Microwave-assisted extraction of cyclotides from Viola ignobilis.

Cyclotides are an interesting family of circular plant peptides. Their unique three-dimensional structure, comprising a head-to-tail circular backbone chain and three disulfide bonds, confers them stability against thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation. Their unique stability under extreme conditions creates an idea about the possibility of using harsh extraction methods such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) without affecting their structures.

UGT2B7_-161C>T polymorphism is associated with lamotrigine concentration-to-dose ratio in a multivariate study.

Lamotrigine (LTG) is metabolized by UGT1A4 but UGT2B7 also contributes to its glucuronidation. The aim of this study was to determine whether UGT2B7_- 161C>T and UGT2B7_372A>G polymorphisms contribute to the intersubject variability in LTG concentration-to-dose ratio (LTG-CDR) in epileptic patients. Fifty-three white epileptic patients attending the Neuropediatric and Neurology Services at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, in whom LTG serum concentration was to be measured for pharmacokinetic monitoring, were selected according to predefined criteria for LTG-CDR evaluation.

Ion channels and epilepsy.

The role of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels in epileptogenesis of both genetic and acquired epilepsies, and as targets in the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is reviewed. Voltage-gated Na+ channels are essential for action potentials, and their mutations are the substrate for generalised epilepsy with febrile seizures plus and benign familial neonatal infantile seizures; Na+ channel inhibition is the primary mechanism of carbamazepine, phenytoin and lamotrigine, and is a probable mechanism for many other classic and novel AEDs. Voltage-gated K+ channels are essential in the repolarisation and hyperpolarisation that follows paroxysmal depolarisation shifts (PDSs), and their mutations are the substrate for the benign neonatal epilepsy and episodic ataxia type 1; they are new targets for AEDs such as retigabine.

10-Hydroxycarbazepine serum concentration-to-oxcarbazepine dose ratio: influence of age and concomitant antiepileptic drugs.

This study was done to evaluate the association between patient age and the concomitant use of enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and oxcarbazepine (OXC) concentration-to-dose ratio (CDR) by a multivariate analysis. The influence of patient age and concomitant AEDs on the trough steady-state serum concentration of 10-hydroxycarbazepine (OHC) normalized to 1 mg/kg body weight of OXC or concentration-to-dose ratio (OHC-OXC-CDR) was assessed by analysis of covariance. Samples were collected from 106 patients (90% outpatients), aged 1-80, who were receiving OXC either alone (n = 41) or in combination with other AEDs (n = 65).