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)

A pilot clinical study of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids inhibit tumour growth and angiogenesis in animal models, so their potential application as antitumoral drugs has been suggested. However, the antitumoral effect of cannabinoids has never been tested in humans. Here we report the first clinical study aimed at assessing cannabinoid antitumoral action, specifically a pilot phase I trial in which nine patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme were administered THC intratumoraly. The patients had previously failed standard therapy (surgery and radiotherapy) and had clear evidence of tumour progression. The primary end point of the study was to determine the safety of intracranial THC administration. We also evaluated THC action on the length of survival and various tumour-cell parameters. A dose escalation regimen for THC administration was assessed. Cannabinoid delivery was safe and could be achieved without overt psychoactive effects. Median survival of the cohort from the beginning of cannabinoid administration was 24 weeks (95% confidence interval: 15–33). Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol inhibited tumour-cell proliferation in vitro and decreased tumour-cell Ki67 immunostaining when administered to two patients. The fair safety profile of THC, together with its possible antiproliferative action on tumour cells reported here and in other studies, may set the basis for future trials aimed at evaluating the potential antitumoral activity of cannabinoids

Evolution after Anti-TNF Discontinuation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicenter Long-Term Follow-Up Study

OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to assess the risk of relapse after discontinuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to identify the factors associated with relapse, and to evaluate the overcome after retreatment with the same anti-TNF in those who relapsed.METHODS:This was a retrospective, observational, multicenter study. IBD patients who had been treated with anti-TNFs and in whom these drugs were discontinued after clinical remission was achieved were included.RESULTS:A total of 1, 055 patients were included. The incidence rate of relapse was 19% and 17% per patient-year in Crohn''s disease and ulcerative colitis patients, respectively. In both Crohn''s disease and ulcerative colitis patients in deep remission, the incidence rate of relapse was 19% per patient-year. The treatment with adalimumab vs. infliximab (hazard ratio (HR)=1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01-1.66), elective discontinuation of anti-TNFs (HR=1.90; 95% CI=1.07-3.37) or discontinuation because of adverse events (HR=2.33; 95% CI=1.27-2.02) vs. a top-down strategy, colonic localization (HR=1.51; 95% CI=1.13-2.02) vs. ileal, and stricturing behavior (HR=1.5; 95% CI=1.09-2.05) vs. inflammatory were associated with a higher risk of relapse in Crohn''s disease patients, whereas treatment with immunomodulators after discontinuation (HR=0.67; 95% CI=0.51-0.87) and age (HR=0.98; 95% CI=0.97-0.99) were protective factors. None of the factors were predictive in ulcerative colitis patients. Retreatment of relapse with the same anti-TNF was effective (80% responded) and safe.CONCLUSIONS:The incidence rate of inflammatory bowel disease relapse after anti-TNF discontinuation is relevant. Some predictive factors of relapse after anti-TNF withdrawal have been identified. Retreatment with the same anti-TNF drug was effective and safe

¿Es la distimia tardía un trastorno diferente a la distimia precoz?

La distimia es un tipo de depresión crónica, de al menos dos años de duración, a menudo acompañada de episodios sobreañadidos de depresión mayor. Los pacientes con distimia parecen formar un grupo heterogéneo. Este artículo revisa lo que se sabe de las características de la distimia en los pacientes geriátricos. La mayoría de los pacientes distímicos ancianos no son simplemente pacientes jóvenes que han envejecido. La distimia en los ancianos se relaciona menos con trastornos comórbidos en el eje I y en el eje II, pero está más asociada a las enfermedades somáticas y a los acontecimientos vitales estresantes

The flexible surface revisited: Adsorbate-induced reconstruction, homocoupling, and sonogashira cross-coupling on the Au(100) surface

Phenylacetylene (PA) and iodobenzene (IB) are prototypical reactants in Sonogashira cross-coupling. Their adsorption behavior and reactivity on the Au(100) surface were studied by STM, temperature-programmed desorption and reaction, and DFT calculations that included the effect of dispersion forces. The two species exhibited very different behavior. Thus, even at 200 K, PA rearranged Au surface atoms so as to lift the hex reconstruction and adsorb in 4-fold-symmetric islands on the unreconstructed 100 surface. On the other hand, IB adsorbed on the reconstructed hex surface, again as islands, forming three different coexisting close-packed structures. The DFT results are in good accord with these findings, demonstrating the strong preference of PA and IB for the (100) and hex surfaces, respectively. Moreover, the calculated adsorption energies were in satisfactory agreement with values estimated from the desorption data. Adsorbed separately, both PA and IB underwent homocoupling, yielding diphenyl diacetylene and biphenyl, respectively; in the former case, reaction appeared to originate at island boundaries. On the well-annealed surface, coadsorbed PA and IB behaved independently, generating only products of homocoupling. However, on the Ar+ roughened surface, Sonogashira cross-coupling also occurred, yielding diphenyl acetylene. These findings are discussed in terms of the island-forming propensity of the reactants, amplified by the labile nature of the Au 100 surface under adsorption and the marked preference of the two reactants for different substrate structures, factors that act to inhibit the formation of a mixed adlayer and suppress reactivity. The implications for the behavior of practical Au nanoparticle catalysts are considered. © 2014 American Chemical Society.Peer Reviewe

New religious movements

‘New religious movements’ (NRMs) is a term used to describe minority religions that have recently become visible in a society. They have appeared throughout the world and throughout history, and they have differed from each other with respect to their beliefs, practices, and lifestyles, as well as the effects they have on their members and on society. However, they do tend to consist of converts; to have a membership that is atypical of the rest of the population; to have a charismatic leader; to change more rapidly and radically than older, more established religions; and to evoke fear, suspicion, and, not infrequently, antagonism from nonmember