Oncolytic virotherapy with intratumoral injection of vaccinia virus TG6002 and 5-fluorocytosine administration in dogs with malignant tumors.

TG6002 is an oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing FCU1 protein, which converts 5-fluorocytosine into 5-fluorouracil. The study objectives were to assess tolerance, viral replication, 5-fluorouracil synthesis, and tumor microenvironment modifications to treatment in dogs with spontaneous malignant tumors. Thirteen dogs received one to three weekly intratumoral injections of TG6002 and 5-fluorocytosine.

Safety studies and viral shedding of intramuscular administration of oncolytic vaccinia virus TG6002 in healthy beagle dogs.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of mortality for both humans and dogs. As spontaneous canine cancers appear to be relevant models of human cancers, developing new therapeutic approaches could benefit both species. Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach in cancer treatment.

Oncolytic properties of non-vaccinia poxviruses.

Vaccinia virus, a member of the family, has been extensively used as an oncolytic agent and has entered late stage clinical development. In this study, we evaluated the potential oncolytic properties of other members of the family. Numerous tumor cell lines were infected with ten non-vaccinia poxviruses to identify which virus displayed the most potential as an oncolytic agent.

Intravenous injection of MVA virus targets CD8+ lymphocytes to tumors to control tumor growth upon combinatorial treatment with a TLR9 agonist.

Effector T-cell access to tumor tissue is a limiting step for clinical efficacy of antigen-specific T cell-based immunotherapies. Ectopic mouse tumor models, in which a subcutaneously (s.c.

Bone- and cartilage-protective effects of a monoclonal antibody against colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor in experimental arthritis.

Objective: Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) essentially modulates monocyte proliferation, migration, and activation, which are considered important for the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this study to determine CSF-1R expression in human RA as well as the efficacy of a specific anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody (AFS98) in 2 different animal models of RA.

Methods: CSF-1R expression was examined in blood, synovium, and bone samples from RA patients, osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and healthy subjects.

Therapeutic effects of anti-CD115 monoclonal antibody in mouse cancer models through dual inhibition of tumor-associated macrophages and osteoclasts.

Tumor progression is promoted by Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) and metastasis-induced bone destruction by osteoclasts. Both myeloid cell types depend on the CD115-CSF-1 pathway for their differentiation and function. We used 3 different mouse cancer models to study the effects of targeting cancer host myeloid cells with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) capable of blocking CSF-1 binding to murine CD115.

[Computerized cardiotocography and short-term variation in management of obstetric cholestasis: a useful tool?].

Objective: To evaluate active management of obstetric cholestasis by comparing correlation between bile acid concentrations and computerized cardiotocography (Short-term variation [STV]).

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analytic study about 51 obstetric cholestasis between January 2001 and August 2009. Demographic characteristics, bile acid concentrations and STV data were recorded since diagnosis to pregnancy with evaluation of fetal outcome.

[Early fetal megacystis at first trimester: a six-year retrospective study].

Objective: A fetal megacystis is defined by a longitudinal bladder diameter more than 7 mm. The purpose of this study is to describe the prenatal ultrasound findings of this early fetal pathology and to assess pronostic and aetiologycal criteria.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2003 and December 2008, 12 cases of early fetal megacystis were identified in our referral fetal medicine unit (Saint-Etienne hospital, France).

Impaired cortical activation in autistic children: is the mirror neuron system involved?

The inability to imitate becomes obvious early in autistic children and seems to contribute to learning delay and to disorders of communication and contact. Posture, motility and imitation disorders in autistic syndrome might be the consequence of an abnormality of sensori-motor integration, related to the visual perception of movement, and could reflect impairment of the mirror neuron system (MNS). We compared EEG activity during the observation of videos showing actions or still scenes in 14 right-handed autistic children and 14 right-handed, age- and gender-matched control children (3 girls and 11 boys, aged 5 years 3 months-7 years 11 months).

[Treatment of breast cancer between 1985 and 2005 at Saint-Etienne University Hospital: contribution of mammography screening. Retrospective study of 473 patients].

Objective: Study the contribution of breast cancer screening by mammography on the quality of diagnosis and treatment of patients admitted at Saint-Etienne University Hospital between 1985 and 2005.

Patients And Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study of 473 breast cancer patients between 1985 and 2005, with a stratified sampling over the year, and comparison of the various characteristics between detected and not detected patients.

Results: Patients diagnosed by a mammography screening present, in a statistically significant way, smaller size tumours, less nodes and metastatic attacks, more conservative surgery and less chemotherapy.

Visual perception in children: human, animal and virtual movement activates different cortical areas.

This study was designed to relate visual perception of motion (HUMAN, ANIMAL and VIRTUAL) to cortical activity (qEEG parameters). Thirty-four healthy right-handed children (29 months-94 months, mean age 5 years) viewed a video film showing a still image (a lake) and animated images with human, animal and virtual movement. EEGs were recorded while the children watched the video film.

Electroencephalographic activity during perception of motion in childhood.

The purpose of the present study was to relate observations of biological motion to cortical activity by evaluation of the association of quantified electroencephalogram (qEEG) parameters with a video film projection. Thirty right-handed healthy children (2-8-year-olds) viewed a video film showing still shots and moving shots with human movement or object movement. The EEG was recorded while children watched the video movie and was then subjected to spectral analysis; the spectral powers for theta, alpha and beta bands were matched with corresponding sequences of video film.

Observation and execution of movement: similarities demonstrated by quantified electroencephalography.

Quantified electroencephalography (qEEG) was used to compare cerebral electrical variations while human subjects (10 males and 10 females) were observing and executing finger movements and while they were resting. Video recording enabled elimination of subjects performing involuntary movements. EEGs were recorded from 14 sites in seven frequency bands: theta 1, theta 2, alpha 1, alpha, beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3.

Perception of motion and qEEG activity in human adults.

This study was designed to relate visual perception of motion to cortical activity, by evaluation of the association of quantified electroencephalogram (qEEG) parameters with a video film projection. The EEG was recorded from 14 sites according to the International 10-20 system and a common average reference was used. Forty right-handed volunteers (mean age = 24 years) were examined.

[Latent imitation of human movements presented on a videoscopic screen, disclosed by electroencephalographic mapping in the spectator].

Trend to imitate human movement is studied here by EEG mapping. The effects of three kinds of situations are compared: a movement on a TV screen is presented to the subject; a movement is realized by the experimenter in front of the subject; the subject is asked to perform a movement. These three situations elicited important modifications in alpha 1 rhythms over the centroparietal area of the scalp.