scholarly journals New Trends and Most Promising Therapeutic Strategies for Epilepsy Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Riva ◽  
Alice Golda ◽  
Ganna Balagura ◽  
Elisabetta Amadori ◽  
Maria Stella Vari ◽  
...  

Background: Despite the wide availability of novel anti-seizure medications (ASMs), 30% of patients with epilepsy retain persistent seizures with a significant burden in comorbidity and an increased risk of premature death. This review aims to discuss the therapeutic strategies, both pharmacological and non-, which are currently in the pipeline.Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases were screened for experimental and clinical studies, meta-analysis, and structured reviews published between January 2018 and September 2021. The terms “epilepsy,” “treatment” or “therapy,” and “novel” were used to filter the results.Conclusions: The common feature linking all the novel therapeutic approaches is the spasmodic rush toward precision medicine, aiming at holistically evaluating patients, and treating them accordingly as a whole. Toward this goal, different forms of intervention may be embraced, starting from the choice of the most suitable drug according to the type of epilepsy of an individual or expected adverse effects, to the outstanding field of gene therapy. Moreover, innovative insights come from in-vitro and in-vivo studies on the role of inflammation and stem cells in the brain. Further studies on both efficacy and safety are needed, with the challenge to mature evidence into reliable assets, ameliorating the symptoms of patients, and answering the challenges of this disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6196
Author(s):  
Anna Pieniazek ◽  
Joanna Bernasinska-Slomczewska ◽  
Lukasz Gwozdzinski

The presence of toxins is believed to be a major factor in the development of uremia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Uremic toxins have been divided into 3 groups: small substances dissolved in water, medium molecules: peptides and low molecular weight proteins, and protein-bound toxins. One of the earliest known toxins is urea, the concentration of which was considered negligible in CKD patients. However, subsequent studies have shown that it can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induce insulin resistance in vitro and in vivo, as well as cause carbamylation of proteins, peptides, and amino acids. Other uremic toxins and their participation in the damage caused by oxidative stress to biological material are also presented. Macromolecules and molecules modified as a result of carbamylation, oxidative stress, and their adducts with uremic toxins, may lead to cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of mortality in patients with CKD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4670
Author(s):  
Cinzia Buccoliero ◽  
Manuela Dicarlo ◽  
Patrizia Pignataro ◽  
Francesco Gaccione ◽  
Silvia Colucci ◽  
...  

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) is a protein that promotes transcription of numerous genes, particularly those responsible for the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. Evidence for a key role of PGC1α in bone metabolism is very recent. In vivo studies showed that PGC1α deletion negatively affects cortical thickness, trabecular organization and resistance to flexion, resulting in increased risk of fracture. Furthermore, in a mouse model of bone disease, PGC1α activation stimulates osteoblastic gene expression and inhibits atrogene transcription. PGC1α overexpression positively affects the activity of Sirtuin 3, a mitochondrial nicotinammide adenina dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, on osteoblastic differentiation. In vitro, PGC1α overexpression prevents the reduction of mitochondrial density, membrane potential and alkaline phosphatase activity caused by Sirtuin 3 knockdown in osteoblasts. Moreover, PGC1α influences the commitment of skeletal stem cells towards an osteogenic lineage, while negatively affects marrow adipose tissue accumulation. In this review, we will focus on recent findings about PGC1α action on bone metabolism, in vivo and in vitro, and in pathologies that cause bone loss, such as osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 506
Author(s):  
Bernardo Romão ◽  
Ana Luísa Falcomer ◽  
Gabriela Palos ◽  
Sandra Cavalcante ◽  
Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho ◽  
...  

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the glycemic index (GI) of gluten-free bread (GFB) and its main ingredients. The systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, using seven electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, gray literature research with Google Scholar, and patents with Google Patent tool), from inception to November 2020. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria evaluating 132 GFB samples. Five articles tested GI in vivo, eleven in vitro; and two studies tested both methods. The analysis showed that 60.7% (95% CI: 40.2–78.1%) of the samples presented high glycemic indexes, evidencing a high glycemic profile for GFB. Only 18.2% (95% CI: 11.7–27.2%) of the bread samples presented in the studies were classified as a low GI. Meta-analysis presented moderate/low heterogenicity between studies (I2 = 61% and <1% for both high and low GIs) and reinforced the proportion of high GIs. Lower GIs were found in formulations based on Colocasia esculenta flour or enriched with fiber, yogurt and curd cheese, sourdough, psyllium, hydrocolloids, enzymes, fructans, and resistant starch, highlighting the efficacy of these ingredients to lower GFBs’ GI. GFB tends to present high GI, impacting the development of chronic diseases when consumed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (38) ◽  
pp. 12719-12725
Author(s):  
Maria Varghese ◽  
Rae S. Rokosh ◽  
Carolyn A. Haller ◽  
Stacy L. Chin ◽  
Jiaxuan Chen ◽  
...  

Heparin mimicking sulfated poly-amido-saccharides (sulPASs) are anticoagulants resistant to heparanases and reversed by protamine sulfate. In an in vivo murine model, sulPASs extend clotting time without the increased risk of bleeding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naina Kumar ◽  
Namit Kant Singh

: Male infertility is rising now-a-days and accounts for major part of infertility cases worldwide. Novel tests are being developed for better detection and management of male infertility. Though there are many tests available for diagnosing male infertility like acrosome reaction rate, hemizona assay, in vivo or in vitro sperm penetration assay, sperm DNA damage tests, but semen analysis is most commonly used initial test for male infertility. It is usually associated with failure to detect cause in many cases, as seminal composition gets affected by a number of factors and can give false reports. Furthermore, it does not give any information about defects in capacitation, sperm Zona Pellucida interaction and sperm’s ability to fertilize oocytes. This results in failure of detection and delayed management of male infertility. Hence, the present review was conducted to identify various sperm proteins that play significant role in spermatogenesis, sperm motility, sperm-Zona Pellucida interaction and fertilization. These proteins can be used in future as markers of male infertility and will aid in better detection and management of male infertility. Methodology: Search for literature was made from 1970 to 2020 from various databases like PUBMED, SCOPUS, Google Scholar on sperm proteins and their role in male fertility using keywords: “sperm protein as bio-markers”, “novel sperm proteins as markers of infertility”, “Sperm proteins essential for capacitation, sperm motility and oocyte fertilization”. Inclusion criteria: All full-length research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analysis or abstracts on sperm proteins and male infertility published in English language in peer-reviewed journals were considered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi213-vi213
Author(s):  
Nadim Tawil ◽  
Rayhaan Bassawon ◽  
Brian Meehan ◽  
Laura Montermini ◽  
Ali Nehme ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Vascular anomalies, including thrombosis, are a hallmark of glioblastoma (GBM) and an aftermath of dysregulated cancer cell genome and epigenome. Up-regulation of podoplanin (PDPN) by cancer cells has recently been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism in glioblastoma patients. Thus, regulation of this platelet activating protein by transforming events and release from cancer cells is of considerable interest. AIMS I. Investigate the pattern of PDPN expression and characterize PDPN-expressing cellular populations in GBM. II. Evaluate the contribution of oncogenic drivers to PDPN expression in GBM models. III. Investigate the potential involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a mechanism for systemic dissemination of PDPN and tissue factor (TF). IV. Examine the role of PDPN in intratumoral and systemic thrombosis. METHODS Bioinformatics (single-cell and bulk transcriptome data mining), GBM cell lines and stem cell lines, xenograft models in mice, ELISA assays for PDPN and TF, platelet (PF4) and clotting activation markers (D-dimer), EV electron microscopy, density gradient fractionation, and nano-flow cytometry. RESULTS PDPN is expressed by distinct glioblastoma cell subpopulations (mesenchymal) and downregulated by oncogenic mutations of EGFR and IDH1 genes, via changes in chromatin modifications (EZH2) and DNA methylation, respectively. GBM cells exteriorize PDPN and/or TF as cargo of exosome-like EVs shed both in vitro and in vivo. Injection of glioma PDPN-EVs activates platelets. Increase of platelet activation (PF4) or coagulation markers (D-dimer) occurs in mice harboring the corresponding glioma xenografts expressing PDPN or TF, respectively. Co-expression of PDPN and TF by GBM cells cooperatively increases tumor microthrombosis. CONCLUSION Distinct cellular subsets drive multiple facets of GBM-associated thrombosis and may represent targets for diagnosis and intervention. We suggest that the preponderance of PDPN expression as a risk factor in glioblastoma and the involvement of platelets may merit investigating anti-platelets for potential inclusion in thrombosis management in GBM.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishita Chatterjee ◽  
Kishore K Wary

Rationale: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) has linked a frequently occurring variation in the LPP3 (also known as PPAP2b) loci to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CAD). However, the in vivo function of LPP3 in vascular endothelial cell is incompletely understood. Goal: To address the endothelial cell (EC) specific function of Lpp3 in mice. Results: Tie-2/Cre mediated Lpp3 deletion did not affect normal vasculogenesis in early embryonic development, in contrast, in late embryonic stages it led to impaired angiogenesis associated with hemorrhage, edema and late embryonic lethal phenotype. Immunohistochemical staining followed by microscopic analyses of mutant embryos revealed reduced fibronectin and VE-cadherin expression throughout different vascular bed, and increased apoptosis in CD31+ vascular structures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the presence of apoptotic endothelial cells and disruption of adherens junctions in mutant embryos. LPP3-knockdown in vitro showed an increase in p53 and p21 protein levels, with concomitant decrease in cell proliferation. LPP3-knockdown also decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TER), interestingly re-expression of ß-catenin cDNA into LPP3-depleted endothelial cells partially restored the effect of loss of LPP3. Conclusion: These results suggest the ability of LPP3 to regulate survival and apoptotic activities of endothelial cells during patho/physiological angiogenesis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Bailey ◽  
Amreena Suri ◽  
Pauline Chou ◽  
Tatiana Pundy ◽  
Samantha Gadd ◽  
...  

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in pediatrics, with rare occurrences of primary and metastatic tumors in the central nervous system (CNS). We previously reported the overexpression of the polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) in embryonal brain tumors. PLK4 has also been found to be overexpressed in a variety of peripheral adult tumors and recently in peripheral NB. Here, we investigated PLK4 expression in NBs of the CNS (CNS-NB) and validated our findings by performing a multi-platform transcriptomic meta-analysis using publicly available data. We evaluated the PLK4 expression by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) on the CNS-NB samples and compared the relative expression levels among other embryonal and non-embryonal brain tumors. The relative PLK4 expression levels of the NB samples were found to be significantly higher than the non-embryonal brain tumors (p-value < 0.0001 in both our samples and in public databases). Here, we expand upon our previous work that detected PLK4 overexpression in pediatric embryonal tumors to include CNS-NB. As we previously reported, inhibiting PLK4 in embryonal tumors led to decreased tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, and therefore PLK4 may be a potential new therapeutic approach to CNS-NB.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas T. Funderburg ◽  
Elizabeth Mayne ◽  
Scott F. Sieg ◽  
Robert Asaad ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis; and as antiretroviral therapy has increased the lifespan of HIV-infected patients, their risk for cardiovascular events is expected to increase. A large clinical study found recently that all-cause mortality for HIV+ patients was related to plasma levels of interleukin-6 and to D-dimer products of fibrinolysis. We provide evidence that this elevated risk for coagulation may be related to increased proportions of monocytes expressing cell surface tissue factor (TF, thromboplastin) in persons with HIV infection. Monocyte TF expression could be induced in vitro by lipopolysaccharide and flagellin, but not by interleukin-6. Monocyte expression of TF was correlated with HIV levels in plasma, with indices of immune activation, and with plasma levels of soluble CD14, a marker of in vivo lipopolysaccharide exposure. TF levels also correlated with plasma levels of D-dimers, reflective of in vivo clot formation and fibrinolysis. Thus, drivers of immune activation in HIV disease, such as HIV replication, and potentially, microbial translocation, may activate clotting cascades and contribute to thrombus formation and cardiovascular morbidities in HIV infection.


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