Single-Base Gene Variants in and Genes Related to the Epileptogenic Process in Drug-Responsive and Drug-Resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy-A Preliminary Study in a Brazilian Cohort Sample.

The drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has recently been associated with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in microRNA(miR)-146a () (rs2910164) and Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 1 () (rs2298771 and rs3812718) genes. Moreover, no studies have shown an association between these SNVs and susceptibility to drug-resistant and drug-responsive TLE in Brazil. Thus, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from 120 patients with TLE (55 drug-responsive and 65 drug-resistant) were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Occipital dermal sinus associated with infectious teratoma in an adult patient affected by Klippel-Feil syndrome: Rare case report and literature review.

Background: The Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the fusion of cervical vertebrae, which may be associated with other malformations, such as dermoid tumors and teratoma. Some theories explain the embryology of these associations. Another condition that may be present is the dermal sinus (DS), communication between intracranial tumors and the subcutaneous tissue, and predisposing infections.

Kaempferol and Biomodified Kaempferol from Extract as Potential Sources of Anti-Cancer Polyphenolics against High Grade Glioma Cell Lines.

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the extract of by two glycosyl hydrolases (hesperidinase and galactosidase) was performed in order to obtain kaempferol (KPF)-enriched extract with an enhanced anticancer activity. The current study examined the effectiveness of both extracts (before (KPF-BBR) and after (KPF-ABR) bioconversion reactions) in reducing cell viability and inducing apoptosis in human high-degree gliomas in vitro. Cytotoxicity was determined using an MTT assay.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizininate Improves Skin Wound Healing by Modulating Inflammatory Process.

Wound healing is characterized by a systemic and complex process of cellular and molecular activities. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate (DPG), a side product derived from glycyrrhizic acid, has several biological effects, such as being antiallergic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, gastroprotective, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of topical DPG on the healing of cutaneous wounds by secondary intention in an in vivo experimental model.

Evaluating Single-Nucleotide Variants in MicroRNA Targeting Sites and Mature MicroRNA In Vitro Cell Culture by Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs of 21-24 nucleotides in length that modulate gene expression by targeting the untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in primary miRs (pri-miRs), precursor miRs (pre-miRs), promoters of pri-miRs, and seed regions can affect miR stability or processing, may influence mature miR expression, and can affect target gene identification, respectively. The present protocol tests the binding and activity of miRs on 3'-UTR target sequences based on the expression of luciferase as a reporter gene fused to the UTR sequence in the presence of plasmids containing pre-miR of interest to test in vitro cell culture assay.

Guidelines on Designing MicroRNA Sponges: From Construction to Stable Cell Line.

Single microRNA (miRNA) can be inhibited using antagomiR which efficiently knocks down a specific miRNA. However, the effect is transient and often results in subtle phenotype. Here we report a guideline on designing miRNA sponges inhibiting a miRNA family.

Anti-Migratory Effect of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate on Glioblastoma Cell Lines: Microarray Data for the Identification of Key MicroRNA Signatures.

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway has been reported to be responsible for the aggressive disease phenomenon observed in glioblastoma (GBM). Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DPG), a dipotassium salt of glycyrrhizic acid isolated from licorice, has recently demonstrated an anti-tumoral effect on GBM cell lines U87MG and T98G through NF-κB suppression by - and -mediating microRNA (miR)-16 and miR-146a, respectively. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the expression profiles of miRNAs related to NF-κB suppression in T98G GBM cell line after DPG exposure using miRNA microarray (Affymetrix Human miRNA 4.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate on Melanoma Cell Line: Inhibition of Cerebral Metastases Formation by Targeting NF-kB Genes-Mediating MicroRNA-4443 and MicroRNA-3620-Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate Effect on Melanoma.

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural compound isolated from licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects in vitro. Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DPG), a dipotassium salt of GA, also has shown an anti-tumor effect on glioblastoma cell lines, U87MG and T98G. The study investigated the DPG effects in the melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28).

Clinical characteristics and comorbidities of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with Down syndrome: first year report in Brazil.

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are more affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19 pandemic when compared with other populations. Therefore, the primary aim of our study was to report the death (case fatality rate) from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Brazilian hospitalized patients with DS from 03 January 2020 to 04 April 2021. The secondary objectives were (i) to compare the features of patients with DS and positive for COVID-19 (G1) to those with DS and with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) from other etiological factors (G2) to tease apart the unique influence of COVID-19, and (ii) to compare the features of patients with DS and positive for COVID-19 to those without DS, but positive for COVID-19 (G3) to tease apart the unique influence of DS.

Epidemiologic Profile of Patients With Epilepsy in a Region of Southeast Brazil: Data From a Referral Center.

Introduction: Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. In Brazil, epidemiological studies are outdated and restricted to specific regions, mostly due to the continental size of country.

Objective: We aimed to present the first evidence-based study on the epidemiological aspects of individuals with epilepsy, mapping the characteristics of this disease in a referral center in a region of Southeast Brazil.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in an older patient: Minireview and a case report.

Rare cases of unusual thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) have been reported. The unusual symptoms are called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). In the present study, a brief background about cases of unusual thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was provided.

The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Licorice ()-Derived Compounds in Intestinal Disorders.

Intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiological data have shown that IBD patients are at an increased risk for the development of CRC. IBD-associated cancer develops against a background of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and their products contribute to cancer development and progression.

Natural Plant Compounds: Does Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Curcumin, and Euphol Play Roles as Antitumoral Compounds in Glioblastoma Cell Lines?

Many plant-derived compounds are shown to be promising antitumor therapeutic agents by enhancing apoptosis-related pathways and cell cycle impairment in tumor cells, including glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines. We aimed to review four natural plant compounds effective in GBM cell lines as caffeine, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DPG), curcumin, and euphol. Furthermore, antitumoral effect of these plant compounds on GBM cell lines through microRNAs (miRs) modulation was investigated.

The state of the art of biomedical applications of optogenetics.

Background And Objective: Optogenetics has opened new insights into biomedical research with the ability to manipulate and control cellular activity using light in combination with genetically engineered photosensitive proteins. By stimulating with light, this method provides high spatiotemporal and high specificity resolution, which is in contrast to conventional pharmacological or electrical stimulation. Optogenetics was initially introduced to control neural activities but was gradually extended to other biomedical fields.

One Year of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brazil: A Political and Social Overview.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) became the deadliest pandemic of the new millennium. One year after it became a pandemic, the current COVID-19 situation in Brazil is an example of how the impacts of a pandemic are beyond health outcomes and how health, social, and political actions are intertwined.

Objectives: We aimed to provide an overview of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, from a social and political point of view, and to discuss the perspectives from now on.

Dravet syndrome and Dravet syndrome-like phenotype: a systematic review of the SCN1A and PCDH19 variants.

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare and severe epileptic syndrome of childhood with prevalence between 1/22,000 and 1/49,900 of live births. Approximately 80% of patients with this syndrome present SCN1A pathogenic variants, which encodes an alpha subunit of a neural voltage-dependent sodium channel. There is a correlation between PCDH19 pathogenic variants, encodes the protocadherin 19, and a similar disease to DS known as DS-like phenotype.

Single-Nucleotide Variants in microRNAs Sequences or in their Target Genes Might Influence the Risk of Epilepsy: A Review.

Single-nucleotide variant (SNV) is a single base mutation at a specific location in the genome and may play an import role in epilepsy pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to review case-control studies that have investigated the relationship between SNVs within microRNAs (miRs) sequences or in their target genes and epilepsy susceptibility from January 1, 2010 to October 31, 2020. Nine case-control studies were included in the present review.

The Pharmacological Action of Kaempferol in Central Nervous System Diseases: A Review.

Kaempferol (KPF) is a flavonoid antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Many studies have described the beneficial effects of dietary KPF in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer. Nevertheless, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying KPF actions in the central nervous system (CNS).

Single nucleotide variants c.-13G → C (rs17429833) and c.108C → T (rs72466472) in the CLDN1 gene and increased risk for familial colorectal cancer.

Background: The Claudin-1 (CLDN1) protein plays an important role in the function of the tight junction and studies have shown it is aberrantly downregulated in many tumors including colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between four SNVs in the CLDN1 gene [c.-13G → C (rs17429833), c.

COVID-19 in the Indigenous Population of Brazil.

Brazil has 896,917 Indigenous individuals distributed among 505 Indigenous lands. There are 274 different Indigenous languages within 305 Indigenous ethnic groups. The Indigenous population is susceptible to pandemics, especially to the current pandemic of COVID-19, which has spread rapidly.

The association of a single-nucleotide variant in the microRNA-146a with advanced colorectal cancer prognosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of single-nucleotide variant n.60G>C (rs2910164) of microRNA (miR)-146a, related to suppressing of BRCA1/2 DNA repair protein, with the risk and survival of colorectal cancer patients, as well as miR-146a and levels and miR binding efficiency. The genotypes were identified in 125 colorectal cancer patients and 276 controls using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assay.

The single nucleotide variant n.60G>C in the microRNA-146a associated with susceptibility to drug-resistant epilepsy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate single nucleotide variants (SNVs) n.-411A > G (rs57095329) and n.60 G > C (rs2910164) in microRNA (miR)-146a, related to suppressing of TRAF6 with risk for epilepsy, as well as miR-146a and TRAF6 levels.

Growth Inhibitory Effects of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate in Glioblastoma Cell Lines by Targeting MicroRNAs Through the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

It has been shown that nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) is constitutively activated in glioblastoma (GBM), suggesting that the pathway could be a therapeutic target. Glycyrrhetic acid (GA), a compound isolated from licorice (), has been shown to decrease cell viability and increases apoptosis in human cancer cell lines by NF-κB signaling pathway suppression. Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DPG), a dipotassium salt of GA, has anti-inflammatory properties without toxicity.

Optogenetics: the new molecular approach to control functions of neural cells in epilepsy, depression and tumors of the central nervous system.

The optogenetic tools have been described as valuable techniques to study neural activity through light stimulation, as well as potential neuromodulator approaches in the management of several central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Since the first bacteriorhodopsin protein described as a single-component light-activated regulator of transmembrane ion flow description, in 1980's, the focus has been on channel proteins for neurobiology; however, the advances in engineering techniques showed involvement changes in cellular biological behavior in several types of proteins involved in cell cytoskeleton regulation, motility and gene expression. Although the use of this technology has been published in many papers, a question still remains regarding real results and potential clinical applicability in CNS diseases, as well as the publications scarcity that systematically analyses the published results.