Overexpression of miR-98 inhibits cell invasion in glioma cell lines via downregulation of IKKε.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as negative regulators for the expression of genes involved in cancer metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of miR-98 in gliomas and validate its regulatory mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cell viability assays are used to measure proliferation of cell. mRNA expression is measured by qRT-PCR. Western blot analysis is used to measure protein expression. RESULTS: Functional studies showed that miR-98 overexpression inhibited glioma migration and invasion, but had no effect on the cell viability. An enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter assay, quantitative RT-PCR, and a western blot analysis confirmed that miR-98 suppressed the expression of IκB kinase (IKKε) by directly targeting its 3'-untranslated region, also, the NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression were significantly arrested in glioma cells treated with miR-98 mimics. Accordingly, the overexpression of IKKε or NF-κB p65 can restore cell migration and invasion after being inhibited by miR-98, and can restore NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation as well as increase MMP-9 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that miR-98 functions as a tumor suppressor in gliomas. Furthermore, miR-98 may act as a potential therapeutic biomarker for glioma patients.

Feasibility study of vertical subcutaneous injection of insulin with an insulin pen injector in diabetic patients with normal body mass index.

This study explored the feasibility of vertical insulin injection with an insulin pen injector in 40 Chinese diabetic outpatients with a normal body mass index. The patients, who received insulin in the hospital clinic, were assessed for abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and distribution at four abdominal points using ultrasonography. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and distribution were found to be heterogeneous and to differ significantly at these four points. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness was < 5 mm in nine of the 40 patients. In patients with abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness of < 5 mm, vertical insulin injection risks injecting into the muscle layer and is, therefore, not desirable. Vertical injection into pinched skin with a rotary syringe is safe and effective in such patients.

Mutation analysis of the FLCN gene in Chinese patients with sporadic and familial isolated primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a common manifestation of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome caused by folliculin gene (FLCN) mutation, which is also found in isolated familial PSP cases. A complete genetic analysis of FLCN was performed in 102 unrelated Chinese patients with isolated PSP and 21 of their family members. Three novel mutations (c.924_926del, c.1611_1631del and c.1740C>T) and a previously reported mutation (c.1733insC) were identified in five familial and five sporadic PSP patients. Of the 21 family members of patients with PSP including 3 previous considered as sporadic, 4 (19%) had history of at least one episode of PSP and 9 (43%) were FLCN mutant carriers without PSP. Seven of the nine (78%) mutant carriers had pulmonary cysts detected by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Although c.924_926del and c.1611_1631del were found in eight patients from the same geographic district, haplotype analysis demonstrated that they did not share the same affected haplotype, thus excluding common ancestry. This study first demonstrates that FLCN mutation contributes to not only familial but also 'apparently sporadic' patients with isolated PSP. It suggests that mutation analysis and HRCT scan may be recommended for first-degree family members of PSP patients with FLCN mutations, irrespective of their family history status of PSP.