Biography:

Ladislav Novotny was born on October 5, 1955 in Svitavy, Czechoslovakia. He had obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Science from Kharkov Pharmaceutical Institute, Ukraine in 1980; Doctor of Pharmaceutical degree from Charles University in 1981; Doctor of Philosophy degree from Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Prague in 1984; Doctor of Science degree from Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava in 1997. He is working as a Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Kuwait University, since 1998. He is the acting dean of Faculty Pharmacy, since 2003. He is the member of Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association, European Association Cancer Research, American Association Cancer Research, Slovak Pharmacol. Society, Slovak Pharmaceutical Society. He contributed more than 140 articles to reputed Science journals.

Abstract:

Bleomycin, the first-line treatment for many cancers, is present in the clinical administrations as a mixture of related glycopeptides - bleomycin A2 (55-70 %) and bleomycin B2 (25-32 %) together with other minor components. For better understanding of the mechanism of action of different bleomycin fractions, especially the relation to bleomycin resistance, a development of the powerful analytical method with the reliable identification and quantitation of bleomycin in pharmaceutical and biological matrices is highly important. Methods used for the analysis of bleomycins include the approaches based on HPLC-UV with an ion-pair reagent precluding a combination of HPLC and mass spectrometry. Therefore, in this work, an HPLC method based on HILIC (hydrophilic interaction chromatography) principles was proposed for the separation, identification and determination of both major bleomycin fractions when using an on-line combined MS detection (Q-TOFMS). The performance parameters of the HPLC-Q-TOFMS method showed high reliability, selectivity and sensitivity of the method with ng/ml-pg/ml LOD and determination of the accurate molecular weight of the analytes. The applications reported include determination of the bleomycin A2 and B2 in the commercial infusions and identification of bleomycin A2 and B2 in plasma samples. It may be concluded that the proposed HPLC-Q-TOFMS method is a powerful tool for the separation, identification and determination of two major bleomycin fractions with a possibility to determine an accurate molecular weight of these fractions in the samples. The exact characterization as well as simple, sensitive and reliable monitoring in variable multicomponent matrices is made possible by our method.

Biography:

Pierrick NUN has completed his PhD in 2009 from Montpellier University, France, where he worked on the application of alternative methodologies as mechanochemistry in organic solvent-free synthesis. After post-doctoral positions at St Andrews University, Scotland, on gold catalysis, and University of Caen, France, on phosphine-boranes reactivity, he was appointed assistant professor in Nantes in 2012. He is currently working on applications of iqNMR in environmental and pharmaceutical sciences and has published 27 papers and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals.

Abstract:

Nowadays several analytical techniques are available to help characterize pharmaceutical compounds: physical profile, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, liquid or gas chromatography, NMR. These techniques make it possible to assess the identity and the purity of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), the eventual presence of impurities and/or solvent traces and their abundance. On the basis of such information, a fingerprint of the drug can be established: this can be used to compare it with possible counterfeit APIs. Nevertheless, in many cases it is probable that the same synthetic route and identical purification techniques will have been used. In these circumstances, no significant differences will be seen between the two sources of medicine. Moreover, these analyses cannot, in most cases, give any information on the origin of the reagents and solvents used, or on the synthetic pathway chosen if no characteristic impurities are detected. The EBSI team (Elucidation of Biosynthesis by Isotopic Spectrometry, partner 1) has a highly-developed experience in NMR and, more precisely, in isotope ratio monitoring by NMR (irm-NMR). Quantitative 13C NMR has already been successfully applied to a range of molecules including glucose, vanillin, paracetamol and aspirin and used to show the position-dependent isotopic fractionation occurring during reactions or purifications. Two different applications will be presented here: (i) can irm-NMR give an answer in the actual debate around the origin of Tramadol, natural or anthropogenic? (ii) could the isotopic fingerprint provide a unique tool for the authentication of drugs, depending of their synthesis, manufacturer or the origin of reactants?

Biography:

Dong-Kwon Rhee has completed his PhD at University of Illinois at Chicago in 1988 and Post-doctoral studies from Yale University School of Medicine. He was the Director of World Class University at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) one of the fastest rising universities in the World and School of Pharmacy ranked at the top 45th. He has published 159 papers in reputed journals and is serving as a president of Korean Society of Ginseng.

Abstract:

More than 50% of sepsis cases are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), and hospital mortality related to sepsis comprises 52% of all hospital deaths. Therefore, sepsis is a medical emergency, and any treatment against the agent that produces it, is welcome. Here, the protective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract against pneumococcal infection and sepsis was elucidated. KRG-pre-treated mice (100 mg/kg of KRG) had significantly higher survival rates and body weights than those of the non-treated controls; KRG-pre-treated mice had lower bacterial number and morbidity than those of the non-treated controls. 100 mg/kg of KRG administration decreased cytokine levels including TNF-α and IL-1β, nitric oxide level, and neutrophil infiltration 48 h post-infection, in vivo. In pneumococcal infection, KRG pre-treatment downregulated TLR 4 and TNF-É‘ expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and increased cell survival by activating PI3K/AKT signaling. Taken together, 100 mg/kg of KRG appeared to protect host cells from lethal pneumococcal sepsis by inhibiting inflammation as well as by enhancing bacterial clearance thereby reinforcing cell survival against pneumococcal infection.

Biography:

Fabiola Porta has studied Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology in Milan at Universita’ degli studi, where she has obtained her Master’s degree in Pharmacy in 2008. She then moved to the Leiden Institute of Chemistry where she graduated in Chemistry with a special focus in nanoparticles synthesis and characterization. After the completion of her PhD, she started to work as Post doctorate and joined the group of Prof. Huwyler at University of Basel. She is currently developing novel polymer based nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. She is particularly interested in the design of innovative smart responsive nanovesicles.

Abstract:

Polymer vesicles are attracting much attention as alternative nano-delivery system to implement drug targeting strategies. Polymersomes have several interesting features; for instance, ease of chemical modification of the polymer chains can be used to modulate their tissue specificity and organ distribution. A wide variety of polymers is available, however a good candidate for pharmaceutical formulations is the di-block copolymer poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(2-methyloxazoline) (PDMS-PMOXA). This polymer is formed by two subunits which are FDA approved for use in human and for pharmaceutical applications. In this work, we present an innovative polymer vesicle formulation with PDMS-PMOXA di-block copolymer able to specifically target hepatocytes. PDMS-PMOXA polymersomes have been chemically modified with asialofetuin (AF), a desialylated glycoprotein whose uptake is mediated by the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor. AF was conjugated on the surface of PDMS-PMOXA polymer vesicles. The protein retained the initial functionality upon chemical modification, allowing a successful uptake of polymersomes in human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2). Active uptake of modified PDMS-PMOXA polymersomes was successfully demonstrated using fluorescence activating cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Biocompatibility of PDMS-PMOXA polymer vesicles has been investigated using an alternative animal model as the zebrafish. PDMS-PMOXA polymer vesicles have shown similar properties compared to long circulating nanoparticles; moreover, they uniformly disperse in the blood circulation, and no protein aggregation was observed. In conclusion, active targeting of HepG2 cells using AF modified PDMS-PMOXA polymersomes was successfully achieved. We envision that PDMS-PMOXA polymersomes can act as a platform to develop innovative drug delivery systems with tunable features for clinical applications.

Biography:

Amna Beshir Medani has completed her PhD from University of Khartoum and Post-doctoral studies from University of Khartoum, School of Veterinary Medicine. She is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology UMST, Faculty of Pharmacy, a premier founder of Toxline.org, and a member of many international organizations and bodies. She has published more than 27 papers in reputed journals and conferences and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

This workshop was prepared to elevate the standard of knowledge of toxinology from microbial sources among the medical and paramedical staff who are concerned with the treatment of patients poisoned by natural sources of toxins, classify microbial toxins and relate these classes to certain geographical area. This is to ease diagnosis in case of suspicion, facilitate the availability of antidotes in the appropriate geographical districts in relation to microbial toxin back ground, enhance easy, toxin-specified and economic models of research, connect personnel interested in this field, train them and lead an open access for contact between them. This in turn will ease communication between companies investing in therapy and the medical staff (Toxicology personnels, Emergency room staff, First aid personnel, Lay public in highly endemic areas, Community and public health personnel, Drug biotechnology manufacturers and Other interested segments). This course contains an introduction (1 hour) (History, culturally associated stories and social legends), a classification (1 hour) according to origin and geographical distribution , causes of intoxication due to toxins from microbial origin (2 hour).

Biography:

Christina Yuen Ki Leung completed two Bachelor degrees in England, BSc Management Sciences degree followed by the BPharm Pharmacy degree. Following the registration as a pharmacist in the UK, she worked in different London Teaching Hospitals for 16 years. In the last 12 years in UK, she specialized in Paediatrics (especially in PICU and Paediatric Liver), Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She published two articles relating to drugs use in paediatric liver diseases in the UK Children Liver Diseases Magazine. She is also a registered pharmacist in Hong Kong and she is currently working as the Senior Pharmacist (Clincial Pharmacy in Charge) at the HKU-SZH in China. She is also the Honorary Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong. She delivers lectures to the Master and Undergraduate Pharmacy students relating to Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Abstract:

HKU-SZH has adopted the good pharmacy practices from the West and has implemented an advanced clinical pharmacy system. We regard medication safety and quality of patient care as our highest priorities. We have implemented a number of quality improvement plans since opening. The clinical pharmacists join the doctor-led ward rounds on high risk wards, e.g. ICU. For newly admitted in-patients, the pharmacists carry out medication reconciliation and the information is recorded in the electronic prescribing system. They check the prescriptions for clinical appropriateness and provide drug information. Pharmacists involve actively in the warfarin patient counseling service and stroke clinical pathway on the wards. The pharmacists also liaise closely with the doctors to prepare management policies and guidelines, e.g. high alert drugs policy and Fentanyl patch guideline. Clinical pharmacists participate in the smoking cessation clinic, paediatric and adult respiratory clinics, diabetic clinic to provide patient counseling services. In addition, clinical pharmacists deliver drugs-related educational talks to the patients in the cardiac rehabilitation centre, endocrine ward, and in the out-patient forum (examples of talks: drugs use in hepatitis, safe and effective use of insulin, effective use of inhalation devices, and medication safety in children. Clinical Pharmacists have prepared over 40 patient drug information leaflets and 5 videos relating to inhalation skills to enhance patients’ education. All these improvement plans are to enhance medication safety and optimization of drugs use. The clinical pharmacists have learnt that all these cannot be achieved without an effective multi-disciplinary teamwork and a commitment in continuous quality improvements.

Biography:

Zhen-Fang Lin is the Assistant Professor of School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University in Taiwan. She holds a PhD in Pharmacy from National Taiwan University and a MPH in Public Health from University of Minnesota.

Abstract:

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of death and hospital admissions of old people. Clinical trials have reported the benefits of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), aspirin, beta-blockers, clopidogrel, and statins for reducing the incidence of morbidity and mortality after ACS, but little is known about the effects of comorbidities and their possible association with re-hospitalizations of ACS patients. The objective of our study was to assess whether there are any associations between the age of patients and re-hospitalization for ACS, and between ten relatively common comorbidities – atrial fibrillation, dementia, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, liver disease, peripheral vascular disease, renal disease, and schizophrenia – and re-hospitalization for ACS. A retrospective cohort study of all patients recorded as hospitalized in Taiwan for ACS between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010 was conducted using claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) 2005-2011. The relationship between use of up to five medications and a re-hospitalization for ACS was analyzed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. The study identified 212,110 patients with ACS; the mean age was 66.0±12.9; and 34.6% were female. A higher number of medications was found to be associated with lower risk of re-hospitalization for ACS, in particular in the 5-medications group (adjusted HR=0.72, 95%, CI: 0.65-0.81, HR=0.72, 95%, CI: 0.61-0.85, for men and women respectively). No significant association between a higher number of medications and a decreased risk of re-hospitalization for ACS was seen among the youngest age group (age<45 years old) or the oldest age group (age≥75 years old). A non-significant additive effect was found among patients with renal disease, heart failure, and dementia. Further research needs to be undertaken to clearly identify the associations between comorbidities, co-medications, gender, age, and treatments and outcomes of patients with cardiovascular diseases, to provide better evidence-based treatment in the coming era of personalized cardiovascular medicine.

Biography:

Randall Bjork is a neurologist from North Dakota who has been in practice for over three decades, mostly in Colorado, emphasizing humane and ethical dementia care. Twenty years ago, he advocated economy-of-scale dementia care with the concept of Lotus Health, which he will present here at our Dubai conference. He was involved in dementia treatment research from the early days of Cognex. He has conducted research with Aricept treatment and MRS evaluation in Down-Alzheimer patients. Dr. Bjork is co-author of a paper being presented here by his Swedish colleague, Dr. Lindau, from The University of Stockholm. He is now involved in a multi-center ketamine treatment protocol of treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has lectured worldwide, contributed to the literature of cardiac arrest, stroke, myoclonus, Alzheimer disease, prionoses and has recently published a children's book, The ABCs of You, Volume I, available on Amazon. He has supervised mission medical work in Costa Rica and Nepal. He is an avid motorcyclist, restaurateur, cancer survivor and retired helicopter pilot.

Abstract:

The neuropharmacological treatment of the dementing illnesses, primarily senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, has emphasized central cholinergic augmentation or glutamatergic modulation for the past few decades. More enlightened and, perhaps, disease-modifying strategies have been considered since late last millennium—some of which are close to coming into the clinical arena. Advances in slowing or reversing the progression of neurodegeneration have not, regrettably, proceeded pari passu, with significant developments in biomarker-based diagnosis of the neurodegenerative diseases. Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, parkinsonian disorders, diffuse Lewy body disease, fronto-temporal dementia, cortico-basal degeneration and the prionoses can be diagnosed with confidence ante-mortem, but current treatments have been, at the very least, clinically disappointing and, most disturbing, a fountain of false hope for patients and their families. This schism between intellectually exciting early diagnostic measures and worthwhile disease-modifying treatments has led to an ethical dilemma: Should a patient be subjected to an early diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder when there is no meaningful treatment? This lecture will present a review of biomarkers and their current place in research and clinical practice, including implications of amyloid/tau imaging. Potential disease-modifying treatments of the future will be presented, with discussion of hypothesized molecular mechanisms of action and potential economic impact. An economy-of-scale, futuristic view of ethical and humane long-term care for those afflicted with neurodegenerative diseases will be presented, because the current model of residential care is not sustainable.

Biography:

Dabouz holds a PhD in Statistics with a broad industry experience as well academic international oncology group, in Europe and Canada. In addition to her many accomplishments in Biostatistics/Data Management at Sanofi and BCIRG, she also leverages her experience in “data quality” on applying innovative approaches in the field of biostatistics, data management and medical writing to improve data processing. Dabouz has a strong experience in training site investigators and operational teams, covering all data aspects, mainly demystifying statistics in clinical trials. Dr Dabouz is certified/active member of SOCRA and SCDM education committee, providing webinars and online courses.

Abstract:

Clinical research is a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine as well as a branch of healthcare sciences that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use. Clinical research is of great value to medical practitioners/institutions but most importantly to patients and the society as a whole. The landscape for clinical trials has continued to evolve and change over the last twenty years. Clinical trials have become more complicated but not more efficient. The increased complexity of today’s clinical trials is associated with reduced patient enrollment and retention, higher risk for protocol amendments, and longer and more costly clinical trials. Clinical trials expand more globally to take advantage of the large treatment naive population in emerging and developing countries. However, there are key factors that need to be taken into considerations to ensure the clinical trials are successful. Concerns such as qualified data and limited number of trained operational team, have deterred pharmaceuticals to conduct their research. Increasing regulation, rising costs, and the number and complexity of clinical trials being conducted are forcing sponsors to be smart and creative in how they conduct clinical research. The advanced technology (EDC, ePRO..) as well as the FDA risk-based guidance and the EMA reflection paper have opened a door to the risk-based monitoring (RBM) paradigm that will help in ensuring trial integrity and validity. Good clinical research must be built upon sound ethical and scientific practice as well as a “data quality culture” within the organization.

Biography:

Maria Lindau is a Licensed Psychologist and PhD, and is an Associate Professor at the Dept. of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden. She has about 20 publications, and 15 years of experience as neuropsychologist and researcher at memory clinics at Karolinska and Uppsala University Hospitals. She is Bachelor of Arts in History, French and Political Science.

Abstract:

Anosognosia or lack of awareness of one's disabilities, is a complex comorbidity in frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke and schizophrenia. Anosodiaphoria, or lack of concern about one's symptoms, is foremost seen in FTD. In our study of anosognosia and anosodiaphoria in AD and mild cognitive impairment two opposite patterns emerged: in MCI, the better preserved the cognitive ability, the greater the perceived seriousness and worries about the decline, in AD, the lower the cognitive function, the lower the experienced cognitive loss and concern about the deterioration. Our interpretation was that anosognosia and anosodiaphoria increase with the severity of the neurodegeneration, which converge with findings in several other studies. The most plausible is that anosognosia is associated with right hemispheric disturbance. There are contradictory findings about anosognsosia in MCI. Some studies have observed anosognosia in MCI, whereas others have found that MCI patients sometimes over-report their difficulties, which may make them more prone to adhere to treatment than AD patients, whose motivation to medical consultation or pharmacological therapy may be low, since they do not consider themselves as being ill. Memory deficits may also make AD patients forget their medication or physician appointments. Additional analyses with linear regression models of the data from both diagnostic groups (n=21) in our study revealed that episodic memory deficits may explain 30.6% of the variance in anosognosia, p= 0.01, a pattern that has been corroborated by De Carolis et al., 2015. Initial over-rating of difficulties and later a denial of them in a progressive disorder suggest that there is a breaking point where the over-rating starts to decline, e.g. due to memory loss. During the presentation the main findings of our study will be discussed, as well as quantitative breaking points for a shift from an overestimation to an underestimation of difficulties, as well as strategies to handle problems with drug treatment and care of patients not aware of being ill.

Biography:

Abstract:

The associations IFBV-BELHERB from Luxembourg and M4L from France have established a working relationship with African universities. Several of these partners have run clinical trials with Artemisia annua. In all these trials, a therapeutical effect of 95% or higher was confirmed by the use over 7 days of whole leaf infusion, capsules or tablets. It was surprising that the artemisinin content had little impact on the results. But the most important finding, especially in Kenya and Uganda, was that people who drink one or two cups of Artemisia tea per week became immune against malaria. At Lubumbashi, RD Congo Dr. C Kansango has shown in 2014 that Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra raised CD4+. In fact the antimalarial properties of Artemisia plants other than Artemisia annua are no surprise. The Chinese favored Artemisia apiacea and the French in Algeria during 100 years protected their soldiers against malaria with Artemisia absinthium. In 2015, medical doctors in RD Congo have run randomized clinical trials on a large scale in the Maniema province with the participation of some 1000 malaria infected patients. The trials compared Artemisia annua and afra with ACTs (Coartem and ASAQ). For all the parameters tested herbal treatment was significantly better than ACTs: faster clearance for fever and parasitemia, absence of parasites and gametocytes as confirmed by PCR on day 28 for 99.5% of the Artemisia treatments and 79.5% only for the ACT treatments. A total absence of side effects was evident for the treatments with the plants, but for the 498 patients treated with ACTs, 210 suffered from diarrhea, and/or nausea, pruritus, hypoglycemia etc. The efficiency was equivalent for Artemisia annua and afra. In parallel with the clinical trials against malaria, the same team has completed another large scale randomized, double blind trial against schistosomiasis, Artemisia vs Praziquantel. The results confirm previous anecdotic results. Both arms in this trial had 400 infected patients. The treatment efficiency was 97% in the Artemisia arm and 71% in the Praziquantel arm. No side effects were noticed in the Artemisia treatment. Praziquantel caused vomiting in 26.5% of the patients, abdominal pain in 18.5%, cephalalgy in 15.5%. Very impressive is the fact that the Artemisia led to an unexpected almost complete absence of eggs in feces after 2 months. In 2016 clinical trials have been run against Tuberculosis and Buruli ulcer with Artemisia annua and afra. Screening trials in 2015 had been promising and these recent large scale, randomized, double blind have resulted in an obvious therapeutic effect against Mycobacteria, not only tuberculosis but also Buruli ulcer. After three weeks of treatment the Ziehl stain assay is negative for alcohol-resistant bacteria. All these trials are run in compliance with the WHO protocol, approval of the health authorities of the country, full-fledged ethical approval and encouragements of WHO-Afro.

Biography:

Fasiha Shah has completed her MPhil from Punjab University, Pakistan in 2007. Her research topic for MPhil was probiotics. She is working at different teaching posts in RAK Medical & Health Sciences University from 2008 till date as Senior Lecturer and has published around 4 papers as first author and 2 papers as second author.

Abstract:

Delivery of Nutraceuticals using microemulsions-A literature review: Nutraceutical product is a food or fortified food product that not only supplements the diet but also assists in treating or preventing disease, so provides medical benefits. They can be considered non-specific biological therapies used to promote general well-being, control symptoms and prevent malignant processes. They can be classified on the basis of their natural sources, pharmacological conditions, as well as chemical constitution of the products. Most often they are grouped in the following categories: Dietary supplements, functional food, medicinal food and pharmaceuticals. The most common nutra-molecules are phytosterols, lycopenes, vitamin E, luteins, CoQ10 and others. IN the market nutraceuticals are seen in many forms: Some in powdered form, some encapsulated as soft gels, others are dissolved and sold as liquid solutions. Different types of pharmaceutical systems are used to deliver nutraceuticals but stability is a problem. One of the best options explored to solve these problems can be microemulsions.

Biography:

David W. Moskowitz is a well-trained nephrologist and founder, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of GenoMed, a next Generation DM(tm) company (DM = Disease Management)

Abstract:

Vertically integrated pharmaceutical companies, which flourished during the past 150 years, have merged into just a few giant companies in the US and Europe. They perform R&D, drug manufacturing, as well as sales and marketing. Although huge, the few companies left, like Pfizer, Merck, and Sanofi, can only develop a handful of drugs a year, since each drug costs over $1B to bring to market. But the various -omics ensure that there are more drug targets now than ever before. The few remaining research pharmaceutical companies have their hands full developing the 3 or 4 drugs they each have. Big Pharma no longer wants to joint venture with biotech companies to develop any additional drugs. This leaves room for many new entrants into the field: companies with targets and drugs they believe in, but no research pharmaceutical partners. Assuming $5-10M investment can be found (see above), how should it be spent to maximize value to the investor? The riskiest part of drug discovery and development is the preclinical phase. This is the part scientists love. It's also the least expensive. There are thousands of biologists and chemists in universities throughout the world who would be delighted to participate in drug discovery and early testing. Each lab would need only money for supplies; labor could be free, consisting of graduate students, post-docs, or even talented undergraduates. Collaborators could be found through PubMed. What academic scientist wouldn't be delighted to put a graduate student to work on a project that would bring a little more money into the lab? This should have special appeal for universities in developing countries, or schools in the First World which currently get little research support.

Biography:

Jose F Abisambra completed his PhD and Post-doctoral studies in 2010 and 2013, respectively, at the University of South Florida. He is a Principal Investigator in the Tau Research Lab at the University of Kentucky. He has published more than 23 papers in reputed journals and serves as Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. His work is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NINDS, NIA, NIGMS, NCATS, and NIMHD), the US Department of Defense, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Abstract:

Tauopathies are a group of more than twenty known debilitating neurodegenerative disorders that affect nearly eight million people in the United States. Currently, there is no cure for tauopathies, and there are temporary and limited benefits to current therapeutic strategies. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor PERK (protein kinase R-like ER kinase) has been identified as a participant in the pathogenesis and progression of tauopathies. However, the mechanism by which the PERK pathway causes neuronal dysfunction is still unknown. In this study, we treated rTg4510 tau transgenic mice at a stage when tau pathology is rampant and cognitive function is impaired with a novel and potent PERK inhibitor. The treatment significantly reduced hyperphosphorylated tau species and led to improvement of neuronal function, as determined with a sensitive and innovative imaging technique called manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with quantitative R1 mapping. We also found that PERK inhibition mediated these improvements via a pathway that is independent of eIF2. Our results show a novel mechanism of PERK-mediated tau phosphorylation that potentiates pathogenesis and progression of tau pathology. Future efforts aim to delineate the mechanism ruling the tau-PERK relationship. Finally, this study suggests that PERK is a viable therapeutic target to ameliorate neuronal function in tauopathies.

Biography:

Jean-Baptiste Vannier has completed his PhD from Blaise Pascal University (Clermont-Fd, France) and Post-doctoral studies from CRICK Institute (Clare Hall Laboratories, UK). He is the group leader of Telomere Replication & Stability group, at MRC-Clinical Sciences Centre (London). He has published Cell and Science papers and is recipient of Career Development Award from MRC and 2014 ERC starting Grant (UE grant).

Abstract:

RTEL1 (Regulator of TElomere Length 1) is an essential DNA helicase that plays a critical role in genome stability and is a potential tumour suppressor identified as a susceptibility locus for glioma. RTEL1 is also mutated in a severe form of Dyskeratosis Congenita, Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS), which is characterized by bone marrow failure, immunodeficiency and developmental defects. HHS-causing mutations have also been identified in several telomerase components including, DKC1, CTC1 and TIN2. RTEL1 deficiency reflects a defect in dismantling toxic recombination intermediates but how this function contributes to telomere dysfunction and tumourigenesis was not known. Using biochemistry and mouse genetics, I established that RTEL1 utilizes its D-loop disruption activity to promote telomere loop disassembly, which is essential for preventing catastrophic telomere processing by the SLX1-SLX4 nuclease complex and loss of the telomere as a circle. RTEL1 has a second function at telomeres in unwinding telomeric G-quadruplex DNA structures that is required to facilitate telomere replication and suppress telomere fragility. RTEL1 executes these two functions through different binding activities mediated via an interaction with PCNA and/or telomeric factor TRF2. Although RTEL1-Replisome deficient mice are viable, loss of the RTEL1-Replisome interaction significantly accelerates the onset of tumourigenesis and predisposes to medulloblastomas in p53 deficient mice. Collectively, the data revealed that RTEL1 plays a critical role genome stability and tumour avoidance and elucidates the mechanism of action of RTEL1 in cells and propose why patients with RTEL1 mutations suffer severe telomere defects.

Biography:

Julian combines his research fellowship at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability with the role of Clinical Services Manager for leading UK Arts Therapies provider Chroma. His was awarded the Knapp Research Prize for his Palliative Care MSc Thesis from Kings College London, and a PhD Mobility Fellowship in Music Therapy with Aalborg University in 2010. He has published widely in the fields of music therapy and neuro-rehabilitation, and is currently Associate Editor for a research topic with Frontiers in Human Neuroscience titled ‘Dialogues in music therapy and music neuroscience’.

Abstract:

There is a need for standardized, bio-medically informed music therapy (MT) approaches in the assessment and rehabilitation of those with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC), or Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States (VS/MCS). In particular, support and maintenance of arousal is essential for effective assessment of awareness and rehabilitation. Whilst pharma solutions are essential, MT may offer a cost effective, non-invasive complimentary treatment. Furthermore MT has no documented adverse side effects, and unlike other behavioral assessments is not dependent on verbal processing in patients. This perspective informs a research program exploring MT with PDOC outlined in this presentation. A summary of findings are detailed, including outcomes from a cross-over study comparing the rehabilitative and prognostic potential of MT to preferred text narration, using neurophysiological and behavioral measures. 12 PDOC patients’ data will be presented, focusing on EEG power spectra, coherence, heart rate variability and behavioral findings. Case material highlights improvements in the clinical state of an MCS patient during MT treatment using the Coma Recovery Scale and EEG measures. Significant differences (p≤ 0.001) in blink rate and arousal levels between MCS and VS patients at rest and in response to both treatments are detailed, with a continuum of neurophysiological responsiveness across cohorts. Findings indicate a significant role for MT in supporting arousal and awareness in PDOC, and for revealing where patients have intact responsiveness to salient stimuli. Implications for the complimentary role of MT alongside established pharma treatments for arousal maintenance and more verbally based behavioral assessments will be discussed.

Biography:

George Trendelenburg after studying human medicine at the University of the Saarland, continued his studies at the Free University in Berlin, where he graduated 1994 and finished his Doctoral thesis at the Free University in Berlin with summa cum laude. In 1996 he joined the Institute for Experimental Stroke research at the Charité University hospital in Berlin (director: Prof. Ulrich Dirnagl) and completed his neurological specification in 2004. His research interest was mainly focused on stroke-related genomics and lead to the identification of several genes which were involved in stroke-pathophysiology. Besides working as a group leader of a stroke-research group at the Charité, Berlin, he was working as consultant Neurologist at the emergency department and at the interdisciplinary neurosurgical-neurological intensive care unit of the neurological department of the Charité, Berlin between 2010-6/2011. Since 2011 he is Professor and Leader of the department of stroke research of the University of Göttingen, Germany and also works as consultant neurologist. He is interested in dissecting the role of the innate immune system in ischemic brain injury with a focus on the complement system and the innate danger receptors. He published more than 30 papers in reputed journals, was awarded by the DAAD and by Maria-Sonnenfeld foundation, and is the Editorial Board Member of Frontiers of Neurology and BMC Genomics.

Abstract:

Brain damage, e.g. by ischemic injury not only causes direct tissue injury by the initial stimulus (e.g. insufficient oxygen supply) itself, but also initiates a complex inflammatory response. These inflammatory mechanisms are supposed to contribute substantially to an expanding demise of brain tissue in the vicinity of the ‘injury core’. However, the inflammatory response is also important for repair (e.g. scar formation), neuronal plasticity, and reconstitution of tissue homeostasis. Thus, a profound knowledge is required when intervening strategies were planned, which target on a reduction of inflammation-related tissue injury, without interfering with beneficial repair pathways. Initiation of the inflammatory cascade is an important step for further brain damage. Data show that different sensors in different models of brain damage may exist, but initiation of inflammation in various injury paradigms obviously involve astonishing similar pathways (e.g. components of the innate immune system, such as ‘danger signals’ and their receptors, the complement system, etc.). In the following talk potential initial events will be discussed in more detail, including ligands which mediate initiation (e.g. ‘danger signals’, of the inflammatory response, their corresponding receptors (such as Toll-like receptors, NLRPs or NOD-like receptors, the inflammasome, etc.), as well as their connected ‘downstream’ pathways. The current concept of a complex interplay between signaling networks and different cell types in the brain is becoming more complex every year. Nevertheless, the current concept of emerging pathways as well as the central mechanisms which were thought to contribute substantially to inflammatory brain injury will be discussed.

Biography:

Mohammad Salhab is an Academic Clinical Fellow in Orthopaedics at the unit with a PhD studentship in pharmaceutics and currently involved in developing the NM. Mr Salhab has published many articles in surgical field and also bioethics and basic science.

Abstract:

Background: Acute pain control following elective primary total knee replacements (TKRs) and total hip replacements (THRs) is often poor and is associated with long term chronic pain syndrome. Moderate to severe pain is often reported in the first 48 hours following surgery requiring different pain modality management strategies such as patient controlled analgesia and multimodal drug analgesia. The Local Infiltration Anaesthetic (LIA) technique is currently an established technique to tackle perioperative pain relief; however, studies have reported conflicting evidence so far. In a recent review of 29 studies investigating the use of LIA in TKR, LIA emerged as a safe technique with improved pain control (Gibbs DMR 2012). We have developed the LIA technique to include an intra-articular catheter allowing an infusion of Novel Mixture (NM) to be infused continuously postoperatively. Aims and Objectives: In this study we report on our experience using LIA in addition to the Novel Technique and Proprietary NM developed in Leeds-Bradford and infiltrated at 4-5 mls/hour for 48 hours post surgery. Materials and Methods: Between October 2013 and October 2015, 62 patients undergoing primary TKR were prospectively followed up. Three groups of patients were studied. All patients studied had spinal anaesthesia (SA) with 300-400mcg diamorphine. Group 1. GA. No LIA and no NM. 20 patients. Group 2. SA plus NM for 48 hours post operatively with catheter placed anteriorly under the patella. 21 patients. Group 3. SA plus LIA plus NM for 48 hours post operatively with catheter placed posteriorly in the knee joint. 21 patients. Between June 2011 and July 2014, 173 consecutive patients undergoing primary THR using the posterior approach were also prospectively followed up. Group 1. GA only. 31 patients, Group 2. SA only. 37 patients, Group 3. SA plus LIA1 only. 38 patients, Group 4. SA plus LIA2 only, 34 patients, Group 5. SA plus NM for 48 hours. 33 patients. Demographics reveal similar distribution between the two groups in terms of age and sex. Results and complications: The patients without LIA or NM required more morphine in the first 12 hours postoperative period than the other groups. Seventy percent (n=14) of these group 1 patients required 10mg morphine following TKR compared to only 2% (n=1) of patients requiring 10mg of morphine when LIA and NM were used. The increased morphine requirement continued for 48 hours postoperatively in group 1, whereas none of the patients in groups 2 or 3 required morphine after 36 hours. Statistical analysis revealed no difference of morphine requirements with different catheter placement. Fewer patients suffered from nausea and vomiting or urinary retention in the group with LIA and NM (p-value <0.05, Mann-Whitney test). There were no infections DVT or other complications in any of the groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that patients following TKR treated with LIA and NM for 48 hours after required significantly less morphine during this time. This benefit was most marked in the first 24 hours after surgery and the benefit was maintained for 48hours. Fewer patients required opiate analgesia when LIA plus NM was used compared to the other groups. The highest significance was at 0-12 hrs for patients requiring up to 20mg morphine usage (χ2(2) = 46.713, p = 0.000); and 0-12hrs for patients requiring 30mg morphine usage (χ2(2) = 46.310, p = 0.000).

Biography:

Jaya Krishnan received his BSc (Hons.) and PhD from Imperial College London. He performed his Post-doctoral studies at the ETH-Zurich, Switzerland and currently leads an RNA Therapeutics group at the Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany. He is the Co-founder and CTO of Targeted Transgenesis, a premier Bio-therapeutics company focused on delivering tissue targeted therapeutics and transgenesis for pre-clinical and clinical studies. He has published in prestigious journals including Nature, Cell Metabolism, Blood and Circulation Research and serves as a reviewer for major Governmental, Non-profit and Charitable grant agencies and for numerous academic journals.

Abstract:

Recent efforts have identified a subclass of non-coding RNAs templated at genomic enhancers (eRNAs) with gene regulatory function. Due to their genomic position we postulated their function in modulating signal-dependent tissue-specific transcriptional responses. Here we identify HERNA1, a conserved hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activated, cardiac-specific e RNA that integrates myocardial hypoxia signaling to regulate expression of a nearby pro-hypertrophic gene cluster in humans and mice. Elevated HERNA1 expression correlates with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but inversely correlates with dilated cardiomyopathy in humans. Through gain and loss-of-function studies, we observe a requirement for HERNA1 in the development of stress-dependent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and mechanistically, identify direct HERNA1 interaction at the promoters of its downstream targets. In vivo delivery of antisense oligonucleotides targeting HERNA1 reverses cardiac pathogenesis, inhibits heart failure progression and increases overall survival in animals. These data unveil a novel heart-specific stress-dependent eRNA pathway and unveils a new strategy for tissue/cell type-specific therapeutics.

Biography:

Huiyun Zhang has completed his PhD in Pathophysiology from Shantou University Medical School in 2007 and Post-doctoral studies from the McMaster University in 2014. She is the Director of Pathophysiology Department, Liaoning Medical University, the Associate Director of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre, the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, and the Associate Director of of Translational Medicine Research Institute, Liaoning Medical University. She published more than 26 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

Since accumulated information indicate that there are several distinctive subtypes of regulatory T cell s (Tregs) in man, and each of them seems to play different role in controlling immune system, which complicates the involvement of Tregs in allergy. After introduction of the six subsets of Tregs as well as the corresponding characteristics in our published paper, the role of the individual subsets of these Tregs were studied. And the results showed that Tregs consist of a small proportion of CD4+ T cells, including 5.3% of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells and 0.1% of CD4+CD25+FOXP3- T cells (Tr1 cells) in HC peripheral blood; IL-10+ Tregs are major population of Tregs (up to 75.2%), whereas IL-10+ TGF-β1+ Tregs (iTregs) only occupy approximately 3% Tregs in peripheral blood; Down-regulation of Tregs in allergy is mainly a consequence of reduced number of IL-10+ Tregs in peripheral blood; Not only allergic conditions, but also eczema showed down-regulation of Tregs; Approximately 55.5% Tregs are CD127- in peripheral blood, and this cell population was dramatically enhanced by up to 90% in allergic conditions; CD8+Tregs (CD8+FOXP3+IL-10+) exhibit a small proportion (1.2%) of CD8+ cells in peripheral blood, and they are decreased under allergic conditions; IL-17+Tregs (CD4+CCR6+FOXP3+IL-17+) rarely exist in peripheral blood. Therefore it is proposed that there may be a novel balance between IL-10+ Tregs and CD127-Tregs which suggests that targeting Treg therapy should be focused on these two cell populations.

Biography:

Guilherme Martins Santos completed his Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine in 1997, at the University of Uberlandia, Brazil. In 1998, he did his Master’s and PhD studies in the University of Brasilia in Molecular Pharmacology at and INSERM-Paris, France. In 2005, he went to the UK to start a Post-doc at the MRC-Laboratory of Molecular biology in Cambridge focused on the structural studies of proteins and chromatin. He is currently a Professor of Pharmacology of the Pharmacy School at the Universidade de Brasilia and Founder of Nucleosantos Therapeutics, a start-up that is working on the discovery and development of exogenous Nucleosome-Binding Molecules.

Abstract:

Chromatin is as an extraordinary example of molecular recognition that defines gene expression and genome integrity. Although the essential facts about the nucleosome were already revealed 17 years ago, new insights into its atomic structure and molecular mechanisms are still emerging. In this talk, I will feature the nucleosome surface as a drug target to control chromatin dynamics and phenotypic changes. I will cover the key aspects of chromatin architecture upon binding of protein and exogenous molecules (exogenous Nucleosome Binding Molecules - eNBMs) to the nucleosome. Moreover, I will discuss the impact and development of eNBMs, presenting some of our results in silico, in vitro and in cell-based assays. The particular scientific interest of my group is the basic mechanism of how the structure of chromatin regulates gene transcription. Hence, I will feature the nucleosome surface as a drug target to control chromatindynamics and, consequently, gene expression and genome maintenance. Mainly, we try to understand the impact of Nucleosome Binding Molecules on chromatin architecture and in this conference, I will cover the key aspects of chromatin architecture upon binding of exogenous molecules (exogenous Nucleosome Binding Molecules - eNBMs) to the nucleosome. Moreover, I will discuss the impact and development of eNBMs, presenting some of our results in silico, in vitro and in cell-based assays. Certainly the Gordon Conference focused on Chromatin Structure and Function will be a unique opportunity to discuss our recent findings and establish future collaborations with the greatest scientists in the chromatin field. More importantly, we expect to learn a big deal about the future directions in the chromatin field.

Biography:

Abbas Khani has completed a PharmD program at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Tabriz, Iran. Following a stay at the Neuroscience Research Center in Tehran, he moved to Switzerland to work towards his PhD. He graduated with a PhD in neuroscience. He worked on functional dissociations between the ACC and OFC and on visual cognition in tree shrews and human subjects. Several publications resulted from his work. He will continue his research at the department of Fundamental Neuroscience at the University of Geneva starting from the 1st of March 2016.

Abstract:

The functional dissociation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during decision making have been a major focus of research recently. These dissociations have been revealed in several dimensions of decision making including cost processing and dependence on stimulus-guided or action-guided functions. While these dissociations have usually been studied using lesion studies, we have extended such dissociable functions to pharmacological manipulations and showed that cannabinoid system activation in the ACC and OFC results in dissociable disruption of cost-benefit decision making. Putting together the relevant lesion and neuroimaging studies in both human and animal species together with single neuron and pharmacological manipulations, I will discuss the similarities and differences in the role of the ACC and OFC during decision making in psychiatric disorders with a special emphasis on therapeutic opportunities arising from several lines of studies.

Biography:

Hala O El Mesallamy works as Head of Biochemistry Department (since 2001), Professor of Biochemistry (since 2006) and served as Vice Dean for Post-graduates Affairs and Scientific research (2013-2015),), ExVice Dean for Community and Environmental Affairs (2007-2009), Member in the permanent committee (since 2013), Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University. She is the Member in Council Patent of Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Ministry of Scientific Research (2009-2011), Lecturer and Consultant in UNESCO (since 2008), reviewer in some international journals,) Member in the counseling committee for special prices (since 2012).

Abstract:

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of fenofibrate alone and in combination with pioglitazone on serum sirtuin 1 and fetuin A of obese patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Intervention effect on inflammatory parameters was assessed before and after treatment. The study was conducted on 60 postmenopausal females of whom, only 44 patients completed the study. They were distributed as follows; obese patients without T2DM (n=15) who administered fenofibrate (160 mg/day) once for 8 weeks, obese patients with T2DM (n=15) who administered fenofibrate (160 mg/day) once for 8 weeks, obese patients with T2DM (n=14) who administered fenofibrate (160 mg/day) and pioglitazone (15 mg/day) combination once for 8 weeks. We measured fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipids. Inflammatory markers (highly sensitive C-reactive protein “hs-CRP”, interleukin-6 “IL-6”, fetuin A, and sirtuin 1) of patients were measured in serum using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kits. Sirtuin 1 levels in obese patients with T2DM were significantly lower than its levels in obese patients while fetuin A levels were significantly higher (P<0.001). Fenofibrate, alone and in combination with pioglitazone, significantly decreased triacylglycerol, hs-CRP, IL-6, fetuin A and increased sirtuin 1 levels (P<0.001) which suggests that it can be used to delay the complications of obesity and T2DM. There is a strong correlation between fetuin A, sirtuin 1, IL-6 and hs-CRP levels suggesting a shared common pathway. Fenofibrate was shown to increase serum sirtuin 1 and decrease serum fetuin A levels in obese patients.