Family-based association study of neuregulin-1 gene and psychosis in a Spanish sample.

Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is one of the most exciting candidate genes for schizophrenia since its first association with the disorder in an Icelandic population. Since then, many studies have analyzed allele and haplotype frequencies in European and Asian populations in cases and controls yielding varying results. We investigated the association of NRG1 with psychosis in a total sample set of 575 individuals from 151 Spanish nuclear families. We tested eight SNPs across 1.2 Mb along NRG1 including regions previously associated to schizophrenia in association studies. After correction for multiple testing, the TDT analysis for each marker did not show a significant over-transmission of alleles from the parents to the affected offspring for any of the markers (P > 0.05). The haplotypic analysis with TRANSMIT and PDT did not show preferential transmission for any of the haplotypes analyzed in our sample. These results do not seem to suggest that the investigated NRG1 markers play a role in schizophrenia in the Spanish population, although the finding of a trend for association with one SNP in the 3'of the gene warrants further investigation.     

Patterns of reactivity to lipid transfer proteins of plant foods and Artemisia pollen: an in vivo study

BACKGROUND: Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are major allergens of Rosaceae fruits in the Mediterranean area. IgE-cross-reactivity has been demonstrated in vitro among LTPs from peach, apple, chestnut and Artemisia pollen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reactivity to LTPs from peach, apple, chestnut and Artemisia pollen by means of skin prick tests (SPTs). METHODS: Forty-seven patients allergic to peach (peach group), 20 patients sensitized to Artemisia pollen with no food allergies (Artemisia group), and 12 control subjects were skin tested with fresh peach, as well as with whole extracts and purified LTPs of peach, apple, chestnut and Artemisia pollen. RESULTS: The rates of positive SPTs for peach, apple, chestnut and Artemisia LTPs were, respectively, 91, 77, 23, and 36% in the peach group, and 30, 5, 15 and 40% in the Artemisia group. No response was observed in the control subjects. SPTs with peach LTP strongly correlated with SPTs conducted with fresh peach. In the peach group, the most frequent pattern of reactivity to LTPs was the combination peach-apple (45%), followed by peach-apple-Artemisia-chestnut (21%). Significant correlations were found between peach and apple LTPs, and between Artemisia and chestnut LTPs. Positive SPTs to chestnut LTP were only observed in patients with positive SPTs to Artemisia LTP. All the patients with positive case histories to chestnut reacted to chestnut LTP. CONCLUSIONS: LTPs are plant panallergens with different patterns of cross-reactivity. They are major allergens of Rosaceae fruits and seem to be involved in allergic reactions to unrelated foodstuffs such as chestnut, probably through sensitization to the cross-reactive Artemisia LTP. Rosaceae LTPs could be useful tools for in vivo diagnosis of Rosaceae fruit allergy.     

Murine Typhus in Canary Islands,Spain, 1999–2015

To document the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of murine typhus patients in the Canary Islands (Spain), we analyzed data that were retrospectively collected for 16 years for 221 patients. Murine typhus in the Canary Islands is characterized by a high rate of complications (31.6%), mainly liver, lung, kidney or central nervous system involvement.     

Influence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on weight loss after bariatric surgery: a 24-month follow-up

BackgroundBariatric surgery is currently the most effective long-term treatment for severe obesity. However, interindividual variation in surgery outcome has been observed, and research suggests a moderating effect of several factors including baseline co-morbidities (e.g., type 2 diabetes [T2D] and genetic factors). No data are currently available on the interaction between T2D and variants in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its effect on weight loss after surgery.ObjectivesTo examine the role of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) and the influence of T2D and their interaction on weight loss after bariatric surgery in a cohort of patients with severe obesity.SettingUniversity hospital in Spain.MethodsThe present study evaluated a cohort of 158 patients with obesity submitted to bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) followed up for 24 months (loss to follow-up: 0%). During the postoperative period, percentage of excess body mass index loss (%EBMIL), percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), and total weight loss (%TWL) were evaluated.ResultsLongitudinal analyses showed a suggestive effect of BDNF genotype on the %EWL (P = .056) and indicated that individuals carrying the methionine (Met) allele may experience a better outcome after bariatric surgery than those with the valine/valine (Val/Val) genotype. We found a negative effect of a T2D diagnosis at baseline on %EBMIL (P = .004). Additionally, we found an interaction between BDNF genotype and T2D on %EWL and %EBMIL (P = .027 and P = .0004, respectively), whereby individuals with the Met allele without T2D displayed a greater %EWL and greater %EBMIL at 12 months and 24 months than their counterparts with T2D or patients with the Val/Val genotype with or without T2D.ConclusionOur data showed an association between the Met variant and greater weight loss after bariatric surgery in patients without T2D. The presence of T2D seems to counteract this positive effect.     

Pharmacological Profile of the Vascular Responses to Dopamine in the Canine External Carotid Circulation*

Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of dopamine on the canine external carotid circulation. One min. intracarotid artery (i.c.) infusions of dopamine (10–310 μg min.^?1) produced dose‐dependent decreases in the canine external carotid conductance without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. This effect was mimicked by the D_1/2‐like receptor agonist apomorphine (1–310 μg min^?1), but not by the D₂‐like receptor agonist, bromocriptine (31–310 μg min.^?1). In contrast, fenoldopam (1–310 μg min.^?1, intracarotid), a D₁‐like receptor agonist, produced dose‐dependent increases in external carotid conductance. The vasoconstrictor response to dopamine was abolished after intravenous administration of the antagonists, phentolamine (α_1/2; 2000 μg kg^?1) or rauwolscine (α₂; 100 μg kg^?1), but remained unaffected after prazosin (α₁; 100 μg kg^?1) or haloperidol (D₂‐like; 1000 μg kg^?1). Interestingly, after phentolamine not only were the vasoconstrictor responses to dopamine abolished, but even a dose‐dependent vasodilator component was unmasked. These vasodilator responses to dopamine remained unchanged after intravenous haloperidol or propranolol (1000 μg kg^?1 each). On the other hand, the vasodilator responses to fenoldopam, which remained unchanged after intravenous saline (0.1 ml kg^?1), propranolol (1000 μg kg^?1) or vagosympathectomy, were abolished by the D₁‐like receptor antagonist, SCH‐23390 (10 μg kg^?1). Lastly, the responses to dopamine and fenoldopam were not significantly altered after intraperitoneal pretreatment with reserpine (5 mg kg^?1; ?24 hr). The above results suggest that the canine external carotid vasoconstrictor responses to dopamine: (i) are mainly mediated by α₂‐adrenoceptors; and (ii) overshadow a vasodilator component, which involves vascular D₁‐like receptors.     

Albendazole and its derivative JVG9 induce encystation on Giardia intestinalis trophozoites

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of an albendazole (ABZ) derivative JVG9 on cultured Giardia intestinalis. To assess the JVG9 effects, we evaluated the tubulin cytoskeleton by confocal microscopy, and we found that the characteristic staining was modified. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed extremely damaged trophozoites and cyst-like cells. The confocal images revealed that this drug triggered the expression of cyst wall protein 1 and encystation. We also found that at low doses, AL triggered the encystation process too.     

Internet como fuente de información sobre salud en pacientes de atención primaria y su influencia en la relación médico-paciente

ObjectiveTo describe the use of the Internet by primary care patients to seek health related information, understand how they are influenced by this information, and evaluate its impact on the doctor-patient relationship.DesignCross sectional study, through self-administered survey.SettingOne urban health center in Madrid.ParticipantsA total of 323 questionnaires were collected from patients between 14 and 75 years old who attended a physician's office for any reason, excluding illiterate patients and those with neurological or psychiatric problems preventing them from completing the survey.MeasurementsInternet usage, ability of the internet to clarify doubts regarding health issues, patient lifestyle changes, socio-demographic variables, and physician's receptivity to the use of internet by patients.Results61% (CI 95%: 56%-67%) of patients used the Internet as a source of health information: Internet queries were able to address health doubts in 92.4% of users, 53.5% reported that the Internet changed their thinking about their health in at least one instance, 30% made behavioral changes (of which 60.1% discussed these changes with their physician), 44.3% had more questions at the physician's office, and 80.8% believe that the doctor would be willing to talk about the information found on the internet.ConclusionsUsing the Internet to find information about health is very common, with positive influence on physician-patient relationship. This may be useful for achieving behavioral changes in patients and can be used as a tool in medical practice.