The association between chronotype, food craving and weight gain in pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between chronotype, food craving and weight gain in pregnant women. METHODS: In total, 245 pregnant women attending the public health service in Brazil were included. Chronotype was derived from the time of mid-sleep time on free days, with a further correction for calculated sleep debt, and higher scores on this variable indicate a tendency to eveningness. A Food Craving Questionnaire Trait and State assessment was performed, and weight gain was calculated. Generalised linear models were used to determine the association between the variables under analysis. RESULTS: Evening types presented higher anticipation of relief from negative states and feelings as a result of eating as a usual behaviour compared to morning (P = 0.013) and non-evening types (P = 0.028); less intense desire to eat as a sporadic behaviour compared to morning (P = 0.012) and non-evening types (P = 0.009); and less anticipation of positive reinforcement that may result from eating as a sporadic behaviour than non-evening types (P = 0.022). We also found a significant association between chronotype score and anticipation of relief from negative states and feelings as a result of eating (P = 0.004); anticipation of positive reinforcement that may result from eating (P = 0.013) as a usual behaviour; weight gain during the early gestational period (P = 0.024); and intense desire to eat (P = 0.045) as a sporadic behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that evening chronotype was associated with the food craving trait. Pregnant women who tend to eveningness are more likely to gain weight in the early gestational period.

A putative OTU domain-containing protein 1 deubiquitinating enzyme is differentially expressed in thyroid cancer and identifies less-aggressive tumours.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers for thyroid carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis. METHODS: We have constructed a human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library that was selected against tumour thyroid cells using the BRASIL method (biopanning and rapid analysis of selective interactive ligands) and phage display technology. RESULTS: One highly reactive clone, scFv-C1, with specific binding to papillary thyroid tumour proteins was confirmed by ELISA, which was further tested against a tissue microarray that comprised of 229 thyroid tissues, including: 110 carcinomas (38 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), 42 follicular carcinomas, 30 follicular variants of PTC), 18 normal thyroid tissues, 49 nodular goitres (NG) and 52 follicular adenomas. The scFv-C1 was able to distinguish carcinomas from benign lesions (P=0.0001) and reacted preferentially against T1 and T2 tumour stages (P=0.0108). We have further identified an OTU domain-containing protein 1, DUBA-7 deubiquitinating enzyme as the scFv-binding antigen using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy of screening and identifying a cell-surface-binding antibody against thyroid tissues was highly effective and resulted in a useful biomarker that recognises malignancy among thyroid nodules and may help identify lower-risk cases that can benefit from less-aggressive management.