A longitudinal study of gene expression in first-episode schizophrenia; exploring relapse mechanisms by co-expression analysis in peripheral blood

Little is known about the pathophysiological mechanisms of relapse in first-episode schizophrenia, which limits the study of potential biomarkers. To explore relapse mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers for relapse prediction, we analyzed gene expression in peripheral blood in a cohort of first-episode schizophrenia patients with less than 5 years of evolution who had been evaluated over a 3-year follow-up period. A total of 91 participants of the 2EPs project formed the sample for baseline gene expression analysis. Of these, 67 provided biological samples at follow-up (36 after 3 years and 31 at relapse). Gene expression was assessed using the Clariom S Human Array. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to identify modules of co-expressed genes and to analyze their preservation after 3 years of follow-up or at relapse. Among the 25 modules identified, one module was semi-conserved at relapse (DarkTurquoise) and was enriched with risk genes for schizophrenia, showing a dysregulation of the TCF4 gene network in the module. Two modules were semi-conserved both at relapse and after 3 years of follow-up (DarkRed and DarkGrey) and were found to be biologically associated with protein modification and protein location processes. Higher expression of DarkRed genes was associated with higher risk of suffering a relapse and early appearance of relapse (p = 0.045). Our findings suggest that a dysregulation of the TCF4 network could be an important step in the biological process that leads to relapse and suggest that genes related to the ubiquitin proteosome system could be potential biomarkers of relapse. © 2021, The Author(s)

Metodología para mejorar el análisis de datos satélite radar en el estudio de los movimientos de ladera: sierra de Tramuntana (Mallorca)

En el presente trabajo se presenta una metodología para mejorar el análisis de datos de desplazamientos de la superficie del terreno obtenidos mediante técnicas de interferometría diferencial avanzada (A-DInSAR) en el estudio de movimientos del terreno. En particular, se ha realizado un análisis de los movimientos del terreno con distintos satélites en la Sierra de Tramuntana (Mallorca). La metodología propuesta consta de tres partes principales. En la primera se propone un modelo previo al procesado DInSAR que determina cuales son las zonas idóneas para estimar desplazamientos del terreno. En la segunda parte, se propone un modelo posterior al procesado DInSAR en el que se proyecta el vector de desplazamiento obtenido en la línea de vista (LOS) de los distintos satélites, en función de la geometría del terreno. Así mismo se propone un método para determinar los rangos de estabilidad de los desplazamientos observados, Finalmente se realiza una validación de los datos de desplazamiento postprocesados para identificar movimientos de ladera activos y actualizar el inventario de los deslizamientos en la zona de estudio

Thymomectomy plus total thymectomy versus simple thymomectomy for early-stage thymoma without myasthenia gravis : a European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Thymic Working Group Study

OBJECTIVES: Resection of thymic tumours including the removal of both the tumour and the thymus gland (thymothymectomy; TT) is the procedure of choice and is recommended in most relevant articles in the literature. Nevertheless, in recent years, some authors have suggested that resection of the tumour (simple thymomectomy; ST) may suffice from an oncological standpoint in patients with early-stage thymoma who do not have myasthenia gravis (MG) (non-MG). The goal of our study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of ST versus TT in non-MG early-stage thymomas using the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons thymic database.METHODS: A total of 498 non-MG patients with pathological stage I thymoma were included in the study. TT was performed in 466 (93.6%) of 498 patients who had surgery with curative intent; ST was done in 32 (6.4%). The completeness of resection, the rate of complications, the 30-day mortality, the overall recurrence and the freedom from recurrence were compared. We performed crude and propensity score-adjusted comparisons by surgical approach (ST vs TT).RESULTS: TT showed the same rate of postoperative complications, 30-day mortality and postoperative length of stay as ST. The 5-year overall survival rate was 89% in the TT group and 55% in the ST group. The 5-year freedom from recurrence was 96% in the TT group and 79% in the ST group.CONCLUSION: Patients with early-stage thymoma without MG who have a TT show significantly better freedom from recurrence than those who have an ST, without an increase in postoperative morbidity rate