scholarly journals P.078 Clinical trials in children with Down Syndrome: now and future

Author(s):  
C Cieuta-Walti ◽  
C Mircher ◽  
I Marey ◽  
J Toulas ◽  
E Prioux ◽  
...  

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability.Although progress in managing co-morbidities has improved life expectancy, no therapeutic options have showed to significantly improve intellectual deficiencies.The current focus of the pharmacological treatment of DS is on the improvement of the cognitive impairment that is probably due to neurodevelopmental alterations,neurotransmitter alterations and neurodegeneration,and is also targeted to the overexpression of selected genes on HSA21. Methods: We review the clinical trials of the last 5 years focusing on the cognitive improvement of children with DS. Results: We report the results of therapeutic trials concerning selective negative allosteric regulators of the GABAAa5 receptor, NMDA antagonists, Kinase inhibitors of DYRK1A, folinic acid and thyroid hormone supplementation, activators of serotonergic and cholinergic system. Conclusions: The incomplete understanding of individual phenotypic variability, natural history, lack of biomarkers, no adapted neuropsychological tests, placebo effect, epigenetic effect have limited our capacity to succeed, even when promising drugs are tested.We need new tools and models will allow a better understanding of the pathophysiology. We also need to create more sensitive and realistic outcome mesures to quantify disease and therapeutic efficacy. The association of different therapeutic agents (epidrugs included) with cognitive stimulation could be a future strategy.

Author(s):  
Angelika Batta ◽  
Raj Khirasaria ◽  
Vinod Kapoor ◽  
Deepansh Varshney

AbstractObjectivesWith the emergence of Novel corona virus, hunt for finding a preventive and therapeutic treatment options has already begun at a rapid pace with faster clinical development programs. The present study was carried out to give an insight of therapeutic interventional trials registered under clinical trial registry of India (CTRI) for COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAll trials registered under CTRI were evaluated using keyword “COVID” from its inception till 9th June 2020. Out of which, therapeutic interventional studies were chosen for further analysis. Following information was collected for each trial: type of therapeutic intervention (preventive/therapeutic), treatment given, no. of centers (single center/multicentric), type of institution (government/private), study design (randomized/single-blinded/double-blinded) and sponsors (Government/private). Microsoft Office Excel 2007 was used for tabulation and analysis.ResultsThe search yielded total of 205 trials, out of which, 127 (62%) trials were interventional trials. Out of these, 71 (56%) were AYUSH interventions, 36 (28.3%) tested drugs, 9 (7%) tested a nondrug intervention, rest were nutraceuticals and vaccines. About 66 (56%) were therapeutic trials. Majority were single-centered trials, i.e. 87 (73.7%). Trials were government funded in 57 (48.3%) studies. Majority were randomized controlled trials, i.e. 67 (56.8%). AYUSH preparations included AYUSH-64, Arsenic Album, SamshamaniVati etc.ConclusionsThe number of therapeutic interventional clinical trials was fair in India. A clear-cut need exists for an increase in both quantity and quality of clinical trials for COVID-19. Drug repurposing approach in all systems of medicine can facilitate prompt clinical decisions at lower costs than de novo drug development.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1103
Author(s):  
Philipp von Hundelshausen ◽  
Wolfgang Siess

Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) is expressed in B-lymphocytes, myeloid cells and platelets, and Btk-inhibitors (BTKi) are used to treat patients with B-cell malignancies, developed against autoimmune diseases, have been proposed as novel antithrombotic drugs, and been tested in patients with severe COVID-19. However, mild bleeding is frequent in patients with B-cell malignancies treated with the irreversible BTKi ibrutinib and the recently approved 2nd generation BTKi acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib and tirabrutinib, and also in volunteers receiving in a phase-1 study the novel irreversible BTKi BI-705564. In contrast, no bleeding has been reported in clinical trials of other BTKi. These include the brain-penetrant irreversible tolebrutinib and evobrutinib (against multiple sclerosis), the irreversible branebrutinib, the reversible BMS-986142 and fenebrutinib (targeting rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematodes), and the reversible covalent rilzabrutinib (against pemphigus and immune thrombocytopenia). Remibrutinib, a novel highly selective covalent BTKi, is currently in clinical studies of autoimmune dermatological disorders. This review describes twelve BTKi approved or in clinical trials. By focusing on their pharmacological properties, targeted disease, bleeding side effects and actions on platelets it attempts to clarify the mechanisms underlying bleeding. Specific platelet function tests in blood might help to estimate the probability of bleeding of newly developed BTKi.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249
Author(s):  
Daniele Orsucci ◽  
Elena Caldarazzo Ienco ◽  
Andrea Rossi ◽  
Gabriele Siciliano ◽  
Michelangelo Mancuso

In the last ten years, the knowledge of the genetic basis of mitochondrial diseases has significantly advanced. However, the vast phenotypic variability linked to mitochondrial disorders and the peculiar characteristics of their genetics make mitochondrial disorders a complex group of disorders. Although specific genetic alterations have been associated with some syndromic presentations, the genotype–phenotype relationship in mitochondrial disorders is complex (a single mutation can cause several clinical syndromes, while different genetic alterations can cause similar phenotypes). This review will revisit the most common syndromic pictures of mitochondrial disorders, from a clinical rather than a molecular perspective. We believe that the new phenotype definitions implemented by recent large multicenter studies, and revised here, may contribute to a more homogeneous patient categorization, which will be useful in future studies on natural history and clinical trials.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A224-A224
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Morse

Abstract Introduction Specialized health care guidelines for children with Down Syndrome (DS) published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provided specific recommendations based on the higher risk needs of individuals with DS. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is reported to be present in 50–79% of individuals with DS. According to the AAP guideline, all individuals with DS should have a polysomnography (PSG) evaluating for OSA by 4 years old and then screened by history and physical exam annually thereafter. An interim analysis of an ongoing Down Syndrome Research study was evaluated to determine rate of adherence to these guidelines. Methods The Dimensional, Sleep, and Genomic Analyses of Down Syndrome to Elucidate Phenotypic Variability study enrolled down syndrome patients 30 months and older, as well as first degree relatives to participate. Patients completed a standardized clinical sleep interview, childhood sleep habits questionnaire and was asked to complete 2 week sleep diary, actigraphy and polysomnography. We aimed to characterize the rate of PSG completion by 4 years of age, number of research PSGs completed and rate of OSA identified on research PSG. Results A total of 31 patients were consented. The median patient age was 10 years old with a slight female predominance (15F:12M). 27 patients completed the sleep interview and 19 successfully completed a scorable polysomnography. Only 7 patients had completed a PSG previously by age of 4 years. 11 of 19 studies demonstrated obstructive sleep apnea ranging from mild to severe severity (1.7–42.5/hr). REM AHI (range 1.2–58.2/hr, mean 19/hr and median 12.3/hr) demonstrated increased severity. Conclusion Despite AAP guidelines recommending universal PSG evaluation by the age of 4 years of age, only 26% of patients interviewed has a PSG successfully completed previously. Additional recommendations by AAP include yearly surveillance of symptoms although there is poor correlation between parent report and polysomnogram results. Of the 19 research completed PSGs, 58% demonstrated OSA with the mean and median results consistent with moderate to severe OSA and worsening during REM sleep. Improved effort to successfully obtain PSG in this population is needed. Further study is ongoing to evaluate the relationship to other health and cognitive outcomes. Support (if any) NIMH


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2934
Author(s):  
Sabine Seidel ◽  
Michelle Margold ◽  
Thomas Kowalski ◽  
Alexander Baraniskin ◽  
Roland Schroers ◽  
...  

Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) not fulfilling inclusion criteria for clinical trials represent an underreported population. Thirty-four consecutive PCNSL patients seen at our center between 2005 and 2019 with exclusion criteria for therapeutic trials were analyzed (non-study patients) and compared with patients from the G-PCNSL-SG-1 (German PCNSL Study Group 1) study (study patients), the largest prospective multicenter trial on PCNSL, comprising 551 patients. Median follow up was 68 months (range 1–141) in non-study patients and 51 months (1–105) in study patients. Twenty-seven/34 (79.4%) non-study patients received high dose methotrexate (HDMTX), while seven/34 (20.6%) with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 50 mL/min did not. Median overall survival (OS) was six months (95% confidence interval [CI] 0–21 months) in those 34 non-study patients. The 27 non-study patients treated with HDMTX were compared with 526/551 G-PCNSL-SG-1 study patients who had received HDMTX as well. Median OS was 20 months (95% CI 0–45)/21 months (95% CI 18–25) in 27 non-study/526 study patients (p = 0.766). Favorable prognostic factors in non-study patients were young age, application of HDMTX and early response on magnet resonance imaging (MRI). If HDMTX-based chemotherapy can be applied, long-term disease control is possible even in patients not qualifying for clinical trials. Initial response on early MRI might be useful for decision on treatment continuation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-431
Author(s):  
Katherine Wade*

Abstract It is important that clinical research with children is encouraged so that they are not exposed to the dangers of extrapolation from adult treatments. Clinical trials with investigational medicinal products (imps) are an important part of improving medical care for children. Both the 2001 Clinical Trials Directive and the 2014 Regulation recognise the need for such research, including the need for non-therapeutic trials with imps. However, it is also recognised that a balance must be struck between permitting tailored medical care for children as a group on the one hand, and protecting individual trial participants from harm on the other. A central issue in striking this balance relates to defining the threshold of risk which should be permitted in such research. This article provides a critical analysis of the current European law in relation to the definition of acceptable risk for non-therapeutic clinical trials with imps and makes recommendations for reform, drawing on law from the Council of Europe, as well as law from the us.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Vazquez-Oliver ◽  
Silvia Perez-Garcia ◽  
Nieves Pizarro ◽  
Laura Molina-Porcel ◽  
Rafael de la Torre ◽  
...  

Intellectual disability is the most prevalent and limiting hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), without any pharmacological treatment available. Neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation are relevant neurological features of DS reaching to early development of Alzheimer s disease. Preclinical evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system, an important neuromodulator on cognition and neuroinflammation, could act as beneficial target in DS. Indeed, cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) activity was enhanced in the hippocampus of young-adult trisomic Ts65Dn mice, a well-characterized surrogate model of DS. In previous studies, inhibition of CB1R, was able to restore key neurological deficits in this mouse model. To determine the possible clinical relevance of this target, it is mandatory to evaluate the long-term consequences of attenuated CB1R activity and to minimize the possible side-effects associated to this mechanism. We found that CB1R expression was significantly enhanced in the hippocampus brains of aged DS subjects. Similarly, middle-aged trisomic mice showed enhanced CB1R expression. Long-term oral administration of a low dose of the CB1R specific antagonist rimonabant was administered to male and female Ts65Dn trisomic and wild-type mice from the time of weaning to 10 months, an age when signs of neurodegeneration have been described in the model. CB1R inhibition resulted in significant cognitive improvement in novel object-recognition memory in trisomic male and female mice, reaching a similar performance to that of wild-type littermates. Interestingly, this long-term rimonabant treatment modify locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, body weight or survival rates. Brain analysis at 10 months of age revealed noradrenergic and cholinergic neurodegeneration signs in trisomic mice that were not modified by the treatment, although the alterations in hippocampal microglia morphology shown by vehicle-treated trisomic mice was normalized in trisomic mice exposed to rimonabant. Altogether, our results demonstrate a sustained pro-cognitive effect of CB1R inhibition at doses that do not produce major side effects that could be associated to an anti-inflammatory action, suggesting a potential interest in this target of to preserve cognitive functionality in DS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Cutolo ◽  
Alberto Sulli ◽  
Carmen Pizzorni ◽  
Vanessa Smith

Peripheral microvascular impairment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) may be easily detected and scored in a safe noninvasive way by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). The paper highlights clinical conditions related to SSc in which NVC may represent an outcome measure of therapeutical interventions, by elaborating on their already assessed relationship with the NVC patterns and eventually scores. The 3 important biological/clinical conditions are: the positivity for SSc-specific serum autoantibodies, the presence of SSc skin digital ulcers (DUs) and of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) SSc associated. In conclusion, to the question if capillaroscopy (NVC) may represent in SSc an outcome measure for clinical trials on the peripheral vasculopathy, based on the growing evidence and our detailed studies, the answer is positive. Recent therapeutic trials in SSc are confirming this role, and the experience is growing rapidly.


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