Ewa Jagiełło-Wójtowicz

Effects of calcium channel inhibitors upon the efficacy of common antiepileptic drugs.

Diltiazem and nifedipine (both 1.25 mg/kg) markedly potentiated the protective action of carbamazepine and diphenylhydantoin against maximal electroshock-induced seizures in mice. These calcium channel inhibitors retained their activity at lower doses. Diltiazem and nifedipine (2.5 mg/kg) also moderately potentiated the efficacy of phenobarbital and valproate. Verapamil (up to 10 mg/kg) was not effective against the action carbamazepine, diphenylhydantoin, phenobarbital, and valproate. None of the calcium channel inhibitors used (up to 40 mg/kg) influenced aminophylline-induced convulsions and mortality. Moreover, the anti-aminophylline activity of valproate and phenobarbital was not potentiated by the calcium channel inhibitors in doses up to 10 mg/kg. Further, combination of carbamazepine, ethosuximide, and trimethadione with the calcium channel inhibitors (up to 10 mg/kg) did not offer any protection against aminophylline-induced convulsions. It can be concluded that calcium channel inhibitors enhance the protective efficacy of some antiepileptics against electroconvulsions. A pharmacokinetic interaction does not seem to be responsible for this effect.

The problem of osteoporosis in epileptic patients taking antiepileptic drugs.

Introduction: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder associated with recurrent seizures. Therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) helps achieve seizure remission in approximately 70% of epileptic patients. Treatment with AEDs is frequently lifelong and there are reports suggesting its negative influence on bone health. This is especially important in terms of general occurrence of osteoporosis, affecting over 50 million people worldwide. Areas covered: This study refers to two main groups of AEDs: hepatic enzyme inducers (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and topiramate) and non-inducers (clobazam, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, pregabalin, tiagabine, valproate, vigabatrin and zonisamide). Some reports indicate that enzyme inducers may exert a more negative influence on bone mineral density (BMD) compared to non-inducers. Bone problems may appear in both sexes during AED therapy, although women are additionally burdened with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Supplementation of vitamin D and calcium in patients on AEDs is recommended. Expert opinion: Apart from enzyme inducers, valproate (an even enzyme inhibitor) may also negatively affect BMD. However, the untoward effects of AEDs may depend upon their doses and duration of treatment. Although the problem of supplementation of vitamin D and calcium in epileptic patients on AEDs is controversial, there are recommendations to do so.

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of 3-(2-methyl-furan-3-yl)-4-substituted-Δ2-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thiones

By the reaction of 2-methyl-furan-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide with isothiocyanates, 1-[(2-methyl-furan-3-yl)carbonyl]-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides 1 were obtained. Further cyclization with 2% NaOH led to the formation of 3-(2-methyl-furan-3-yl)-4-substituted-Δ2-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thiones 2. The pharmacological effects of 2 on the central nervous system in mice were investigated. Strong antinociceptive properties of the investigated derivatives were observed in a wide range of doses.

Synthesis and biological activity of O-acyl and O-alkyl chelidonine derivatives

A group of 11 derivatives of chelidonine was obtained by acylations and/or alkylations of the secondary hydroxyl group with the aim of testing their biological activity. This paper focuses on the new derivatives influence on CNS in mice. The highest activity was observed for compounds 2c, 3c and 4, which produced antinociceptive and antiserotoninergic effects, not recorded for the parent alkaloid 1.

Chemical and Pharmacological Properties of 3-(Thiophen-2-yl)-4-substituted-Δ 2-1,2,4-triazoline-5-thiones

Three 3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4-substituted-Δ 2 -1,2,4-triazoline-5-thiones were synthesized by intramolecular cyclization of 1-(thiophen-2-ylcarbonyl)-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides in alkaline medium. Their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice in some behavioral tests were investigated. All investigated compounds displayed antinociceptive activity. The correlation between the structural features and bioactivity has been discussed.

Estimation of oxidative stress parameters in rats after simultaneous administration of rosuvastatin with antidepressants.

BACKGROUND Patients commonly receive statin drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and also commonly receive antidepressant drugs for the treatment of depression. A many-year polypharmacotherapy can lead to increased side effects of these drugs. It may lead to an oxidation-reduction imbalance and the growth of a generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may induce cellular dysfunctions. METHODS The aim of this study was to assess oxidative stress parameters in the blood of rats after simultaneous administration of rosuvastatin (10mg/kg) with paroxetine (10mg/kg) or citalopram (10mg/kg). The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was determined in whole blood, and the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and the total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined in the serum. RESULTS The 14-day simultaneous administration of rosuvastatin with paroxetine or citalopram caused an increase in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity and did not influence the level of the total antioxidant status. Rosuvastatin (10mg/kg) or citalopram (10mg/kg) administered alone to rats for 14 days did not affect the examined parameters. The 14-day application of paroxetine (10mg/kg) significantly decreased a glutathione peroxidase activity, increased a glutathione reductase activity and did not affect the level of TAS. CONCLUSIONS The observed changes may indicate an increased activity of the enzyme system preventing oxidation, which appears to be the effect of the reaction on the severity of oxidative stress during the combined treatment with rosuvastatin and antidepressants.

Determination of Lipophilicity of Allyl Thiosemicarbazide, N1-Thiocarbamylamidrazone Derivatives, and their Cyclic Products by RP-HPLC, RP-TLC, and Theoretical Methods: Effects of Selected Compounds on the CNS of Mice

The allyl thiosemicarbazide, N1-thiocarbamylamidrazone derivatives, and the products of their cyclization: the 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-triazole[3,4-b]1,3-thiazine, 1,2,4-triazole[3,2-b]1,3-thiazine, 1,3,4-thiadiazole[3,2-a]pyrimidine, 5,6-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]triazole, and benzoic acid derivatives have been analyzed by RP-HPLC and RP-TLC methods using the methanol-water mixtures as the mobile phase and the octadecyl stationary phase. The lipophilicity was expressed as the chromatographically derived descriptors: mean of k (mk), mean of logk (mlogk), logkW, S, and ϕ0, scores of k, logk, and RM corresponding to the first principal component. Additionally, the authors propose to introduce a descriptor (logkm) corresponding to the residual specific interactions. Chromatographic parameters of lipophilicity were compared with the partition coefficient (logP) calculated by various softwares (milogP, clogP, AlogPs, AClogP, AlogP, MlogP, KOWWIN, XlogP2, XlogP3). The matrices were created with logkW or RMW and logP and they have been the subject of PCA analysis. The effects of the selected compounds on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice were studied.

Preliminary Pharmacological Screening of Some Thiosemicarbazide, s-triazole, and Thiadiazole Derivatives

Two thiosemicarbazide derivatives 1 and 2, three 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 3-5, and three N1- substituted-4-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione derivatives 6-8 were synthesized and evaluated for their central nervous system effects using rodent behavioral models. With the exception of 6, all compounds were devoid of neurotoxicity and they did not affect the body temperature of mice. New lead structures 1-4 with potential analgesic activity were identified.

Cytotoxic Effect of Combined Treatment with Ukrain and Methotrexate on Kidney Cells of Green Monkey

Abstract In in vitro study on green monkey kidney (GMK) cell culture, the cytotoxicity of Ukrain, methotrexate (MTX), and their combination was investigated. The effect of these drugs and their combination on viability (MTT test) and apoptosis of the cells was assessed. The IC10 and IC50 values for Ukrain and MTX were also indicated. After 24 h of incubation of GMK cells with Ukrain, IC10 amounted to 84.6 μmol/L and IC50 was 256.3 μmol/L, while MTX IC10 amounted to 7.18 μmol/L and IC50 was 154.8 μmol/l. After 24 h of simultaneous incubation of GMK cells with 50 μmol/L of Ukrain and 5.5 μmol/L of MTX, 15.33 % of cytotoxicity of the drugs in LDH test was found. The most significant increase in the cytotoxicity (42.10 %) was noted after 24 h incubation of GMK cells with 150 μmol/L of Ukrain and 5.5 μmol/L of MTX. Likewise, in the MTT assay the greatest decrease in the cells viability was found after incubation with 150 μmol/L of Ukrain and 5.5 μmol/L of MTX. The evaluation of apoptosis also indicated the adverse effect of combined application of both drugs on GMK cells.

Pharmacological Study on Some New 3-((1-Methylpyrrol-2-yl)- methyl)-4-Substituted 4,5-Dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones

3-[(1-Methylpyrrol-2-yl)methyl]-4-substituted 4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones were obtained by the cyclization reaction of 1-[(1-methylpyrrol-2-yl)acetyl]-4-substituted semicarbazides in alkaline medium. The effects of the synthesized compounds of the central nervous system of mice were studied