Identification of miRNA-103 in the Cellular Fraction of Human Peripheral Blood as a Potential Biomarker for Malignant Mesothelioma – A Pilot Study

Background: To date, no biomarkers with reasonable sensitivity and specificity for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma have been described. The use of microRNAs (miRNAs) as minimally-invasive biomarkers has opened new opportunities for the diagnosis of cancer, primarily because they exhibit tumor-specific expression profiles and have been commonly observed in blood of both cancer patients and healthy controls. The aim of this pilot study was to identify miRNAs in the cellular fraction of human peripheral blood as potential novel biomarkers for the detection of malignant mesothelioma. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using oligonucleotide microarrays for biomarker identification the miRNA levels in the cellular fraction of human peripheral blood of mesothelioma patients and asbestos-exposed controls were analyzed. Using a threefold expression change in combination with a significance level of p,0.05, miR-103 was identified as a potential biomarker for malignant mesothelioma. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for validation of miR-103 in 23 malignant mesothelioma patients, 17 asbestos-exposed controls, and 25 controls from the general population. For discrimination of mesothelioma patients from asbestos-exposed controls a sensitivity of 83 % and a specificity of 71 % were calculated, and for discrimination of mesothelioma patients from the general population a sensitivity of 78 % and a specificity of 76%

Occurrence of adverse effects to the new dengue vaccine in school-aged children (9 years old and above) after the first dose in the Province of Cavite : a case report

The study is a case report that was done to determine the number of school-aged children (9 years old and above) who acquired their first dose of the new dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, and those that experienced any adverse event following immunization (AEFI) and identify these adverse effects related to the dengue vaccine administration in the province of Cavite from April to June 2016. The method of data collection used came from the records of the Cavite Provincial Health Office. Participants included all children who were enrolled in the mass dengue vaccination program who received the first dose of the new dengue vaccine, had their consent approved and did not meet the deference criteria. Only 45, 416 out of 68, 396 who were registered had their consent approved and were able to get their first dose of the new dengue vaccine. There were 211 children who reported adverse effects related to the dengue vaccine administration although the data provided did not indicate whether the adverse events occurred less than 30 days following the administration of the vaccine. Hence, the adverse events reported cannot be attributed as a direct effect of the administration of Dengvaxia due to the limitations of the data provided. The top three most commonly reported adverse effects were dizziness, dizziness with headache and headache. There were 8 children who reported unique adverse effects. These recipients presented with fainting, difficulty of breathing, and swelling of the eyes. Unfortunately, no factors can identified at this point. Baseline characteristics of the recipients were not collected. There were no prior consults, interviews, or examinations done with the recipients of the vaccine. There were no follow-up done with the children who presented with adverse effects. This study covered only the first dose of the vaccination, which was from April to June 2016. There were no adequate studies on post-marketing surveillance assessing the long term efficacy and adverse effects of the vaccine during the time when the study was conducted. Further studies regarding the long term effects of the new dengue vaccine with meticulous monitoring to determine the adverse events attributed to the direct effects of the new dengue vaccine was recommended

Membrane-targeted WAVE mediates photoreceptor axon targeting in the absence of the WAVE complex in Drosophila

The Abelson interactor (Abi) has a conserved role in Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization, regulating WASP and WAVE. In this study, the function of Abi was analyzed in the context of the developing fly visual system, and the steps in the molecular regulation of WAVE activity by its regulatory complex in vivo were identified