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- Ciccocioppo, Roberto, et al.
(author)
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Stress-related neuropeptides and alcoholism : CRH, NPY, and beyond
- 2009
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In: Alcohol. - : Elsevier. - 0741-8329 .- 1873-6823. ; 43:7, s. 491-498
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium held at the conference on "Alcoholism and Stress: A Framework for Future Treatment Strategies" in Volterra, Italy, May 6-9, 2008. Chaired by Markus Heilig and Roberto Ciccocioppo, this symposium offered a forum for the presentation of recent data linking neuropetidergic neurotransmission to the regulation of different alcohol-related behaviors in animals and in humans. Dr. Donald Gehlert described the development of a new corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist and showed its efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption and stress-induced relapse in different animal models of alcohol abuse. Dr. Andrey Ryabinin reviewed recent findings in his laboratory, indicating a role of the urocortin 1 receptor system in the regulation of alcohol intake. Dr. Annika Thorsell showed data supporting the significance of the neuropeptide Y receptor system in the modulation of behaviors associated with a history of ethanol intoxication. Dr. Roberto Ciccocioppo focused his presentation on the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptors as treatment targets for alcoholism. Finally, Dr. Markus Heilig showed recent preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that neurokinin 1 antagonism may represent a promising new treatment for alcoholism. Collectively, these investigators highlighted the significance of neuropeptidergic neurotransmission in the regulation of neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction. Data also revealed the importance of these systems as treatment targets for the development of new medication for alcoholism.
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- George, David T., et al.
(author)
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Neurokinin 1 receptor antagonism as a possible therapy for alcoholism
- 2008
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 319:5869, s. 1536-1539
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alcohol dependence is a major public health challenge in need of new treatments. As alcoholism evolves, stress systems in the brain play an increasing role in motivating continued alcohol use and relapse. We investigated the role of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), a mediator of behavioral stress responses, in alcohol dependence and treatment. In preclinical studies, mice genetically deficient in NK1R showed a marked decrease in voluntary alcohol consumption and had an increased sensitivity to the sedative effects of alcohol. In a randomized controlled experimental study, we treated recently detoxified alcoholic inpatients with an NK1R antagonist (LY686017; n = 25) or placebo (n = 25). LY686017 suppressed spontaneous alcohol cravings, improved overall well-being, blunted cravings induced by a challenge procedure, and attenuated concomitant cortisol responses. Brain functional magnetic resonance imaging responses to affective stimuli likewise suggested beneficial LY686017 effects. Thus, as assessed by these surrogate markers of efficacy, NK1R antagonism warrants further investigation as a treatment in alcoholism.
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3. |
- Loos, Ruth J. F., et al.
(author)
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Common variants near MC4R are associated with fat mass, weight and risk of obesity
- 2008
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 40:6, s. 768-775
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To identify common variants influencing body mass index (BMI), we analyzed genome-wide association data from 16,876 individuals of European descent. After previously reported variants in FTO, the strongest association signal (rs17782313, P = 2.9 x 10(-6)) mapped 188 kb downstream of MC4R (melanocortin-4 receptor), mutations of which are the leading cause of monogenic severe childhood-onset obesity. We confirmed the BMI association in 60,352 adults (per-allele effect = 0.05 Z-score units; P = 2.8 x 10(-15)) and 5,988 children aged 7-11 (0.13 Z-score units; P = 1.5 x 10(-8)). In case-control analyses (n = 10,583), the odds for severe childhood obesity reached 1.30 (P = 8.0 x 10(-11)). Furthermore, we observed overtransmission of the risk allele to obese offspring in 660 families (P (pedigree disequilibrium test average; PDT-avg) 2.4 x 10(-4)). The SNP location and patterns of phenotypic associations are consistent with effects mediated through altered MC4R function. Our findings establish that common variants near MC4R influence fat mass, weight and obesity risk at the population level and reinforce the need for large-scale data integration to identify variants influencing continuous biomedical traits.
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4. |
- Saramat, Ali, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Differences in catalytic properties between mesoporous and nanoparticulate platinum
- 2007
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In: European Physical Journal D. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6079 .- 1434-6060. ; 43:1-3, s. 209-211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conventional Pt/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by wet-impregnation are composed of Pt nanoparticles exposing convex and facetted surfaces deposited on high-surface area gamma-Al2O3 supports. A hexagonal phase mesoporous Pt material (denoted H-1-Pt) prepared by chemical reduction in the aqueous domains of a lyotropic liquid crystalline template exposes however mainly a concave surface with expected different catalytic properties. A series of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared using H-1-Pt, Pt-black or wet-impregnated Pt, and the samples were characterized by SEM-EDX and TEM, and finally evaluated for CO oxidation. The H-1-Pt/Al2O3 catalyst showed an ignition profile for CO oxidation at lower temperatures and thus appeared less sensitive to CO poisoning than the two other types of samples. This difference may be related to the differences in surface curvature.
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