Therapeutic effect of human ApoA-I-Milano variant in aged transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Therapies based on apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), classically tested for cardiovascular diseases, were recently proposed for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on a drug reprofiling approach, our objective was to explore the use of a natural variant of ApoA-I form, ApoA-I-Milano (M), as a treatment for AD. ApoA-I-M contains the R173C mutation, and confers protection against atherosclerosis development, although ApoA-I-M carriers exhibit low HDL levels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Middle-aged (12-month-old) and aged (21-month-old) APP23 mice were intraperitoneally treated for 10 weeks with human recombinant ApoA-I-M (hrApoA-I-M) protein or saline. Pathology progression through behavioural parameters and biochemical determinations was evaluated. KEY RESULTS: In middle-aged group, hrApoA-I-M treatment reduced the anxiety behaviour associated with this AD model. In aged mice, hrApoA-I-M reversed T-Maze performance alterations, a cognitive improvement accompanied by neuronal loss recovery in the dentate gyrus. Aged mice treated with hrApoA-I-M showed lower brain Aß40 soluble levels and elevated Aß40 levels in cerebrospinal fluid, without modifying insoluble brain Aß burden. Interestingly, hrApoA-I-M sub-chronic treatment induced a molecular effect on the cerebrovasculature, increasing occludin expression and ICAM-1 presence, as well as promoting an elevation of plasma soluble RAGE in all hrApoA-I-M-treated mice, drastically decreasing the AGEs/sRAGE ratio, a marker of endothelial damage. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Peripheral hrApoA-I-M treatment shows a beneficial impact on working memory, involving mechanisms related with brain Aß mobilization and modulation of the levels of cerebrovascular markers. Our study shows the potential therapeutic applicability of a safe and non-invasive treatment based on peripheral administration of hrApoA-I-M in AD.

Endovascular administration of magnetized nanocarriers targeting brain delivery after stroke.

The increasing use of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke management has opened the window to local intraarterial brain delivery of therapeutic agents. In this context, the use of nanomedicine could further improve the delivery of new treatments for specific brain targeting, tracking and guidance. In this study we take advantage of this new endovascular approach to deliver biocompatible poly(D-L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocapsules functionalized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and Cy7.5 for magnetic targeting, magnetic resonance and fluorescent molecular imaging. A complete biodistribution study in naïve (n = 59) and ischemic (n = 51) mice receiving intravenous or intraarterial nanocapsules, with two different magnet devices and imaged from 30 min to 48 h, showed an extraordinary advantage of the intraarterial route for brain delivery with a specific improvement in cortical targeting when using a magnetic device in both control and ischemic conditions. Safety was evaluated in ischemic mice (n = 69) showing no signs of systemic toxicity nor increasing mortality, infarct lesions or hemorrhages. In conclusion, the challenging brain delivery of therapeutic nanomaterials could be efficiently and safely overcome with a controlled endovascular administration and magnetic targeting, which could be considered in the context of endovascular interventions for the delivery of multiple treatments for stroke.

Implications of Iron Deficiency in STEMI Patients and in a Murine Model of Myocardial Infarction.

In patients with a first anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, iron deficiency (ID) was associated with larger infarcts, more extensive microvascular obstruction, and higher frequency of adverse left ventricular remodeling as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. In mice, an ID diet reduced the activity of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase/soluble guanylate cyclase/protein kinase G pathway in association with oxidative/nitrosative stress and increased infarct size after transient coronary occlusion. Iron supplementation or administration of an sGC activator before ischemia prevented the effects of the ID diet in mice. Not only iron excess, but also ID, may have deleterious effects in the setting of ischemia and reperfusion.

Cut-off values for Gaussian first-trimester screening for early-onset preeclampsia with maternal history, biochemical markers and uterine artery Doppler.

INTRODUCTION: Several algorithms for first-trimester screening for preeclampsia are available; however, the Gaussian model algorithm is more likely to match the characteristics of different populations. It is recommended to validate a screening strategy before being implemented in clinical practice; unfortunately, the validation process might not be feasible in all settings. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide cut-off values for the Gaussian model for its use in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona) from October 2015 to September 2017. A total of 2641 women with singleton pregnancies were recruited. Recorded at the first-trimester scan were demographic characteristics, maternal obstetric history, maternal history, uterine artery Doppler and arterial blood pressure. Serum concentrations of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and placental growth factor were assessed from the first-trimester blood test. Detection rates and cut-off values for fixed 5%, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % and 30 % false-positive rates were calculated for all combinations of markers. RESULTS: Ninety (3.41 %) of the 2641 women developed preeclampsia, which was early-onset in 11 (0.42 %). The cut-off values and their respective detection rates, for the screening of early-onset PE by all possible combinations of markers involved in this model, are provided. DISCUSSION: When external validation of first-trimester screening for preeclampsia before its clinical implementation is not feasible, the cut-off values from the Gaussian model algorithm provided in this study could be used and median values corrected prospectively if necessary.

Clinical and microbiological diagnosis of oral candidiasis.

INTRODUCTION: Candidiasis or oral candidiasis is the most frequent mucocutaneous mycosis of the oral cavity. It is produced by the genus Candida, which is found in the oral cavity of 53% of the general population as a common commensal organism. One hundred and fifty species have been isolated in the oral cavity, and 80% of the isolates correspond to Candida albicans, which can colonize the oral cavity alone or in combination with other species. Transformation from commensal organism to pathogen depends on the intervention of different predisposing factors that modify the microenvironment of the oral cavity and favor the appearance of opportunistic infection. The present study offers a literature review on the diagnosis of oral candidiasis, with the purpose of establishing when complementary microbiological techniques for the diagnosis of oral candidiasis should be used, and which techniques are most commonly employed in routine clinical practice in order to establish a definitive diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Medline-PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane search was made covering the last 10 years. RESULTS: The diagnosis of oral candidiasis is fundamentally clinical. Microbiological techniques are used when the clinical diagnosis needs to be confirmed, for establishing a differential diagnosis with other diseases, and in cases characterized by resistance to antifungal drugs. Biopsies in turn are indicated in patients with hyperplastic candidiasis. Staining (10% KOH) and culture (Sabouraud dextrose agar) are the methods most commonly used for diagnosing primary candidiasis. Identification of the individual species of Candida is usually carried out with CHROMagar Candida®. For the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis, and in cases requiring differentiation between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, use is made of immunological and genetic techniques such as ELISA and PCR. Key words:Clinical, oral candidiasis, microbiology.