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Objective A decreased sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) has been shown to be associated with increased energy intake and therefore an increased body mass index, although other studies have not confirmed this association, suggesting the involvement of other factors. We investigated whether the endocannabinoid system, which also modulates hunger/satiety and energy balance, plays a role in modulating eating behavior influenced by a sensitivity to PROP. Methods The plasma profile of the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), anandamide (AEA), and congeners of AEA, palmitoylethanolamide and oleylethanolamide (OEA), was determined in normal-weight PROP supertasters (STs) and PROP non-tasters (NTs). A cognitive eating behavior disorder was assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, which estimates dietary restraint, disinhibition, and perceived hunger. Results The disinhibition score of NTs was higher than those of STs ( P = 0.02). Moreover, in NTs, OEA was inversely correlated to the perceived hunger score ( r = −0.7, P = 0.002), and AEA was positively correlated to the restraint score ( r = 0.5, P = 0.04) and negatively to the perceived hunger score, although the latter correlation was at the limit of statistical significance ( r = −0.47, P = 0.05). In addition, we found lower concentrations of AEA and 2-AG in the plasma of NT compared with ST subjects (AEA, P = 0.034; 2-AG, P = 0.003). Conclusions Our data suggest that a higher disinhibition behavior in NTs may be compensated in part, in normal-weight subjects, by the decrease of peripheral endocannabinoids to downregulate the hunger–energy intake circuitry.

The PROP taste phenotype varies greatly among individuals, influencing eating behavior and therefore may play a role in body composition. This variation is associated with polymorphisms in the bitter receptor gene TAS2R38 and the taste-bud trophic factor gustin gene. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between TAS2R38 haplotypes and the gustin gene polymorphism rs2274333 in modulating PROP taste phenotype. PROP phenotype was determined in seventy-six volunteers (29 males, 47 females, age 25±3 y) by scaling methods and threshold measurements. TAS2R38 and gustin gene genotyping was performed using PCR techniques. The lowest responsiveness in PROP nontasters is strongly associated with the AVI nontasting TAS2R38 variant and the highest responsiveness in supertasters is strongly associated to allele A and genotype AA of the gustin gene. These data support the hypothesis that the greater sensitivity of supertasters could be mediated by a greater taste-bud density. Polymorphisms in TAS2R38 and gustin gene, together, accounted for up to 60% of the phenotypic variance in PROP bitterness and to 40% in threshold values. These data, suggest that other unidentified factors may be more relevant for detecting low concentrations of PROP. Moreover, the presence of the PAV variant receptor may be important for detecting high concentrations of PROP, whereas the presence of allele A in gustin polymorphism may be relevant for perceiving low concentrations. These data show how the combination of the TAS2R38 and gustin gene genotypes modulate PROP phenotype, providing an additional tool for the evaluation of human eating behavior and nutritional status.

Taste sensitivity to PROP varies greatly among individuals and is associated with polymorphisms in the bitter receptor gene TAS2R38, and with differences in fungiform papilla density on the anterior tongue surface. Recently we showed that the PROP non-taster phenotype is strongly associated with the G variant of polymorphism rs2274333 (A/G) of the gene that controls the salivary trophic factor, gustin. The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the role of gustin gene polymorphism rs2274333 (A/G), in PROP sensitivity and fungiform papilla density and morphology, and 2) to investigate the effect of this gustin gene polymorphism on cell proliferation and metabolic activity. Sixty-four subjects were genotyped for both genes by PCR techniques, their PROP sensitivity was assessed by scaling and threshold methods, and their fungiform papilla density, diameter and morphology were determined. In vitro experiments examined cell proliferation and metabolic activity, following treatment with saliva of individuals with and without the gustin gene mutation, and with isolated protein, in the two iso-forms. Gustin and TAS2R38 genotypes were associated with PROP threshold (p=0.0001 and p=0.0042), but bitterness intensity was mostly determined by TAS2R38 genotypes (p

Hashimoto's encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) often have similar clinical features and may be confused, especially at onset. A 61-year-old woman developed rapidly progressive ataxia, myoclonus and dementia, with abnormalities seen on electroencephalography (EEG). Serum analysis disclosed high titers of antithyroid autoantibodies. Both clinical course and autopsy led to a definitive diagnosis of CJD. This case and a literature review of previous cases confirm that CJD may be confused with Hashimoto's encephalopathy. EEG, clinical and laboratory findings (including the positivity of 14.3.3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid) are not conclusive for a differential diagnosis, especially at early stages. Only the results of genetic exams can allow a definitive diagnosis in a small percentage of cases while patients are still alive. In patients with unclear symptomatology and rapid onset of myoclonus, dementia and ataxia, the presence of antithyroid antibodies should be examined. If their levels are abnormal, corticosteroid therapy remains mandatory.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a non-psychotic depressive disease with varying severity, from moderate to severe, which according to the DSM IV originates after the 4th to 6th week from giving birt...

In the evolution of ALS, involvement of bulbar structures is an obligatory stage, with typical difficulties in swallowing and speech.