The PI3K/Akt Cascade Is Involved in the Antidiabetic Effect of Compound GSB-214, a Low-Molecular-Weight BDNF Mimetic
BULLETIN OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Authors: Yagubova, S. S.; Ostrovskaya, R. U.; Gudasheva, T. A.; Seredenin, S. B.
Abstract
In our previous studies on the streptozotocin model of diabetes we hypothesized that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is essential for the realization of the antidiabetic effect of low-molecular-weight NGF and BDNF mimetics. Here we analyze the effect of a specific PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor (LY 294002) on the antidiabetic effect of the BDNF loop 1 mimetic GSB-214. The experiments on C57BL/6 mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes showed that GSB-214 attenuated the hyperglycemic effect of streptozotocin and prevented weight loss typical of diabetes, while LY 294002 eliminated these effects of GSB-214. These findings clearly demonstrate the involvement of PI3K/Akt pathway in the implementation of the effects of this low-molecular-weight BDNF mimetic.
Efficacy and safety of sodium valproate plus lamotrigine in children with refractory epilepsy
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
Authors: Zhang, Dongli; Qiu, Li; Zhang, Yuan; Sang, Yan; Zheng, Nuo; Liu, Xiaoming
Abstract
Efficacy and safety of sodium valproate (SV) and lamotrigine (LTG) in treating refractory epilepsy (RE) in children and the predictive value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and central nervous system specific S100 beta protein (S100 beta) on efficacy assessment were explored. A total of 110 RE children admitted to Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled. Patients treated with SV alone served as the control group (n=51), and those treated with SV plus LTG as the study group (n=59). Serum NSE and S100 beta expression levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The efficacy, seizure frequency, adverse reactions, concentration of serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), and expression of serum NSE and S100 beta were observed and compared. The total effective rate in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the seizure frequency and incidence of adverse reactions were significantly lower than that in the control group. The study group showed remarkably higher BDNF and NGF than the control group after treatment. The expression of serum NSE and S100 beta in effectively treated children were significantly lower than that in ineffectively treated children. The area under the curve (AUC) of serum NSE and S100 beta were 0.828 and 0.814 respectively. SV combined with LTG is better and safer than SV alone in the treatment of RE in children. Serum NSE and S100 beta are of high value in predicting the efficacy.