A hydrogel based on lipid nanocapsules to kill residual glioblastoma cells after surgical resection - GLIOGEL - 8th Joint Call of EuroNanoMed3 (ERA-Net)

Despite their low prevalence (annual global incidence of 5 cases out of 100,000 in the European Union and United States), glioblastoma (GBM), malignant brain tumours, result in high morbidity and mortality. Due to recurrences from infiltrating GBM cells at the border of resection, the median survival is 14 months with the current standard of care (surgical resection combined with adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy). The objective of this research project is to develop an implantable hydrogel technology which will bridge the current therapeutic needs between surgical resection and initiation of systemic regimens. In this project, a polymer-free hydrogel prepared from biodegradable lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) will act as a sustained-release matrix to deliver targeted therapeutic nanoparticles specifically to cancer cells. This technology is expected to limit GBM recurrences by i) maintaining therapeutic concentrations of anticancer drugs at the resection border (without the necessity of crossing the blood-brain barrier) and ii) targeting GBM cells specifically using a unique proprietary targeting peptide (NFL-TBS.40-63) (NFL).Preliminary data shows that the peptide NFL can adsorb at the surface of LNCs. This surface functionalization can be used to target drug-loaded LNCs to GBM cells in vivo, and achieve therapeutic efficacy. In parallel, when using a crosslinking agent, LNCs can self-associate in a network forming a polymer-free hydrogel. When loaded with drugs, this hydrogel can provide sustained release and improve in vivo therapeutic efficacy compared to the drug alone. The GLIOGEL project will combine these two independent technologies to create unique synergy and to address an existing clinical need

New generation of lipid nanocapsules hydrogel to target and prevent glioblastoma recurrences - GLIOGEL - 8th Joint Call of EuroNanoMed3 (ERA-Net)

Malgré sa faible prévalence, le glioblastome (GBM), tumeur maligne du cerveau, présente un fort taux de morbidité et de mortalité avec une médiane de survie de 14 mois avec les traitements standards actuels (résection chirurgicale combinée à une radiothérapie et/ou chimiothérapie adjuvante(s)). Les cellules de GBM infiltrées à la périphérie de la résection sont la principale cause des récurrences. L’objectif de ce projet de recherche est de développer un hydrogel implantable directement après résection, comblant le gap thérapeutique entre la résection chirurgicale et l’initiation des traitements. Dans ce projet, un hydrogel, sans polymères, préparé à partir de nanocapsules lipidiques biodégradables (NCLs), va libérer de manière prolongée les nanoparticules thérapeutiques ciblant spécifiquement les cellules cancéreuses. Cette technologie a pour but de limiter les récurrences du GBM i) en conservant des concentrations en agents anticancéreux thérapeutiques à la périphérie de la résection (sans nécessité de traverser la barrière hémato-encéphalique) et ii) en ciblant spécifiquement les cellules de GBM par utilisation d’un peptide de ciblage (NFL-TBS.40-63) (NFL). Les données préliminaires montrent que le peptide NFL peut s’adsorber à la surface des NCLs, ainsi, les NCLs chargées en médicament peuvent cibler les cellules de GBM in vivo, et améliorer leur efficacité thérapeutique. En parallèle, en présence d’un agent de réticulation, les NCLs peuvent s’autoassocier et former un hydrogel sans polymère. Chargé en médicaments, cet hydrogel peut fournir une libération prolongée des drogues, bénéfique sur l’efficacité thérapeutique. Le projet GLIOGEL combinera ces deux technologies dans le but de créer une synergie unique et répondre à un besoin clinique existant

Asthma exacerbations in Reunion Island: Environmental factors

INTRODUCTION: Reunion Island is a French overseas department characterized by a tropical climate with 2 distinct seasons. While the prevalence of asthma among adults in Reunion Island is close to that in mainland France, mortality and hospitalization rates are twice as high. To date, however, no epidemiological studies have evaluated the influence of environmental factors in asthma exacerbations in Reunion Island. METHODS: From January 2010 to June 2013, 1157 residents of Saint-Denis visited the emergency rooms of the Centre hospitalier universitaire site Nord de Saint-Denis for asthma. After exclusion of children under the age of 3, 864 visits were analyzed. These were correlated with the following daily factors: pollens and molds, meteorological parameters (temperature, precipitation levels, humidity and relative humidity levels, wind), pollutants (sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and the fine particles PM10 and PM2.5), and the influenza virus. The correlation between these factors was evaluated using the DLNM and GO-GARCH models. RESULTS: Of the 864 analyzed visits, 532 were by pediatric patients (aged 3 to 16 years) and 332 by adult patients (aged over 16 years). In adults, pollens positively correlated with asthma exacerbations were Urticaceae, Oleaceae, Moraceae, and Chenopodiaceae. In children, these were Urticaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, and Myrtaceae. Molds positively correlated with asthma exacerbations in adults were ascospores and basidiospores. Only basidiospores were positively correlated with exacerbations in children. Temperature was positively correlated with exacerbations in both adults and children. The pollutants PM10 and NOx were positively correlated with exacerbations in children. Influenza epidemics were strongly correlated with exacerbations in both adults and children. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that in Reunion Island, asthma is exacerbated by pollens (Urticaceae, Oleaceae, Moraceae, Chenopodiaceae in adults; Urticaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, Myrtaceae in children), molds (ascospores and basidiospores in adults; basidiospores in children), temperature, influenza, and the pollutants PM10 and NOx (in children)

[Age and management decisions in patients with primary lung cancer].

ERMAInternational audienceINTRODUCTION: Therapeutic decisions are difficult in elderly patients because of the heterogeneity of this population. Our objective was to evaluate the role of age in the management of patients suffering from primary lung cancer seen in the department of respiratory diseases of the Limoges regional teaching hospital between 2002 and 2004. METHODS: A cross sectional study analysed the management of 363 patients suffering from primary lung cancer. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age (less than seventy or seventy and over). A comparison was made between the management of the two groups. RESULTS: The comparisons according to age produced evidence of reduced activity, greater dependence, an increased Charlson score, less frequently administered radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and more frequent symptomatic treatment in the elderly group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The geriatric assessment of patients suffering from primary lung cancer should make allowance for the physiological age of the patient and adapt the management to ensure the best quality of life

[Age and management decisions in patients with primary lung cancer].

ERMAInternational audienceINTRODUCTION: Therapeutic decisions are difficult in elderly patients because of the heterogeneity of this population. Our objective was to evaluate the role of age in the management of patients suffering from primary lung cancer seen in the department of respiratory diseases of the Limoges regional teaching hospital between 2002 and 2004. METHODS: A cross sectional study analysed the management of 363 patients suffering from primary lung cancer. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age (less than seventy or seventy and over). A comparison was made between the management of the two groups. RESULTS: The comparisons according to age produced evidence of reduced activity, greater dependence, an increased Charlson score, less frequently administered radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and more frequent symptomatic treatment in the elderly group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The geriatric assessment of patients suffering from primary lung cancer should make allowance for the physiological age of the patient and adapt the management to ensure the best quality of life

TRPC1 and TRPC3 involvement in DMD physiopathology and as potential targets for treatment in complement to rAAV-microdystrophin

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