Abstract: The present invention provides a nutritional composition for use in a weight loss dietary intervention or maintenance of weight, particularly following a dietary intervention, preferably a low caloric diet intervention. The nutritional composition comprises one or more amino acids, or combinations thereof, selected from the group consisting of: proline, histidine, glycine, and/or hydroxyproline, that can be used to help the weight loss in obese subjects that are resistant to weight loss by caloric restricted dietary interventions alone. In addition, the nutritional composition of the invention can be used to help maintain the weight loss, particularly after dietary intervention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the degree of weight loss attainable by applying one or more dietary interventions to a subject and/or the degree of maintenance of weight loss following one or more dietary interventions; which method comprises determining the level of microRNA-486 (miR-486) in one or more samples obtained from the subject; and/or determining the nucleotide of the subject at one or more polymorphic positions genetically linked to miR-486.

Abstract: An agent capable of decreasing the activity of FAM46A for use in supporting weight maintenance and/or treating obesity.

Abstract: An agent capable of decreasing the activity of FAM46A for use in supporting weight maintenance and/or treating or preventing obesity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the degree of weight loss attainable by applying one or more dietary interventions to a subject and/or the degree of maintenance of weight loss following one or more dietary interventions; which method comprises determining the level of microRNA-486 (miR-486) in one or more samples obtained from the subject; and/or determining the nucleotide of the subject at one or more polymorphic positions genetically linked to miR-486.

Abstract: An agent capable of increasing the activity of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) for use in increasing leptin levels. The invention also relates to the use of such agents for supporting satiety and for supporting weight maintenance and/or treating or preventing obesity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a risk of, or of detecting the predisposition to or the presence of autism in a subject, the method comprising detecting the combined presence of risk-associated SNP alleles at multiple loci in a sample from said subject, which method comprises genotyping a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene loci of at least HTR5A, MACF1, RBFOX1, ABR, PTPRG, CACNA2D1, GFRA1, DSCAML1, CHRM3, LPPR4, DLG2, SLC9A9 and BASP1.

Abstract: The invention provides methods featuring the use of polymorphisms in the JARID2 gene to diagnosis autism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the presence of or predisposition to autism, or to an autism spectrum disorder in a subject, the method comprising detecting the combined presence of an alteration in the gene loci of at least PITX1, ATP2B2, EN2, JARID2, MARK1, ITGB3, CNTNAP2, and HOXA1 in a sample from said subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the level of risk for a subject to develop autism, or an autism spectrum disorder, which method comprises determining the number of risk alleles in autism-associated gene loci in a sample of a subject, wherein the more risk alleles are detected within said gene loci combined, the more increased is the risk of developing autism or an autism-spectrum disorder.