Zfp488 promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation of neural progenitor cells in adult mice after demyelination

Basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors Olig1 and Olig2 critically regulate oligodendrocyte development. Initially identified as a downstream effector of Olig1, an oligodendrocyte-specific zinc finger transcription repressor, Zfp488, cooperates with Olig2 function. Although Zfp488 is required for oligodendrocyte precursor formation and differentiation during embryonic development, its role in oligodendrogenesis of adult neural progenitor cells is not known. In this study, we tested whether Zfp488 could promote an oligodendrogenic fate in adult subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Using a cuprizone-induced demyelination model in mice, we examined the effect of retrovirus-mediated Zfp488 overexpression in SVZ NSPCs. Our results showed that Zfp488 efficiently promoted the differentiation of the SVZ NSPCs into mature oligodendrocytes in vivo. After cuprizone-induced demyelination injury, Zfp488-transduced mice also showed significant restoration of motor function to levels comparable to control mice. Together, these findings identify a previously unreported role for Zfp488 in adult oligodendrogenesis and functional remyelination after injury

Scope

Scope, later retitled Centerscope, was published by the Boston University Medical Center to report on events at and around the Center

Live Surgery for Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy—Does it Worsen the Outcomes? A Single-center Experience

Objective: To compare outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) performed in live surgery versus daily routine LRP. Methods: From January 2014 to June 2017, data from LRP performed at our Institution in live broadcasting by 3 experienced laparoscopic surgeons during educational events were collected. A 1:2 matching (according to BMI, comorbidities, NCCN risk groups, and operating surgeon) was performed with the routine LRP patients collected in our prospectively-maintained database. Chosen procedures were performed within the same time span by the same surgeons. Data of interest were compared. Results: Twenty-three live surgery LRPs were analyzed (Group A). Forty-six matched patients were the controls (Group B). Groups were comparable at baseline. No differences were found in perioperative data (operative time, blood loss, and intraoperative complications, 4.3% in both Groups) and postoperative complications. Particularly, 10 (43.5%) and 22 patients (47.8%) did not report complications (Group A vs B, respectively, P = .54). The majority of complications were Clavien 1-2, with 2 patients per Group requiring blood transfusion. Overall positive surgical margins rate was 26.1%. It was significantly higher in Group A (43.5% vs 17.4%; P = .02), but no differences were found in the number of patients who relapsed, who needed radiotherapy or androgen deprivation therapy within a median follow-up of 25 months in both Groups. No differences were found regarding functional data. Limitations include a low sample size and limited follow-up. Conclusion: LRP has similar perioperative outcomes when performed in either live surgery or daily routine setting. We underline the higher positive surgical margins rate after live surgeries that should increase the awareness before embarking on it