pediatrics-conference-2016_posters-accepted-abstracts

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Volume 6, Issue 4(Suppl) Pediat Therapeut 2016
ISSN: 2161-0665 Pediatrics, an open access journal
Page 78
Pediatrics Conference 2016
September 14-16, 2016
conferenceseries.com
7th European Pediatrics and
Pediatric Surgery
September 14-16, 2016 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Pediat Therapeut 2016, 6:4(Suppl)
OKN-007 is a new therapeutic approach for pediatric glioblastomas
Rheal A Towner
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, USA
Pediatric glioblastomas (pGBM) are one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in children, with tumors essentially refractory
to existing treatments. OKN-007 is a novel nitrone-based compound that has anti-cancer activity in both adult and pediatric
GBM. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques were used to assess the efficacy of OKN-007 in an orthotopic xenograft pGBM
mouse (IC-3752GBM) model. OKN-007 was found to significantly decrease tumor volumes (p<0.05) and increase animal survival
(p<0.05) in all OKN-007-treated mice compared to untreated animals, as well as increase diffusion (p<0.01) and perfusion rates
(p<0.05). OKN-007 also significantly reduced lipid tumor metabolism [(Lip1.3 and Lip0.9)-to-creatine ratio (p<0.05)], as well as
significantly decreased tumor cell proliferation (p<0.05) and microvessel density (p<0.05). Immunohistochemistry support data was
also obtained for cell proliferation and tumor growth signaling. Furthermore, in relationship to the PDGFRα (platelet-derived growth
factor receptor-α) pathway, OKN-007 was able to significantly decrease PDGFR-α (p<0.05) and SULF2 (p<0.05) immunoexpression,
and significantly increase decorin expression (p<0.05). This study indicates that OKN-007 may be an effective anti-cancer agent for
pediatric patients with pGBMs by inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, possibly via the PDGFRα pathway, and could be
considered as an additional therapy for pediatric brain tumor patients.
Pediatric diagnostic audiology testing in South Africa
Selvarani Moodley
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Recognizing the importance of early identification and intervention is gaining momentum in developing countries. There has
also been recognition of the ethical obligation to ensure access to diagnostic and intervention services for all children identified
with hearing loss. Series should be equitable regardless of geographic or socioeconomic status. Many screening initiatives have been
developed in South Africa, but there are limited studies on diagnosis of pediatric hearing loss. Diagnostic audiology records of 230
children enrolled in an early intervention programme were analyzed to determine processes used for diagnosis of pediatric hearing
loss in South Africa, across the private and public healthcare sectors as well as across geographic regions. There were differences in
audiology practice across regions and healthcare sectors. A full comprehensive diagnostic evaluation was unlikely to be completed.
Diagnostic services for children with hearing loss are an area that needs extensive research (especially in a developing world context).
Studies are needed so as to determine factors that are preventing adherence to best practice diagnostic audiology guidelines.