Ancestry component as a major predictor of lithium response in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar Disorder (BD) represents the seventh major cause of disability life-years-adjusted. Lithium remains as a first-line treatment, but clinical improvement occurs only in 30 % of treated patients. Studies suggest that genetics plays a major role in shaping the individual response of BD patients to lithium. METHODS: We used machine-learning techniques (Advance Recursive Partitioned Analysis, ARPA) to build a personalized prediction framework of BD lithium response using biological, clinical, and demographical data. Using the Alda scale, we classified 172 BD I-II patients as responders or non-responders to lithium treatment. ARPA methods were used to build individual prediction frameworks and to define variable importance. Two predictive models were evaluated: 1) demographic and clinical data, and 2) demographic, clinical and ancestry data. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The predictive model including ancestry yield the best performance (sensibility = 84.6 %, specificity = 93.8 % and AUC = 89.2 %) compared to the model without ancestry (sensibility = 50 %, Specificity = 94.5 %, and AUC = 72.2 %). This ancestry component best predicted lithium individual response. Clinical variables such as disease duration, the number of depressive episodes, the total number of affective episodes, and the number of manic episodes were also important predictors. CONCLUSION: Ancestry component is a major predictor and significantly improves the definition of individual Lithium response in BD patients. We provide classification trees with potential bench application in the clinical setting. While this prediction framework might be applied in specific populations, the used methodology might be of general use in precision and translational medicine.

Comportamientos sexuales en mayores de 18 años con diagnóstico VIH/SIDA en tres ciudades de Colombia 2011 / Comportamentos sexuais em mais de 18 anos com diagnóstico de HIV / AIDS em três cidades na Colômbia 2011 / Sexual behaviors in over 18 years old with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in three cities of Colombia 2011

Objetivo: Describir los comportamientos sexuales en personas VIH positivas en tres ciudades de Colombia antes y después de conocer el diagnóstico e identificar cambios en estos comportamientos. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, de corte trasversal, en el que participaron 85 individuos de tres ciudades colombianas, entrevistados durante el año 2011. Se cumplió con los parámetros éticos para investigaciones con personas. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el software SPSS 18.0. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas al comparar el comportamiento sexual antes y después de conocer el diagnóstico VIH positivo. el 23% de los entrevistados manifestó no haber iniciado actividades sexuales después del diagnóstico, el 62.5% empezó a usar el condón en todas sus relaciones sexuales. Las relaciones sexuales con personas VIH positivo aumentaron a un 35.4%. Las infecciones de transmisión sexual disminuyeron a un 12.3%. El consumo de alcohol previo al inicio de relaciones sexuales disminuyó a un 31.8%. Conclusiones: Se encontraron cambios en los comportamientos de riesgo de las personas después de recibir el diagnóstico; sin embargo, dichas modificaciones no son suficientes por tratarse de la trasmisión de una infección mortal y de elevados costos socioeconómicos.

Objective: To describe sexual behaviors of HIV positive patients in three cities of Colombia, before and after learning diagnosis and to identify changes. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with participation of 85 individuals from three cities of Colombia who were interviewed during 2011. Ethical standards for research involving individuals were met during the study. The SPSS software version 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences were found when comparing their sexual behavior before and after knowing HIV positive diagnosis, 23.0% of respondents said that they had not resumed sexual activity, 62.5% of the patients began to use the condom in all sexual relations. Sex with HIV-positive people increased a 35.4%. Sexually transmitted infections were reduced to a 12.3%. The consumption of alcohol prior to the onset of sexual intercourse decreased to 31.8%. Conclusions: Changes were found regarding risky behaviors of people after knowing the diagnosis; however, such modifications are not enough regarding the transmission of a deadly infection and with high social and economic costs.

Objetivo: Descrever o comportamento sexual em pessoas HIV-positivas em três cidades na Colômbia antes e depois de conhecer o diagnóstico e identificar mudanças no esses comportamentos. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo de transversal, em que 85 indivíduos participaram em três cidades colombianas, entrevistado em 2011. Eles se conheceram os padrões éticos para a investigação com as pessoas. Para análise estatística foi utilizado SPSS 18.0 software. Resultados: Diferenças significativas na comparação entre o comportamento sexual foram encontrados antes e depois de aprender sobre o diagnóstico de HIV positivo. 23% dos entrevistados disseram que a atividade sexual não ter iniciado após o diagnóstico, 62,5% começaram a usar preservativos em todas as relações sexuais. Sexo com pessoas HIV positivas aumentou para 35,4%. infecções sexualmente transmissíveis diminuiu para 12,3%. O consumo de álcool antes do início do sexo diminuiu para 31,8%. Conclusões: foram encontradas alterações nos comportamentos de risco de pessoas depois de receber o diagnóstico; No entanto, estas alterações não são suficientes, porque é a transmissão de uma infecção fatal e custos socioeconómicos elevados.

Unraveling complex viral infections in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from Colombia.

In the Americas, different disease symptoms have been reported in cassava including leaf mosaics, vein clearings, mottles, ring spots, leaf distortions and undeveloped and deformed storage roots. Some viruses have been identified and associated with these symptoms while others have been reported in symptomless plants or latent infections. We observed that reoviruses associated with severe root symptoms (RS) of Cassava Frogskin Disease (CFSD) are not associated with leaf symptoms (LS) observed in the cassava indicator plant 'Secundina'. Neither were these LS associated with the previously characterized Cassava common mosaic virus, Cassava virus X, Cassava vein mosaic virus or phytoplasma, suggesting the presence of additional pathogens. In order to explain LS observed in cassava we used a combination of biological, serological and molecular tests. Here, we report three newly described viruses belonging to the families Secoviridae, Alphaflexiviridae and Luteoviridae found in cassava plants showing severe RS associated with CFSD. All tested plants were infected by a mix of viruses that induced distinct LS in 'Secundina'. Out of the three newly described viruses, a member of family Secoviridae could experimentally induce LS in single infection. Our results confirm the common occurrence of complex viral infections in cassava field-collected since the 1980s.