Autistic Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making.

Decision-making under unpredictable conditions can cause discomfort in autistic persons due to their preference for predictability. Decision-making impairments might furthermore be associated with a dysregulation of sex and stress hormones. This prospective, cross-sectional study investigated decision-making in 32 autistic participants (AP, 14 female) and 31 non-autistic participants (NAP, 20 female) aged 18-64 years. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under ambiguity and under risk with known outcome probabilities, respectively. Cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone serum levels were related to decision-making performance. Groups did not differ in overall IGT and CRT performance, but compared with NAP, AP preferred less profitable card decks with predictable outcomes while avoiding those with unpredictable outcomes. AP required more time to reach decisions compared to NAP. Additionally, AP without comorbid depression performed significantly worse than NAP in the IGT. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations were significant predictors of CRT scores in NAP, but not in AP. The study results imply that AP are 'risk-averse' in decision-making under ambiguity as they avoided choice options with unpredictable losses in comparison to NAP. Our findings highlight the intolerance for uncertainty, particularly in ambiguous situations. Thus, we recommend being as transparent and precise as possible when interacting with autistic individuals. Future research should explore decision-making in social situations among individuals with ASD, factoring in person-dependent variables such as depression

Intranasal Oxytocin Modulates Decision-Making Depending on Outcome Predictability-A Randomized Within-Subject Controlled Trial in Healthy Males.

Oxytocin (OT) has been extensively studied with regard to its socio-cognitive and -behavioral effects. Its potential as a therapeutic agent is being discussed for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, there is limited evidence of its effects on non-social cognition in general and decision-making in particular, despite the importance of these functions in neuropsychiatry. Using a crossover/within-subject, blinded, randomized design, we investigated for the first time if intranasal OT (24 IU) affects decision-making differently depending on outcome predictability/ambiguity in healthy males. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under low outcome predictability/high ambiguity and under high outcome probability/low ambiguity, respectively. After administration of OT, subjects performed worse and exhibited riskier performance in the IGT (low outcome predictability/high ambiguity), whereas they made borderline-significant less risky decisions in the CRT (high outcome probability/low ambiguity) as compared to the control condition. Decision-making in healthy males may therefore be influenced by OT and adjusted as a function of contextual information, with implications for clinical trials investigating OT in neuropsychiatric conditions

Divergent effects of oxytocin on "mind-reading" in healthy males

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13415-021-00936-3

Integrative analysis of transcriptomics and clinical data uncovers the tumor- suppressive activity of MITF in prostate cancer

The dysregulation of gene expression is an enabling hallmark of cancer. Computational analysis of transcriptomics data from human cancer specimens, complemented with exhaustive clinical annotation, provides an opportunity to identify core regulators of the tumorigenic process. Here we exploit well-annotated clinical datasets of prostate cancer for the discovery of transcriptional regulators relevant to prostate cancer. Following this rationale, we identify Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a prostate tumor suppressor among a subset of transcription factors. Importantly, we further interrogate transcriptomics and clinical data to refine MITF perturbation-based empirical assays and unveil Crystallin Alpha B (CRYAB) as an unprecedented direct target of the transcription factor that is, at least in part, responsible for its tumor-suppressive activity in prostate cancer. This evidence was supported by the enhanced prognostic potential of a signature based on the concomitant alteration of MITF and CRYAB in prostate cancer patients. In sum, our study provides proof-of-concept evidence of the potential of the bioinformatics screen of publicly available cancer patient databases as discovery platforms, and demonstrates that the MITF-CRYAB axis controls prostate cancer biology

PI3K-regulated Glycine N-methyltransferase is required for the development of prostate cancer

[EN] Glycine N-Methyltransferase (GNMT) is a metabolic enzyme that integrates metabolism and epigenetic regulation. The product of GNMT, sarcosine, has been proposed as a prostate cancer biomarker. This enzyme is predominantly expressed in the liver, brain, pancreas, and prostate tissue, where it exhibits distinct regulation. Whereas genetic alterations in GNMT have been associated to prostate cancer risk, its causal contribution to the development of this disease is limited to cell line-based studies and correlative human analyses. Here we integrate human studies, genetic mouse modeling, and cellular systems to characterize the regulation and function of GNMT in prostate cancer. We report that this enzyme is repressed upon activation of the oncogenic Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which adds complexity to its reported dependency on androgen signaling. Importantly, we demonstrate that expression of GNMT is required for the onset of invasive prostate cancer in a genetic mouse model. Altogether, our results provide further support of the heavy oncogenic signal-dependent regulation of GNMT in prostate cancer.We are grateful to the Carracedo lab for valuable input, to Drs. Ana M. Aransay, James D. Sutherland and F. Elortza for technical advice, and Drs. Michelle Clasquin, Katie Sellers and Katya Marjon at Agios Pharmaceuticals for performing, processing and analyzing the metabolomics experiments. We thank the Basque Biobank for Research (BIOEF) for the support with prostate specimen acquisition and management. A.A-A. was funded by the Basque Government (predoctoral fellowship). V.T. is funded by Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitarias, BIOEF (BIO15/CA/052), the AECC J.P. Bizkaia, the Basque Department of Health (2016111109) and the MICINN RTI2018-097267-B-I00. I.M. is supported by Fundación Cris Contra el Cáncer (PR_TPD_2020-19). The work of A. Carracedo is supported by the Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Elkartek), the department of education (IKERTALDE IT1106-16) and health (RIS3), the BBVA foundation, the MICINN (SAF2016-79381-R; PID2019-108787RB-I00 (FEDER/EU); Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation SEV-2016-0644; Excellence Networks RED2018-102769-T), the AECC (GCTRA18006CARR), Vencer el Cáncer Foundation, La Caixa Foundation (ID 100010434), under the agreement LCF/PR/HR17/ and the European Research Council (Starting Grant 336343, PoC 754627, Consolidator Grant 819242). CIBERONC was co-funded with FEDER funds and funded by ISCIII. We are grateful for the support of Mondravember and Movembergara. A.E. was supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the EU programme NextGenerationEU/PRTR (IJC2020-043583-I). The work of JM Mato was supported by NIH grant R01CA172086 and SAF2017-88041-R. EB is funded by the MICINN (BFU2016-76872-R (FEDER/EU), PID2019-108112RB-I00, and Excellence Networks SAF2017-90794-REDT)

Hypersensitivity to Pollen of Olea Europea in Patients with Pollen Allergy in Zadar Country, Croatia

Preosjetljivost na pelud masline važan je uzrok peludnih alergija u mediteranskim zemljama. Cilj ovoga rada bio je utvrditi učestalost preosjetljivosti na pelud masline među bolesnicima s peludnom alergijom u Zadru i Zadarskoj županiji. Dobivene rezultate usporedili smo s ranijim ispitivanjem preosjetljivosti na pelud masline u Dalmaciji. Ukupno je obrađen 671 ispitanik s preosjetljivosti na peludne alergene. Od toga broja 61 % ispitanika bilo je muškog spola, a 39 % je bilo ženskog spola. Od ukupno ispitanih 53.5 % činila su djeca u dobi od 4 do 14 godina, a preostalih 46.5 % bili su odrasli u dobi od 15 do 59 godina života. Svim ispitanicima uzeta je detaljna obiteljska i osobna anamneza, napravljen klinički pregled te učinjeno kožno prick-testiranje i enzimatsko-imunološki UniCAP-test za određivanje specifi čnih IgE-protutijela. Statistička obrada podataka učinjena je χ2-testom. Preosjetljivost na pelud masline dokazana je u 8.8 % bolesnika s peludnom alergijom. Najveći broj bolesnika s preosjetljivosti na pelud masline boluje od alergijskog rinitisa, 58 % bolesnika. Postoji statistički značajna razlika u broju bolesnika između dvije ispitivane sredine, gradske i seoske. Samo 3 % bolesnika stanovnici su otoka. Preosjetljivost na pelud masline u našem ispitivanju najniža je u odnosu na ispitivanja provedena u drugim mediteranskim zemljama. Najčešće se očituje kliničkom slikom alergijskog rinitisa, a statistički je značajno češća u gradskoj sredini. Usporedba preosjetljivosti na pelud masline tijekom dvaju ispitivanih razdoblja u našoj zemlji nije pokazala porast broja bolesnika s preosjetljivosti na pelud masline.Olive pollen is one of the most common respiratory allergens in the Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of hypersensitivity to the pollen of Olea europea in pollen allergic patients in the County of Zadar. The study included 671 patients with pollen allergy; 61 % were male and 39 % female. 53.5 % were children aged from 4 to 14 years and 46.5 % adolescents and adults from 15 to 59 years. We took their case history, clinically examined them, and tested using the skin prick test and enzymo-immunologic UniCAP test for specifi c IgE antibodies. For statistical analysis we used the chi-square test. Hypersensitivity to Olea europea pollen was confi rmed in 8.8 % patients with pollen allergy. Among them, the most prevalent symptom was rhinitis (58 %). Most hypersensitive patients were urban residents. Only 3 % patients lived on an island. Judging by available data, our fi ndings show the lowest hypersensitivity to olive pollen in the Mediterranean. A comparison with our two earlier studies did not show any fl uctuation in this kind of hypersensitivity

Insights into the Antioxidant/Antiradical Effects and In Vitro Intestinal Permeation of Oleocanthal and Its Metabolites Tyrosol and Oleocanthalic Acid

(1) Background: In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as an active ingredient against chronic diseases. The properties of EVOO are due to its peculiar composition, mainly to its rich content of polyphenols. In fact, polyphenols may contribute to counteract oxidative stress, which often accompanies chronic diseases. In this work, the antioxidant effects of high-value polyphenol oleocanthal (OC) and its main metabolites, tyrosol (Tyr) and oleocanthalic acid (OA), respectively, have been investigated along with their impact on cell viability. (2) Methods: OC, Tyr, and OA have been evaluated regarding antiradical properties in term of scavenging capacity towards biologically relevant reactive species, including O-2(?-), HOCl, and ROO?, as well as their antioxidant/antiradical capacity (FRAP, DPPH?, ABTS(?+)). Moreover, the ability to permeate the intestinal membrane was assessed by an intestinal co-culture model composed by Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines. (3) Results: The capacity of OC and Tyr as radical oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, particularly regarding HOCl and O-2(?-), was clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, the ability to permeate the intestinal co-culture model was plainly proved by the good permeations (>50%) achieved by all compounds. (4) Conclusions: OC, OA, and Tyr revealed promising properties against oxidative diseases

Storia del turismo. Annale 11

Questo undicesimo numero dell’Annale presenta una serie di saggi che compendiano i grandi temi che attraversano la storia del turismo dall’Ottocento al Novecento: il primo, basato su fonti di polizia, apre uno spaccato sulla frode e sull’illegalità che talora condottano l’offerta di servizi agli stranieri; il secondo affronta un tema di storia economica: le condizioni delle imprese alberghiere nel Sudtirolo all’indomani del primo conflitto e dunque dopo l’annessione all’Italia. Seguono un lavoro sulla costa abruzzese, che rappresenta un approfondimento del turismo balneare e uno sul lago di Garda all’indomani del secondo conflitto mondiale, che apre un fronte di ricerca sulle politiche degli anni Cinquanta. Infine un saggio di analisi di geografia, dedicato alla Toscana e una sintesi aggiornata della vicenda del turismo spagnolo

Integrative Analysis of Transcriptomics and Clinical Data Uncovers the Tumor- Suppressive Activity of MITF in Prostate Cancer

The dysregulation of gene expression is an enabling hallmark of cancer. Computational analysis of transcriptomics data from human cancer specimens, complemented with exhaustive clinical annotation, provides an opportunity to identify core regulators of the tumorigenic process. Here we exploit well-annotated clinical datasets of prostate cancer for the discovery of transcriptional regulators relevant to prostate cancer. Following this rationale, we identify Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a prostate tumor suppressor among a subset of transcription factors. Importantly, we further interrogate transcriptomics and clinical data to refine MITF perturbation-based empirical assays and unveil Crystallin Alpha B (CRYAB) as an unprecedented direct target of the transcription factor that is, at least in part, responsible for its tumor-suppressive activity in prostate cancer. This evidence was supported by the enhanced prognostic potential of a signature based on the concomitant alteration of MITF and CRYAB in prostate cancer patients. In sum, our study provides proof-of-concept evidence of the potential of the bioinformatics screen of publicly available cancer patient databases as discovery platforms, and demonstrates that the MITF-CRYAB axis controls prostate cancer biology.The work of V. Torrano is funded by Fundacion Vasca de Innovacion e Investigacion Sanitarias, BIOEF (BIO15/CA/052), the AECC J.P. Bizkaia and the Basque Department of Health (2016111109). The work of A. Carracedo is supported by the Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Etortek) and the Department of Education (IKERTALDE IT1106-16, also participated by A. Gomez-Munoz), the BBVA Foundation, the MINECO (SAF2016-79381-R (FEDER/EU); Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation SEV-2016-0644; Excellence Networks SAF2016-81975-REDT), European Training Networks Project (H2020-MSCA-ITN-308 2016 721532), the AECC IDEAS16 (IDEAS175CARR) and the European Research Council (Starting Grant 336343, PoC 754627). CIBERONC was co-funded with FEDER funds. The work of M. Graupera is supported by the MINECO (SAF2014-59950-P). The work of A. Aransay is supported by the Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Etortek and Elkartek Programs), the Innovation Technology Department of Bizkaia County, CIBERehd Network and Spanish MINECO the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation (SEV-2016-0644). R. Barrio acknowledges Spanish MINECO (BFU2014-52282-P, Consolider BFU2014-57703-REDC), the Departments of Education and Industry of the Basque Government (PI2012/42) and the Bizkaia County. J. Starkova acknowledges the Ministry of Health of Czech Republic AZV NV15-28848A. We are thankful to the Basque Biobank for Research (BIOEF) for the custody and management of human prostate specimens used in this study