Mutual prediction of peer relationship and internalizing problem of preschool children / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the mutual prediction relationship between peer relationship and internalizing problem.@*Methods@#One-year follow up survey was conducted with a sample of 220 preschool children from 4 kindergartens in Shandong province. The quality of peer relationship and degree of internalizing problem were evaluated with the Peer Relationship Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist Cross-lagged panel analysis was used for mutual prediction among variables.@*Results@#The quality of preschool children’s peer relationship showed an increasing trend with grade(F=6.40, 4.81, P<0.01), while the degree of internalizing problem showed a downward trend(F=7.65, 5.46, P<0.01). The predictive effect of pre-test peer relationship and internalizing problem on post-test corresponding behaviors were all statistically significant (β=0.56, 0.49, P<0.01). The predictive effect of pre-test peer relationship on post-test internalizing problem was statistically significant(β=-0.19, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Both peer relationship and internalizing problem has a certain stability across time, and early peer relationship and internalizing problem could predict later corresponding behaviors. Early peer relationship can predict later internalizing problem, while early internalizing problem cannot predict later peer relationship.

SALL4 suppresses PTEN expression to promote glioma cell proliferation via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4), a oncogene, is known to participate in multiple carcinomas, and is up-regulated in glioma. However, its actual role and underlying mechanisms in the development of glioma remain unclear. The present study explored the molecular functions of SALL4 in promoting cell proliferation in glioma. The expression level of SALL4 in 69 human glioma samples and six non-tumor brain tissues was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then, we transfected U87 and U251 cell lines with siRNA, and assessed cellular proliferation and cell cycle to understand the function of SALL4, and the relationship between SALL4, PTEN and PI3K/AKT pathway. PCR confirmed that the expression of SALL4 was higher in the glioma samples than non-tumor brain tissues. Cellular growth and proliferation were dramatically reduced following inhibition of SALL4 expression. Western blot showed increase in PTEN expression when SALL4 was silenced, which in turn depressed the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, suggesting that PTEN was a downstream target of SALL4 in glioma development. Therefore, SALL4 could act as a proto-oncogene by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby facilitating proliferation of glioma cells.

Human fibulin-3 protein variant expresses anti-cancer effects in the malignant glioma extracellular compartment in intracranial xenograft models.

BACKGROUND: Decades of cytotoxic and more recently immunotherapy treatments for malignant glioma have had limited success due to dynamic intra-tumoral heterogeneity. The dynamic interplay of cancer cell subpopulations has been found to be under the control of proteins in the cancer microenvironment. EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein (EFEMP1) (also fibulin-3) has the multiple functions of suppressing cancer growth and angiogenesis, while promoting cancer cell invasion. EFEMP1-derived tumor suppressor protein (ETSP) retains EFEMP1's anti-growth and anti-angiogenic functions while actually inhibiting cancer cell invasion. METHODS: In this study, we examined the therapeutic effect on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) of an in vitro synthesized protein, ZR30, which is based on the sequence of ETSP, excluding the signaling peptide. RESULTS: ZR30 showed the same effects as ETSP in blocking EGFR/NOTCH/AKT signaling pathways, when applied to cultures of multiple GBM cell lines and primary cultures. ZR30's inhibition of MMP2 activation was shown not only for GBM cells, but also for other types of cancer cells having overexpression of MMP2. A significant improvement in survival of mice with orthotopic human GBM xenografts was observed after a single, intra-tumoral injection of ZR30. Using a model mimicking the intra-tumoral heterogeneity of GBM with cell subpopulations carrying different invasive and proliferative phenotypes, we demonstrated an equal and simultaneous tumor suppressive effect of ZR30 on both tumor cell subpopulations, with suppression of FOXM1 and activation of SEMA3B expressions in the xenografts. CONCLUSION: Overall, the data support a complementary pleiotrophic therapeutic effect of ZR30 acting in the extracellular compartment of GBM.

Risk of pneumonia in central nervous system injury with alcohol intake: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Central nervous system (CNS) injury can increased the risk of secondary mortality because of its late inflammatory complications. Alcohol intake increases the risk of damage and complications subsequent to a (CNS) injury. How about the risk of pneumonia after CNS injury under the effect of alcoholic drink? Though animal trails of material prosperity and studies for human have been investigated in recent decades, the outcome maintains poor understanding. Pneumonia is one of the serious complication at the time of hospitalization and it should be known as more as possible for steadying patient conditions in intensive care unit and shortening length of stay. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of published materials to assess the association between alcohol intake and pneumonia in CNS injury. METHODS: Two authors searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and web of science up to September, 2014 for published literatures without any limitations. Reference lists from identified studies were also screened carefully by us for additional data. The summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by statistical analysis software (Stata 12.0) with fixed-effects models to estimate the risk. RESULT: The results indicated that a higher incidence of pneumonia was found in CNS injury under the influence of alcohol (RR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.21-1.43), and the risk has no relation to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (BAC ≥ 80 mg/dl vs < 80 mg/dl, BAC ≥ 100 mg/dl vs < 100 mg/dl). CONCLUSION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury patients who are under the influence of alcoholic drink have a higher risk of pneumonia.

MicroRNA-199a-3p suppresses glioma cell proliferation by regulating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Glioma has been investigated for decades, but the prognosis remains poor because of rapid proliferation, its aggressive potential, and its resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is highly expressed and regulates cellular proliferation and cell growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene transcription and translation via up-regulating or down-regulating the levels of miRNAs. This study was conducted to explore the molecular functions of miR-199a-3p in glioma. We detected the expression of miR-199a-3p in glioma samples by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Then, we transfected the U87 and U251 cell lines with miR-199a-3p. Cellular proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed to explain the function of miR-199a-3p. PCR confirmed that the expression of miR-199a-3p was lower in glioma samples combined with normal brain tissues. The over-expression of miR-199a-3p might target mTOR and restrained cellular growth and proliferation but not invasive and apoptosis capability. Results indicated that cellular proliferation was inhibited to regulate the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by elevating levels of miR-199a-3p. MiR-199a-3p in glioma cell lines has effects similar to the tumor suppressor gene on cellular proliferation via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.