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Joyeux L, van der Merwe J, Aertsen M, Patel PA, Khatoun A, Mori da Cunha MGMC, De Vleeschauwer S, Parra J, Danzer E, McLaughlin M, Stoyanov D, Vercauteren T, Ourselin S, Radaelli E, de Coppi P, Van Calenbergh F, Deprest J. Neuroprotection is improved by watertightness of fetal spina bifida repair in the sheep model. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2023; 61:81-92. [PMID: 35353933 DOI: 10.1002/uog.24907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A contributing factor to unsuccessful prenatal spina bifida aperta (SBA) repair via an open approach may be incomplete neurosurgical repair causing persistent in-utero leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and exposure of the fetal spinal cord to amniotic fluid. We aimed to investigate the neurostructural and neurofunctional efficacy of watertight prenatal SBA repair in a validated SBA fetal lamb model. METHODS A well-powered superiority study was conducted in the validated SBA fetal lamb model (n = 7 per group). The outcomes of lambs which underwent watertight or non-watertight multilayer repair through an open approach were compared to those of unrepaired SBA lambs (historical controls) at delivery (term = 145 days). At ∼75 days, fetal lambs underwent standardized induction of lumbar SBA. At ∼100 days, they were assigned to an either watertight or non-watertight layered repair group based on an intraoperative watertightness test using subcutaneous fluorescein injection. At 1-2 days postnatally, as primary outcome, we assessed reversal of hindbrain herniation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Secondary proxies of neuroprotection were: absence of CSF leakage at the repair site; hindlimb motor function based on joint-movement score, locomotor grade and Motor Evoked Potential (MEP); four-score neuroprotection scale, encompassing live birth, complete hindbrain herniation reversal, absence of CSF leakage and joint-movement score ≥ 9/15; and brain and spinal cord histology and immunohistochemistry. As the watertightness test cannot be used clinically due to its invasiveness, we developed a potential surrogate intraoperative three-score skin-repair-quality scale based on visual assessment of the quality of the skin repair (suture inter-run distance ≤ 3 mm, absence of tear and absence of ischemia), with high quality defined by a score ≥ 2/3 and low quality by a score < 2/3, and assessed its relationship with improved outcome. RESULTS Compared with unrepaired lambs, lambs with watertight repair achieved a high level of neuroprotection (neuroprotection score of 4/4 in 5/7 vs 0/7 lambs) as evidenced by: a significant 100% (vs 14%) reversal of hindbrain herniation on MRI; low CSF leakage (14% vs 100%); better hindlimb motor function, with higher joint-movement score, locomotor grade and MEP area under the curve and peak-to-peak amplitude; higher neuronal density in the hippocampus and corpus callosum; and higher reactive astrogliosis at the SBA lesion epicenter. Conversely, lambs with non-watertight SBA repair did not achieve the same level of neuroprotection (score of 4/4 in 1/7 lambs) compared with unrepaired lambs, with: a non-significant 86% (vs 14%) reversal of hindbrain herniation; high CSF leakage (43% vs 100%); no improvement in motor function; low brain neuron count in both the hippocampus and corpus callosum; and small spinal astroglial cell area at the epicenter. Both watertight layered repair and high (≥ 2/3) intraoperative skin-repair-quality score were associated with improved outcome, but the watertightness test and skin-repair-quality scale could not be used interchangeably due to result discrepancies. CONCLUSIONS Watertight layered fetal SBA repair is neuroprotective since it improves brain and spinal-cord structure and function in the fetal lamb model. This translational research has important clinical implications. A neurosurgical technique that achieves watertightness should be adopted in all fetal centers to improve neuroprotection. Future clinical studies could assess whether a high skin-repair-quality score (≥ 2/3) correlates with neuroprotection. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Joyeux
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J van der Merwe
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Aertsen
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - P A Patel
- Radiology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - A Khatoun
- Exp ORL, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M G M C Mori da Cunha
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S De Vleeschauwer
- Animal Research Center, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Parra
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- BCNatal, Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clinic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Danzer
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - M McLaughlin
- Radiology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - D Stoyanov
- Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - T Vercauteren
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - S Ourselin
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - E Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, Ryan Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - P de Coppi
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Specialist Neonatal and Pediatric Surgery Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - F Van Calenbergh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Deprest
- My FetUZ Fetal Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Woman and Child, Fetal Medicine Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
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Wylleman B, Brancato L, Gorbaslieva I, van Zwol E, Mori da Cunha MGMC, Benoit J, Tierny D, Vueghs P, Van den Bossche J, Rudenko O, Janicot M, Bogers J. Tolerability of long-term temperature controlled whole-body thermal treatment in advanced cancer-bearing dogs. Int J Hyperthermia 2021; 39:48-56. [PMID: 34937522 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2021.2000649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: In oncology, thermal therapy is the application of external heat to fight cancer cells. The goal of whole-body thermal treatment (WBTT) is to raise the patient's core temperature to 39-42 °C, and represents the only thermal treatment modality that can act on both the primary tumor and distant metastases. However, WBTT carries potential risks for toxicity when applied without accurate thermometry and monitoring.Methods: ElmediX has developed a medical device, HyperTherm, to deliver long-term controlled and accurate WBTT (41.5 °C, up to 8 h). The safety of the device and thermal treatment protocol was initially evaluated in minipigs, and we present the confirmation of tolerability of WBTT in dogs with advanced cancer, in combination with a reduced dose of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.Results: Thermometry in liver, rectum, and tumor confirmed a homogeneous heating of these body parts. Monitoring of clinical parameters showed acceptable and reversible changes in liver, cardiac, muscle and coagulation parameters, as was expected. Combination of WBTT with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy only caused some low-grade adverse events.Conclusion: We conclude that our findings support the safe use of HyperTherm-mediated WBTT for canine patients with advanced malignancies. They also tend to support a genuine therapeutic potential for long-term WBTT which needs to be confirmed on a larger dog patient population. Combined with previously reported safety results in minipigs, these contribute to support the ongoing clinical evaluation of WBTT in advanced human cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - J Benoit
- Oncovet - Veterinary Cancer Center, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France
| | - D Tierny
- Oncovet Clinical Research (OCR), Loos, France
| | | | | | | | | | - J Bogers
- ElmediX NV, Mechelen, Belgium.,Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerp, Belgium
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