Sex Matters-Insights from Testing Drug Efficacy in an Animal Model of Pancreatic Cancer.

Preclinical studies rarely test the efficacy of therapies in both sexes. The field of oncology is no exception in this regard. In a model of syngeneic, orthotopic, metastasized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma we evaluated the impact of sex on pathological features of this disease as well as on the efficacy and possible adverse side effects of a novel, small molecule-based therapy inhibiting KRAS:SOS1, MEK1/2 and PI3K signaling in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Male mice had less tumor infiltration of CD8-positive cells, developed bigger tumors, had more lung metastasis and a lower probability of survival compared to female mice. These more severe pathological features in male animals were accompanied by higher distress at the end of the experiment. The evaluated inhibitors BI-3406, trametinib and BKM120 showed synergistic effects in vitro. This combinatorial therapy reduced tumor weight more efficiently in male animals, although the drug concentrations were similar in the tumors of both sexes. These results underline the importance of sex-specific preclinical research and at the same time provide a solid basis for future studies with the tested compounds.

Pigeon Rotavirus A as the cause of systemic infection in juvenile pigeons (young pigeon disease).

Recent investigations suggested pigeon associated Rotavirus Typ A genotype G18P[17] (RVA) as a causative agent of the classical 'young pigeon disease' (YPD). YPD was first described in the late 1980 s as an acute, mainly seasonally recurring disorder of mostly juvenile domestic pigeons (Columba livia) with clinical signs such as anorexia, dairrhea, vomiting, congested crops, weight loss and occasionally mortality. Various studies in the past indicated a multifactorial nature of YPD. Several pathogens, such as pigeon circovirus 1, avian adenoviruses and Escherichia coli were also suggested, but none of these could reproduce the disease experimentally. However, the impact of other pathogens on the clinical development of YPD cannot be excluded and requires further investigation. This present review summarizes available information on RVA-induced disease in pigeons, its association with YPD, the transmission, and diagnosis of the infection, and on prophylactic strategies to prevent RVA outbreaks.

Microcirculatory tissue perfusion during general anaesthesia and noncardiac surgery: An observational study using incident dark field imaging with automated video analysis.

BACKGROUND: Handheld vital microscopy allows direct observation of red blood cells within the sublingual microcirculation. Automated analysis allows quantifying microcirculatory tissue perfusion variables - including tissue red blood cell perfusion (tRBCp), a functional variable integrating microcirculatory convection and diffusion capacities. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe baseline microcirculatory tissue perfusion in patients presenting for elective noncardiac surgery and test that microcirculatory tissue perfusion is preserved during elective general anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. PATIENTS: 120 elective noncardiac surgery patients (major abdominal, orthopaedic or trauma and minor urologic surgery) and 40 young healthy volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured sublingual microcirculation using incident dark field imaging with automated analysis at baseline before induction of general anaesthesia, under general anaesthesia before surgical incision and every 30 min during surgery. We used incident the dark field imaging technology with a validated automated analysis software. RESULTS: A total of 3687 microcirculation video sequences were analysed. Microcirculatory tissue perfusion variables varied substantially between individuals - but ranges were similar between patients and volunteers. Under general anaesthesia before surgical incision, there were no important changes in tRBCp, functional capillary density and capillary haematocrit compared with preinduction baseline. However, total vessel density was higher and red blood cell velocity and the proportion of perfused vessels were lower under general anaesthesia. There were no important changes in any microcirculatory tissue perfusion variables during surgery. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting for elective noncardiac surgery, baseline microcirculatory tissue perfusion variables vary substantially between individuals - but ranges are similar to those in young healthy volunteers. Microcirculatory tissue perfusion is preserved during general anaesthesia and noncardiac surgery - when macrocirculatory haemodynamics are maintained.

Targeting pancreatic cancer with combinatorial treatment of CPI-613 and inhibitors of lactate metabolism.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death, with a 5-year survival rate of 10%. A stagnant high mortality rate over the last decades highlights the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Pancreatic tumors pursue an altered metabolism in order to maintain energy generation under low nutrient influx and hypoxic conditions. Targeting these metabolic strategies might therefore be a reasonable therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer. One promising agent is CPI- 613, a potent inhibitor of two enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The present study evaluated the anti-cancerous efficacy of CPI-613 in combination with galloflavin, a lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor or with alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, an inhibitor of monocarboxylate transporters. The efficacy of both combination therapies was tested in vitro on one human and two murine pancreatic cancer cell lines and in vivo in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model. Tumor progression was evaluated by MRI and 18F-FDG PET-CT. Both combinatorial treatments demonstrated in vitro a significant inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and induction of cell death. In contrast to the in vitro results, both combination therapies did not significantly reduce tumor growth in vivo. The in vitro results suggest that a combined inhibition of different metabolic pathways might be a promising approach for cancer therapy. However, the in vivo experiments indicate that applying a higher dosage or using other drugs targeting these metabolic pathways might be more promising.

[Effects of the environment on health of feral pigeons (Columba livia)]. / Umwelteinflüsse und Gesundheitszustand bei Strassentauben (Columba livia).

We examined 80 feral pigeons and their fecal samples from two feral pigeon lofts of the "Pigeon Action of Basel" (Switzerland) for different pathogens. The tested material harbored four pathogenic agents transmissible to humans (Chlamydia spp., Salmonella spec., Campylobacter jejuni, Cryptococcus neoformans) In addition several pathogens were found which are no zoonotic agents but potentially pathogenic for the pigeons themselves, such as Trichomonas gallinae, coccidia, helminths, ectoparasites and fungi. The number of pathogens and parasites detected in the fecal samples varied significantly between the two localities. The pigeons of the two investigated breeding flocks differed in nutritional status and the incidence of two species of feather lice, Columbicola columbae and Campanulotes bidentatus compar. The prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae between juveniles and adults was not significantly different but juveniles exhibited significantly heavier infestation if infected. Individuals with a good nutritional status tend to show heavier infestation with Trichomonas gallinae compared to birds with moderate or poor nutritional status. Birds with a poor nutritional status tend to suffer from a heavier infestation with the feather louse C. columbae, and birds with a good nutritional status show significant heavier infestation with C. bidentatus compar. It was remarkable that one of the two investigated breeding populations almost gave up its breeding activity for two years because of the loss of its familiar food source. Nevertheless, this population showed a better nutritional status than the population without restrictions in the acquisition of food. This fact could be interpreted by the existence of a biological control mechanism for suppression of the reproduction in degraded environmental conditions to ensure the survival of the adults. If this assumption is correct, the feeding of feral pigeons by animal lovers possibly causes impairment of pigeon's health in consequence of continuation of the breeding activity in spite of declined living conditions in the city.