Low serum cholesterol in violent but not in non-violent suicide attempters

Many previous studies have suggested that low or lowered serum cholesterol levels may increase the risk of mortality not due to somatic disease: principally, suicide and violent death. Because violent death is rare, some studies have investigated afterwards the relation between cholesterol levels and either suicide attempts in psychiatric populations or violence in criminally violent populations. However, none of these studies have compared cholesterol levels in violent and non-violent suicide attempters. The blood of 25 consecutive drug-free patients following a violent suicide attempt and of 27 patients following a non-violent suicide attempt by drug overdose was drawn in the 24 h following admission. Patients with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and with cholesterol-lowering therapy were excluded. Age, sex, body mass index, psychiatric diagnosis and the physical conditions of the suicide attempt were investigated. Thirty-two healthy subjects were used as a control group. There were no differences between the groups in age, frequency of psychiatric diagnoses or body mass index. There was more women in the group of non-violent suicide attempters than in that of violent suicide attempters (P<0.001). In analyses controlling for sex and age, the serum cholesterol concentration was 30% lower (F(2,82)=15.8; P<0.0001) in the group of violent suicide attempters (147+/-54 mg/dl) than in the group of non-violent suicide attempters (209+/-38 mg/dl) or control subjects (213+/-46 mg/dl). Our results showed that low serum cholesterol level is associated with the violence of the suicide attempt and not with the suicide attempt itself. Further investigations are necessary to determine the usefulness of this easily accessible parameter as a potential risk indicator for violent acts such as violent suicidal behavior in susceptible individuals.     

Correction to: Early Word Reading of Preschoolers with ASD,Both With and Without Hyperlexia,Compared to Typically Developing Preschoolers

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in Table 6. The column headings was repeated in the first column along with...     

Differential role of NK cells against Candida albicans infection in immunocompetent or immunocompromised mice

Little is known regarding the role of NK cells during primary and secondary disseminated Candida albicans infection. We assessed the role of NK cells for host defense against candidiasis in immunocompetent, as well as immunodeficient, hosts. Surprisingly, depletion of NK cells in immunocompetent WT mice did not increase susceptibility to systemic candidiasis, suggesting that NK cells are redundant for antifungal defense in otherwise immunocompetent hosts. NK‐cell‐depleted mice were found to be protected as a consequence of attenuation of systemic inflammation. In contrast, the absence of NK cells in T/B/NK‐cell‐deficient NSG (NOD SCID gamma) mice led to an increased susceptibility to both primary and secondary systemic C. albicans infections compared with T/B‐cell‐deficient SCID mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that NK cells are an essential and nonredundant component of anti‐C. albicans host defense in immunosuppressed hosts with defective T/B‐lymphocyte immunity, while contributing to hyperinflammation in immunocompetent hosts. The discovery of the importance of NK cells in hosts with severe defects of adaptive immunity might have important consequences for the design of adjunctive immunotherapeutic approaches in systemic C. albicans infections targeting NK‐cell function.     

Unlocked nucleic acid modified primer-based enzymatic polymerization assay: towards allele-specific genotype detection of human platelet antigens

Accurate detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is paramount for the appropriate therapeutic intervention of debilitating diseases associated with SNPs. However, in some cases current nucleic acid probes fail to detect allele-specific mutations, for example, human platelet antigens, HPA-15a (TCC) and HPA-15b (TAC) alleles associated with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Towards this, it is necessary to develop a novel assay for detection of allele-specific mutations. In this study, we investigated the potential of unlocked nucleic acid (UNA)-modified primers in SNP detection utilising an enzymatic polymerisation-based approach. Our results of primer extension and asymmetric polymerase chain reaction by KOD XL DNA polymerase revealed that UNA-modified primers achieved excellent allele-specificity in discriminating the human platelet antigen DNA template, whereas the DNA control primers were not able to differentiate between the normal and mutant alleles, demonstrating the scope of this novel UNA-based enzymatic approach as a robust methodology for efficient detection of allele-specific mismatches. Although further evaluation is required for other disease conditions, we firmly believe that our findings offer a great promise for the diagnosis of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and other SNP-related diseases.

We investigated the potential of UNA-modified primers for mismatch recognition capabilities using enzymatic polymerisation approach. Efficient allele-specific discrimination was achieved with the UNA-modified primers unlike the DNA primers.     

Topological methods reveal high and low functioning neuro‐phenotypes within fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), due to mutations of the FMR1 gene, is the most common known inherited cause of developmental disability as well as the most common single‐gene risk factor for autism. Our goal was to examine variation in brain structure in FXS with topological data analysis (TDA), and to assess how such variation is associated with measures of IQ and autism‐related behaviors. To this end, we analyzed imaging and behavioral data from young boys (n = 52; aged 1.57–4.15 years) diagnosed with FXS. Application of topological methods to structural MRI data revealed two large subgroups within the study population. Comparison of these subgroups showed significant between‐subgroup neuroanatomical differences similar to those previously reported to distinguish children with FXS from typically developing controls (e.g., enlarged caudate). In addition to neuroanatomy, the groups showed significant differences in IQ and autism severity scores. These results suggest that despite arising from a single gene mutation, FXS may encompass two biologically, and clinically separable phenotypes. In addition, these findings underscore the potential of TDA as a powerful tool in the search for biological phenotypes of neuropsychiatric disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4904–4915, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

BCG-induced trained immunity in NK cells: Role for non-specific protection to infection

Adaptive features of innate immunity, also termed ‘trained immunity’, have recently been shown to characterize monocytes of BCG vaccinated healthy volunteers. Trained immunity leads to increased cytokine production in response to non-related pathogens via epigenetic reprogramming of monocytes. Recently, memory-like properties were also observed in NK cells during viral infections, but it is unknown if memory properties of NK cells contribute to trained immunity due to BCG vaccination.     

The spectrum of HIV-related disease in rural Central Thailand

To determine the spectrum of HIV-related illnesses presenting to a rural primary and secondary healthcare facility in Central Thailand, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Routinely collected data were extracted from outpatient medical notes for all adult HIV-infected new attenders of the Manorom Christian Hospital Infectious Disease Clinic. Data concerning inpatient admissions of HIV-infected individuals were collected from ward admission books and discharge summaries. Complete data were available for 229 outpatients, 70% of whom were men. The median age at presentation was 31 years for men and 30 years for women. The majority of the outpatients were married (69%) and infected heterosexually (91%). The commonest conditions requiring admission were cryptococcal meningitis (15%), bacterial pneumonia (12%), extrapulmonary tuberculosis (12%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4%) and pulmonary tuberculosis (3%). Of the patients presenting for the first time, 32% had AIDS-defining illnesses. Presentations with some conditions, such as tuberculosis and septicemia, were fewer than expected. The common opportunistic infections among HIV-infected adults in this rural region are treatable and preventable. Most patients present with advanced disease and earlier diagnosis, through improved access to voluntary counseling and testing, would enable them to receive appropriate preventive therapies and antiretrovirals as they becomes available. The high prevalence of cryptococcal disease suggests that prophylactic anti-fungal therapy may be of value in this area. Septicemia and tuberculosis may be under-diagnosed, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic laboratory facilities or treatment based upon validated clinical algorithms. Community care and palliative care services for HIV-infected individuals will increasingly be required in this region.