Functional significance of the rare rs35667974 IFIH1 gene polymorphism, associated with multiple autoimmune diseases, using a structural biological approach

Autoimmune diseases, which affect approximately 5% of human population, are a range of diseases in which the immune response to self-antigens results in damage or dysfunction of tissues. Recent genome wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified novel autoimmune disease-associated loci, with many of them shared by multiple disease-associated pathways but much of the genetics and pathophysiological mechanisms remain still obscure. Considering that most of the potential causal variants are still unknown, many studies showed that the missense variant rs35667974 at interferon-induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1) gene is protective for type 1 diabetes (T1D), psoriasis (PS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Recently, this variant was found to be also associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The IFIH1 gene encodes a cytoplasmic RNA helicase otherwise known as melanoma differentiation-associated 5 (MDA5) that recognizes viral RNA and is involved in innate immunity through recognition of viral RNA. In the present study we sought to investigate the association of the rare rs35667974 variant of IFIH1 gene, which resides in exon 14 and changes a conserved isoleucine at position #923 to valine, in the development of various autoimmune diseases and give a reason for the selectivity affecting different autoimmune diseases. Evolutionary studies and three-dimensional (3 D) homology modelling were employed on the MDA5 protein product, through its association with dsRNA, recognition factor controlling cytokine and chemokine signalling, to investigate the protective role of the MDA5 variant for certain autoimmune diseases

Gender differences of patients at-risk for psychosis regarding symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity and functioning - Results from the EU-GEI study

Background: Gender differences in symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia and first episode psychosis patients have often been reported. However, little is known about gender differences in those at risk of psychotic disorders. This study investigated gender differences in symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity (i.e. substance use, affective and anxiety disorders) and global functioning in patients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis. Methods: The sample consisted of 336 ARMS patients (159 women) from the prodromal work package of the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI; 11 centers). Clinical symptoms, drug use, comorbidity and functioning were assessed at first presentation to an early detection center using structured interviews. Results: In unadjusted analyses, men were found to have significantly higher rates of negative symptoms and current cannabis use while women showed higher rates of general psychopathology and more often displayed comorbid affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences were found for global functioning. The results generally did not change when corrected for possible cofounders (e.g. cannabis use). However, most differences did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: Findings indicate that gender differences in symptomatology and comorbidity in ARMS are similar to those seen in overt psychosis and in healthy controls. However, observed differences are small and would only be reliably detected in studies with high statistical power. Moreover, such small effects would likely not be clinically meaningful. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS

Gender differences of patients at-risk for psychosis regarding symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity and functioning - Results from the EU-GEI study

Background Gender differences in symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia and first episode psychosis patients have often been reported. However, little is known about gender differences in those at risk of psychotic disorders. This study investigated gender differences in symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity (i.e. substance use, affective and anxiety disorders) and global functioning in patients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis. Methods The sample consisted of 336 ARMS patients (159 women) from the prodromal work package of the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI; 11 centers). Clinical symptoms, drug use, comorbidity and functioning were assessed at first presentation to an early detection center using structured interviews. Results In unadjusted analyses, men were found to have significantly higher rates of negative symptoms and current cannabis use while women showed higher rates of general psychopathology and more often displayed comorbid affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences were found for global functioning. The results generally did not change when corrected for possible cofounders (e.g. cannabis use). However, most differences did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Conclusions Findings indicate that gender differences in symptomatology and comorbidity in ARMS are similar to those seen in overt psychosis and in healthy controls. However, observed differences are small and would only be reliably detected in studies with high statistical power. Moreover, such small effects would likely not be clinically meaningful

Critical care admission following elective surgery was not associated with survival benefit: prospective analysis of data from 27 countries

This was an investigator initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant, and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by RP. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London