Potential New Expression Biomarkers for Anorexia Nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder with an estimated heritability of around 70%. Although the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on AN identified independent risk-conferring loci for the disorder, the molecular mechanisms underlying the genetic basis of AN remain to be elucidated. To investigate AN, we performed transcriptome profiling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 15 AN patients and 15 healthy controls.

The Role of Central and Peripheral Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Biomarker of Anorexia Nervosa Reconceptualized as a Metabo-Psychiatric Disorder.

Neurotrophic factors play pivotal roles in shaping brain development and function, with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) emerging as a key regulator in various physiological processes. This review explores the intricate relationship between BDNF and anorexia nervosa (AN), a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by disordered eating behaviors and severe medical consequences. Beginning with an overview of BDNF's fundamental functions in neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, the review delves into recent clinical and preclinical evidence implicating BDNF in the pathophysiology of AN.

Acyl-CoA binding protein for the experimental treatment of anorexia.

Extracellular acyl-coenzyme A binding protein [ACBP encoded by diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI)] is a phylogenetically ancient appetite stimulator that is secreted in a nonconventional, autophagy-dependent fashion. Here, we show that low ACBP/DBI plasma concentrations are associated with poor prognosis in patients with anorexia nervosa, a frequent and often intractable eating disorder. In mice, anorexia induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) is accompanied by a reduction in circulating ACBP/DBI concentrations.

Assessing biomarkers of remission in female patients with anorexia nervosa (REMANO): a protocol for a prospective cohort study with a nested case-control study using clinical, neurocognitive, biological, genetic, epigenetic and neuroimaging markers in a French specialised inpatient unit.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with frequent relapses and variability in treatment responses. Previous literature suggested that such variability is influenced by premorbid vulnerabilities such as abnormalities of the reward system. Several factors may indicate these vulnerabilities, such as neurocognitive markers (tendency to favour delayed reward, poor cognitive flexibility, abnormal decision process), genetic and epigenetic markers, biological and hormonal markers, and physiological markers.

iPSC-derived models for anorexia nervosa research.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with genetic and epigenetic components that results in reduced food intake combined with alterations in the reward-processing network. While studies of patient cohorts and mouse models have uncovered genes and epigenetic changes associated with the disease, neuronal networks and brain areas preferentially activated and metabolic changes associated with reduced food intake, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unknown. The use of both 2D in vitro cultures and 3D models, namely organoids and spheroids, derived from either human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), would allow identification of cell type-specific changes associated with AN and comorbid diseases, to study preferential connections between brain areas and organs, and the development of therapeutic strategies.

SNPs-Panel Polymorphism Variations in and Genes Are Not Associated with Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major public health problem worldwide. Recent studies have suggested that ghrelin and its receptor could be involved in the susceptibility to several cancers such as PCa, leading to their use as an important predictive way for the clinical progression and prognosis of cancer. However, conflicting results of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with ghrelin () and its receptor () genes were demonstrated in different studies.

The value of plasma cell-free DNA levels as biomarker in patients with eating disorders: A preliminary study.

Objective: Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) holds promise as a rapid and convenient biomarker for identifying individuals with eating disorders. To investigate this hypothesis, we measured plasma cfDNA in patients with different eating disorders.

Methods: In this study, 110 participants (98 patients with eating disorders divided into 30 patients with bulimia nervosa, 33 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) Restricting subtype, 35 patients with AN Binge-eating/purging subtype and 12 controls) were enrolled.

The role of dysregulated ghrelin/LEAP-2 balance in anorexia nervosa.

LEAP-2 is a ghrelin antagonist with an anorexigenic drive. This study investigates the evolution of plasma ghrelin and LEAP-2 concentrations in 29 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) before and after refeeding and compares it to physiological adaptations during fasting in healthy controls or to mouse model of chronic food restriction and refeeding. Acute and chronic food restriction decrease LEAP-2 and increase ghrelin concentrations in both humans and mice, while patients with AN displayed higher ghrelin and LEAP-2 concentrations before than after refeeding (p = 0.

BDNF CpG methylation and serum levels covary during alcohol withdrawal in patients with alcohol use disorder: A pilot study.

Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels vary in various conditions including alcohol use disorder (AUD). We aimed to identify drivers of these variations.

Methods: Twelve patients with AUD were assessed at hospitalisation for alcohol withdrawal and four months later.

Chronic food restriction in mice and increased systemic ghrelin induce preference for running wheel activity.

Objectives: In eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa (AN), patients exhibit intense physical activity which is inappropriate regarding food restriction and chronic undernutrition, and exacerbates weight loss and energy deprivation. Rodent models of food restriction exhibit increased running wheel activity in the food anticipation period, also known as Food Anticipatory Activity (FAA). FAA probably has various physiological and/or neurobiological origins.

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of circulating nucleic acids as biomarkers in psychiatry.

Common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders account for 40% of the global burden of disease. In most psychiatric disorders, both diagnosis and monitoring can be challenging, frequently requiring long-term investigation and follow-up. The discovery of better methods to facilitate accurate and fast diagnosis and monitoring of psychiatric disorders is therefore crucial.

Associated and intermediate factors between genetic variants of the dopaminergic D2 receptor gene and harmful alcohol use in young adults.

Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and ankyrin repeat and kinase domain-containing protein 1 (ANKK1) genes have received considerable attention for their involvement in alcohol use disorder (AUD), but many questions remain on their exact role. We conducted a population-based case-control and genetic association study in a large sample of young adults. Our aim was to assess the association between DRD2 and ANKK1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and harmful alcohol use, disentangling associated and possible intermediate factors.

Underlying Mechanisms Involved in Gambling Disorder Severity: A Pathway Analysis Considering Genetic, Psychosocial, and Clinical Variables.

Gambling Disorder (GD) has a complex etiology that involves biological and environmental aspects. From a genetic perspective, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) polymorphisms have been associated with the risk of developing GD. The aim of this study was to assess the underlying mechanisms implicated in GD severity by considering the direct and mediational relationship between different variables including genetic, psychological, socio-demographic, and clinical factors.

Is decision-making impairment an endophenotype of anorexia nervosa?

Background: Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show impaired decision-making ability, but it is still unclear if this is a trait marker (i.e., being associated with AN at any stage of the disease) or a state parameter of the disease (i.

The role of neurotrophin genes involved in the vulnerability to gambling disorder.

Evidence about the involvement of genetic factors in the development of gambling disorder (GD) has been assessed. Among studies assessing heritability and biological vulnerability for GD, neurotrophin (NTF) genes have emerged as promising targets, since a growing literature showed a possible link between NTF and addiction-related disorders. Thus, we aimed to explore the role of NTF genes and GD with the hypothesis that some NTF gene polymorphisms could constitute biological risk factors.

Characterization of Depressive Symptoms Trajectories After Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Women in France.

Importance: Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment expose patients to a 5-fold higher risk of depression compared with the general population, with an estimated prevalence of 10% to 25%. A depressive episode in patients with BC has implications for the tolerance of and adherence to treatment, impairing quality of life and reducing life expectancy.

Objective: To identify and characterize distinct longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms in patients with BC from diagnosis to 3 years after treatment.

Auto-qPCR; a python-based web app for automated and reproducible analysis of qPCR data.

Quantifying changes in DNA and RNA levels is essential in numerous molecular biology protocols. Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) techniques have evolved to become commonplace, however, data analysis includes many time-consuming and cumbersome steps, which can lead to mistakes and misinterpretation of data. To address these bottlenecks, we have developed an open-source Python software to automate processing of result spreadsheets from qPCR machines, employing calculations usually performed manually.