Blessing in disguise: when head trauma solves the riddle of carbonic anhydrase II deficiency

Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with a classical triad of renal tubular acidosis, intracerebral calcifications and osteopetrosis. We present a case of a 6-year and 4-months old male patient presented to our pediatric gastroenterology outpatients' clinic with parental concern of poor growth. The patient is a known case of unexplained global developmental delay, recurrent fractures and constipation since birth. As a result of the patient's hyperactivity, he hit his head with the clinic's door resulting in a cut wound. Brain computed tomography scan showed abnormal symmetrical calcifications seen in both basal ganglia, thalami and subcortical white matter associated with increased bone density of the skull and upper cervical spine reassembling osteopetrosis. The suspicion of carbonic anhydrase II deficiency was confirmed by arterial blood gases revealing a marked metabolic acidosis fulfilling the diagnostic triad. The patient was discharged on sodium bicarbonate therapy, lactulose and vitamin D3 supplements and has been followed up regularly.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Epilepsy: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a group of ubiquitously expressed metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration/dehydration of CO₂/HCO₃. Thus, they are involved in those physiological and pathological processes in which cellular pH buffering plays a relevant role. The inhibition of CAs has pharmacologic applications for several diseases. In addition to the well-known employment of CA inhibitors (CAIs) as diuretics and antiglaucoma drugs, it has recently been demonstrated that CAIs could be considered as valid therapeutic agents against obesity, cancer, kidney dysfunction, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that dramatically affects people of all ages. It is characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures that are related to a rapid change in ionic composition, including an increase in intracellular potassium concentration and pH shifts. It has been reported that CAs II, VII and XIV are implicated in epilepsy. In this context, selective CAIs towards the mentioned isoforms (CAs II, VII and XIV) have been proposed and actually exploited as anticonvulsants agents in the treatment of epilepsy. Here, we describe the research achievements published on CAIs, focusing on those clinically used as anticonvulsants. In particular, we examine the new CAIs currently under development that might represent novel therapeutic options for the treatment of epilepsy.

Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial activity and carbonic anhydrase enzyme inhibitor effects of salicilaldehyde-N-methyl p-toluenesulfonylhydrazone and its Palladium(II), Cobalt(II) complexes

We report the synthesis of the ligand, salicilaldehyde-N-methyl p-toluenesulfonylhydrazone (salptsmh) derived from p-toluenesulfonicacid-1-methylhydrazide (ptsmh) and its Pd(II) and Co(II) metal complexes were synthesized for the first time. The structure of the ligand and their complexes were investigated using elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and spectral (IR, NMR and LC-MS) measurements. Salptsmh has also been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. (1)H and (13)C shielding tensors for crystal structure were calculated with GIAO/DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) methods in CDCl3. The complexes were found to have general composition [ML2]. The results of elemental analysis showed 1:2 (metal/ligand) stoichiometry for all the complex. Magnetic and spectral data indicate a square planar geometry for Pd(II) complex and a distorted tetrahedral geometry for Co(II) complexes. The ligand and its metal chelates have been screened for their antimicrobial activities using the disk diffusion method against the selected Gram positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Gram negative bacteria: Eschericha coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia. The inhibition activities of these compounds on carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and carbonic anhydrase I (CA I) have been investigated by comparing IC50 and Ki values and it has been found that Pd(II) complex have more enzyme inhibition efficiency than salptsmh and Co(II) complex.