Objectives In this study, we have investigated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on myocardial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative/nitrosative stress, cell death and interrelated signaling pathways, using a mouse model of type I diabetic cardiomyopathy and primary human cardiomyocytes exposed to high glucose. Background CBD, the most abundant nonpsychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant, exerts antiinflammatory effects in various disease models and alleviates pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis in humans. Methods Left ventricular function was measured by pressure-volume system. Oxidative stress, cell death and fibrosis markers were evaluated by molecular biology/biochemical techniques, electron spin resonance spectroscopy and flow cytometry. Results Diabetic cardiomyopathy was characterized by declined diastolic and systolic myocardial performance associated with increased oxidative-nitrosative stress, NF-κB and MAPK (JNK and p-38, p38α) activation, enhanced expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), TNF-α, markers of fibrosis (TGF-β, CTGF, fibronectin, collagen-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9), enhanced cell death (caspase 3/7 and PARP activity, chromatin fragmentation and TUNEL) and diminished Akt phosphorylation. Remarkably, CBD attenuated myocardial dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis, oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, cell death, and interrelated signaling pathways. Furthermore, CBD also attenuated the high glucose-induced increased reactive oxygen species generation, NF-κB activation and cell death in primary human cardiomyocytes. Conclusions Collectively, these results coupled with the excellent safety and tolerability profile of cannabidiol in humans, strongly suggest that it may have great therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetic complications, and perhaps other cardiovascular disorders, by attenuating oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, cell death and fibrosis.

Craniofacial (CF) tendons are often affected by traumatic injuries and painful disorders that can severely compromise critical jaw functions, such as mastication and talking. Unfortunately, tendons lack the ability to regenerate, and there are no solutions to restore their native properties or function. An understanding of jaw tendon development could inform tendon regeneration strategies to restore jaw function, however CF tendon development has been relatively unexplored. Using the chick embryo, we identified the jaw-closing Tendon of the musculus Adductor Mandibulae Externus (TmAM) and the jaw-opening Tendon of the musculus Depressor Mandibulae (TmDM) that have similar functions to the masticatory tendons in humans. Using histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, we characterized the TmAM and TmDM on the basis of cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) morphology and spatiotemporal protein distribution from early to late embryonic development. The TmAM and TmDM were detectable as early as embryonic day (d) 9 based on histological staining and tenascin-C (TNC) protein distribution. Collagen content increased and became more organized, cell density decreased, and cell nuclei elongated over time during development in both the TmAM and TmDM. The TmAM and TmDM exhibited similar spatiotemporal patterns for collagen type III (COL3), but differential spatiotemporal patterns for TNC, lysyl oxidase (LOX), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our results demonstrate markers that play a role in limb tendon formation are also present in jaw tendons during embryonic development, implicate COL3, TNC, LOX, MMP2, and MMP9 in jaw tendon development, and suggest TmAM and TmDM possess different developmental programs. Taken together, our study suggests the chick embryo may be used as a model with which to study CF tendon extracellular matrix development, the results of which could ultimately inform therapeutic approaches for CF tendon injuries and disorders.

Sex differences are a well-known phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with women having a higher risk for AD than men. Many AD mouse models display a similar sex-dependent pattern, with females showing earlier cognitive deficits and more severe neuropathology than males. However, whether those differences are relevant to human disease is unclear. Here we show that in AD mouse models that overexpress amyloid precursor protein (APP) under control of the prion protein promoter (PrP), female transgenic mice have higher APP expression than males, complicating interpretations of the role of sex-related factors in such models. By contrast, in a tTa:APPsi model, in which APP expression is driven by the tetracycline transactivator (tTa) from the CaMKIIα promoter, there are no sex-related differences in expression or processing of APP. In addition, the levels of Aβ dimers and tetramers, as well as Aβ peptide accumulation, are similar between sexes. Behavioral testing demonstrated that both male and female tTa:APPsi mice develop age-dependent deficits in spatial recognition memory and conditional freezing to context. These cognitive deficits were accompanied by habituation-associated hyperlocomotion and startle hyper-reactivity. Significant sex-related dimorphisms were observed, due to females showing earlier onsets of the deficits in conditioned freezing and hyperlocomotion. In addition, tTa:APPsi males but not females demonstrated a lack of novelty-induced activation. Both males and females showed atrophy of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the dorsal hippocampus, associated with widening of the pyramidal layer of the CA1 area in both sexes. Ventral DG was preserved. Sex-related differences were limited to the DG, with females showing more advanced degeneration than males. Collectively, our data show that the tTa:APPsi model is characterized by a lack of sex-related differences in APP expression, making this model useful in deciphering the mechanisms of sex differences in AD pathogenesis. Sex-related dimorphisms observed in this model under conditions of equal APP expression between sexes suggest a higher sensitivity of females to the effects of APP and/or Aβ production.

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247 Background: Since FDA approval in 2011, abiraterone (Zytiga) has supplanted docetaxel as preferred first-line treatment for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. In August 2012 enzalutamide (Xtandi) was FDA-approved for the treatment of castrate-resistant prostate cancer after docetaxel (Taxotere). We performed a retrospective chart review at a large medical oncology clinic specializing in prostate cancer to determine the PSA response rates of enzalutamide administered to men who had previously progressed on both abiraterone and docetaxel. This report includes some patients who participated in the Astellas/Medivation-sponsored Early Access Program; however, it represents the author’s independent clinical experience. Methods: Enzalutamide was administered at a dose of 160 mg daily. Patients were subsequently followed with monthly physical examination, PSA and routine blood tests. No hepatotoxicity or seizures occurred. Men were considered evaluable for PSA response if they received enzalutamide for twelve weeks. A PSA decline of 30% from baseline after 12 weeks was defined as a response. A PSA increase of 30% from baseline within 12 weeks was defined as disease progression. Men with neither a 30% increase nor a 30% decline were classified as having stable disease. Results: 66 men were treated and 63 were evaluable for PSA response. Median age was 67. Median baseline PSA was 68.5. All participants had disease that had progressed on abiraterone. 55 men received previous docetaxel. 38 had received previous Provenge. Two men stopped before 12 weeks because of intolerable fatigue. One man died of progressive disease before 12 weeks. After a median follow up of 12.5 weeks, 18(29%) men met criteria for PSA response. 13(21%) men had stable disease and 32(51%) men had PSA progression. Conclusions: Enzalutamide has activity in a heavily pretreated population of men resistant to abiraterone and docetaxel.

Despite a high prevalence of ≥50% core biopsies positive at baseline, AD induces durable remissions in most men with Low-Risk and about half with Intermediate-Risk PC.

The platinum compound cisplatin is one of the most potent chemotherapy agents available to treat various malignancies. Nephrotoxicity is a common complication of cisplatin chemotherapy, which involves increased oxidative and nitrosative stress, limiting its clinical use. In this study we have investigated the effects of a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol, which was reported to exert antioxidant effects and has recently been approved for the treatment of inflammation, pain, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis in patients, in a mouse model of cisplatin‐induced nephropathy. Cisplatin induced increased expression of superoxide generating enzymes RENOX and NOX1,, enhanced ROS generation, nitrotyrosine formation, apoptosis , PARP activity, and inflammation in the kidneys of mice, associated with marked histopathological damage and impaired renal function. Pretreatment of mice with cannabidiol markedly attenuated the cisplatin‐induced oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation and cell death in the kidney, and improved renal function. Thus, our results suggest that cannabidiol may represent a promising new protective strategy against cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity.