能够对抗抑郁的喷鼻剂

A nasal spray could be a new way to tackle depression and anxiety.

鼻喷剂是一种对抗压抑和焦虑的新方法。

The spray, based on a natural brain chemical, could be effective within two hours, compared to several days for some of the most widely used antidepressant drugs.

该喷剂以天然大脑化学物质为基础，两小时内就可见效，而通常使用的抗抑郁药要几天才见效。

The liquid is released at the top of the nose and is designed to penetrate the brain areas involved in mood.

该液体是喷在鼻子顶部，使其渗透进大脑包括情绪的区域。

A clinical trial is now under way looking at the feasibility of the treatment.

一项临床试验正在进行，检验该疗法的可行性。

Researchers say future studies could look at the effects of the brain chemical in patients with other psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

研究人员称进一步的研究应关注患有如创伤后紧张症的精神疾病病人使用该大脑化学物质的效果。

It is estimated that one in four women and one in ten men will require treatment for depression at some time in their lives.

据估计，1/4女性和1/10男性一生中有时要接受抑郁症治疗。

One of the downsides of antidepressant pills is that they can take a long time to work — between two and eight weeks.

抗抑郁药的一个缺点就是需要一段时间才见效——2—8周。

In a new trial at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, researchers are investigating the use of a nose spray containing a brain chemical called neuropeptide.

纽约西奈山医学院进行一项新的试验，研究人员调查含有神经肽鼻喷剂的使用情况。

These are chemicals used by nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other.

这些都是大脑神经细胞用来与人交流的化学物质。

Some of the chemicals, and one in particular — neuropeptide Y — is thought to be involved in how the brain regulates behaviour and mood.

一些化学物质（神经肽Y例外）被认为与大脑如何调节行为和情绪有关。

This compound is the most abundant peptide in the human brain, and is found in nerve fibres alongside another chemical called norepinephrine, which is thought to be involved in regulating mood and anxiety.

这种化合物是人类大脑中最丰富的肽，是在神经纤维和另一种叫做去甲肾上腺素化学物质里发现的，这种物质被认为与调节情绪和焦虑有关。

Previous research has also shown that stress leads to the release of the chemical, and a recent study by University of Michigan researchers, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that people who have a genetic predisposition to have low neuropeptide levels may be at higher risk of developing depression.

先前的研究已经表明压力导致化学物质的释放，而最近密歇根大学一项发表在《普通精神病学文献》的研究发现，有遗传素质的人神经肽水平较低，患上抑郁症的风险更大。

But though research has suggested neuropeptide Y may be effective for treating psychiatric disorders, there have been problems in moving the compound into the brain. This is mainly because it is a large molecule, and has difficulty passing through the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain from potentially harmful compounds in the blood.

但是尽管研究表明，神经肽Y对治疗精神疾病有效，要将这种化合物注入脑中还很困难。这主要是因为它是一种大分子物质，要穿过保护大脑免受血液中可能有害化合物入侵的血脑屏障很困难。

However, nasal sprays can overcome this problem.

然而，鼻喷剂可以克服这一问题。

The upper part of the nose is like a back door into the brain because the nerves involved in smell provide a pathway straight into the central nervous system.

鼻腔的上部就如同进入大脑的后门，因为有关嗅觉的神经提供直接进入中枢神经系统的途径。

The new trial, which involves 15 volunteers aged 25 to 45, is designed to investigate how well the spray and neuropeptide Y work in the brain, and the effects will be compared with a placebo.

新的试验包括调查15个25—45岁的志愿者，喷剂和神经肽Y在大脑中如何运作，效果将跟一种安慰剂进行对比。

Researchers, who expect results in about two months, use an extra-powerful device to get the liquid as high as possible in the nose, into the area at the very top which is rich in nerves used for detecting smells.

预计结果将在两个月内出来，研究人员使用一种超强设备使鼻子里面尽可能高的液体进入最顶部富含用来探测味道的神经的区域。

Commenting on the research, a spokesperson from mental health charity Mind says: ‘This research is at an early stage and it remains to be seen whether this trial will lead to a new treatment.

对该研究的评论，心理健康慈善组织发言人Mind说：“此项研究还处于初步阶段，它能否成为一种新的疗法尚待考究。”

‘It is important to recognise that alternative approaches to antidepressants, such as talking therapies and exercise, can also have positive results.’

“认识抗抑郁药的替代方法，如谈话疗法和运动，是很重要的，同样也有积极作用。”