Effects of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Induction and Inhibition on the Pharmacokinetics of BI 425809, a Novel Glycine Transporter 1 Inhibitor.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Increased glycine availability at the synaptic cleft may enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signalling and provide a promising therapeutic strategy for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. These studies aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics of BI 425809, a potent glycine-transporter-1 inhibitor, when co-administered with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor (itraconazole) and inducer (rifampicin). METHODS: In vitro studies using recombinant CYPs, human liver microsomes, and human hepatocytes were conducted to determine the CYP isoforms responsible for BI 425809 metabolism. In addition, two open-label, fixed-treatment period, phase I studies in healthy male volunteers are described. Period 1: participants received oral BI 425809 25 mg (single dose) on day 1; period 2: participants received multiple doses, across 10 days, of oral itraconazole or rifampicin combined with a single dose of oral BI 425809 25 mg on day 4/7 of the itraconazole/rifampicin treatment, respectively. Pharmacokinetic and safety endpoints were assessed in the absence/presence of itraconazole/rifampicin and included area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) over the time interval 0-167 h (AUC0‒167; itraconazole), 0-168 h (AUC0‒168; rifampicin), or 0-infinity (AUC0-∞; rifampicin and itraconazole), maximum measured concentration (Cmax) of BI 425809, and adverse events. RESULTS: In vitro results suggested that CYP3A4 accounted for ≥ 90% of the metabolism of BI 425809. BI 425809 exposure (adjusted geometric mean ratio [%]) was higher in the presence of itraconazole (AUC0‒167: 265.3; AUC0-∞: 597.0; Cmax: 116.1) and lower in the presence of rifampicin (AUC0‒168: 10.3; AUC0-∞: 9.8; Cmax: 37.4) compared with BI 425809 alone. Investigational treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic exposure of BI 425809 was altered in the presence of strong CYP3A4 modulators, corroborating in vitro results that CYP3A4 mediates a major metabolic pathway for BI 425809. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02342717 (registered on 15 January 2015) and NCT03082183 (registered on 10 March 2017).

Single and multiple dose pharmacokinetics and safety of ZSP1273, an RNA polymerase PB2 protein inhibitor of the influenza A virus: a phase 1 double-blind study in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Influenza is an acute respiratory illness. Treating with antiviral drugs can decrease the duration of illness and serious complications . ZSP1273 is a small-molecule anti-influenza drug targeting the RNA polymerase PB2 subunit of the influenza virus. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics (PKs) of ZSP1273 in healthy subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study consisting of three parts. 100 volunteers were enrolled and randomized to receive either single or multiple doses of ZSP1273 or placebo. RESULTS: A total of 31 (31.0%) subjects experienced at least one mild or moderate adverse event. The linear regression relationship between dose and plasma Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ showed an increasing trend and rapid absorption of ZSP1273. A high-fat diet had little effect on the PKs. The plasma concentration of ZSP1273 reached steady state on day 5 without drug accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: ZSP1273 was safe in healthy volunteers. Based on the preclinical resuilts, safety profile and PK characteristics of ZSP1273, the dose of ZSP1273 (≥200 mg) may be used for future clinical trials in influenza patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (CT.gov identifier: NCT03679143).

An Updated In Silico Prediction Method for Volumes of Systemic Circulation of 323 Disparate Chemicals for Use in Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models to Estimate Plasma and Tissue Concentrations after Oral Doses in Rats.

Updated algorithms for predicting the volumes of systemic circulation (V1), along with absorption rate constants and hepatic intrinsic clearances, as input parameters for physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were established to improve the accuracy of estimated plasma and tissue concentrations of 323 chemicals after virtual oral administrations in rats. Using ridge regression with an enlarged set of chemical descriptors (up to 99), the estimated input V1 values resulted in an improved correlation coefficient (from 246 compounds) with the traditionally determined values. The PBPK model input parameters for rats of diverse compounds can be precisely estimated by increasing the number of descriptors.

Virtual clinical trial simulations for a novel KRASG12C inhibitor (ASP2453) in non-small cell lung cancer.

KRAS is a small GTPase family protein that relays extracellular growth signals to cell nucleus. KRASG12C mutations lead to constitutive proliferation signaling and are prevalent across human cancers. ASP2453 is a novel, highly potent, and selective inhibitor of KRASG12C . Although preclinical data suggested impressive efficacy, it remains unclear whether ASP2453 will show more favorable clinical response compared to more advanced competitors, such as AMG 510. Here, we developed a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model linking KRAS signaling to tumor growth in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The model was parameterized using in vitro ERK1/2 phosphorylation and in vivo xenograft data for ASP2453. Publicly disclosed clinical data for AMG 510 were used to generate a virtual population, and tumor size changes in response to ASP2453 and AMG 510 were simulated. The QSP model predicted ASP2453 exhibits greater clinical response than AMG 510, supporting potential differentiation and critical thinking for clinical trials.

Neuroinflammatory changes of the normal brain tissue in cured mice following combined radiation and anti-PD-1 blockade therapy for glioma.

The efficacy of combining radiation therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade to treat brain tumors is currently the subject of multiple investigations and holds significant therapeutic promise. However, the long-term effects of this combination therapy on the normal brain tissue are unknown. Here, we examined mice that were intracranially implanted with murine glioma cell line and became long-term survivors after treatment with a combination of 10 Gy cranial irradiation (RT) and anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade (aPD-1). Post-mortem analysis of the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to tumor implantation showed complete abolishment of hippocampal neurogenesis, but neural stem cells were well preserved in subventricular zone. In addition, we observed a drastic reduction in the number of mature oligodendrocytes in the subcortical white matter. Importantly, this observation was evident specifically in the combined (RT + aPD-1) treatment group but not in the single treatment arm of either RT alone or aPD-1 alone. Elimination of microglia with a small molecule inhibitor of colony stimulated factor-1 receptor (PLX5622) prevented the loss of mature oligodendrocytes. These results identify for the first time a unique pattern of normal tissue changes in the brain secondary to combination treatment with radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The results also suggest a role for microglia as key mediators of the adverse treatment effect.

Plaque associated microglia hyper-secrete extracellular vesicles and accelerate tau propagation in a humanized APP mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that microglia contribute to tau pathology progression in Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaque accumulation transforms microglia, the primary innate immune cells in the brain, into neurodegenerative microglia (MGnD), which exhibit enhanced phagocytosis of plaques, apoptotic neurons and dystrophic neurites containing aggregated and phosphorylated tau (p-tau). It remains unclear how microglia promote disease progression while actively phagocytosing pathological proteins, therefore ameliorating pathology. METHODS: Adeno-associated virus expressing P301L tau mutant (AAV-P301L-tau) was stereotaxically injected into the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) in C57BL/6 (WT) and humanized APP mutant knock-in homozygote (AppNL-G-F) mice at 5 months of age. Mice were fed either chow containing a colony stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor (PLX5622) or control chow from 4 to 6 months of age to test the effect of microglia depletion. Animals were tested at 6 months of age for immunofluorescence, biochemistry, and FACS of microglia. In order to monitor microglial extracellular vesicle secretion in vivo, a novel lentiviral EV reporter system was engineered to express mEmerald-CD9 (mE-CD9) specifically in microglia, which was injected into the same region of MEC. RESULTS: Expressing P301L tau mutant in the MEC induced tau propagation to the granule cell layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, which was significantly exacerbated in AppNL-G-F mice compared to WT control mice. Administration of PLX5622 depleted nearly all microglia in mouse brains and dramatically reduced propagation of p-tau in WT and to a greater extent in AppNL-G-F mice, although it increased plaque burden and plaque-associated p-tau+ dystrophic neurites. Plaque-associated MGnD microglia strongly expressed an EV marker, tumor susceptibility gene 101, indicative of heightened synthesis of EVs. Intracortical injection of mE-CD9 lentivirus successfully induced microglia-specific expression of mE-CD9+ EV particles, which were significantly enhanced in Mac2+ MGnD microglia compared to Mac2- homeostatic microglia. Finally, consecutive intracortical injection of mE-CD9 lentivirus and AAV-P301L-tau into AppNL-G-F mice revealed encapsulation of p-tau in microglia-specific mE-CD9+ EVs as determined by super-resolution microscopy and immuno-electron microscopy. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that MGnD microglia hyper-secrete p-tau+ EVs while compacting Aß plaques and clearing NP tau, which we propose as a novel mechanistic link between amyloid plaque deposition and exacerbation of tau propagation in AppNL-G-F mice.

Efficacy and safety of the novel glycine transporter inhibitor BI 425809 once daily in patients with schizophrenia: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia predicts poor functional outcomes, but currently no approved pharmacotherapy is available. This study investigated whether the glycine transporter-1 inhibitor BI 425809 improves cognition in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: This phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial (81 centres, 11 countries), randomly assigned outpatients (aged 18-50 years) with schizophrenia on stable treatment to add-on once-daily oral BI 425809 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, or 25 mg or placebo (1:1:1:1:2) for 12 weeks. Treatment was assigned in blocks using interactive response technology; patients, investigators, and all trial personnel were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) overall composite T-score at week 12. Six predefined dose-response models were evaluated using a multiple comparison procedure and modelling approach with mixed model repeated measures to assess evidence for a non-flat dose-response relationship for cognitive improvements with BI 425809. Adverse events were monitored. Safety analyses included all randomly allocated patients who received one or more doses of trial medication; efficacy analyses included patients from this set who also had available baseline data and at least one post-baseline on-treatment measurement for the primary or secondary endpoint. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02832037. FINDINGS: 509 patients were randomly assigned between April 25, 2018, and Oct 4, 2019 (BI 425809 2 mg, n=85; 5 mg, n=84; 10 mg, n=85; 25 mg, n=85; placebo, n=170 444 (87%) completed the 12-week treatment. Five of six dose-response models showed a statistically significant benefit of BI 425809 over placebo (linear [t=2·55, p=0·015], linear in log [t=2·56, p=0·015]; Emax [t=2·75, p=0·0089], sigmoid Emax [t=2·98, p=0·0038], logistic [t=2·77, p=0·0085]). Pairwise comparisons showed greater mean improvement from baseline in MCCB overall composite T-score at week 12 with BI 425809 10 mg and 25 mg versus placebo (adjusted mean difference 1·98 [95% CI 0·43-3·53] for 10 mg and 1·73 [0·18-3·28] for 25 mg; standardised effect size 0·34 for 10 mg and 0·30 for 25 mg). Adverse events were balanced across groups, reported in 50 (59%) of 85 patients on BI 425809 2 mg, 44 (52%) of 84 on 5 mg, 35 (41%) of 85 on 10 mg, 36 (42%) of 85 on 25 mg, and 74 (44%) of 170 on placebo. INTERPRETATION: BI 425809 improved cognition after 12 weeks in patients with schizophrenia; doses of 10 mg and 25 mg showed the largest separation from placebo. If these encouraging results are confirmed in phase 3 trials, BI 425809 could provide an effective treatment for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. FUNDING: Boehringer Ingelheim.

Integrated In Silico Models for the Prediction of No-Observed-(Adverse)-Effect Levels and Lowest-Observed-(Adverse)-Effect Levels in Rats for Sub-chronic Repeated-Dose Toxicity.

Repeated-dose toxicity (RDT) is a critical endpoint for hazard characterization of chemicals and is assessed to derive safe levels of exposure for human health. Here we present the first attempt to model simultaneously no-observed-(adverse)-effect level (NO(A)EL) and lowest-observed-(adverse)-effect level (LO(A)EL). Classification and regression models were derived based on rat sub-chronic repeated dose toxicity data for 327 compounds from the Fraunhofer RepDose database. Multi-category classification models were built for both NO(A)EL and LO(A)EL though a consensus of statistics- and fragment-based algorithms, while regression models were based on quantitative relationships between the endpoints and SMILES-based attributes. NO(A)EL and LO(A)EL models were integrated, and predictions were compared to exclude inconsistent values. This strategy improved the performance of single models, leading to R2 greater than 0.70, root-mean-square error (RMSE) lower than 0.60 (for regression models), and accuracy of 0.61-0.73 (for classification models) on the validation set, based on the endpoint and the threshold applied for selecting predictions. This study confirms the effectiveness of the modeling strategy presented here for assessing RDT of chemicals using in silico models.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a novel vascular adhesion protein-1 inhibitor using a multiple-target mediated drug disposition model.

ASP8232 is a novel inhibitor of vascular adhesion protein-1 that was under evaluation for reducing residual albuminuria in patients with diabetic kidney disease. To characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ASP8232 and its effect on vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1) plasma activity and VAP-1 concentrations (pharmacodynamics, PD) in an integrated and quantitative manner, a target mediated drug disposition model was developed based on pooled data from four completed clinical trials with ASP8232 in healthy volunteers, and in patients with diabetic kidney disease and diabetic macular edema, respectively. In this model, the binding of ASP8232 to its soluble and membrane-bound target in the central and peripheral compartments were included. The model was able to adequately describe the non-linear PK and PD of ASP8232. The observed difference in PK between healthy volunteers and renally impaired patients could be explained by an effect of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate on ASP8232 clearance and relative bioavailability. The relationship between ASP8232 concentration and VAP-1 inhibition was successfully established and can be applied to simulate drug exposure and degree of VAP-1 inhibition for any given dose of ASP8232 across the spectrum of renal function.

A first-in-human study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of RP3128, an oral calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel modulator in healthy volunteers.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: RP3128, a novel, orally available modulator of calcium released activated calcium (CRAC) channel, is being developed for the potential treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. RP3128 showed nano-molar potency and activity in a range of in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation. We report a first-in-human study investigating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of RP3128 in healthy subjects. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of single (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg) and multiple (7 days: 25, 100 and 400 mg once daily) doses of RP3128 were performed. Thirty-two and 24 subjects were randomized in the single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) parts, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: RP3128 was well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicity at single and multiple doses. Incidence of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) did not increase with ascending RP3128 doses. No changes were seen in cognitive function and ECG parameters. RP3128 was rapidly absorbed. Elimination was slow with a half-life of more than 80 h. Exposures increased with increasing doses. Accumulation was seen on repeated dosing. PD response, as evidenced by lower plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alfa (TNFα) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), was seen when compared to pre-dose values or placebo. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The safety, tolerability and PK/PD profile of RP3128 demonstrates its potential to be developed in inflammatory disorders and support further clinical development (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02958982).

Tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of SHR0534, a potent G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) agonist, at single- and multiple-ascending oral doses in healthy Chinese subjects.

SHR0534 is being developed for type-2 diabetes mellitus. Herein the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of SHR0534 in healthy Chinese subjects were assessed in a phase-I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-ascending dose study. Forty subjects were randomized 4:1 to receive SHR0534 at the dose of 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg, or placebo, and another eleven subjects were allocated to either the 5 mg group or the placebo group at an 8:3 ratio. All subjects received a single dose on day 1, followed by a 9-day washout and once-daily administrations for 14 consecutive days. Serial samples were collected, and vital signs, electrocardiograms, laboratory tests, urinalysis and adverse events (AEs) were recorded. All doses of SHR0534 were safe and well tolerated with infrequent, generally mild-to-moderate AEs and no serious AEs in the study. SHR0534 was absorbed with a T max of approximately 4 hours, and systemic exposure increased with dose. Accumulation was minimal (2- to 3-fold) and steady state was reached after seven days of dosing. For pharmacodynamics, no significant hypoglycaemic effects were seen in healthy adults. Good pharmacokinetics and safety were demonstrated but no obvious effect was found.

First-in-Human, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial of an Oral Dose of GnRH Antagonist TU2670 in Healthy Women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of TU2670, a novel orally active, nonpeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist administered to healthy female participants. METHODS: This was a first-in-human, multicenter, phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose ascending trial that took place in multiple medical centers. A total of 16 healthy premenopausal women (23 to 45 years of age) were randomized and received 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg TU2670 (GnRH antagonist) or placebo 7 days (±1 day) after the onset of menstrual bleeding. We performed a noncompartmental analysis for pharmacokinetic parameters and calculated relative minimum concentration values (Cmin, % Baseline) of serum pharmacodynamic (PD) markers (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], and estradiol). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among treatments with respect to vital signs, electrocardiography, adverse events, ovulation test results, and ultrasonography. The median Tmax of TU2670 occurred 0.75 to 1.00 hours after dosing, and concentrations then declined, with a mean apparent half-life (t1/2) of 3.0 to 5.9 hours. AUClast (17.7-417.9 ng·h/mL) and Cmax (8.1-95.4 ng/mL) increased in a dose-dependent manner. The PD analysis after a single administration of TU2670 revealed dose-dependent suppression of LH, FSH, and estradiol. Maximal suppression of the pre-dose baseline (%) was 58% to 82% at 6 to 8 hours for LH, 28% to 39% at 6 to 12 hours for FSH, and 34% to 82% at 12 to 24 hours for estradiol. CONCLUSION: The single administration of TU2670 in healthy premenopausal women was well tolerated and resulted in the dose-dependent suppression of LH, FSH, and estradiol, suggesting rapid and significant inhibition of pituitary and ovarian hormones.

In Silico Assessment of Acute Oral Toxicity for Mixtures.

While exposure of humans to environmental hazards often occurs with complex chemical mixtures, the majority of existing toxicity data are for single compounds. The Globally Harmonized System of chemical classification (GHS) developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development uses the additivity formula for acute oral toxicity classification of mixtures, which is based on the acute toxicity estimate of individual ingredients. We evaluated the prediction of GHS category classifications for mixtures using toxicological data collected in the Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) developed by the National Toxicology Program (United States Department of Health and Human Services). The ICE database contains in vivo acute oral toxicity data for ∼10,000 chemicals and for 582 mixtures with one or multiple active ingredients. By using the available experimental data for individual ingredients, we were able to calculate a GHS category for only half of the mixtures. To expand a set of components with acute oral toxicity data, we used the Collaborative Acute Toxicity Modeling Suite (CATMoS) implemented in the Open Structure-Activity/Property Relationship App to make predictions for active ingredients without available experimental data. As a result, we were able to make predictions for 503 mixtures/formulations with 72% accuracy for the GHS classification. For 186 mixtures with two or more active ingredients, the accuracy rate was 76%. The structure-based analysis of the misclassified mixtures did not reveal any specific structural features associated with the mispredictions. Our results demonstrate that CATMoS together with an additivity formula can be used to predict the GHS category for chemical mixtures.

Relevance of In Vitro Transcriptomics for In Vivo Mode of Action Assessment.

Recently, we reported an in vitro toxicogenomics comparison approach to categorize chemical substances according to similarities in their proposed toxicological modes of action. Use of such an approach for regulatory purposes requires, among others, insight into the extent of biological concordance between in vitro and in vivo findings. To that end, we applied the comparison approach to transcriptomics data from the Open TG-GATEs database for 137 substances with diverging modes of action and evaluated the outcomes obtained for rat primary hepatocytes and for rat liver. The results showed that a relatively small number of matches observed in vitro were also observed in vivo, whereas quite a large number of matches between substances were found to be relevant solely in vivo or in vitro. The latter could not be explained by physicochemical properties, leading to insufficient bioavailability or poor water solubility. Nevertheless, pathway analyses indicated that for relevant matches the mechanisms perturbed in vitro are consistent with those perturbed in vivo. These findings support the utility of the comparison approach as tool in mechanism-based risk assessment.

Presentations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide dermal exposure and the valuable potential of diphoterine solution in decontamination: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) is a quaternary ammonium compound that is both a base corrosive and a cholinergic agonist, and it is widely used in the photoelectric and semiconductor industries. It causes corrosive skin injuries and systemic cholinergic toxicity with death primarily resulting from respiratory failure without efficacious early decontamination. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed of all cases of TMAH exposure reported to the Taiwan Poison Control Center between July 2010 and October 2017. Retrieved medical records were independently reviewed by two trained clinical toxicologists. RESULTS: Despite immediate (< 5 min) skin decontamination with copious amounts of tap water, one patient exposed to 25% TMAH involving ≥5% of total body surface area (TBSA) developed significant systemic toxicity. Patients exposed to 25% TMAH involving ≤1% TBSA developed first-degree chemical skin injuries but no systemic toxicity. Among patients exposed to lower concentrations (≤2.38%) of TMAH, the majority only experienced first-degree chemical skin injuries without systemic signs. Patients exposed to 0.5% TMAH involving nearly their entire TBSA developed no chemical skin injuries or systemic toxicity. All patients who had only first-degree chemical skin injuries did not develop systemic toxicity after exposure to either 2.38% or 25% TMAH. CONCLUSIONS: TMAH acts as an alkaline corrosive and cholinergic agonist. Systemic signs attributable to TMA+ can rapidly lead to respiratory failure and death after dermal exposure. We have demonstrated that an amphoteric solution may be efficacious for skin decontamination on-site immediately to prevent or ameliorate such toxicity. This practice especially carries a valuable potential in managing victims (patients) who have been exposed to those chemicals with immediate life-threatening toxicity (e.g. TMAH), suggesting that its early utilization deserves further study.

Effects of Replacing In-feed Antibiotics with Synergistic Organic Acids on Growth Performance, Health, Carcass, and Immune and Oxidative Statuses of Broiler Chickens Under Clostridium perfringens Type A Challenge.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing in-feed antibiotics with synergistic organic acids on growth performance, health, carcass, and immune and oxidative statuses of broiler chickens under Clostridium perfringens (CP) type A challenge. Two organic acid products were tested: organic acid 1 (OA1), consisting of butyrate, medium-chain fatty acids, organic acids, and phenolics; and organic acid 2 (OA2), consisting of buffered short-chain fatty acids. Six hundred 1-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: Control 1, basal diet, nonchallenged birds; Control 2, basal diet, with CP challenge; antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP), basal diet supplemented with Aureomycin (chlortetracycline), with CP challenge; OA1, basal diet supplemented with OA1, with CP challenge; and OA1OA2, basal diet supplemented with OA1 and OA2, with CP challenge. Each treatment had eight replicate pens of 15 birds. The experiments lasted for 29 days. The disease challenge was performed on days 15-17, with an oral gavage of 0.5 mL of CP culture (2.0 × 108 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) for each bird. Body weights (BWs), intestinal lesion scores, immune organ indices, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured on days 19, 22, and 29, respectively, in three birds per pen. Carcass characteristics were determined on day 29. No treatment-related differences in mortality were noted before (P = 0.28) or after (P = 0.64) challenge or over the whole study period (days 0-28; P = 0.66). On day 19, the BW of Control 2 was lower than other treatments (P < 0.0001). On day 22, AGP, OA1, and OA1OA2 had higher BW than Control 2 (P = 0.001). The breast muscle yield of OA1 and OA1OA2 was higher than AGP (P < 0.05). The abdominal fat yield of OA1OA2 was lower than AGP and Control 2 (P < 0.05). On day 22, the birds fed OA1OA2 showed lower intestinal lesion scores than OA1 (P < 0.05). No treatment-related differences in immune organ (spleen, thymus, and bursa) indices were noted (P > 0.05). On day 29, the MDA concentration of OA1 and OA1OA2 was lower than those of Control 1 and AGP (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of organic acids may protect broiler chickens from severe intestinal lesions and oxidative stress and may help reduce abdominal fat mass deposition. There is potential for organic acid-based products as alternatives for AGP in preventing necrotic enteritis in broilers.

Effect of Replacing In-Feed Antibiotics with Synergistic Organic Acids, with or without Trace Mineral and/or Water Acidification, on Growth Performance and Health of Broiler Chickens Under a Clostridium perfringens Type A Challenge.

This study investigated the effects of a proprietary commercial feed additive (FA) comprised of a blend of fatty acids, organic acids, and phytochemicals; a hydroxychloride copper (MA); as well as a water acidification product (WA), alone and in combination, on growth performance in nonvaccinated broiler chickens raised in an antibiotic-free production system. The test treatments were FA; WA; FA and WA combined (FA + WA); and FA, WA, and MA combined (FA + WA + MA). The efficacy of these treatments was compared with a negative control (CON) and a medicated feeding program (bacitracin, antibiotic growth promoter [AGP]). Ross 708 cockerels (n = 2376) were subject to a 3-phase commercial feeding program, namely, starter (0-20 days), grower (21-28 days), and finisher (28-35 days), with no coccidiostats or additional medications added to the feed. On day 14, birds were subjected to an in-feed Clostridium perfringens challenge and a subset of animals were euthanized and the ileal digesta was collected for C. perfringens enumeration. Prior to pathogen challenge (day 14), birds fed the FA + WA and F + WA + MA treatments had significantly higher body weights (+2.6%-3.5%) than those fed CON and similar body weights to birds fed the AGP. These early growth advantages were not sustained postchallenge. Clostridia counts in ileal digesta were dramatically reduced in birds fed the AGP compared with all treatments. The FA (-2.5 log), FA + WA (-2.0 log), and FA + WA + MA (-2.3 log) treatments had significantly lower clostridia counts than the CON treatment. Together, these findings support the use of combined in-feed and in-water strategies for reducing clostridia, while maintaining growth, in antibiotic-free production systems.

An injectable self-healing anesthetic glycolipid-based oleogel with antibiofilm and diabetic wound skin repair properties.

Globally, wound infections are considered as one of the major healthcare problems owing to the delayed healing process in diabetic patients and microbial contamination. Thus, the development of advanced materials for wound skin repair is of great research interest. Even though several biomaterials were identified as wound healing agents, gel-based scaffolds derived from either polymer or small molecules have displayed promising wound closure mechanism. Herein, for the first time, we report an injectable and self-healing self-assembled anesthetic oleogel derived from glycolipid, which exhibits antibiofilm and wound closure performance in diabetic rat. Glycolipid derived by the reaction of hydrophobic vinyl ester with α-chloralose in the presence of novozyme 435 undergoes spontaneous self-assembly in paraffin oil furnished an oleogel displaying self-healing behavior. In addition, we have prepared composite gel by encapsulating curcumin in the 3D fibrous network of oleogel. More interestingly, glycolipid in its native form demoed potential in disassembling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Both oleogel and composite gel enhanced the wound skin repair in diabetic induced Wistar rats by promoting collagen synthesis, controlling free radical generation and further regulating tissue remodeling phases. Altogether, the reported supramolecular self-assembled anesthetic glycolipid could be potentially used for diabetic skin wound repair and to treat bacterial biofilm related infections.

Delayed microglial depletion after spinal cord injury reduces chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration in the brain and improves neurological recovery in male mice.

Neuropsychological deficits, including impairments in learning and memory, occur after spinal cord injury (SCI). In experimental SCI models, we and others have reported that such changes reflect sustained microglia activation in the brain that is associated with progressive neurodegeneration. In the present study, we examined the effect of pharmacological depletion of microglia on posttraumatic cognition, depressive-like behavior, and brain pathology after SCI in mice. Methods: Young adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to moderate/severe thoracic spinal cord contusion. Microglial depletion was induced with the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) antagonist PLX5622 administered starting either 3 weeks before injury or one day post-injury and continuing through 6 weeks after SCI. Neuroinflammation in the injured spinal cord and brain was assessed using flow cytometry and NanoString technology. Neurological function was evaluated using a battery of neurobehavioral tests including motor function, cognition, and depression. Lesion volume and neuronal counts were quantified by unbiased stereology. Results: Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that PLX5622 pre-treatment significantly reduced the number of microglia, as well as infiltrating monocytes and neutrophils, and decreased reactive oxygen species production in these cells from injured spinal cord at 2-days post-injury. Post-injury PLX5622 treatment reduced both CD45int microglia and CD45hi myeloid counts at 7-days. Following six weeks of PLX5622 treatment, there were substantial changes in the spinal cord and brain transcriptomes, including those involved in neuroinflammation. These alterations were associated with improved neuronal survival in the brain and neurological recovery. Conclusion: These findings indicate that pharmacological microglia-deletion reduces neuroinflammation in the injured spinal cord and brain, improving recovery of cognition, depressive-like behavior, and motor function.

All-oral metronomic DEVEC schedule in elderly patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have an overall poor prognosis. Indeed, registry data in elderly patients show that the median progression-free survival (mPFS) following first- and second-line therapies are only 6.7 and 3.1 months, respectively. The aim of the study is to show the activity of metronomic chemotherapy, a regular administration of low chemotherapeutic drug doses allowing a favourable toxicity profile, on elderly PTCL patients. METHODS: We report a series of 17 PTCL patients, treated with the all-oral metronomic schedule DEVEC (prednisolone-etoposide-vinorelbine-cyclophosphamide) in four Italian centres. Patients 5/17 (29.4%) were treatment-naïve (naïve) and 12/17 (70.6%) were relapsed-refractory (RR), respectively. The median age was 83 years (range 71-87) and 71.5 years (range 56-85) for naïve and RR, respectively. In vitro activity of metronomic vinorelbine (VNR), etoposide (ETO) and their concomitant combination on HH, a PTCL cell line, was also assessed. RESULTS: Histology: PTCL-not-otherwise-specified = 12; angioimmunoblastic = 2; NK/T nasal type = 1; adult-type leukaemia lymphoma = 1, transformed Mycosis Fungoides = 1. The overall response rate was 80 and 58% in naïve and RR, respectively; whereas the PFS was 20 in naïve (95% CI 0-43) and 11 months (95% CI 4.2-17.8) in RR. The occurrence of relevant adverse events was 23.5%, which was managed with ETO dose reduction. In vitro experiments showed that both metronomic VNR and ETO caused a significant inhibitory activity on HH cells and a strong synergism when administered concomitantly. CONCLUSION: All-oral DEVEC showed an encouraging activity and acceptable toxicity. This schedule deserves further studies in elderly PTCL also for assessing combinations with targeted drugs.