Visual function is mainly located within the bilateral hemisphere of the occipital lobes of the brain. However, our functional magnetoencephalography (MEG) result has demonstrated the reorganization of brain activity in the occipital area in patients with left-sided brain tumour. The results showed that brain laterality changes from bilateral to unilateral activation of the occipital area. Right occipital area (contralateral areas to the tumour), shows increase intensity of activation. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with fibre tracking was performed to further investigate this brain laterality modification and the findings confirmed there is an alteration in the left hemisphere fibre optic tracts. This functional modification and changes of the brain laterality and optic tracts in the brain is suspected to be the result of tumour growth induced changes. The present observation will be discussed in term of the mechanism of tumour induced reorganization and changes with the corroborating evidence from MEG, DTI and neuropsychological assessment.
Although the precise etiology of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, WHO grade IV) remains unknown, its progression
is believed to be driven by the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. Here, we report a case of a patient who
developed GBM, and associated with dual alterations, particularly 4977-bp deletion in mtDNA (mtDNA4977) and
p.Arg132His (R132H) mutation in IDH1. A 35-year old Malaysian woman patient who primary diagnosed with astrocytoma WHO grade I and subsequently after four years developed a GBM, was detected with a mtDNA4977. This
deletion appears to be a sporadic mutation. Additionally, analysis of patient’s tumor tissue also found to harbor a heterozygous IDH1 R132H mutation. This represents the first case report of coexisting mtDNA4977 together with IDH1
R132H mutation in a Malaysian patient of GBM. The findings of dual alterations could be of therapeutic benefit if
these alterations were justified to be contributing to GBM growth and aggressiveness.
Neuroplasticity has been subjected to a great deal of research in the last century. Recently, significant emphasis has been
placed on the global effect of localized plastic changes throughout the central nervous system, and on how these changes
integrate in a pathological context. The present study aimed to demonstrate the functional cortical reorganization before
and after surgery using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in a participant with brain tumor. Results of Visual Evoked
Magnetic Field (VEF) based on functional MEG study revealed significantly different of MEG N100 waveforms before and
after surgery. Larger and additional new locations for visual activation areas after the surgery were found suggesting
neuroplasticity. The present study highlight a physiological plasticity in a teenage brain and the alterations regarding
neural plasticity and network remodeling described in pathological contexts in higher-order visual association areas.
The present study discussed functional reorganization and alteration in respond to the slow-growing tumour,
hemangiopericytoma in the occipital cortex. Visual evoked field (VEF) and auditory evoked field (AEF) using
magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to evaluate the source localization and brain activity. Results of VEF source
localization show a typical brain waves. Brain activity of the occipital lobe demonstrate low activation in the ipsilateral
to the tumour. However, result shows the activation on the contralateral hemisphere was high and bigger in activation
volume. AEF result shows an identical source localization and both side of the temporal lobe are activated. This result
suggests that there is a positive plasticity in auditory cortex and slow-growing tumour can induce functional reorganization
and alteration to the brain.
This study aims to develop a year one STEM Comic for science and mathematics subjects. The STEM comic was developed based on the Technology Knowledge, Pedagogy and Content (TPACK) model. The development of this comic involves two phases which is development phase and assessment phase. However, this article only discusses the development phase of STEM comic. 13 Excellent teachers of science and mathematics from the Hulu Langat district were involved in the analysis of syllabus year one science and mathematics subjects and the preparation of scripts while the STEM comic illustrator was created by two lecturers from the Faculty of Art, Computing and Creative Industry from the Sultan Idris Education University. As a result, a STEM comic that contains 10 series for year one science and mathematics subjects has been successfully developed. This comic is expected to attract and enhance the achievement of year one students in science and mathematics. Implication of this study, STEM comic can be used by teachers as science and mathematics teaching aids.
As a small-although growing-journal based in Malaysia, the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) has faced several challenges in the past, such as promoting our journal as well as making sure our article bank does not go empty. However, we strive to improve ourselves by taking all means necessary to increase the quantity and, most importantly, quality of our publications, as well as to increase our journal's visibility and citability. This editorial will focus on MJMS statistics throughout 2011-where MJMS turned 18-as well as future plans for our journal.