Association Between Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 and Social Cognition in Huntington's Disease

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) seems to be involved in the neural circuits associated with social cognition and brain structure.Study funded by Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y Leon (Sacyl GRS 1768/A/18)

The association between lifestyle factors and mortality in Huntington's disease

Introduction: Despite the wealth of evidence suggesting a protective role of lifestyle factors on Huntington's disease (HD) onset and progression, their association with mortality has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to examine whether lifestyle factors such as caffeine and alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity level, and Mediterranean diet (MeDi) adherence are associated with mortality among a Spanish cohort of patients with HD with a 9-year surveillance period. Methods: This national study was performed using a nested, observational, longitudinal design. We included subjects diagnosed with HD who participated in the European Huntington's disease network and Enrol-HD studies. Date of death and baseline lifestyle factor information, demographics, disease severity assessed by the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), Problem Behaviours Assessment, total functional capacity (TFC) scores, and comorbidities were collected. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to determine the association of lifestyle factors with mortality. Results: We included 87 patients (52 females) with a mean age of 48.62 ± 14.43 years and CAG repeats of 43.76 ± 5.92. Sixteen deaths were recorded. After correcting for multiple comparisons, deceased patients had higher UHDRS scores at baseline and lower caffeine consumption than live patients. In multivariate Cox regression models, after adjusting for age, CAG repeats, and TFC, mortality risk was associated with lower caffeine consumption (HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.04, 0.45). Conclusions: This national-based study suggests that increased caffeine consumption is associated with decreased HD mortality. Our results may help guide clinicians in counselling lifestyle practices for decreasing mortality in HD. Resumen: Introducción: A pesar de la evidencia que existe sobre la importancia de los factores de estilo de vida con el inicio y la progresión de la enfermedad de Huntington (EH), su asociación con la mortalidad no ha sido ampliamente estudiada. El objetivo de este estudio es estudiar la asociación de factores de estilo de vida como el consumo de cafeína y alcohol, el tabaquismo, el nivel de actividad física y la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea, con la mortalidad en una cohorte española de pacientes con EH con un periodo de seguimiento nueve años. Métodos: Este estudio nacional, observacional, longitudinal se realizó mediante un diseño anidado. Se incluyeron sujetos diagnosticados con EH, participantes en la red Enroll europea de la enfermedad de Huntington. Se recogieron la fecha de fallecimiento y la información basal sobre los factores de estilo de vida, datos sociodemográficos, la gravedad de la EH con la Escala Unificada de la EH (UHDRS), evaluación de problemas conductuales (PBA), Capacidad Funcional Total (TFC) y las comorbilidades. Se realizaron análisis comparativos y de supervivencia con modelos de regresión de Cox ajustados. Resultados: Se incluyeron 87 pacientes con EH (52 mujeres) con una edad media de 48,62 ± 14,43 años, y un número medio de repeticiones CAG de 43,76 ± 5,92. Se registraron 16 fallecimientos. En análisis comparativos ajustados por comparaciones múltiples, los pacientes fallecidos tenían puntuaciones basales UHDRS mayores, y un consumo menor de cafeína comparado con los pacientes vivos. En los modelos multivariantes de regresión de Cox, tras ajustar por edad, repeticiones CAG y TFC, el riesgo de mortalidad se asoció con un menor consumo de cafeína (HR 0,13; IC 95%: 0,04; 0,45). Conclusiones: Este estudio nacional sugiere que un mayor consumo de cafeína se asocia con una menor mortalidad en la EH. Nuestros resultados pueden ayudar a orientar a los profesionales sanitarios en el asesoramiento de una mejora de prácticas de estilo de vida para la EH asociadas con menor mortalidad

Acorn germination and seedling survival of Q. variabilis: effects of cotyledon excision

• We studied the effects of acorn cotyledon loss by insect damage and artificial excision on germination and seedling survival of Quercus variabilis, to determine whether insect infestation decreases acorn germination and seedling establishment; and to what extent cotyledon damage can affect acorn germination and seedling establishment. • Artificial excision partially imitated the effect of insect damage on acorn germination and seedling survival, and indicated that insect damage did not significantly decrease germination rate and seedling survival of Q. variabilis acorns. The viability of infested but still viable acorns strongly depends on which sector weevil larvae feed on. • The cotyledon reserves at the apex of acorns were more important than those at the base in supporting acorn viability and seedling establishment. The excision of apical cotyledon has the most detrimental effects on acorn germination activity. The relatively low effect of larval infestation on acorn viability was likely related to the high frequency of feeding and escaping at the base, which was closely correlated with differentiation in pericarp thickness in Q. variabilis acorns. These could explain the low decrease in acorn germination and seedling survival experienced by infested acorns