BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor, with a poor prognosis and life expectancy of 14-16 months after diagnosis. The standard treatment for GBM consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Most patients become resistant to treatment after some time, and the tumor recurs. Therefore, there is a need for new drugs to manage GBM. Eslicarbazepine (ESL) is a well-known antiepileptic drug belonging to the dibenzazepine group with anticancer potentials. In this study, for the first time, we evaluated the potential effects of ESL on C6 cell growth, both in vitro and in vivo, and examined its molecular effects.
METHODS: To determine the effect of ESL on the c6 cell line, cell viability, proliferation, and migration were evaluated by MTT assay, colony formation, and wound healing assay. Also, apoptosis and cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. In addition, an intracranial model in Wistar rats was used to investigate the effect of ESL in vivo, and the tumor size was measured using both Caliper and MRI.
RESULTS: The obtained results are extremely consistent and highly encouraging. C6 cell viability, proliferation, and migration were significantly suppressed in ESL-treated C6 cells (p < 0.001), as determined by cell-based assays. ESL treatment led to significant enhancement of apoptosis (p < 0.01), as determined by flow cytometry, and upregulation of genes involved in cell apoptosis, such as the Bax/Bcl2 ratio at RNA (p < 0.05) and protein levels (5.37-fold). Flow cytometric analysis of ESL-treated cells revealed G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. ESL-treated cells demonstrated 2.49-fold upregulation of p21 alongside, 0.22-fold downregulation of cyclin B1, and 0.34-fold downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase-1 at the protein level. Administration of ESL (30 mg/kg) to male rats bearing C6 intracranial tumors also suppressed the tumor volume and weight (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on these novel findings, ESL has the potential for further experimental and clinical studies in glioblastoma.

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Urticaria is induced by the histamine released from mast cells which develops wheals (edema) as a visual feature. In clinical practice, second-generation histamine H1 -receptor blockers are routinely used as the first-line symptomatic treatment for urticaria. Nevertheless, not much research has directly examined the second-generation histamine H1-receptor blockers\' ability to reduce edema. In this study, we directly evaluated the anti-edematous activities of three second-generation histamine H1-receptor blockers available in the market (epinastine hydrochloride, cetirizine hydrochloride, and levocetirizine hydrochloride) using a λ-carrageenan-induced footpad edema model. One hour before the induction of edema with 1% λ -carrageenan injection, all second-generation histamine H1 -receptor blockers (5, 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were subcutaneously administered to rats. At 0.5 and 3 hours after λ -carrageenan administration, the edema volume was evaluated using a Plethysmometer. Epinastine hydrochloride significantly suppressed the edema growth in a dose-dependent manner. Cetirizine hydrochloride showed a slight anti-edematous effect, while levocetirizine significantly inhibited the development of edema in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, dextrocetirizine did not prevent edema from growing. In summary, second-generation histamine H1 -receptor blockers, at least those examined in this study, may be able to reduce the clinical symptoms of urticaria associated with edema. Levocetirizine hydrochloride is also anticipated to have stronger anti-edematous effects than cetirizine hydrochloride because levocetirizine is responsible for cetirizine\'s anti-edematous activity.

A post hoc analysis of data from Asian patients included in the study BIA-2093-304 was conducted to evaluate the long-term safety/tolerability and efficacy of adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) in adult Asian patients with refractory focal seizures. Part I was a randomized controlled trial, in which patients received ESL (800 or 1200 mg once daily [QD]) or placebo, assessed over a 12-week maintenance period. Patients completing Part I could enter two open-label extension periods (Part II, 1 year; Part III, ≥2 years), during which all received ESL (400-1600 mg QD). Safety/tolerability was assessed by evaluating treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Efficacy assessments included responder and seizure freedom rates. The safety population included 125, 92, and 23 Asian patients in Parts I, II, and III, respectively. Incidence of ESL-related TEAEs was 61.3%, 45.7%, and 17.4% during Parts I, II, and III, respectively. ESL-related TEAEs (most commonly, dizziness, somnolence, and headache) were consistent with ESL\'s known safety profile. During Part I, responder rates were higher with ESL 800 (41.7%) and 1200 mg QD (44.4%) versus placebo (32.6%), although not statistically significant. Seizure freedom rates with ESL 800 (5.5%) and 1200 mg QD (11.1%) were also higher versus placebo (0%) (p < 0.05 for ESL 1200 mg QD versus placebo). At the end of Part II, responder and seizure freedom rates were 60.3% and 14.7%, respectively. In summary, adult Asian patients with refractory focal seizures were responsive to treatment with ESL as adjunctive therapy and generally showed treatment tolerance well for up to 3 years. No new/unexpected safety findings were observed.

With the increased prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the world, effective pharmacotherapy in clinical practice is still lacking. Previous studies have shown that dibenzazepine (DBZ), a Notch inhibitor, could alleviate NASH development in a mouse model. However, low bioavailability, poor water solubility, and extrahepatic side effects restrict its clinical application. To overcome these barriers, we developed a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive nanoparticle based on the conjugation of bilirubin to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains, taking into account the overaccumulation of hepatic ROS in the pathologic state of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The PEGylated bilirubin can self-assemble into nanoparticles in an aqueous solution and encapsulate insoluble DBZ into its hydrophobic cavity. DBZ nanoparticles (DBZ Nps) had good stability, rapidly released DBZ in response to H2O2, and effectively scavenged intracellular ROS of hepatocytes. After systemic administration, DBZ Nps could accumulate in the liver of the NASH mice, extend persistence in circulation, and improve the bioavailability of DBZ. Furthermore, DBZ Nps significantly improved glucose intolerance, relieved hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation, and ameliorated NASH-induced liver fibrosis. Additionally, DBZ Nps had no significant extrahepatic side effects. Taken together, our results highlight the potential of the ROS-sensitive DBZ nanoparticle as a promising therapeutic strategy for NASH.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in colonic epithelial differentiation is key to unraveling the alterations causing inflammatory conditions and cancer. Organoid cultures provide an unique tool to address these questions but studies are scarce. We report a differentiation system toward enterocytes and goblet cells, the two major colonic epithelial cell lineages, using colon organoids generated from healthy tissue of colorectal cancer patients. Culture of these organoids in medium lacking stemness agents resulted in a modest ultrastructural differentiation phenotype with low-level expression of enterocyte (KLF4, KRT20, CA1, FABP2) and goblet cell (TFF2, TFF3, AGR2) lineage markers. BMP pathway activation through depletion of Noggin and addition of BMP4 resulted in enterocyte-biased differentiation. Contrarily, blockade of the Notch pathway using the γ-secretase inhibitor dibenzazepine (DBZ) favored goblet cell differentiation. Combination treatment with BMP4 and DBZ caused a balanced strong induction of both lineages. In contrast, colon tumor organoids responded poorly to BMP4 showing only weak signals of cell differentiation, and were unresponsive to DBZ. We also investigated the effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) on differentiation. Calcitriol attenuated the effects of BMP4 and DBZ on colon normal organoids, with reduced expression of differentiation genes and phenotype. Consistently, in normal organoids, calcitriol inhibited early signaling by BMP4 as assessed by reduction of the level of phospho-SMAD1/5/8. Our results show that BMP and Notch signaling play key roles in human colon stem cell differentiation to the enterocytic and goblet cell lineages and that calcitriol modulates these processes favoring stemness features.

Antihistamines relieve allergic symptoms by inhibiting the action of histamine. Further understanding of antihistamine transmembrane mechanisms and optimizing the selectivity and real-time monitoring capabilities of drug sensors is necessary. In this study, a micrometer liquid/liquid (L/L) interfacial sensor has served as a biomimetic membrane to investigate the mechanism of interfacial transfer of five antihistamines, i.e., clemastine (CLE), cyproheptadine (CYP), epinastine (EPI), desloratadine (DSL), and cetirizine (CET), and realize the real-time determinations. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques have been used to uncover the electrochemical transfer behavior of the five antihistamines at the L/L interface. Additionally, finite element simulations (FEMs) have been employed to reveal the thermodynamics and kinetics of the process. Visualization of antihistamine partitioning in two phases at different pH values can be realized by ion partition diagrams (IPDs). The IPDs also reveal the transfer mechanism at the L/L interface and provide effective lipophilicity at different pH values. Real-time determinations of these antihistamines have been achieved through potentiostatic chronoamperometry (I-t), exhibiting good selectivity with the addition of nine common organic or inorganic compounds in living organisms and revealing the potential for in vivo pharmacokinetics. Besides providing a satisfactory surrogate for studying the transmembrane mechanism of antihistamines, this work also sheds light on micro- and nano L/L interfacial sensors for in vivo analysis of pharmacokinetics at a single-cell or single-organelle level.

BACKGROUND: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a first-choice anti-seizure medication (ASM) whose efficacy is often invalidated by adverse effects (AEs). Eslicarbazepine (ESL) is a structural derivative of CBZ with better pharmacokinetic/tolerability profiles. We describe our experience of the overnight CBZ to ESL switch in people with epilepsy (PwE) to improve seizure control, AEs, and ASMs adherence.
METHODS: We retrospectively included 19 PwE (12 females, 53 ± 21 years old) who underwent CBZ to ESL overnight switch due to single/multiple issues: poor efficacy (pEff, N = 8, 42%), tolerability (pToll, N = 11, 58%), adherence (pAdh, N = 2, 10%). 9/19 (47%) had psychiatric comorbidities. Clinical variables, seizure frequency, and AEs were recorded at switch time (T0) after 3.5 ± 3 (T1) and 6.5 ± 1.5 months (T2).
RESULTS: At T1, in pEff group, 1/8 (13%) was seizure free, 2/8 (25%) were responders (> 50% seizure reduction), 2/8 (25%) had no seizure changes, 3/8 (37%) had seizure worsening; the latter were those with the most severe epilepsy and encephalopathy. In pToll group, all PwE experienced AEs disappearance/amelioration. In pAdh group, all PwE reported adherence amelioration. Four dropouts. At T2, no changes were recorded within groups, while in the whole sample, 6/15 (40%) were responders, and 4/15 (27%) were seizure-free. No one complained of Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation psychiatric worsening, while 6/19 (32%) experienced mood/behavior benefits.
CONCLUSIONS: CBZ to ESL overnight switch offers an opportunity to improve efficacy, tolerability, adherence, and psychiatric symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) treatment in reducing focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS).
METHODS: Data were pooled from 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of adjunctive ESL in patients with focal seizures. Patients treated with 800 or 1200 mg/day ESL and who experienced ≥ 1 FBTCS during baseline were included. Efficacy was measured using FBTCS standardized seizure frequency (SSF), responder rates (≥50%, ≥75%, and 100%), and time to first FBTCS. Adverse events (AEs) were tabulated for each subgroup.
RESULTS: Of the original 1447 patients, 438 patients in the safety population were included with ≥ 1 FBTCS at baseline (efficacy population, n = 429). Patients with ≥ 2 FBTCS (safety, n = 354; efficacy, n = 346) and ≥ 3 FBTCS (safety, n = 294; efficacy, n = 288) at baseline were also analyzed. The 1200 mg/day ESL group experienced lower least squares mean SSF vs placebo in patients with ≥ 1 baseline FBTCS (P = 0.0395) and ≥ 3 baseline FBTCS (P = 0.0091). The 50% responder rates improved for 1200 mg/day ESL vs placebo (≥1 FBTCS, P = 0.005; ≥2 FBTCS, P = 0.0063; ≥3 FBTCS, P = 0.0016). The 75% responder rates improved with 1200 mg/day ESL vs placebo (≥1 FBTCS, P = 0.0315; ≥2 FBTCS, P = 0.0215; ≥3 FBTCS, P = 0.0099), and with 800 mg/day ESL for ≥ 2 FBTCS at baseline (P = 0.0486). The 100% responder rate was higher in patients treated with 1200 mg/day ESL (not significant). Time to first FBTCS was longer with both 800 (P = 0.0008) and 1200 mg/day (P = 0.0020) ESL vs placebo for the ≥ 1 FBTCS subgroup, and with 1200 mg/day ESL for ≥ 2 FBTCS (P = 0.0060) and ≥ 3 FBTCS (P = 0.0152) subgroups. Overall, AEs occurred at similar rates across subgroups, and were lower than the original RCTs.
CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive ESL produced a robust response in patients with FBTCS, a seizure type associated with SUDEP and high injury rates. Adjunctive ESL was well tolerated in patients who experienced FBTCS.

Purpose: To investigate the in vivo efficacy of epinastine cream in type I allergic models. Methods: The dose, timing, and antiallergic effect of epinastine cream on the conjunctiva were evaluated postapplication to the eyelid skin of guinea pigs with histamine- or ovalbumin-induced allergic conjunctivitis. Additionally, we assessed its antiallergic effects on the skin postapplication to the dorsal skin of guinea pigs with ovalbumin-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Efficacy was estimated by determining the amount of dye that leaked from conjunctival or dorsal skin tissue vessels as a measure of vascular permeability, scoring the severity of allergic symptoms, and observing the scratching behaviors using clinical parameters. Results: In the histamine-induced conjunctivitis model, epinastine cream strongly inhibited conjunctival vascular permeability in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of 0.5% epinastine cream 24 h postapplication was significantly higher than that of 0.1% epinastine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 8 h postadministration. Additionally, the 0.5% epinastine cream inhibited conjunctival vascular permeability 15 min postapplication, and the effect was sustained over 24 h. Furthermore, the 0.5% epinastine cream effectively suppressed clinical symptom scores and exhibited ameliorated scratching bouts in conjunctival allergic reactions in the experimental allergic conjunctivitis model. Additionally, it significantly inhibited vascular permeability in skin allergic reactions in the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis model. Conclusions: The results suggest that epinastine cream is a strong, long-lasting, and skin-penetrating inhibitor of type I allergic reactions. The 0.5% epinastine cream applied once daily could be a promising, potent, and long-acting therapeutic agent for allergic conjunctivitis.