Trophic factors intervention regenerates the nestin-expressing cell population in a model of perinatal excitotoxicity: Implications for perinatal brain injury and prematurity

We previously showed that TSC1 (a combination of transferrin and IGF-1) is a potent inductor of myelinogenesis in myelin deficient rats and in demyelinated adult mice. More recently, we demonstrated that regeneration of oligodendrocyte progenitors and myelin are possible with a single dose of TSC1 in a mouse model of Premature birth. Here, using the same mouse model of perinatal white matter damage due to glutamate excitotoxicity (GME), we tested the hypothesis that regeneration of endogenous nestin-expressing neural progenitors improves the outcome of prematurity. Treatments: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), saline, NMDA+TSC1 together or NMDA followed byTSC1 3 days later, were stereotaxically delivered into the corpus callosum of P4 mouse pups. Fluorescence analysis showed an intense enrichment of nestin-expressing cells in groups injected with NMDA+TSC1 from which many were generated by proliferation. Moreover, when TSC1 was injected three days after the primary insult it was still able to reduce ventricular enlargement and extensively rescue nestin-expressing progenitors. Cells co-expressing the proliferation marker Ki67, CNPase and faint nestin label were more abundant in groups injected with MNDA+TSC1 at 35 days after injection. Stereological analysis showed that the number of nestin-expressing cells in the sub-ventricular zone correlated inversely with the volume of the ventricle. A delayed administration of TSC1 after excitotoxicity reduced ventriculomegaly but not as much as, when NMDA and TSC1 were injected simultaneously. Thus, the earliest TSC1 was administered, the more tissue was rescued as shown by reduced ventriculomegaly. Astrocytes responded to GME by upregulating the expression of estrogen receptor and this expression was attenuated in the presence of TSC1 suggesting a decreased inflammation and a lesser need for estrogen-mediated central nervous system (CNS) neuroprotection.

Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology: Implementation and Expansion of the RANO Criteria in a Randomized Phase II Trial of Pediatric Patients with Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Gliomas

Determination of tumor response to treatment in neuro-oncology is challenging, particularly when antiangiogenic agents are considered. Nontumoral factors (eg, blood-brain barrier disruption, edema, and necrosis) can alter contrast enhancement independent of true tumor response/progression. Furthermore, gliomas are often infiltrative, with nonenhancing components. In adults, the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria attempted to address these issues. No such guidelines exist yet for children. The ongoing randomized phase II trial, A Study of Avastin (bevacizumab) in Combination With Temolozomide (TMZ) and Radiotherapy in Paediatric and Adolescent Patients With High-Grade Glioma (HERBY), will establish the efficacy and safety of the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab for the first-line treatment of newly diagnosed high-grade glioma in children (n = 121 patients, enrollment complete). The primary end point is event-free survival (tumor progression/recurrence by central review, second primary malignancy, or death). Determination of progression or response is based on predefined clinical and radiographic criteria, modeled on the RANO criteria and supported by expert pseudoprogression review and the use of standardized imaging protocols. The HERBY trial will also compare conventional MR imaging (T1-weighted and T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences) with conventional MR imaging plus diffusion/perfusion imaging for response assessment. It is anticipated that HERBY will provide new insights into antiangiogenic-treated pediatric brain tumors. HERBY will also investigate the practicality of obtaining adequate quality diffusion/perfusion scans in a trial setting, and the feasibility of implementing standard imaging protocols across multiple sites. To date, 61/73 (83.6%) patients with available data have completed diffusion-weighted imaging (uptake of other nonconventional techniques has been limited). Harmonization of imaging protocols and techniques may improve the robustness of pediatric neuro-oncology studies and aid future trial comparability.

174 DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF PREPUBERTAL NELORE HEIFERS LONG-ACTING PROGESTERONE EXPOSED

Ovum pick-up (OPU) and aspirated oocytes produced by in vitro production (IVP) are obtained at random stages of the oestrus cycle and are exposed to different concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone, LH and FSH. These factors may influence the oocyte developmental competence of in vitro embryos. The studies with young females aroused the interest of the investigated for decades and showed that one of the advantages working with young animals would be the amount of follicles that develop are best quality when comparing with pubertal animals. However some studies have shown a reduction in the competence of prepubertal oocytes can be partly attributed to the smaller size of the oocyte, differences in protein synthesis and energy metabolism, delayed migration of cytoplasmic organelles and reduced activity of some enzymes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of injectable long-acting progesterone in embryonic development of prepubertal Nelore females. The OPU and treatments were carried out on the farm João Martins, in the county of Guatapará, São Paulo, Brazil, and laboratory stages of production in vitro embryo, the Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Reproduction, UNESP-Jaboticabal. They were select 21 heifers, Nelore, prepubertal of 127 animals. The selection was based on age, bodyweight, and absence of corpus luteum. The selected animals were aged 18 to 20 months and not pregnant with average bodyweight was 268 kg. The donor oocytes were divided into 3 experimental groups crossover design as follows: Group (P0, n = 21), animals in this group received 2 placebo oily solution applications (1 mL), interval of 7 days beginning 14 days (Day 14) before the first aspiration (Day 0); Group (P7; n = 21): the animals received a placebo solution oily application (1 mL), 14 days (Day 14) and progesterone (P4) injection (150 mg) 7 days (Day 7) before aspiration; Group (P14, n = 21), animals in this group received 2 injections P4 applications (150 mg) with an interval of 7 days, the first 14 days (Day 14) and the second 7 days (Day 7) before aspiration. There were a total of 3 OPU an interval of 28 days. After the first follicular aspiration groups were divided again so that all the animals go through all treatments. After confirming the homoscedasticity (BoxCox) and normal (Cramér-von Mises test) data, was conducted the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Tukey test was used for comparisons of mean variables. The groups P0, P7, and P14 had an average of 4.04, 5.03, and 4.43 embryos produced by session. To assess embryonic development, it was observed that the treated groups (P7 and P14) and control (P0) produced a greater amount of expanded blastocyst, 3.40 ± 3.74, 2.57 ± 2.67 and 3.14 ± 3.41, respectively (P > 0.05). It was observed differences (P < 0.05) in the early blastocyst production in the treated groups produce a greater amount. The use of long-acting injectable progesterone improved did not delay embryo development in vitro but did not alter the production of embryos from prepubertal Nelore heifers.

Tobramycin inhalation powder (TOBI Podhaler) for the treatment of lung infection in patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease secondary to a defect in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR). Mortality in CF is associated with impairment of lung function in which bacterial infection plays a fundamental role. The microorganism Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a marker of poor prognosis. Tobramycin was the first parenteral antibiotic to be used as inhaled medication in CF. Owing to its beneficial effects; it was subsequently used in designed inhaled formulations. The first formulation was the inhalation solution, which improved lung function, lowered hospitalization rates, and reduced the courses of intravenous antibiotic. However, the high associated costs and time necessary to administer the medication negatively affected quality of life. The recent development of tobramycin inhalation powder has optimized treatment. The dry powder inhaler is a simple device that reduces administration time and improves adherence. As there is no risk of bacterial contamination, disinfection is unnecessary.