Gene co-expression architecture in peripheral blood in a cohort of remitted first-episode schizophrenia patients

A better understanding of schizophrenia subtypes is necessary to stratify the patients according to clinical attributes. To explore the genomic architecture of schizophrenia symptomatology, we analyzed blood co-expression modules and their association with clinical data from patients in remission after a first episode of schizophrenia. In total, 91 participants of the 2EPS project were included. Gene expression was assessed using the Clariom S Human Array. Weighted-gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify modules of co-expressed genes and to test its correlation with global functioning, clinical symptomatology, and premorbid adjustment. Among the 25 modules identified, six modules were significantly correlated with clinical data. These modules could be clustered in two groups according to their correlation with clinical data. Hub genes in each group showing overlap with risk genes for schizophrenia were enriched in biological processes related to metabolic processes, regulation of gene expression, cellular localization and protein transport, immune processes, and neurotrophin pathways. Our results indicate that modules with significant associations with clinical data showed overlap with gene sets previously identified in differential gene-expression analysis in brain, indicating that peripheral tissues could reveal pathogenic mechanisms. Hub genes involved in these modules revealed multiple signaling pathways previously related to schizophrenia, which may represent the complex interplay in the pathological mechanisms behind the disease. These genes could represent potential targets for the development of peripheral biomarkers underlying illness traits in clinical remission stages after a first episode of schizophrenia

Gaia Early Data Release 3: Structure and properties of the Magellanic Clouds

We compare the Gaia DR2 and Gaia EDR3 performances in the study of the Magellanic Clouds and show the clear improvements in precision and accuracy in the new release. We also show that the systematics still present in the data make the determination of the 3D geometry of the LMC a difficult endeavour; this is at the very limit of the usefulness of the Gaia EDR3 astrometry, but it may become feasible with the use of additional external data. We derive radial and tangential velocity maps and global profiles for the LMC for the several subsamples we defined. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the two planar components of the ordered and random motions are derived for multiple stellar evolutionary phases in a galactic disc outside the Milky Way, showing the differences between younger and older phases. We also analyse the spatial structure and motions in the central region, the bar, and the disc, providing new insights into features and kinematics. Finally, we show that the Gaia EDR3 data allows clearly resolving the Magellanic Bridge, and we trace the density and velocity flow of the stars from the SMC towards the LMC not only globally, but also separately for young and evolved populations. This allows us to confirm an evolved population in the Bridge that is slightly shift from the younger population. Additionally, we were able to study the outskirts of both Magellanic Clouds, in which we detected some well-known features and indications of new ones

The Gaia mission

Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page. http://www.cosmos.esa.int/gai

USOS DE SUELO EN EL PARTIDO DE ESTEBAN ECHEVERRÍA E IMPACTOS ANTRÓPICOS QUE OCURREN SOBRE LAS RIBERAS

In Esteban Echeverría's district, land uses / covers were determined by means of satellite image analysis and GIS and the anthropic impacts that occur on the banks of the water courses were characterized. The district is heterogeneous, there are all the previously defined uses and land covers. 31.4% of its surface corresponds to rural areas, which are crossed by 35.9 km of water courses. This represents 52% of the total of the waterways of the whole district. Although the urban area has a larger surface area (40.8% of the area of the district), it is only crossed by 19.8 km of water courses, which represent 28.7% of the total. From the analysis of the impacts, it was observed in most of the courses in urban areas, little riparian space, scarce vegetation, waterproofing of the floodplain, presence of transport routes (including numerous bridges), informal settlements, presence of garbage dumps, deposits of cars, among others. Most of these impacts could be minimized by relocating homes, implementing an urban solid waste management plan, an ecological rehabilitation plan, and proper planning of the advance of urbanization. Stretches of urban riverbanks are proposed to rehabilitate.En el partido de Esteban Echeverría se determinaron por medio de análisis de imágenes satelitales y SIG los usos/coberturas del suelo y se caracterizaron los impactos antrópicos que ocurren sobre las riberas de los cursos de agua. El partido es heterogéneo, se encuentran todos los usos y coberturas del suelo definidos previamente. Un 31,4% de su superficie, corresponde a zona rural, la cual es atravesada por 35,9 km de cursos de agua. Esto representa el 52% del total de los cursos de agua de todo el partido. Si bien la zona urbana es de mayor dimensión (40,8% de la superficie del partido), sólo es atravesada por 19,8 km de cursos de agua, los que representan el 28,7% del total. Del análisis de los impactos se observó en la mayoría de los cursos de zonas urbanas, poco espacio ribereño, escasa vegetación, impermeabilización de la llanura de inundación, presencia de vías de transporte (incluyendo numerosos puentes), asentamientos informales, presencia de basurales, depósitos de autos, entre otros. La mayoría de estos impactos se podrían minimizar relocalizando viviendas, implementando un plan de gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos, un plan de rehabilitación ecológica y una correcta planificación del avance de la urbanización. Se proponen tramos de riberas urbanas para rehabilitar.No distrito de Esteban Echeverría, foram determinados os usos / coberturas do solo por meio de análises de imagens de satélite e SIG e caracterizados os impactos antrópicos que ocorrem nas margens dos cursos d'água. O partido é heterogêneo, são todos os usos e ocupações do solo previamente definidos. 31,4% de sua superfície corresponde a áreas rurais, que são cortadas por 35,9 km de cursos d'água. Isso representa 52% do total das hidrovias de toda a festa. Embora a área urbana tenha uma superfície maior (40,8% da área do distrito), ela é cortada apenas por 19,8 km de cursos d'água, que representam 28,7% do total. A partir da análise dos impactos, observou-se na maioria dos cursos das áreas urbanas, pouca mata ciliar, vegetação escassa, impermeabilização da várzea, presença de vias de transporte (incluindo inúmeras pontes), assentamentos informais, presença de depósitos de lixo, depósitos de carros, entre outros. A maioria desses impactos poderia ser minimizada pela realocação de casas, implementação de um plano de gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos, um plano de reabilitação ecológica e planejamento adequado do avanço da urbanização. Propõe-se a reabilitação de troços de margens de rios urbanos

Ranolazine Attenuates Brain Inflammation in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes

Recent studies suggest a pathogenetic association between metabolic disturbances, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cognitive decline and indicate that T2DM may represent a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There are a number of experimental studies presenting evidence that ranolazine, an antianginal drug, acts as a neuroprotective drug. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on hippocampal neurodegeneration and astrocytes activation in a T2DM rat model. Diabetes was induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Animals were divided into the following groups: HFD/STZ + Ranolazine, HFD/STZ + Metformin, HFD/STZ + Vehicle, NCD + Vehicle, NCD + Ranolazine and NCD + Metformin. The presence of neurodegeneration was evaluated in the hippocampal cornus ammonis 1 (CA1) region by cresyl violet staining histological methods, while astrocyte activation was assessed by western blot analysis. Staining with cresyl violet highlighted a decrease in neuronal density and cell volume in the hippocampal CA1 area in diabetic HFD/STZ + Vehicle rats, while ranolazine and metformin both improved T2DM-induced neuronal loss and neuronal damage. Moreover, there was an increased expression of GFAP in the HFD/STZ + Vehicle group compared to the treated diabetic groups. In conclusion, in the present study, we obtained additional evidence supporting the potential use of ranolazine to counteract T2DM-associated cognitive decline