力的藥物?

A pill that keeps stress at bay could be on the horizon after scientists worked out the brain chemistry that turns a healthy dose of fear into overwhelming anxiety or depression.
當科學家找出使恐懼變成無法抗拒的焦慮或沮喪的腦部化學物質後，對抗壓力的藥即將問世。

The breakthrough by researchers at Leicester University could lead to pills that quash such stress-related conditions before they arise.
萊斯特大學研究人員的該項突破性進展導致該藥問世前就阻礙了跟壓力有關的情況。

This would be different from anti-depressants, which are prescribed after a person’s health deteriorates.
這跟抗抑鬱劑不同，它們是用來治療人的健康惡化問題。

Treatments which might work when existing drugs fail could also be developed.
當現有的藥物再進行研製，治療可能就有效。

The research was inspired by the observation that while most of us experience traumatic events from bereavements to broken hearts, only some people descend into depression or other stress-associated psychiatric disorders.
這項研究是由於觀察到大部分人經歷過如親人死亡這種令人不快的事到傷心絕望，但只有一些人陷入絕望或其他跟壓力有關的精神疾病而得到的啓發。

Experiments detailed in the journal Nature flagged up a protein called neuropsin, which is made in the amygdala, the brain’s ‘fear centre’.
該實驗詳細說明《自然》雜誌中提出的一種叫做neuropsin的蛋白質，它是在大腦“恐懼中心”扁桃體中產生的。

In times of stress, the brain makes more neuropsin and this triggers a series of chemical reactions that culminate in a ‘fear gene’ being switched on – and feelings of anxiety.
受到壓力的時候，大腦產生更多的neuropsin，引起一系列的化學反應，而以“恐懼基因”的產生——和感到焦慮告終。

Blocking the protein in mice stopped them displaying anxiety in stressful situations. The researchers are optimistic that the protein also affects how the human brain copes with life’s troubles.
阻止老鼠攝入蛋白質會阻止它們受到壓力情況下焦慮的表現。研究人員樂觀表示，蛋白質同樣影響着人們大腦如何處理生活難題。

Dr Pawlak said: ‘Studies in mice revealed that upon feeling stressed, they stayed away from zones in a maze where they felt unsafe.
Pswlak博士說：“對老鼠的研究發現，感到壓力時，它們遠離迷宮地帶，因爲它們覺得那裏不安全。”

(恆星英語學習網原創編譯,轉載請註明出處!)‘These were open and illuminated spaces they avoid when they are anxious.
“當它們感到焦慮時逃避的都是寬敞明亮的地方。”

‘However, when the proteins produced by the amygdala were blocked the mice did not exhibit the same trait.
“然而，當扁桃體產生的蛋白質受到阻礙，老鼠也表現出不同的性格特徵。”

‘The behavioural consequences of stress were no longer present.
“壓力引起的行爲結果不再展示出來了。”

‘We conclude that the activity of neuropsin and its partners may determine vulnerability to stress.’
“我們總結出，neuropsin和同伴的活躍性決定壓力的易損性。”

Although the experiments were in mice, the researchers are optimistic that the protein also affects how the human brain copes with life’s troubles.
儘管這些實驗是用在老鼠身上，但是研究人員樂觀認爲，蛋白質同樣影響人們大腦如何處理生活難題。

Dr Pawlak cautioned that much more research is necessary but added: ‘We are tremendously excited by these findings.
Pawlak博士警告說還需進行更多研究，不過他還稱：“我們對這些結果非常高興。”

(恆星英語學習網原創編譯,轉載請註明出處!)