| 1. |
- Montagnese, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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A pilot study of golexanolone, a new GABA-A receptor-modulating steroid antagonist, in patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Hepatology. - : Elsevier. - 0168-8278 .- 1600-0641. ; 75:1, s. 98-107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background & Aims: Golexanolone is a novel small molecule GABA-A receptor-modulating steroid antagonist under development for the treatment of cognitive and vigilance disorders caused by allosteric over-activation of GABA-A receptors by neurosteroids. It restored spatial learning and motor coordination in animal models of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and mitigated the effects of intravenous allopregnanolone in healthy adults in a dose-dependent fashion. Herein, we report data on the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and efficacy of golexanolone in adult patients with cirrhosis.Methods: Following single/multiple ascending dose studies, adults with Child-Pugh A/B cirrhosis and abnormal continuous reaction time (CRT) on screening were randomized to 3 weeks’ dosing with golexanolone (10, 40 or 80 mg BID) or placebo. CRT, psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), animal naming test (ANT), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and electroencephalogram (mean dominant frequency [MDF]; delta+theta/alpha+beta ratio [DT/AB]) were obtained at baseline, 10, and 21 days.Results: Golexanolone exhibited satisfactory safety and PK. Baseline characteristics were similar between the 12 and 33 patients randomized to placebo or golexanolone, respectively. By prespecified analyses, golexanolone was associated with directionally favourable changes vs. placebo in ESS (p = 0.047), MDF (p = 0.142) and DT/AB (p = 0.021). All patients also showed directionally favourable changes in CRT, PHES and ANT, but with no statistical difference between golexanolone and placebo. Post hoc analyses taking into account the variability and improvement in CRT, PHES and ANT observed between screening and baseline suggested an efficacy signal by cognitive measures as well.Conclusion: Golexanolone was well tolerated and associated with improvement in cognitive performance. These results implicate GABA-A receptor-modulating neurosteroids in the pathogenesis of HE and support the therapeutic potential of golexanolone.Lay summary: Many patients with cirrhosis experience subtle but disabling cognitive problems, including sleepiness and poor attention span, that impair their ability to be gainfully employed or carry out activities of daily living. This pilot study tested the hypothesis that these problems with cognition, for which there is no approved treatment, might be improved by an experimental drug, golexanolone, designed to normalize the function of receptors which inhibit brain function. The results of this study suggest that golexanolone is well tolerated and may improve cognition, as reflected by measures of sleepiness, attention span and brain wave activity, paving the way for future larger studies of this promising experimental drug.Clinical trial registration number: EudraCT 2016-003651-30.
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| 2. |
- Sandström, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Altered GABAA receptor function in women with endometriosis : a possible pain-related mechanism
- 2023
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 102:10, s. 1316-1322
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The mechanism underlying endometriosis-related pain remains poorly understood. Previous studies have indicated that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptors and GABAergic substances (eg endogenous neurosteroids) play important mechanistic roles in various pain conditions. Our primary objective was to compare GABAA receptor function between women with endometriosis and healthy controls by performing a challenge test with diazepam, a GABAA receptor agonist, using the saccadic eye velocity as the main outcome. The secondary objective was to investigate the relationship between GABAA receptor function and serum levels of allopregnanolone, an endogenous positive modulator of the GABAA receptor, in the participating women.Material and methods: 15 women with pelvic pain and laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and 10 healthy, symptom-free, control women, aged 18–40 years, underwent the diazepam challenge test during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Basal serum allopregnanolone levels were measured prior to diazepam injection.Results: Compared with healthy controls, women with pelvic pain and confirmed endometriosis had a significantly smaller change in saccadic eye velocity after GABAA receptor stimulation with diazepam, indicating lower sensitivity to diazepam. The saccadic eye velocity response was not correlated with the serum allopregnanolone levels.Conclusions: Women with painful endometriosis show altered GABAA receptor function, depicted as a muted response to an exogenous GABAA receptor agonist.
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| 3. |
- Bixo, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder with the GABA(A) receptor modulating steroid antagonist Sepranolone (UC1010)-A randomized controlled trial
- 2017
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Ingår i: Psychoneuroendocrinology. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0306-4530 .- 1873-3360. ; 80, s. 46-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Allopregnanolone is a metabolite from progesterone and a positive modulator of the GABA(A) receptor. This endogenous steroid may induce negative mood in sensitive women when present in serum levels comparable to the premenstrual phase. Its endogenous isomer, isoallopregnanolone, has been shown to antagonize allopregnanolone effects in experimental animal and human models.Objective: The objective was to test whether inhibition of allopregnanolone by treatment with the GABA(A) modulating steroid antagonist (GAMSA) Sepranolone (UC1010) during the premenstrual phase could reduce symptoms of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The pharmacokinetic parameters of UC1010 when given as a subcutaneous injection were measured in healthy women prior to the study in women with PMDD.Design: This was an explorative randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Setting: Swedish multicentre study with 10 centers.Participants: Participants were 26 healthy women in a pharmacokinetic phase I study part, and 126 women with PMDD in a phase II study part. Diagnosis followed the criteria for PMDD in DSM-5 using Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) and Endicott's algorithm.Intervention: Subjects were randomized to treatment with UC1010 (10 or 16 mg) subcutaneously every second day during the luteal phase or placebo during one menstrual cycle.Outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was the sum of all 21 items in DRSP (Total DRSP score). Secondary outcomes were Negative mood score i.e. the ratings of the 4 key symptoms in PMDD (anger/irritability, depression, anxiety and lability) and impairment (impact on daily life).Results: 26 healthy women completed the pharmacokinetic phase I study and the dosing in the following trial was adjusted according to the results. 106 of the 126 women completed the phase II study. Within this group, a significant treatment effect with UC1010 compared to placebo was obtained for the Total DRSP score (p = 0.041) and borderline significance (p = 0.051) for the sum of Negative mood score. Nineteen participants however showed symptoms during the follicular phase that might be signs of an underlying other conditions, and 27 participants had not received the medication as intended during the symptomatic phase. Hence, to secure that the significant result described above was not due to chance, a post hoc sub-group analysis was performed, including only women with pure PMDD who completed the trial as intended (n =60). In this group UC1010 reduced Total DRSP scores by 75% compared with 47% following placebo; the effect size 0.7 (p = 0.006), and for sum of Negative mood score (p=0.003) and impairment (p =0.010) with the effect size 0.6. No severe adverse events were reported during the treatment and safety parameters (vital signs and blood chemistry) remained normal during the study.Conclusions: This explorative study indicates promising results for UC1010 as a potential treatment for PMDD. The effect size was comparable to that of SSRIs and drospirenone containing oral contraceptives. UC1010 was well tolerated and deemed safe.
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| 4. |
- Innala, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Women with acute intermittent porphyria have a defect in 5 alpha-steroid production during the menstrual cycle
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 91:12, s. 1445-1452
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To measure serum concentrations of progesterone, estradiol and 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reduced progesterone metabolites in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in women with latent acute intermittent porphyria and manifest acute intermittent porphyria in comparison with healthy control women. Design. A descriptive study with repeated measurements during a complete, ovulatory menstrual cycle. Setting. University hospital out-patient clinic. Population. Thirty-two women with DNA-diagnosed acute intermittent porphyria and 20 healthy control women. Methods. Blood samples for serum progesterone, estradiol, allopregnanolone and pregnanolone were drawn on predefined menstrual cycle days, twice in the follicular phase and three times in the luteal phase. Serum levels of estradiol and progesterone were analysed with commercial kits. Allopregnanolone and pregnanolone levels were analysed with radioimmunoassay following diethylether extraction and celite column chromatography. Main outcome measures. Changes in serum levels of progesterone, estradiol, allopregnanolone and pregnanolone throughout the menstrual cycle. Results. Women with acute intermittent porphyria displayed lower serum concentrations of allopregnanolone in comparison with healthy control women, the difference being most prominent in the luteal phase (p < 0.001). Levels of pregnanolone did not differ significantly between groups. No significant difference was found between women with latent acute intermittent porphyria and manifest acute intermittent porphyria. Conclusions. Decreased levels of the 5 alpha-reduced progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone were found in the menstrual cycle of women with acute intermittent porphyria. This has not been reported previously and could indicate a reduced 5 alpha-reductase type 1 capacity in the ovary and liver among these women.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Pettersson-Pablo, Paul, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Body fat percentage and CRP correlates with a composite score of vascular risk markers in healthy, young adults : The Lifestyle, Biomarkers, and Atherosclerosis (LBA) study
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2261 .- 1471-2261. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Identification of early signs of atherosclerosis in young adults have the potential to guide early interventions to prevent later cardiovascular disease. We therefore analyzed measures of vascular structure and function and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in a sample of young healthy adults.METHODS: Pulse-wave velocity (PWV), carotid-intima media thickness (cIMT) and augmentation index (AIX) were measured in 834 healthy non-smokers (ages 18.0-25.9). Emphasis was put on discriminating between individuals having a vascular structure and function associated with a higher or lower risk, and cluster analysis algorithms were employed to assign the subjects into groups based on these vascular measurements. In addition, a vascular status score (VSS) was calculated by summarizing the results according to quintiles of the vascular measurements. The associations between VSS and cardiovascular biomarkers were examined by regression analyses.RESULTS: The cluster analyses did not yield sufficiently distinct clustering (groups of individuals that could be categorized unequivocally as having either a vascular structure and function associated with a higher or lower CVD risk). VSS proved a better classificatory variable. The associations between VSS and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk were analyzed by univariable and multivariable regressions. Only body fat percentage and C-reactive protein (CRP) were independently associated with VSS.CONCLUSIONS: A VSS calculation, which integrates PWV, cIMT, and AIX measurements is better suited for cardiovascular risk evaluation in young adults than cluster analyses. The independent associations of VSS with body fat percentage and CRP highlight the decisive role of adiposity and systemic inflammation in early atherosclerotic progression and suggests a subordinate role of insulin and lipid metabolism in this age span.
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| 7. |
- Segebladh, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Allopregnanolone serum concentrations and diurnal cortisol secretion in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- 2013
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Ingår i: Archives of Women's Mental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-1816 .- 1435-1102. ; 16:2, s. 131-137
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most prior studies in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) indicate a blunted hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function. However, the relationship between neuroactive progesterone metabolites, such as allopregnanolone, and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in PMDD patients is relatively sparsely studied. The primary aims of this study were to assess diurnal variation in circulating cortisol and low-dose dexamethasone suppression in PMDD patients and healthy controls, and the relationship between these two HPA axis indices and allopregnanolone serum concentrations. Twenty-six women with prospectively defined PMDD and 30 healthy controls were recruited. Participants underwent diurnal sampling for cortisol serum concentrations and a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. In addition, morning allopregnanolone serum concentrations were determined. There was no difference in diurnal secretion of cortisol and degree of dexamethasone suppression of cortisol between PMDD patients and healthy controls. However, PMDD patients with high allopregnanolone levels displayed blunted nocturnal cortisol levels in comparison with healthy controls who had low allopregnanolone serum concentrations. In women with PMDD, diurnal secretion of cortisol may be influenced by allopregnanolone levels of the luteal phase. This finding may be attributed to timing of blood sampling in the late luteal phase as well as the individual level of allopregnanolone but could potentially explain the discrepancies in results between studies examining HPA axis function in women with PMDD.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Kask, Kristiina, et al.
(författare)
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Allopregnanolone impairs episodic memory in healthy women
- 2008
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Ingår i: Psychopharmacology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0033-3158 .- 1432-2072. ; 199:2, s. 161-168
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Allopregnanolone is an endogenous neuroactive steroid that, through its binding to the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, has GABA-active properties. Animal studies indicate that allopregnanolone administration results in diminished learning and memory impairment. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of intravenously administered allopregnanolone on episodic memory, semantic memory, and working memory in healthy women. Twenty-eight healthy women were included in the study. The participants were scheduled for the memory tests twice in the follicular phase. During the test sessions, an intravenous allopregnanolone and placebo infusion were administered in a double-blinded, randomized order at intervals of 48 h. Before and 10 min after the allopregnanolone/placebo injections, memory tasks were performed. The study demonstrated that allopregnanolone impaired episodic memory in healthy women. There was a significant difference between pre- and postallopregnanolone injection episodic memory scores (p < 0.05), whereas there was no change in episodic memory performance following the placebo injections. There was also a significant difference between allopregnanolone and placebo postinjection episodic memory scores (p < 0.05). There were no effects of allopregnanolone on the semantic memory task or working memory task. Intravenous allopregnanolone impairs episodic memory in healthy women, but there is a high degree of individual variability.
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| 10. |
- Nevatte, Tracy, et al.
(författare)
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ISPMD consensus on the management of premenstrual disorders
- 2013
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Ingår i: Archives of Women's Mental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-1816 .- 1435-1102. ; 16:4, s. 279-291
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The second consensus meeting of the International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD) took place in London during March 2011. The primary goal was to evaluate the published evidence and consider the expert opinions of the ISPMD members to reach a consensus on advice for the management of premenstrual disorders. Gynaecologists, psychiatrists, psychologists and pharmacologists each formally presented the evidence within their area of expertise; this was followed by an in-depth discussion leading to consensus recommendations. This article provides a comprehensive review of the outcomes from the meeting. The group discussed and agreed that careful diagnosis based on the recommendations and classification derived from the first ISPMD consensus conference is essential and should underlie the appropriate management strategy. Options for the management of premenstrual disorders fall under two broad categories, (a) those influencing central nervous activity, particularly the modulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin and (b) those that suppress ovulation. Psychotropic medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, probably acts by dampening the influence of sex steroids on the brain. Oral contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, danazol and estradiol all most likely function by ovulation suppression. The role of oophorectomy was also considered in this respect. Alternative therapies are also addressed, with, e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, calcium supplements and Vitex agnus castus warranting further exploration.
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