Durability of Response to Primary Chemoablation of Low-Grade Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Using UGN-101, a Mitomycin-Containing Reverse Thermal Gel: OLYMPUS Trial Final Report.

Purpose: Our goal was to evaluate long-term safety and durability of response to UGN-101, a mitomycin-containing reverse thermal gel, as primary chemoablative treatment for low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: In this open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase 3 trial (NCT02793128), patients ≥18 years of age with primary or recurrent biopsy-proven low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma received 6 once-weekly instillations of UGN-101 via retrograde catheter to the renal pelvis and calyces. Those with complete response (defined as negative ureteroscopic evaluation, negative cytology and negative for-cause biopsy) 4-6 weeks after the last instillation were eligible for up to 11 monthly maintenance instillations and were followed for ≥12 months with quarterly evaluation of response durability.

Assessment of the efficacy of repeated instillations of mitomycin C mixed with a thermosensitive hydrogel in an orthotopic rat bladder cancer model.

Background: We investigated a thermoreversible hydrogel that is highly viscous at body temperature, while fluid-like at a low temperature, thus aiming for a slow and prolonged intravesical drug release. Our study purposed to assess antitumor efficacy of mitomycin C (MMC) mixed with hydrogel in an orthotopic rat bladder cancer model.

Methods: Bladders of female Fischer F344 rats were grafted with 1.

Serial retrograde instillations of sustained release formulation of mitomycin C to the upper urinary tract of the Yorkshire swine using a thermosensitive polymer: Safety and feasibility.

Background: MitoGel is a novel drug formulation intended for the treatment of upper tract urothelial cancer with proven feasibility and safety in an animal model.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, toxicokinetics, and histologic changes associated with serial retrograde MitoGel instillations to the upper urinary tract in a swine model.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Overall, 27 Yorkshire swine underwent 6 once-weekly unilateral retrograde instillations of MitoGel.

Sustained-release Formulation of Mitomycin C to the Upper Urinary Tract Using a Thermosensitive Polymer: A Preclinical Study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of single and serial instillations of MitoGel into the upper urinary tract using a preclinical swine animal model. MitoGel is a novel sustained release formulation of mitomycin C (MMC) based on RTGel, a proprietary thermosensitive hydrogel technology. MitoGel is liquid at cold temperatures and solidifies to gel state at body temperature.

On-site education of VEGF-recruited monocytes improves their performance as angiogenic and arteriogenic accessory cells.

Adult neovascularization relies on the recruitment of monocytes to the target organ or tumor and functioning therein as a paracrine accessory. The exact origins of the recruited monocytes and the mechanisms underlying their plasticity remain unclear. Using a VEGF-based transgenic system in which genetically tagged monocytes are conditionally summoned to the liver as part of a VEGF-initiated angiogenic program, we show that these recruited cells are derived from the abundant pool of circulating Ly6C(hi) monocytes.

Fate mapping reveals origins and dynamics of monocytes and tissue macrophages under homeostasis.

Mononuclear phagocytes, including monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, contribute to tissue integrity as well as to innate and adaptive immune defense. Emerging evidence for labor division indicates that manipulation of these cells could bear therapeutic potential. However, specific ontogenies of individual populations and the overall functional organization of this cellular network are not well defined.

Acute phase protein response in experimental canine leishmaniasis.

Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been proposed as useful markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of dogs infected by Leishmania infantum. However, the kinetics and behavior of these proteins in canine leishmaniasis is still unknown. The aim of this study was to monitor the kinetics of APPs in dogs experimentally infected with L.

Splenic immune responses during canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Dogs are the main reservoir host for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. In this study we investigated the immune response in spleens of L. infantum-infected dogs by measuring the mRNA expression levels for a wide panel of cytokines, transcription factors and chemokines.

Monocyte subpopulations and their differentiation patterns during infection.

The term "monocyte" implies a single, homogenous population of cells with uniform physiology. Recent evidence from a number of laboratories indicates that it is likely that blood monocytes may consist of several subpopulations of cells, which differ in size, nuclear morphology, granularity, and functionality. The aim of this review is to give a summary of the new findings in the emerging field of monocyte heterogeneity.

Leishmania-derived murine monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 enhances the recruitment of a restrictive population of CC chemokine receptor 2-positive macrophages.

Transgenic Leishmania parasites that encode the murine chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were generated. These parasites transcribed MCP-1 mRNA and secreted MCP-1 protein. Infection of BALB/c, C57BL/6, or MCP-1 knockout (KO) mice with these parasites resulted in minimal lesion development with fewer parasites in the infected foot, lymph node, and spleen compared to wild-type-infected mice.

Interleukin-12 augments a Th1-type immune response manifested as lymphocyte proliferation and interferon gamma production in Leishmania infantum-infected dogs.

The dog is the major reservoir for human visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. Interleukin-12 is considered to have an essential role in the development of both innate and adaptive immunity to Leishmania spp. and other intracellular pathogens.

Polymerase chain reaction using noninvasively obtained samples, for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in dogs.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure using noninvasively obtained samples, for the identification of Leishmania infantum in canine tissues, was evaluated and compared with serologic testing and culture. A total of 92% of naturally infected, symptomatic, seropositive dogs were found to be positive by use of DNA from conjunctival swabs. Spleen or lymph node aspirates were found to be positive by PCR in 86% and by culture in 74% of these dogs.

A serosurvey of Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis antibodies in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Israel.

A seroepidemiological survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis antigens in free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Israel. Of 84 fox sera assayed, 36% were seropositive for E. canis by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and 24% were positive for H.