Effect of antiepileptic drug polytherapy on urinary pH in children and young adults

Effect of pH, Norepinephrine and Glucose on Metabolic and Biofilm Activity of Uropathogenic Microorganisms

Urinary tract infection (UTIs) aremainly caused by a number of anatomical and physiological dysfunctions, but there are also some iatrogenic factors, including the use of certain medications, that contribute to the development of UTIs. The virulence of bacteria that colonize the urinary tract may be modified by pH and by the presence of soluble substances in urine, such as norepinephrine (NE) and glucose. In this work, we studied the influence of NE and glucose across a range of pHs (5, 7, 8) on the biomass, matrix production and metabolism of uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. We used Congo red and gentian violet to stain the extracellular matrix and biomass, respectively, of biofilms. The optical density of staining of the biofilms was measured using a multichannel spectrophotometer. The metabolic activity was analyzed by MTT assay. It was shown that NE and glucose stimulate biomass production both in the Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogens. The metabolic activity in the presence of glucose was higher at pH 5 for E. coli (in 4.0 ± 0.1 times), Ps. aeruginosa (in 8.2 ± 0.2 times) and Kl. pneumoniae (in 4.1 ± 0.2 times). Matrix production of Kl. pneumoniae increased under NE (in 8.2 ± 0.2 times) and in the presence of glucose (in 1.5 ± 0.3 times). Thus, NE and glucose in urine may lead to persistent UTI under patient stress and in the case of metabolic glucose disorders.

Efficacy of Phytocannabinoids in Epilepsy Treatment: Novel Approaches and Recent Advances

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder mainly characterised by recurrent seizures that affect the entire population diagnosed with the condition. Currently, there is no cure for the disease and a significant proportion of patients have been deemed to have treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE). A patient is deemed to have TRE if two or more antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) fail to bring about seizure remission. This inefficacy of traditional AEDs, coupled with their undesirable side effect profile, has led to researchers considering alternative forms of treatment. Phytocannabinoids have long served as therapeutics with delta-9-THC (Δ⁹-THC) receiving extensive focus to determine its therapeutic potential. This focus on Δ⁹-THC has been to the detriment of analysing the plethora of other phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The overall aim of this review is to explore other novel phytocannabinoids and their place in epilepsy treatment. The current review intends to achieve this aim via an exploration of the molecular targets underlying the anticonvulsant capabilities of cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidavarin (CBDV), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ⁹-THCV) and cannabigerol (CBG). Further, this review will provide an exploration of current pre-clinical and clinical data as it relates to the aforementioned phytocannabinoids and the treatment of epilepsy symptoms. With specific reference to epilepsy in young adult and adolescent populations, the exploration of CBD, CBDV, Δ⁹-THCV and CBG in both preclinical and clinical environments can guide future research and aid in the further understanding of the role of phytocannabinoids in epilepsy treatment. Currently, much more research is warranted in this area to be conclusive.

Zonisamide Induces Crystalluria without Urinary pH Changes in Children and Young Adults

Purpose. Adjunctive zonisamide therapy was demonstrated to be beneficial for multiple-disabled patients with refractory childhood-onset epilepsy. Zonisamide is well tolerated, but urolithiasis and calcium sludge in the bladder were sometimes described in patients treated with antiepileptic drug polytherapy including zonisamide. In previous studies, alkaline urine and crystalluria were shown to be risk factors for urolithiasis. Therefore, the effects of zonisamide addition and withdrawal on the urinary pH and crystalluria were investigated in patients treated with antiepileptic drug polytherapy to clarify the cause of urolithiasis induced by zonisamide. Methods. The urinary pH and the degree of crystalluria were retrospectively studied in epilepsy patients one month after the addition or withdrawal of zonisamide as part of their antiepileptic drug treatment regimen over the previous three years. Results. A total of 27 zonisamide-on patients and 16 zonisamide-off patients were enrolled in the study. The urinary pH did not change after the addition or withdrawal of zonisamide. However, the degree of crystalluria significantly increased after the addition (P < 0.001) of zonisamide and decreased after its withdrawal (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Zonisamide induces crystalluria without alkalinization of the urine. Crystalluria should be carefully monitored in patients treated with zonisamide to prevent urolithiasis.