Eating Disorders: Could They be Autoimmune Diseases?

Recent research on Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) has shown an increasing understanding of the biological and physiological abnormalities that underlie the development of an eating disorder. Cultural pressures, individual and family experiences, along with physiological and genetic systems all appear to contribute to the onset of these disorders. There is significant evidence for genetic factors in the susceptibility of AN/BN, however current research has focused on the possibly of characterizing eating disorders as being an autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies have recently been discovered in patients with eating disorders and could be affecting the biological pathway of many hormones, specifically a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, by various mechanisms. Also these autoAbs have been associated with physiological traits which also have been proven to be symptoms of eating disorders. The origin of these autoAbs remains to be established. Yet childhood viral infections and gut microflora may provide two explanations for the creation of autoAbs. Future research needs to examine the direction of causation, the underlying mechanism of the immune response, and if this could be contributed to the development of AN/BN. Although there have been substantially advances in the knowledge of eating disorders, the goal of offering effective treatment to all patients remains elusive

Selective Complexation and Reactivity of Metallic Nitride and Oxometallic Fullerenes with Lewis Acids and Use as an Effective Purification Method

Metallic nitride fullerenes (MNFs) and oxometallic fullerenes (OMFs) react quickly with an array of Lewis acids. Empty-cage fullerenes are largely unreactive under conditions used in this study. The reactivity order is Sc4O2@Ih-C80 \u3e Sc3N@C78 \u3e Sc3N@C68 \u3e Sc3N@D5h-C80 \u3e Sc3N@Ih-C80. Manipulations of Lewis acids, molar ratios, and kinetic differences within the family of OMF and MNF metallofullerenes are demonstrated in a selective precipitation scheme, which can be used either alone for purifying Sc3N@Ih-C80 or combined with a final high-performance liquid chromatography pass for Sc4O2@Ih-C80, Sc3N@D5h-C80, Sc3N@C68, or Sc3N@C78. The purification process is scalable. Analysis of the experimental rate constants versus electrochemical band gap explains the order of reactivity among the OMFs and MNFs

Synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans via an efficient BiBr3-initiated three component, one-pot cascade

The rapid synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans is achieved in a three-component, one-pot cascade reaction. BiBr3-mediated addition of ketene silyl acetals or silyl enol ethers to beta,gamma-unsaturated cis-4-trimethylsilyl-3-butenal provides a Mukaiyama aldol adduct containing a vinylsilane moiety tethered to a silyl ether. Addition of a second aldehyde initiates a domino sequence involving intermolecular addition followed by an intramolecular silyl-modified Sakurai (ISMS) reaction. Isolated yields of this one-pot reaction vary from 44 to 80% and all compounds were isolated as the cis-diastereomers (10 examples). (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Using Complex, Multi-Sectoral Data in a Needs Assessment to Inform Future Strategies in Childhood Asthma Management

The purpose of this needs assessment was to study the current state of asthma management in high-risk children in Houston, Texas to inform a theory-based approach to improving asthma management. The mixed-method assessment included multi-sectoral survey, quantitative, and geospatial data that address a range of social and community factors in family, community, home, and medical contexts. Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provided ambulance-treated asthma data mapped by geographic area to identify where childhood asthma management was weakest. Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) provided medication compliance rates and counts of children by zip code that TCHP considered high-risk according to claims data. Houston Independent School District (HISD) provided school nurse survey results from schools with high-rates of ambulance-treated asthma attacks regarding local barriers to asthma management. Elementary schools with children at highest risk were identified by overlaying the EMS data, TCHP data, and HISD school zone boundaries. Survey results from the high-rate schools indicate the priority challenges to childhood asthma management, including lack of resources, lack of communication, lack of knowledge of triggers, and inadequate time for quality care from providers. By weaving together EMS, TCHP, and HISD data, the needs assessment informed a socio-ecological view of gaps in high-risk childhood asthma management and control, specifically where and what to target. An assessment approach with multi-sectoral data, geospatial mapping, nurse input, current systems of care, education, and funding helped focus planning on a practical approach to asthma control solutions for high-risk children

Further studies on the iodine concentration of conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk at retail in the UK

Milk is the largest source of iodine in UK diets and earlier studies showed organic summer and winter milk to be significantly lower in iodine than conventional milk. One study also showed UHT milk to have lower iodine concentration. The study on winter and UHT milk was small and accordingly a new study is reported here involving conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk from four supermarkets over a six-month period in summer and winter in two regions of the UK. The results showed organic milk to be 44% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 241 mg/L, P < 0.001) and UHT milk was 27% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 314 mg/L, P < 0.001) although the differences tended to be less in the summer. The results indicate that replacement of conventional milk by organic or UHT milk will increase the risk of sub-optimal iodine status especially for pregnant/lactating women

Further studies on the iodine concentration of conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk at retail in the UK

Milk is the largest source of iodine in UK diets and earlier studies showed organic summer and winter milk to be significantly lower in iodine than conventional milk. One study also showed UHT milk to have lower iodine concentration. The study on winter and UHT milk was small and accordingly a new study is reported here involving conventional, organic and UHT semi-skimmed milk from four supermarkets over a six-month period in summer and winter in two regions of the UK. The results showed organic milk to be 44% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 241 mg/L, P < 0.001) and UHT milk was 27% lower in iodine than conventional milk (427 vs. 314 mg/L, P < 0.001) although the differences tended to be less in the summer. The results indicate that replacement of conventional milk by organic or UHT milk will increase the risk of sub-optimal iodine status especially for pregnant/lactating women

Non-Additive Effects of Genotypic Diversity Increase Floral Abundance and Abundance of Floral Visitors

Background: In the emerging field of community and ecosystem genetics, genetic variation and diversity in dominant plant species have been shown to play fundamental roles in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the importance of intraspecific genetic variation and diversity to floral abundance and pollinator visitation has received little attention. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using an experimental common garden that manipulated genotypic diversity (the number of distinct genotypes per plot) of Solidago altissima, we document that genotypic diversity of a dominant plant can indirectly influence flower visitor abundance. Across two years, we found that 1) plant genotype explained 45 % and 92 % of the variation in flower visitor abundance in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and 2) plant genotypic diversity had a positive and non-additive effect on floral abundance and the abundance of flower visitors, as plots established with multiple genotypes produced 25 % more flowers and received 45 % more flower visits than would be expected under an additive model. Conclusions/Significance: These results provide evidence that declines in genotypic diversity may be an important but little considered factor for understanding plant-pollinator dynamics, with implications for the global decline in pollinators due t

Fanconi-BRCA pathway mutations in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BRCA2 (also known as FANCD1) is a core component of the Fanconi pathway and suppresses transformation of immature T-cells in mice. However, the contribution of Fanconi-BRCA pathway deficiency to human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) remains undefined. We identified point mutations in 9 (23%) of 40 human T-ALL cases analyzed, with variant allele fractions consistent with heterozygous mutations early in tumor evolution. Two of these mutations were present in remission bone marrow specimens, suggesting germline alterations. BRCA2 was the most commonly mutated gene. The identified Fanconi-BRCA mutations encode hypomorphic or null alleles, as evidenced by their inability to fully rescue Fanconi-deficient cells from chromosome breakage, cytotoxicity and/or G2/M arrest upon treatment with DNA cross-linking agents. Disabling the tumor suppressor activity of the Fanconi-BRCA pathway is generally thought to require biallelic gene mutations. However, all mutations identified were monoallelic, and most cases appeared to retain expression of the wild-type allele. Using isogenic T-ALL cells, we found that BRCA2 haploinsufficiency induces selective hypersensitivity to ATR inhibition, in vitro and in vivo. These findings implicate Fanconi-BRCA pathway haploinsufficiency in the molecular pathogenesis of T-ALL, and provide a therapeutic rationale for inhibition of ATR or other druggable effectors of homologous recombination