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.
Mycobacterium vaccae nebulization protects Balb/c mice against bronchial asthma through neural mechanisms
JOURNAL OF ASTHMA
Authors: Jiang, Xiao-Hong; Li, Chao-Qian; Feng, Guang-Yi; Luo, Ming-Jie; Sun, Qi-Xiang; Huang, Jianlin
Abstract
Objectives: Bronchial asthma can be effectively controlled but not be cured, its etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear, and there are no effective preventive measures. The key characteristic of asthma is chronic airway inflammation, and recent research has found that airway neurogenic inflammation plays an important role in asthma. We previously found that Mycobacterium vaccae nebulization protects against asthma. Therefore, this objective of this study is to explore the effect of M. vaccae nebulization on asthmatic neural mechanisms. Methods: A total 18 of female Balb/c mice were randomized into normal, asthma control, and M. vaccae nebulization (Neb.group) groups, and mice in the Neb.group were nebulized with M. vaccae one month before the asthmatic model was established. Then, 1 month later, the mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Twenty-four hours after the last challenge, mouse airway responsiveness; pulmonary brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), neurofilament-medium length (NF-M, using NF09 antibody), and acetylcholine expression; and nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA level were determined. Results: We found that the BDNF, NF09, acetylcholine expression, and NGF mRNA level were decreased in the Neb.group compared with levels in the asthma control group. Conclusion: M. vaccae nebulization may protected in Balb/c mice against bronchial asthma through neural mechanisms.