Are Neurotrophin Genes Involved in the Pathophysiology of Gambling Disorder?

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Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol baseline plasma concentrations and their clinical correlate in gambling disorder

Introduction Different components of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system such as their most well-known endogenous ligands, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), have been implicated in brain reward pathways. While shared neurobiological substrates have been described among addiction-related disorders, information regarding the role of this system in behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder (GD) is scarce.AimsFasting plasma concentrations of AEA and 2-AG were analyzed in individuals with GD at baseline, compared with healthy control subjects (HC). Through structural equation modeling, we evaluated associations between endocannabinoids and GD severity, exploring the potentially mediating role of clinical and neuropsychological variables.MethodsThe sample included 166 adult outpatients with GD (95.8% male, mean age 39 years old) and 41 HC. Peripheral blood samples were collected after overnight fasting to assess AEA and 2-AG concentrations (ng/ml). Clinical (i.e., general psychopathology, emotion regulation, impulsivity, personality) and neuropsychological variables were evaluated through a semi-structured clinical interview and psychometric assessments.ResultsPlasma AEA concentrations were higher in patients with GD compared with HC (p = .002), without differences in 2-AG. AEA and 2-AG concentrations were related to GD severity, with novelty-seeking mediating relationships.ConclusionsThis study points to differences in fasting plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids between individuals with GD and HC. In the clinical group, the pathway defined by the association between the concentrations of endocannabinoids and novelty-seeking predicted GD severity. Although exploratory, these results could contribute to the identification of potential endophenotypic features that help optimize personalized approaches to prevent and treat GD

Plasma concentration of leptin is related to food addiction in gambling disorder: Clinical and neuropsychological implications

Background: Data implicate overlaps in neurobiological pathways involved in appetite regulation and addictive disorders. Despite different neuroendocrine measures having been associated with both gambling disorder (GD) and food addiction (FA), how appetite-regulating hormones may relate to the co-occurrence of both entities remain incompletely understood. Aims: To compare plasma concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) between patients with GD, with and without FA, and to explore the association between circulating hormonal concentrations and neuropsychological and clinical features in individuals with GD and FA. Methods: The sample included 297 patients diagnosed with GD (93.6% males). None of the patients with GD had lifetime diagnosis of an eating disorder. FA was evaluated with the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. All patients were assessed through a semi-structured clinical interview and a psychometric battery including neuropsychological tasks. Blood samples to measure hormonal variables and anthropometric variables were also collected. Results: From the total sample, FA was observed in 23 participants (FA+) (7.7% of the sample, 87% males). When compared participants with and without FA, those with FA+ presented both higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) and leptin concentrations, after adjusting for BMI (p = 0.013). In patients with FA, leptin concentrations positively correlated with impulsivity, poorer cognitive flexibility, and poorer inhibitory control. Other endocrine measures did not differ between groups. Discussion and conclusions: The present study implicates leptin in co-occurring GD and FA. Among these patients, leptin concentration has been associated with clinical and neuropsychological features, such as impulsivity and cognitive performance in certain domains

Food addiction in eating disorders and obesity: Analysis of clusters and implications for treatment

Food addiction (FA) has been associated with greater psychopathology in individuals with eating disorders (ED) and obesity (OBE). The current study aims to provide a better phenotypic characterization of the FA construct by conducting a clustering analysis of FA in both conditions (ED and OBE). The total sample was comprised of 234 participants that scored positive on the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. (YFAS-2) (119 bulimia nervosa (BN), 50 binge eating disorder (BED), 49 other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) and 16 OBE). All participants completed a comprehensive battery of questionnaires. Three clusters of FA participants were identified. Cluster 1 (dysfunctional) was characterized by the highest prevalence of OSFED and BN, the highest ED severity and psychopathology, and more dysfunctional personality traits. Cluster 2 (moderate) showed a high prevalence of BN and BED and moderate levels of ED psychopathology. Finally, cluster 3 (adaptive) was characterized by a high prevalence of OBE and BED, low levels of ED psychopathology, and more functional personality traits. In conclusion, this study identified three distinct clusters of ED-OBE patients with FA and provides some insight into a better phenotypic characterization of the FA construct when considering psychopathology, personality and ED pathology. Future studies should address whether these three food addiction categories are indicative of therapy outcome

Does Confinement Affect Treatment Dropout Rates in Patients With Gambling Disorder? A Nine-Month Observational Study

Background and Aims: COVID-19 pandemic and confinement have represented a challenge for patients with gambling disorder (GD). Regarding treatment outcome, dropout may have been influenced by these adverse circumstances. The aims of this study were: (a) to analyze treatment dropout rates in patients with GD throughout two periods: during and after the lockdown and (b) to assess clinical features that could represent vulnerability factors for treatment dropout. Methods: The sample consisted of n=86 adults, mostly men (n=79, 91.9%) and with a mean age of 45years old (SD=16.85). Patients were diagnosed with GD according to DSM-5 criteria and were undergoing therapy at a Behavioral Addiction Unit when confinement started. Clinical data were collected through a semi-structured interview and protocolized psychometric assessment. A brief telephone survey related to COVID-19 concerns was also administered at the beginning of the lockdown. Dropout data were evaluated at two moments throughout a nine-month observational period (T1: during the lockdown, and T2: after the lockdown). Results: The risk of dropout during the complete observational period was R=32/86=0.372 (37.2%), the Incidence Density Rate (IDR) ratio T2/T1 being equal to 0.052/0.033=1.60 (p=0.252). Shorter treatment duration (p=0.007), lower anxiety (p=0.025), depressive symptoms (p=0.045) and lower use of adaptive coping strategies (p=0.046) characterized patients who abandoned treatment during the lockdown. Briefer duration of treatment Baenas et al. Lockdown and GD: Treatment Dropout Frontiers in Psychology | www.frontiersin.org 2 December 2021 | Volume 12 | Article 761802 (p=0.001) and higher employment concerns (p=0.044) were highlighted in the individuals who dropped out after the lockdown. Treatment duration was a predictor of dropout in both periods (p=0.005 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The present results suggest an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment dropout among patients with GD during and after the lockdown, being treatment duration a predictor of dropout. Assessing vulnerability features in GD may help clinicians identify high-risk individuals and enhance prevention and treatment approaches in future similar situations

Report of the IAU/IAG Joint Working Group on Theory of Earth Rotation and Validation

This report focuses on some selected scientific outcomes of the activities developed by the IAU/IAG Joint Working Group on Theory of Earth rotation and validation along the term 2015–2019. It is based on its end-of-term report to the IAG Commission 3 published in the Travaux de l’IAG 2015–2019, which in its turn updates previous reports to the IAG and IAU, particularly the triennial report 2015–2018 to the IAU Commission A2, and the medium term report to the IAG Commission 3 (2015–2017). The content of the report has served as a basis for the IAG General Assembly to adopt Resolution 5 on Improvement of Earth rotation theories and models.JMF, AE, and JG were partially supported by Spanish Project AYA2016-79775-P (AEI/FEDER, UE). The work of RSG described in this paper was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Support for that work was provided by the Earth Surface and Interior Focus Area of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate

Study of the in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of glucosinolates/isothiocyanates-rich broccoli sprouts

NEREIS 10 [Marzo 2018], 69-78, ISSN: 1888-8550Nereis. Revista Iberoamericana Interdisciplinar de Métodos, Modelización y Simulación1069-78Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente MártirValencia (España)ISSN 1888-8550Estudio de la bioactividad in vitro e in vivo de brotes de brócoli ricos en glucosinolatos/isotiocianatos Study of the in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of glucosinolates/isothiocyanates-rich broccoli sprouts Fecha de recepción y aceptación: 28 de agosto de 2017, 1 de diciembre de 2017N. Baenas1, D. A. Moreno1 y C. García-Viguera1*1 Laboratorio de Fitoquímica y Alimentos Saludables. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, CEBAS-CSIC. * Correspondencia: Laboratorio de Fitoquímica y Alimentos Saludables. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, CEBAS-CSIC. Campus Universitario de Espinardo. Edificio 25. 30100 (Espinardo) Murcia. España. E-mail: [email protected] Los brotes de brócoli son alimentos de gran interés debido a su mayor contenido en nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos en comparación con el vegetal adulto. Poseen alto contenido en glucosi-nolatos, destacando la glucorafanina, que se encuentra en mayor concentración, cuyo producto de hidrólisis, el isotiocianato sulforafano, ha demostrado poseer distintas actividades biológicas, como son la antiinflamatoria, antioxidante y un efecto antiproliferativo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar el efecto antiproliferativo de estos brotes como matriz vegetal, así como sus compues-tos bioactivos puros, la glucorafanina y el sulforafano, demostrando una mayor bioactividad del vegetal como alimento completo. Por otro lado, se demostró el efecto antinociceptivo (analgésico) de estos brotes en modelos de roedores in vivo, abriendo una línea de investigación interesante para el estudio de los mecanismos de acción de estos compuestos naturales como fitoterapéuticos.Broccoli sprouts are very interesting plant foods due to their potential source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. These sprouts have a higher content in glucosinolates than adult plants, being glucoraphanin the one presented in higher amount. Its hydrolysis product, the isothiocy-anate sulforaphane, has shown different biological activities in previous studies, such as anti-inflamatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative effect. The aim of this work was to explore the antiproliferative effect of pure glucoraphanin and pure sulforaphane against cell lines of human cancer in vitro, compared to the complete broccoli sprouts. Results showed that the whole plant is more active. On the other hand, also the antinociceptive effect of broccoli sprouts was studied in rodent models in vivo, providing an interesting research line for the study of the action path-ways of these natural products as phytotherapeutics.Ciencias Experimentale