The Impact of Stressful Life Events on Suicidal Ideation in Gender Dysphoria: A Moderator Effect of Perceived Social Support

Factors associated with suicidal ideation in the gender dysphoria population are not completely understood. This high-risk population is more likely to suffer stressful events such as assault or employment discrimination. This study aimed to determine the association of stressful events and social support on suicidal ideation in gender dysphoria and to analyze the moderator effect of social support in relation to stressful events and suicidal ideation. A cross-sectional design was used in a clinical sample attending a public gender identity unit in Spain that consisted of 204 individuals (51.7% birth-assigned males and 48.3% birth-assigned females), aged between 13 and 59 (M = 27.95 years, SD = 9.58). A Structured Clinical Interview, a list of 16 stressful events, and a functional social support questionnaire (Duke-UNC-11) were used during the initial visits to the unit. The data were collected between 2011 and 2012. A total of 50.1% of the sample have had suicidal ideation. The following stressful events were associated with suicidal ideation: homelessness, eviction from home, and having suffered from physical or verbal aggression. Also, there was an inverse relation between perceived social support and suicidal ideation. There was a statistically significant interaction between a specific stressful event (eviction) and perceived social support. The study suggests that the promotion of safer environments could be related to lower suicidal ideation and that networks that provide social support could buffer the association between specific stressful events and suicidal ideation

Detection of Early Warning Signs in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

Due to the exponential increase of autism spectrum disorders' prevalence in Western countries, it is necessary to improve early detection and intervention to enhance developmental milestones. This systematic review identified the most effective screening instrument, which can be used at an early age and which identifies the maximum number of autism cases. We identified several instruments with adequate predictive properties-the Autism Parent Screen for Infants (APSI), Battelle Development Inventory, second edition (BDI-2); Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA); First Year Inventory (FYI); Infant-Toddler Checklist/Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (ITC/CSBS-DP); Program of Research and Studies on AUTISM (PREAUT-Grid); Checklist for Early Signs of Developmental Disorders (CESDD); Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS); and the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)-that can be applied from 12 months of age in Western countries. The ITC/CSBS-DP has been proposed for universal screening from 12 months of age onwards, complemented by the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised/Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), which can be used from 15 months of age onwards. This strategy could improve early detection in at-risk children within the current health system, thus allowing for early intervention.This study was funded by Fundacion Alicia Koplowitz (Madrid), Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, Grants no. CTS546 and no. P10-CTS-05704. The paper was partially funded by FEDER “Fondos Europeos de Desarrollo Regional”. Y.d.D.-O. was a recipient of a “Nicolas Monarde” contract from the “Servicio Andaluz de Salud”, Grants no. SC-011-2012 and RC0006-2015, Regional Ministry of Health. Junta de Andalucía.Ye

Enhanced markers of oxidative stress, altered antioxidants and NADPH-oxidase activation in brains from Fragile X mental retardation 1-deficient mice, a pathological model for Fragile X syndrome.

Política de acceso abierto tomada de: https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/6992Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation in humans. It originates from the loss of expression ofthe Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, which results in the absence of the Fragile X mental retardation protein. However,the biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathological phenotype are mostly unknown. The availability of the FMR1-knockoutmouse model offers an excellent model system in which to study the biochemical alterations related to brain abnormalities in thesyndrome. We show for the first time that brains from Fmr1-knockout mice, a validated model for the syndrome, display higher levelsof reactive oxygen species, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase activation, lipid peroxidation and proteinoxidation than brains from wild-type mice. Furthermore, the antioxidant system is deficient in Fmr1-knockout mice, as shown byaltered levels of components of the glutathione system. FMR1-knockout mice lacking Fragile X mental retardation protein werecompared with congenic FVB129 wild-type controls. Our results support the hypothesis that the lack of Fragile X mental retardationprotein function leads to a moderate increase of the oxidative stress status in the brain that may contribute to the pathophysiology ofthe Fragile X syndrome

Alpha-tocopherol protects against oxidative stress in the fragile X knockout mouse: an experimental therapeutic approach for the Fmr1 deficiency.

Política de acceso abierto tomada de: https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/4027Fragile X syndrome is the most common genetic cause of mental disability. The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis remain unclear and specific treatments are still under development. Previous studies have proposed an abnormal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and high cortisol levels are demonstrated in the fragile X patients. Additionally, we have previously described that NADPH-oxidase activation leads to oxidative stress in the brain, representing a pathological mechanism in the fragile X mouse model. Fmr1-knockout mice develop an altered free radical production, abnormal glutathione homeostasis, high lipid and protein oxidation, accompanied by stress-dependent behavioral abnormalities and pathological changes in the first months of postnatal life. Chronic pharmacological treatment with α-tocopherol reversed pathophysiological hallmarks including free radical overproduction, oxidative stress, Rac1 and α-PKC activation, macroorchidism, and also behavior and learning deficits. The restoration of the oxidative status in the fragile X mouse emerges as a new and promising approach for further therapeutic research in fragile X syndrome

Urine microRNA Profiling Displays miR-125a Dysregulation in Children with Fragile X Syndrome

A triplet repeat expansion leading to transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene results in fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is a common cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism. Phenotypic variation requires personalized treatment approaches and hampers clinical trials in FXS. We searched for microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for FXS using deep sequencing of urine and identified 28 differentially regulated miRNAs when 219 reliably identified miRNAs were compared in dizygotic twin boys who shared the same environment, but one had an FXS full mutation, and the other carried a premutation allele. The largest increase was found in miR-125a in the FXS sample, and the miR-125a levels were increased in two independent sets of urine samples from a total of 19 FXS children. Urine miR-125a levels appeared to increase with age in control subjects, but varied widely in FXS subjects. Should the results be generalized, it could suggest that two FXS subgroups existed. Predicted gene targets of the differentially regulated miRNAs are involved in molecular pathways that regulate developmental processes, homeostasis, and neuronal function. Regulation of miR-125a has been associated with type I metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling (mGluR), which has been explored as a treatment target for FXS, reinforcing the possibility that urine miR-125a may provide a novel biomarker for FXS

Urine microRNA Profiling Displays miR-125a Dysregulation in Children with Fragile X Syndrome

A triplet repeat expansion leading to transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene results in fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is a common cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism. Phenotypic variation requires personalized treatment approaches and hampers clinical trials in FXS. We searched for microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for FXS using deep sequencing of urine and identified 28 differentially regulated miRNAs when 219 reliably identified miRNAs were compared in dizygotic twin boys who shared the same environment, but one had an FXS full mutation, and the other carried a premutation allele. The largest increase was found in miR-125a in the FXS sample, and the miR-125a levels were increased in two independent sets of urine samples from a total of 19 FXS children. Urine miR-125a levels appeared to increase with age in control subjects, but varied widely in FXS subjects. Should the results be generalized, it could suggest that two FXS subgroups existed. Predicted gene targets of the differentially regulated miRNAs are involved in molecular pathways that regulate developmental processes, homeostasis, and neuronal function. Regulation of miR-125a has been associated with type I metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling (mGluR), which has been explored as a treatment target for FXS, reinforcing the possibility that urine miR-125a may provide a novel biomarker for FXS

An Abnormal Nitric Oxide Metabolism Contributes to Brain Oxidative Stress in the Mouse Model for the Fragile X Syndrome, a Possible Role in Intellectual Disability

Background. Fragile X syndrome is the most common genetic cause of mental disability. Although many research has been performed, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis is unclear and needs further investigation. Oxidative stress played major roles in the syndrome. The aim was to investigate the nitric oxide metabolism, protein nitration level, the expression of NOS isoforms, and furthermore the activation of the nuclear factor NF-κB-p65 subunit in different brain areas on the fragile X mouse model. Methods. This study involved adult male Fmr1-knockout and wild-type mice as controls. We detected nitric oxide metabolism and the activation of the nuclear factor NF-κBp65 subunit, comparing the mRNA expression and protein content of the three NOS isoforms in different brain areas. Results. Fmr1-KO mice showed an abnormal nitric oxide metabolism and increased levels of protein tyrosine nitrosylation. Besides that, nuclear factor NF-κB-p65 and inducible nitric oxide synthase appeared significantly increased in the Fmr1-knockout mice. mRNA and protein levels of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase appeared significantly decreased in the knockout mice. However, the epithelial nitric oxide synthase isoform displayed no significant changes. Conclusions. These data suggest the potential involvement of an abnormal nitric oxide metabolism in the pathogenesis of the fragile X syndrome

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Psychological Adjustment Among Transsexuals in Spain.

Examinamos las características sociodemográficas y la adaptación psicológica de las personas con disforia de género atendidas en el Hospital Carlos Haya de Málaga. También analizamos las diferencias entre las personas con disforia de género con transición de mujer a hombre (FtM) y las personas con disforia de género con transición de hombre a mujer (MtF). La muestra incluyó a 197 personas con disforia de género (101 MtF y 96 FtM) seleccionados entre quienes visitaron nuestra Unidad de Transexualidad e Identidad de Género entre 2011 y 2012. Nuestros análisis indicaron que personas con disforia de género MtF tenían más probabilidades de tener niveles educativos más bajos, viven solas, han trabajado con menos frecuencia a lo largo de su vida y se han dedicado a la prostitución. Para personas con disforia de género FtM, hubo referencias más frecuentes a la historia psiquiátrica de la madre y más evitación social y angustia. El análisis multivariado mostró que el número de rasgos disfuncionales de la personalidad y el estado de desempleo se asociaron con la depresión en toda la muestra. Llegamos a tres conclusiones fundamentales: existen diferencias significativas entre personas con disforia de género MtF y FtM (principalmente relacionadas con variables sociodemográficas), la depresión fue elevada en ambos grupos y un porcentaje notable de transexuales ha intentado suicidarse (22,8 %) o ha tenido pensamientos suicidas. (52,3 %). Esta investigación, aún hoy, es uno de los pocos estudios que recoge diferencias entre personas con disforia de género con transición MtF y transición FtM.Este artículo se favoreció por la financiación del Carlos III Health Institute. Ministry of Health, Social Affairs and Equality, PI01-0447 y PI06-133