Abnormalities of corpus callosum are one of the most common brain anomalies. Fetuses with isolated corpus callosum agenesis (CCA) have a better prognosis than those with additional anomalies. However, unpredictable neurodevelopmental outcomes of truly isolated CCA make prenatal counseling a challenge. The aim of this review is to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with prenatal diagnosis of isolated CCA. Controlled clinical trials published between May 23, 2009, and May 23, 2019, using the MeSH term “agenesis of corpus callosum” were reviewed. A total of 942 articles were identified, and 8 studies were included in the systematic review depending on the inclusion criteria. These studies included 217 fetuses with isolated CCA and no other anomalies at prenatal assessment. Neurodevelopmental outcome was reported to be normal in 83 children with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated CCA confirmed at birth within 128 completed assessments. About 45 children presented borderline, moderate, or severe neurodevelopmental outcome. In this review, neurodevelopment was favorable in two-thirds of the cases, but mild disabilities emerged in older children. Despite this, disabilities can occur later beyond school age and a low risk of severe cognitive impairment exists. Our study highlights the essential early diagnosis and proper supportive therapy.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, lung function, radiological findings, and the inflammatory cell profile in induced sputum in children and adolescents with severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) treated at a referral center in southern Brazil. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed children and adolescents (3-18 years of age) with uncontrolled STRA treated with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting ß2 agonists. We prospectively collected data on disease control, lung function, skin test reactivity to allergens, the inflammatory cell profile in induced sputum, chest CT findings, and esophageal pH monitoring results. Results: We analyzed 21 patients (mean age, 9.2 ± 2.98 years). Of those, 18 (86%) were atopic. Most had uncontrolled asthma and near-normal baseline lung function. In 4 and 7, induced sputum was found to be eosinophilic and neutrophilic, respectively; the inflammatory cell profile in induced sputum having changed in 67% of those in whom induced sputum analysis was repeated. Of the 8 patients receiving treatment with omalizumab (an anti-IgE antibody), 7 (87.5%) showed significant improvement in quality of life, as well as significant reductions in the numbers of exacerbations and hospitalizations. Conclusions: Children with STRA present with near-normal lung function and a variable airway inflammatory pattern during clinical follow-up, showing a significant clinical response to omalizumab. In children, STRA differs from that seen in adults, further studies being required in order to gain a better understanding of the disease mechanisms.

OM-85, administered in early life in mice in human-equivalent doses, does not inhibit the development of allergic pulmonary response in mice.

Objective: To determine whether a short-term protocol using subcutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin, without the use of adjuvants, would induce an eosinophilic response in the lungs of mice similar to that observed in previous, well-established protocols. Methods: Adult female BALB/c mice were randomized and divided into groups according to the number of sensitizations with ovalbumin and the number/dosage of intranasal ovalbumin challenges. The short-term protocol (10 days) consisted of one sensitization with ovalbumin and three ovalbumin challenges (100 µg). Total and differential cell counts in BAL fluid, levels of eosinophil peroxidase in lung tissue, and histopathological examination of the lungs were performed 24 h after the last ovalbumin challenge. Results: No significant differences were found among the groups regarding the variables studied. The short-term protocol, as well as the other protocols studied, induced an eosinophilic response similar to that obtained in the positive control. Conclusions: Subcutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin and without the use of adjuvants resulted in a significant allergic response in the lungs of mice, even in the short-term protocol group. Our findings suggest that this short-term protocol can be used as a first-line pre-clinical test for the study of new medications, reducing the costs and observation periods.Keywords: Ovalbumin; Mice; Asthma. ResumoObjetivo: Determinar se um protocolo curto de sensibilização com ovalbumina subcutânea, sem adjuvante, induziria uma resposta pulmonar eosinofílica em pulmões de camundongos similar àquela encontrada em protocolos previamente estabelecidos. Métodos: Fêmeas adultas de camundongos BALB/c foram randomizadas e divididas em grupos de acordo com o número de sensibilizações com ovalbumina e o número/dosagem de provocação intranasal. O protocolo curto (10 dias) consistiu de uma sensibilização e três provocações com ovalbumina (100 µg). A contagem total e diferencial de células no lavado broncoalveolar, o nível de peroxidase eosinofílica no tecido pulmonar e o exame histopatológico dos pulmões foram realizados 24 h após a última provocação. Resultados: Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos em relação às variáveis estudadas. O protocolo curto, assim como os outros protocolos estudados, induziu uma resposta eosinofílica pulmonar semelhante àquela do grupo controle positivo. Conclusões: A sensibilização por ovalbumina subcutânea sem o uso de adjuvante resultou em uma significativa resposta pulmonar alérgica em ratos, mesmo no grupo de protocolo curto. Nossos achados sugerem que esse protocolo curto pode ser utilizado como teste pré-clínico de primeira linha para a pesquisa de novos fármacos, reduzindo custos e o tempo de observação.Descritores: Ovalbumina; Camundongos; Asma. days apart, and the protocol remained too long. To date, there have been no studies testing short-term protocols for use in murine models of asthma, particularly without the use adjuvants. If proven viable, this type of model would be an ...