MAGI3 Suppresses Glioma Cell Proliferation via Upregulation of PTEN Expression / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted 3 (MAGI3) in glioma cell proliferation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression levels of MAGI3 and PTEN were assessed in glioma samples by Western blotting. MAGI3 was stably transfected into C6 glioma cells to obtain C6-MAGI3 cells. Then, the proliferation, the expression levels of MAGI3 and PTEN, and Akt phosphorylation were evaluated in C6 and C6-MAGI3 cells. Xenograft tumor models were established by subcutaneous injection of C6 and C6-MAGI3 cells into nude mice, and the growth rates of xenografts in the mice were compared. The potential role of MAGI3 expression in PI3K/Akt signaling activation was further investigated by examining the correlation between MAGI3 expression and the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling downstream target genes in a glioma dataset using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression levels of MAGI3 and PTEN were significantly downregulated in gliomas. Overexpression of MAGI3 in the glioma C6 cell line upregulated PTEN protein expression, inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, and suppressed cell proliferation. MAGI3 overexpression also inhibited the growth of C6 glioma tumor xenografts in nude mice. Analysis based on the GEO database confirmed the negative correlation between activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and MAGI3 mRNA levels in human glioma samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The loss of MAGI3 expression in glioma may enhance the proliferation of glioma cells via downregulation of PTEN expression, leading to the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. MAGI3 is a potential glioma suppressor.</p>

Cross-cultural translation of the INSPIRIT-R for Brazil and its applicability among epilepsy patients / Adaptação transcultural do instrumento INSPIRIT-R no Brasil e aspectos de sua aplicação em pacientes com epilepsia

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cross-cultural adaptation of the INSPIRIT-R instrument for evaluation of religious and spiritual experiences into a Brazilian Portuguese version and its applicability among epileptic patients. METHOD: After the translation and back-translation phases, a multidisciplinary committee compared the back-translation with the original text in order to evaluate its content, comprehensibility, conceptual equivalence, cultural and contextual adjustment for Brazilian population. Lastly, the final version was tested on 50 long-term followed-up outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 33.7 years (18-55) and 26 (52 percent) were women. They had attended school for a mean of 8.0 years (3-17) years. Most of them (80 percent) were Catholics and 82 percent had a confirmed diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsy. In the final Portuguese version, questions 3, 7C and 7E required slight modifications, along with the layout of question 7. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the INSPIRIT-R instrument was easily understood by most of the patients, after minimal modifications.

OBJETIVO: Realizar a adaptação transcultural do instrumento INSPIRIT-R para avaliação de religiosidade e espiritualidade em pacientes com epilepsia no Brasil. MÉTODO: Após as fases de tradução e retrotradução do instrumento, uma equipe multidisciplinar julgou as versões obtidas quanto à clareza, compreensibilidade, manutenção do conceito original e sua adequação de sentido para a população brasileira. Foram testados 50 pacientes do ambulatório de epilepsia em Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 33,7 anos (18-55) e a média de escolaridade foi de 8,0 anos (3-17). As mulheres representaram 52 por cento. Os católicos perfizeram 80 por cento e 82 por cento dos pacientes e apresentavam epilepsia do lobo temporal como diagnóstico sindrômico. Na versão final em português, as questões 3, 7C e 7E sofreram modificações, assim como a forma de apresentação da questão 7. CONCLUSÃO: A versão em português do INSPIRIT-R foi facilmente compreendida, sendo mínimas as modificações realizadas no processo de adaptação cultural deste instrumento.

Epilepsy and occupational accidents in Brazil: a national statistics study / Epilepsia e acidentes de trabalho no Brasil: um estudo das estatísticas nacionais

Epilepsy may restrict the patient's daily life. It causes lower quality of life and increased risk for work-related accidents (WRA). The aim of this study is to analyze the implantation of the Epidemiologic and Technical Security System Nexus (ETSSN) and WRA patterns among patients with epilepsy. Data regarding WRA, between 1999 and 2008, on the historical database of WRA Infolog Statistical Yearbook from Brazilian Ministry of Social Security were reviewed. There was a significant increase of reported cases during the ten year period, mainly after the establishment of the ETSSN. The increased granted benefits evidenced the epidemiologic association between epilepsy and WRA. ETSSN possibly raised the registration of occupational accidents and granted benefits. However, the real number of WRA may remain underestimated due to informal economy and house workers' accidents which are usually not included in the official statistics in Brazil.

A epilepsia pode restringir o cotidiano do paciente, levando a comprometimento da qualidade de vida e risco aumentado de sofrer acidentes. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o impacto do Nexo Técnico Epidemiológico Previdenciário (NTEP) sobre os acidentes de trabalho envolvendo pacientes com epilepsia. Pesquisando as estatísticas de acidentes de trabalho, ocorridos entre 1999 a 2008, na Base de Dados Históricos do Anuário Estatístico de Acidentes de Trabalho do Ministério da Previdência Social, observou-se aumento no número de acidentes de trabalho neste período de dez anos. Houve um aumento significativo no número de casos registrados, intensificado após a instituição do NTEP. O aumento de benefícios concedidos pela Previdência Social possivelmente se deve à aceitação do vínculo entre epilepsia e acidentes de trabalho sem necessidade de demonstração individualizada. Entretanto, grande parte dos acidentes pode não constar das estatísticas por acontecer na economia informal ou entre trabalhadores domésticos.

Espectroscopia por ressonância magnética de prótons em epilepsia mioclônica juvenil sugere o comprometimento de uma rede neuronal específica / Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients suggests involvement of a specific neuronal network

OBJECTIVES: The neuroanatomical basis and the neurochemical abnormalities that underlay juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) are not fully defined. While the thalamus plays a central role in synchronization of widespread regions of the cerebral cortex during a seizure, emerging evidence suggests that all cortical neurons may not be homogeneously involved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cerebral metabolic differences between patients with JME and normal controls. METHODS: All patients had a JME diagnosis based on seizure history and semiology, EEG recording, normal magnetic resonance neuroimaging (MRI) and video-EEG. Forty JME patients (JME-P) were submitted to 1.5 T MRI proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS), multi-voxel with PRESS sequence (TR/TE = 1500/30 ms) over the following locations: prefrontal cortex (PC), frontal cortex (FC), thalamus, basal nuclei, posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG), insular, parietal and occipital cortices. We determined ratios for integral values of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and glutamine-glutamate (GLX) over creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr). The control group (CTL) consisted of 20 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Group analysis demonstrated a tendency for lower NAA/Cr ratio of JME-P compared to CTL predominantly on FC, PC, thalamus and occipital cortex. When compared to CTL, JME-P had a statistically significant difference in GLX/Cr on FC, PC, insula, basal nuclei, PCG and on thalamus. When evaluating the relationship among the various components of this epileptic network among JME-P, the strongest correlation occurred between thalamus and PC. Also, we found a significant negative correlation between NAA/Cr and duration of epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Reductions in NAA may represent loss or injury of neurons and/or axons, as well as metabolic dysfunction while glutamate is considered to be an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain which is involved in the pathogenesis of epileptogenic seizures.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Jah Hut peoples in Malaysia.

CONTEXT: An ethnobotanical study was carried out among the Jah Hut people who live in the central part of peninsular Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information on the medicinal plants was obtained from interview with a traditional medicinal man. The traditional uses and remedies were documented. The literature searches were carried out for the evaluation on the current status of investigations on these plants. RESULTS: In this study, we present 16 species of plants, which are commonly used among the Jah Hut people to cure some common diseases. DISCUSSION: This study is important to preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants used by Jah Hut people. The surveys of phytopharmacological literatures of these plants have great pharmacological and ethnobotanical significance.

Promotion of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Myanmar.

A simple health promotion message administered by village midwives raised bednet usage to over 60% in trial hamlets in north Shan State, Myanmar. Treatment of the nets in the study villages produced a reduction in malaria cases. Most villagers were prepared to buy their nets at market prices and were willing to pay for the cost of re-treatment of nets, but very poor, members of the Wa ethnic group required a half-price subsidy for them to afford them. The use of insecticide treated bednets was felt to be appropriate for undeveloped and remote areas of the country where malaria control was difficult.

Successful bone marrow transplantation in a Chinese boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

We describe the successful use of HLA-compatible sibling bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in a 17-month-old Chinese boy in whom Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) was diagnosed on the basis of eczema, thrombocytopenia, recurrent otitis media and abnormal immunological tests. The conditioning chemotherapy included 2 days' oral busulfan, 40 mg/m2/6 hours, and 2 days' intravenous cyclophosphamide, 60 mg/kg/day (BU2CY2). Complete hematological chimerism was achieved 3 weeks after transplantation. Eight months after his BMT the eczema has resolved, platelet count is normal, and he no longer has frequent infections. BU2CY2 as a preconditioning regimen gave complete lymphohematopoietic engraftment in this WAS patient with no evidence of graft-versus-host disease. The excellent clinical response of this patient and the inevitable fatal outcome of WAS support the opinion that where a histocompatible donor is available, BMT at the earliest opportunity is the best option. We believe this is the first case of successful BMT in a Chinese patient with WAS.

Monoclonal gammopathies and the related autoimmune manifestations in Taiwan.

A total of 50,000 patients were surveyed for the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins during the past two decades. There were 411 cases of monoclonal gammopathies including 243 cases of plasma cell neoplasms and 168 cases of secondary plasma-cell dyscrasia. Among the 227 cases of multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, there were 49.3% IgG class, 22.9% IgA class, 9.7% IgM class and 13.2% light chain type. In addition, there were 1.3% of nonexcretory myeloma including an IgM type. A relatively high frequency (4.8%) of IgD M-proteins was detected but heavy chain disease was not encountered in the present series. Purified M-components from patients with possible autoimmune manifestations were subjected to immunofluorescence studies. Autoimmune activity of M-proteins was found in a patient of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with peripheral neuropathy, and another patient of cryofibrinogenemia with recurrent purpura and gangrene. In conclusion, a high frequency of IgD myeloma is found in Chinese patients of this area. M-components may have autoimmune activity resulting in unusual clinical manifestations.

Status and trend of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan, December, 1991.

From May 1, 1985 to December 31, 1991, a total of 4,962,707 serum samples from 8 population groups in Taiwan were tested for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1). In total, 256 samples were seropositive; of these individuals, 43 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): 29 were homosexuals; 5 were hemophiliacs; 8 were heterosexuals and 1 was of unknown risk. Although the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and AIDS remains low compared with other countries, since 1988 the increase has been rapid. Before 1977 the majority were homosexuals and hemophiliacs; thereafter the risk groups diversified, with a trend away from homosexuals and hemophiliacs towards heterosexuals and intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). A few patients have caused serious social problems for the public, health care workers and families. Active community efforts are needed to achieve future success in the control of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan.

The nutritional situation in metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, with focus on squatters.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia with an estimated population of 1.55 million. Approximately 12% of the population live in squatter settlements occupying about 7% of the city total area. The squatter settlements generally are provided with basic amenities such as piped water, toilet facilities and electricity. Health indicators for the overall population of Kuala Lumpur are better off than for the rest of the country; however, intra-city differentials prevail along ethnic and socio-economic lines. Malays and Indians have higher rates for stillbirths, and neonatal, infant and toddler mortality than the Chinese. The wide disparity in the socio-economic status between the advantaged and the poor groups in the city is reflected in the dietary practices and nutritional status of young children from these communities. The percentage of preschool children from urban poor households with inadequate intakes of calories and nutrients is two to three times higher than those from the advantaged group. Compared to rural infants, a lower percentage of urban infants are breastfed. A lower percentage of Malays from the urban advantaged group breastfed, compared with the urban poor group. The reversed trend is found for the Chinese community. Growth attainment of young children from the urban poor is worse than the urban advantaged, though better than the rural poor. Health and nutritional practices implications related to both undernutrition and overnutrition are discussed, to illustrate the twin challenges of malnutrition in the city.

An autopsy-proved case of AIDS in Taiwan.

The first case of AIDS positively identified in a non-foreigner in Taiwan was a 25-year-old unmarried male who had practiced homosexuality for ten years. The patient began to have abdominal pain accompanied with loose stools and weight loss in June 1985, followed by fever, cough, headache, dizziness, and loss of memory. Facial hyperpigmentation and extensive oroesophageal candidiasis were noted. Laboratory studies showed severe lymphopenia with a reversed T-helper to T-suppressor ratio, cutaneous anergy and polyclonal gammopathy. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies were positive by ELISA and Western blot, and the virus was isolated from the blood. At autopsy, disseminated cytomegalovirus infection, extensive CNS toxoplasmosis and early lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma were demonstrated. The detection of HIV in the adrenal medulla supports the consensus that the virus is neurotropic.