A genetic risk score combining 32 SNPs is associated with body mass index and improves obesity prediction in people with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is strongly associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and various other diseases. Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple risk loci robustly associated with body mass index (BMI). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether a genetic risk score (GRS) combining multiple BMI risk loci might have utility in prediction of obesity in patients with MDD. METHODS: Linear and logistic regression models were conducted to predict BMI and obesity, respectively, in three independent large case-control studies of major depression (Radiant, GSK-Munich, PsyCoLaus). The analyses were first performed in the whole sample and then separately in depressed cases and controls. An unweighted GRS was calculated by summation of the number of risk alleles. A weighted GRS was calculated as the sum of risk alleles at each locus multiplied by their effect sizes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the discriminatory ability of predictors of obesity. RESULTS: In the discovery phase, a total of 2,521 participants (1,895 depressed patients and 626 controls) were included from the Radiant study. Both unweighted and weighted GRS were highly associated with BMI (P <0.001) but explained only a modest amount of variance. Adding 'traditional' risk factors to GRS significantly improved the predictive ability with the area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC analysis, increasing from 0.58 to 0.66 (95% CI, 0.62-0.68; χ(2) = 27.68; P <0.0001). Although there was no formal evidence of interaction between depression status and GRS, there was further improvement in AUC in the ROC analysis when depression status was added to the model (AUC = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.68-0.73; χ(2) = 28.64; P <0.0001). We further found that the GRS accounted for more variance of BMI in depressed patients than in healthy controls. Again, GRS discriminated obesity better in depressed patients compared to healthy controls. We later replicated these analyses in two independent samples (GSK-Munich and PsyCoLaus) and found similar results. CONCLUSIONS: A GRS proved to be a highly significant predictor of obesity in people with MDD but accounted for only modest amount of variance. Nevertheless, as more risk loci are identified, combining a GRS approach with information on non-genetic risk factors could become a useful strategy in identifying MDD patients at higher risk of developing obesity.

Between Cratylism and Positivism: the Old Poem and What Alice Found There

En aquest article em referiré molt sumàriament a la fi lologia del dinou, mirant de relacionar-la amb tot el joc de paraules en Lewis Carrol, per tal d'establir-hi una trama correcta de (dis)continuïtats. El meu objectiu és considerar el Jabberwocky de Humpty Dumpty en el context de la feina i les descobertes de la moderna fi lologia. F. A. Wolf i J. Grimm condensen bona cosa dels experiments radicals i les troballes que tingueren lloc en aquells moments, que podríem contrastar amb les aventures textuals d'Alícia a l'altra banda de l'espill. Els llibres de l'altra banda necessiten intèrprets i cerquen la versió correcta, original, de la mateixa manera que la interpretació dels mots depèn d'un mètode fi able. Segurament Lewis Carroll com a jove fi lòleg era capaç de jugar bé amb aquelles troballes, entre un món que s'acabava i un altre que començava.

Synthesis of highly focused fields with circular polarization at any transverse plane

We develop a method for generating focused vector beams with circular polarization at any transverse plane. Based on the Richards-Wolf vector model, we derive analytical expressions to describe the propagation of these set of beams near the focal area. Since the polarization and the amplitude of the input beam are not uniform, an interferometric system capable of generating spatially-variant polarized beams has to be used. In particular, this wavefront is manipulated by means of spatial light modulators displaying computer generated holograms and subsequently focused using a high numerical aperture objective lens. Experimental results using a NA=0.85 system are provided: irradiance and Stokes images of the focused field at different planes near the focal plane are presented and compared with those obtained by numerical simulation.

Targeted Therapy for Patients with BRAF-Mutant Lung Cancer: Results from the European EURAF Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 2% of lung adenocarcinomas have BRAF (v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) mutations, including V600E and other types. Vemurafenib, dabrafenib, and sorafenib as BRAF inhibitors are currently tested in clinical trials, but access for patients is limited. The aim of this study was to document the clinical course of patients treated outside of clinical trials. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study in Europe of patients with advanced BRAF-mutant lung cancer treated with known BRAF inhibitors. Data were anonymized and centrally assessed for age, gender, smoking, histology, stage, local molecular diagnostic results, systemic therapies, and survival. Best response was assessed locally by RECIST1.1. RESULTS: We documented 35 patients treated in 17 centers with vemurafenib, dabrafenib, or sorafenib. Median age was 63 years (range 42-85); gender was balanced; 14 (40%) were never smokers; all (100%) had adenocarcinoma; 29 (83%) had V600E; 6 (17%) had other mutations; one of them had a concomitant KRAS mutation. Thirty (86%) patients had chemotherapy in the first line. Overall survival with first-line therapy was 25.3 months for V600E and 11.8 months for non-V600E. Thirty-one patients received one BRAF inhibitor, and four received a second inhibitor. Overall response rate with BRAF therapy was 53%, and disease control rate was 85%. Median progression-free survival with BRAF therapy was 5.0 months, and overall survival was 10.8 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the activity of targeted therapy in patients with BRAF-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Further trials are warranted to study combination therapies and drug resistance mechanisms.

Les bifurcations du récit interactif: continuité ou rupture?

Ainsi que l'affirmaient les premiers narratologues, le récit est une forme qui transcende les médias et si l'on peut reconnaître ses « avatars » jusque dans les jeux de rôle et les jeux vidéo, alors la confrontation entre narratologie et ludologie peut s'avérer une étape incontournable dans la refondation des concepts de la théorie du récit. Ainsi que l'affirmait récemment Werner Wolf : « une approche intermédiale peut [...] contribuer à éviter les généralisations unilatérales que l'on a pu observer dans les recherches mono-médiales antérieures » en particulier dans les travaux « centrés sur les textes verbaux » (Wolf 2003 : 193, n.t.). En retour, on peut espérer que ce recadrage conceptuel offre un point de vue nouveau sur les phénomènes narratifs, dont l'impact pourrait aller jusqu'à transformer notre appréhension des romans de l'âge baroque jusqu'aux fictions télévisuelles qui dominent le paysage médiatique contemporain. Ce numéro des Cahiers de narratologie est issu d'une journée d'étude qui s'est tenue à l'Université de Lausanne (UNIL) le 14 février 2014. Cette journée était organisée par Raphaël Baroni, Marc Marti, Claire Clivaz et Frédéric Kaplan et elle a bénéficié du soutien de l'EFLE (UNIL), du LADHUL (UNIL), du LIRCES (Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis), du DHLAB (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) et du Réseau romand de narratologie.

Trabecular bone score in type 1 diabetes--a cross-sectional study.

UNLABELLED: Trabecular bone score (TBS) seems to provide additive value on BMD to identify individuals with prevalent fractures in T1D. TBS did not significantly differ between T1D patients and healthy controls, but TBS and HbA1c were independently associated with prevalent fractures in T1D. A TBS cutoff <1.42 reflected prevalent fractures with 91.7 % sensitivity and 43.2 % specificity. INTRODUCTION: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) increases the risk of osteoporotic fractures. TBS was recently proposed as an indirect measure of bone microarchitecture. This study aimed at investigating the TBS in T1D patients and healthy controls. Associations with prevalent fractures were tested. METHODS: One hundred nineteen T1D patients (59 males, 60 premenopausal females; mean age 43.4 ± 8.9 years) and 68 healthy controls matched for gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. The TBS was calculated in the lumbar region, based on two-dimensional (2D) projections of DXA assessments. RESULTS: TBS was 1.357 ± 0.129 in T1D patients and 1.389 ± 0.085 in controls (p = 0.075). T1D patients with prevalent fractures (n = 24) had a significantly lower TBS than T1D patients without fractures (1.309 ± 0.125 versus 1.370 ± 0.127, p = 0.04). The presence of fractures in T1D was associated with lower TBS (odds ratio = 0.024, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.001-0.875; p = 0.042) but not with age or BMI. TBS and HbA1c were independently associated with fractures. The area-under-the curve (AUC) of TBS was similar to that of total hip BMD in discriminating T1D patients with or without prevalent fractures. In this set-up, a TBS cutoff <1.42 discriminated the presence of fractures with a sensitivity of 91.7 % and a specificity of 43.2 %. CONCLUSIONS: TBS values are lower in T1D patients with prevalent fractures, suggesting an alteration of bone strength in this subgroup of patients. Reliable TBS cutoffs for the prediction of fracture risk in T1D need to be determined in larger prospective studies.

Transformação de triglicerídeos em combustíveis, materiais poliméricos e insumos químicos: algumas aplicações da catálise na oleoquímica

The use of biomass as raw-material for obtaining chemicals, polymers and fuels is emerging as a clever alternative solution for the increasing energy demand, environmental awareness and petroleum shortage. In this work, some attempts in order to develop catalytic systems suitable for triglyceride transformation into fuels, polymers and intermediates are reviewed.

Produção de monoacilgliceróis e diacilgliceróis via glicerólise enzimática e destilação molecular

Monoacilglycerides and diacilglycerides are produced through lipase-catalyzed glycerolysis of soybean oil using Candida antarctica B in a solvent-free system. The reaction was carried out at a glycerol to triacylglycerol molar ratio of 8:1 with 2% of lipase. Acylglycerides, free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol produced were separated employing the molecular distillation process. Starting from a product of enzymatic reaction 25.06% of triacylglycerols, 46.63% of diacylglycerides, 21.72% of monoacylglycerides, 5.38% of FFA and 1.21% of glycerol and after consecutively distillations, monoacylglycerides with 80% of purity was obtained and also oil with 54% of diacylglycerides to be used in human dietary.

SEASONAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF TWOEugenia SPECIES AND THEIR ACARICIDAL PROPERTIES

The leaf essential oils of Eugenia lutescens Cambess andEugenia langsdorffii O. Berg, collected in the rainy (RS) and dry seasons (DS), were extracted by hydrodistillation and then characterized by a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The potential acaricidal activity and oviposition deterrence of these oils were evaluated against Tetranychus urticae . The oil yields were higher in the RS for E. lutescens, while those forE. langsdorffii were higher in the DS. α-Pinene and β-pinene were determined to be the major constituents of the oils fromE. lutescens, while bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, and β-caryophyllene predominated in E. langsdorffii . Seasonal variations in the oils were primarily related to chemical diversity, and E. lutescens was more affected than was E. langsdorffii . The E. langsdorffii oil collected in the DS was most toxic to the spider mite, while the oils of E. lutescens and E. langsdorffii collected in the RS drastically reduced its egg quantities. This study successfully determined the periods of greater oil production and acaricidal activity.

Construção de um calorímetro de baixo custo para a determinação de entalpia de neutralização

Neste artigo descreve-se a construção de um calorímetro simples, utilizando materiais de fácil aquisição, para a determinação de entalpia de neutralização (pressão constante) de reações ácido-base. Foram utilizadas para o desenvolvimento do experimento soluções de ácidos e bases fortes e fracos, além de termômetro e recipiente de poliestireno expandido (isopor) para a medida e manutenção da temperatura, respectivamente. Com este experimento, foi então possível determinar a entalpia de neutralização (ΔH) de algumas reações de neutralização e compará-las com o valor mais aceito de - 55,84 kJ mol -1, a 25 ºC [1].

Construção de um calorímetro simples para determinação da entalpia de dissolução

Neste artigo é descrito a construção de um calorímetro simples para o desenvolvimento de um protocolo com o qual é possível determinar a entalpia de dissolução de sais. Para isto, foram utilizadas soluções de sais de carbonato de sódio, bicarbonato de sódio, sulfato de cobre e cloreto de sódio bem como termômetro e recipiente de poliestireno expandido (isopor). O experimento permite assimilar alguns conceitos sobre Termoquímica e pode ser aplicado em qualquer escola de ensino médio, visto que utiliza material de fácil aquisição e baixo custo.