Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience impairments across multiple domains, including cognition, quality of life, and social functioning. Structured exercise interventions may im Show more
Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience impairments across multiple domains, including cognition, quality of life, and social functioning. Structured exercise interventions may improve these outcomes. We hypothesised that aerobic and combined (aerobic plus resistance) exercise programs would enhance cognitive function, reduce symptom severity, and improve well-being. A PRISMA-guided search of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SciELO, and ClinicalTrials.gov (2009-2024) identified 17 randomized controlled trials. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses examined age and gender. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, publication bias with Egger's test, and certainty of evidence through GRADE. Structured exercise produced a moderate-to-large improvement in overall well-being (SMD = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.43-0.93; p < .001). Significant benefits were also observed in cognition (SMD = 0.59), symptom severity (SMD = 0.71), quality of life (SMD = 0.60), and social functioning (SMD = 0.55). Age and gender moderated treatment effects, with the strongest benefits in males and individuals aged 36-45. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of results. Mechanistic evidence suggests that improvements may be mediated through increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and reduced inflammatory signaling. Structured exercise is an effective adjunctive intervention for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, improving psychiatric and functional outcomes beyond standard care. Findings support the integration of personalized, scalable exercise programs within routine psychiatric treatment. Show less
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical cellular process that has been well characterized during embryonic development and cancer metastasis and it also is implicated in several physi Show more
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical cellular process that has been well characterized during embryonic development and cancer metastasis and it also is implicated in several physiological and pathological events including embryonic stem cell differentiation. During early stages of differentiation, human embryonic stem cells pass through EMT where deeper morphological, molecular and biochemical changes occur. Though initially considered as a decision between two states, EMT process is now regarded as a fluid transition where cells exist on a spectrum of intermediate states. In this work, using a CRISPR interference system in human embryonic stem cells, we describe a molecular characterization of the effects of downregulation of E-cadherin, one of the main initiation events of EMT, as a unique start signal. Our results suggest that the decrease and delocalization of E-cadherin causes an incomplete EMT where cells retain their undifferentiated state while expressing several characteristics of a mesenchymal-like phenotype. Namely, we found that E-cadherin downregulation induces SNAI1 and SNAI2 upregulation, promotes MALAT1 and LINC-ROR downregulation, modulates the expression of tight junction occludin 1 and gap junction connexin 43, increases human embryonic stem cells migratory capacity and delocalize β-catenin. Altogether, we believe our results provide a useful tool to model the molecular events of an unstable intermediate state and further identify multiple layers of molecular changes that occur during partial EMT. Show less