Pánico en los genes

Molecular Psychiatry 15, 1067-1074 (November 2010) | doi:10.1038/mp.2010.

A neuropeptide S receptor variant associated with overinterpretation of fear reactions: a potential neurogenetic basis for catastrophizing

K A Raczka, N Gartmann, M-L Mechias, A Reif, C Büchel, J Deckert and R Kalisch

Poco a poco los datos provenientes de la genética molecular vienen al auxilio de disciplinas médicas que como la psiquiatría se encuentran bastante huérfanas de bases científicas. El ejemplo que he escogido tiene que ver con una investigación para desentrañar la base genética de las reacciones de pánico así como las regiones del cerebro en las que se desencadenan. 

En el presente trabajo, publicado en "Nature", uno de los principales protagonistas es el neuropéptido S (NPS), una proteina G recientemente descubierta que se acopla a un ligando- receptor que modula las reacciones de pánico en ratas (rodentes). Un polimorfismo Adenina-Timina (A-T) en el gen NPSR1 que "codifica" el neuropéptido receptor humano confiere una eficacia 10 veces mayor al NPS "in vitro", y se asocia al trastorno de pánico. 

Los investigadores también evaluaron datos de voluntarios normales de acuerdo con pruebas clásicas para provocar reacciones de temor. Los portadores del alelo NPSR1 estimaron como más pronunciadas sus reacciones ante estímulos condicionados (CSs) en comparación de los participantes A-A.

 Abstract

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a recently discovered G protein-coupled receptor ligand that modulates fear-like behaviors in rodents. A frequent A>T single-nucleotide polymorphism in the human NPS receptor gene NPSR1 confers a 10-fold higher efficacy of NPS signaling in vitro and has been linked with panic disorder (PD). We here report data from a classical fear-conditioning paradigm in healthy normal volunteers, in which carriers of the NPSR1 T allele evaluated their fear reactions to conditioned stimuli (CSs) as more pronounced than AA homozygous participants, although they did not show elevated peripheral-physiological conditioned responses (skin conductance responses—SCRs). T carriers also exhibited stronger CS-evoked brain activity in the rostral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), an area that supports the explicit, conscious appraisal of threat stimuli. By contrast, more caudally situated mid-dmPFC, which has previously been associated with the generation of SCRs, showed no elevated response. Moreover, rostral dmPFC activation was correlated with participants’ fear evaluations, further strengthening the link of this activation to increased individual fear appraisal. Our data suggest a genetic and neuroanatomical substrate for catastrophizing overinterpretations of fear reactions and provide a mechanistic explanation for the association between the NPSR1 T allele and PD.

Amnistía Internacional y la propaganda belicista.

Amnesty International: An Instrument of War Propaganda?By Felicity Arbuthnot

Felicity Arbuthnot cuestiona algunas de las presentes actuaciones de Amnistía Internacional, organización no gubernamental conocida por su defensa de los derechos humanos, y que anualmente publica un informe muy tenido en cuenta por gobiernos y medios de comunicación, a la hora de evaluar el respeto a las libertades básicas de los ciudadanos en distintos países.


Amnesty International has released satellite pictures of "craters" in Syria, citing : "an increased use of heavy weaponry, including near residential areas". The BBC reports, quoting Amnesty: "Images from Anadan revealed more than 600 probable artillery impact craters from heavy fighting between Syrian armed forces and armed opposition groups." (My emphasis.)
Further: "Turning Syria's most populous city into a battlefield will have devastating consequences for civilians. The atrocities in Syria are mounting already," warned Christoph Koettl, emergency response manager for Amnesty International USA, without acknowedging that the killings of civilians are committed by the US-NATO Free Syrian Army (FSA) rather than the government.
Digital Globe via Amnesty International "More than 600 probable artillery impact craters,
represented here with yellow dots, were identified in Anadan, in the vicinity of Aleppo, according to Amnesty International."
"The Syrian military and the opposition fighters must both adhere to international humanitarian law, which strictly forbids the use of tactics and weapons that fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets", he added.
Amnesty's record on impartiality suffered a fatal blow when they stated in 1991 that Iraqi soldiers had torn babies from their incubators in Kuwait and left them to die on the floor of the hospital's neo-natal unit. Arguably this sealed the 1991 onslaught on Iraq. The story that the Kuwaiti government rewarded Amnesty with $500,000 for endorsing this pack of lies has not gone away - and as far as I am aware, to date, has not been denied.
Amnesty's record suffered a further blow when it organised a demonstration last year, outside the London Syrian Embassy, with CAABU (Council for Arab British Understanding) calling for the overthrow of the sovereign Syrian government. A plan which was outlined by the US Embassy in Damascus in December 2005. This action arguably falls under the definition of incitement to terrorism, set out by the UN Security Council on 4th May 2012. (SC/10636.)
The Syrian government is doing what any nation would do to defend its country when attacked by terrorists, many from outside and many also with British accents, according to recently escaped, kidnapped British and Dutch journalists.
However, back to your 600 craters. The insurgents also seemingly have rocket propelled grenades and have also boasted of capturing tanks with heavy weaponry. However many craters or not, they will certainly be responsible for many and will not have clean hands.
Further, I do not seem to remember Amnesty blasting the British and Americans soldiers for killing, raping, murdering whole families of Iraqis and Afghans, also illegally invaded, who simply wanted their countries back, or were totally innocent victims.   
No doubt the all is now directed by your new US Head, former top aide to Hilary Clinton, who seems to hate most of the world's non Western population, especially those of the Middle East, or of predominantly Muslim heritage.
Amnesty has moved a long way from its fine founding aims.