Association of neurexin 3 polymorphisms with smoking behavior.

The Neurexin 3 gene (NRXN3) has been associated with dependence on various addictive substances, as well as with the degree of smoking in schizophrenic patients and impulsivity among tobacco abusers. To further evaluate the role of NRXN3 in nicotine addiction, we analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a copy number variant (CNV) within the NRXN3 genomic region. An initial study was carried out on 157 smokers and 595 controls, all of Spanish Caucasian origin. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom index and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The 45 NRXN3 SNPs genotyped included all the SNPs previously associated with disease, and a previously described deletion within NRXN3. This analysis was replicated in 276 additional independent smokers and 568 controls. Case-control association analyses were performed at the allele, genotype and haplotype levels. Allelic and genotypic association tests showed that three NRXN3 SNPs were associated with a lower risk of being a smoker. The haplotype analysis showed that one block of 16 Kb, consisting of two of the significant SNPs (rs221473 and rs221497), was also associated with lower risk of being a smoker in both the discovery and the replication cohorts, reaching a higher level of significance when the whole sample was considered [odds ratio = 0.57 (0.42-0.77), permuted P = 0.0075]. By contrast, the NRXN3 CNV was not associated with smoking behavior. Taken together, our results confirm a role for NRXN3 in susceptibility to smoking behavior, and strongly implicate this gene in genetic vulnerability to addictive behaviors

Intervenciones Psicosociales en las Inundaciones de Sierras Chicas

En el marco de las Prácticas Profesionales en Servicio de la Facultad de Psicología, UNC, en las localidades afectadas por las inundaciones de Sierras Chicas: Mendiolaza, Río Ceballos y Unquillo, se presentan las intervenciones desarrolladas durante el 2015. Se trabajó a partir de la perspectiva de gestión psicosocial de riesgo, realizando asistencia clínica y trabajo en comunidad. Acompañar a las comunidades en su proceso de rehabilitación psicosocial, en conjunto con los equipos de salud locales. Investigación Acción Participativa. Se logró acompañar y asistir a los damnificados de las inundaciones. Se promovió la articulación de redes entre las comunidades y entre las comunidades y las instituciones. Se reforzó el trabajo de los equipos locales de salud en la asistencia de los damnificados. Se promovió el fortalecimiento de la participación activa en la toma de decisiones y autogestión de los vecinos. Considerando la complejidad de trabajar con comunidades vulnerabilizadas por diversos factores sumado al fuerte impacto del evento y a la desestructuración-irrupción del tejido social, es importante discutir la construcción del rol del psicólogo en esta área emergente. En este sentido se entiende que uno de los aspectos fundamentales a tener en cuenta es el trabajo interdisciplinario y la articulación intersectorial. Finalmente se resalta la necesidad de la continuidad del equipo de trabajo para pensar y proponer nuevas estrategias y líneas de acción preventivas, de capacitación, y de promoción de la salud integral

Methionine adenosyltransferase 1a antisense oligonucleotides activate the liver-brown adipose tissue axis preventing obesity and associated hepatosteatosis

Altered methionine metabolism is associated with weight gain in obesity. The methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT), catalyzing the first reaction of the methionine cycle, plays an important role regulating lipid metabolism. However, its role in obesity, when a plethora of metabolic diseases occurs, is still unknown. By using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and genetic depletion of Mat1a, here, we demonstrate that Mat1a deficiency in diet-induce obese or genetically obese mice prevented and reversed obesity and obesity-associated insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis by increasing energy expenditure in a hepatocyte FGF21 dependent fashion. The increased NRF2-mediated FGF21 secretion induced by targeting Mat1a, mobilized plasma lipids towards the BAT to be catabolized, induced thermogenesis and reduced body weight, inhibiting hepatic de novo lipogenesis. The beneficial effects of Mat1a ASO were abolished following FGF21 depletion in hepatocytes. Thus, targeting Mat1a activates the liver-BAT axis by increasing NRF2-mediated FGF21 secretion, which prevents obesity, insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis. High methionine and S-adenosylmethionine serum levels are related with obesity. Here the authors show that knockdown of methionine adenosyltransferase by using antisense oligonucleotides provides beneficial effects in obesity and comorbidities.This work was supported by Ayudas para apoyar grupos de investigacion del sistema Universitario Vasco (IT971-16) and MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE (RTI2018-095134-B-100) (to P.A.), (RTI2018-099413-B-I00 and RED2018-102379-T) (to R.N.), PID2020119486RB-100 (to M.V.R.) and (RTI2018-096759-A-100) (to T.C.D). EFSD/Lilly European Diabetes Research Program, MICIU (PID2019-104399RB-I00), Fundacion AECC PROYE19047SABI, and Comunidad de Madrid IMMUNOTHERCAN-CM B2017/BMD-3733 (to G.S.). La CAIXA Foundation LCF/PR/HP17/52190004, MINECO-FEDER SAF2017-87301-R, AYUDAS FUNDACION BBVA A EQUIPOS DE INVESTIGACION CIENTIFICA UMBRELLA 2018 and AECC Scientific Foundation, grant name: Rare Cancers 2017 (to M.L.M.-C.). AECC Scientific Foundation (to T.C.D.). Xunta de Galicia 2020-PG015 (to R.N.) Gilead Sciences International Research Scholars Program in Liver Disease (to M.V.R.). Personal fellows: E.P.F. was awarded with Juan de la Cierva-Formacion, FJC2018-035449-I. C.F. was awarded with Sara Borrell (CD19/00078). CIC bioGUNE thanks MCIU for the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation (SEV-2016-0644). The authors thank Dr. Manuel Lafitas laboratory (Getxo, Bizkaia, Spain) for his valuable help in the analysis of biochemical parameters

Safety and efficacy of inactivated varicella zoster virus vaccine in immunocompromised patients with malignancies: a two-arm, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial

Background Patients who are immunocompromised because of malignancy have an increased risk of herpes zoster and herpes zoster-related complications. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of an inactivated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine for herpes zoster prevention in patients with solid tumour or haematological malignancies.Methods This phase 3, two-ann, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, inulticentre trial with an adaptive design was done in 329 centres across 40 countries. The trial included adult patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy and those with haematological malignancies, either receiving or not receiving chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive four doses of VZV vaccine inactivated by v irradiation or placebo approximately 30 days apart. The patients, investigators, trial site staff, clinical adjudication committee, and sponsor's clinical and laboratory personnel were masked to the group assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was herpes zoster incidence in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy, which was assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (defined as all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of inactivated VZV vaccine or placebo). The primary safety endpoint was serious adverse events up to 28 days after the fourth dose in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy. Safety endpoints were assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of inactivated VZV vaccine or placebo and had follow-up data. This trial is registered (NCT01254630 and EudraCT 2010-023156-89).Findings Between June 27, 2011, and April 11,2017,5286 patients were randomly assigned to receive VZV vaccine inactivated by gamma irradiation (n=2637) or placebo (n=2649). The haematological malignancy arm was terminated early because of evidence of futility at a planned interim analysis; therefore, all prespecified haematological malignancy endpoints were deemed exploratory. In patients with solid tumour malignancies in the modified intention-to-treat population, confirmed herpes zoster occurred in 22 of 1328 (6.7 per 1000 person-years) VZV vaccine recipients and in 61 of 1350 (18.5 per 1000 person-years) placebo recipients. Estimated vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster in patients with solid tumour malignancies was 63.6% (97.5% CI 36.4 to 79.1), meeting the prespecified success criterion. In patients with solid tumour malignancies, serious adverse events were similar in frequency across treatment groups, occurring in 298 (22.5%) of 1322 patients who received the vaccine and in 283 (21.0%) of 1346 patients who received placebo (risk difference 1.5%, 95% CI -1.7 to 4.6). Vaccine-related serious adverse events were less than 1% in each treatment group. Vaccine-related injection-site reactions were more common in the vaccine group than in the placebo group. In the haematological malignancy group, VZV vaccine was well tolerated and estimated vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster was 16.8% (95% CI -17.8 to 41.3).Interpretation The inactivated VZV vaccine was well tolerated and efficacious for herpes zoster prevention in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy, but was not efficacious for herpes zoster prevention in patients with haematological malignancies. Copyright (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved