Big Data Mining and Adverse Event Pattern Analysis in Clinical Drug Trials.

Assay Drug Dev Technol. 2016 Dec;14(10):557-566

Authors: Federer C, Yoo M, Tan AC

Abstract
Drug adverse events (AEs) are a major health threat to patients seeking medical treatment and a significant barrier in drug discovery and development. AEs are now required to be submitted during clinical trials and can be extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ), a database of clinical studies around the world. By extracting drug and AE information from ClinicalTrials.gov and structuring it into a database, drug-AEs could be established for future drug development and repositioning. To our knowledge, current AE databases contain mainly U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. However, our database contains both FDA-approved and experimental compounds extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov . Our database contains 8,161 clinical trials of 3,102,675 patients and 713,103 reported AEs. We extracted the information from ClinicalTrials.gov using a set of python scripts, and then used regular expressions and a drug dictionary to process and structure relevant information into a relational database. We performed data mining and pattern analysis of drug-AEs in our database. Our database can serve as a tool to assist researchers to discover drug-AE relationships for developing, repositioning, and repurposing drugs.

PMID: 27631620 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Contrast Utilization During Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From a Contemporary Multicenter Registry.

J Invasive Cardiol. 2016 Jul;28(7):288-94

Authors: Christakopoulos GE, Karmpaliotis D, Alaswad K, Yeh RW, Jaffer FA, Wyman RM, Lombardi W, Grantham JA, Kandzari DA, Lembo N, Moses JW, Kirtane A, Parikh M, Green P, Finn M, Garcia S, Doing A, Patel M, Bahadorani J, Christopoulos G, Karatasakis A, Thompson CA, Banerjee S, Brilakis ES

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Administration of a large amount of contrast volume during chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may lead to contrast-induced nephropathy.
METHODS: We examined the association of clinical, angiographic and procedural variables with contrast volume administered during 1330 CTO-PCI procedures performed at 12 experienced United States centers.
RESULTS: Technical and procedural success was 90% and 88%, respectively, and mean contrast volume was 289 ± 138 mL. Approximately 33% of patients received >320 mL of contrast (high contrast utilization group). On univariable analysis, male gender (P=.01), smoking (P=.01), prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (P=.04), moderate or severe calcification (P=.01), moderate or severe tortuosity (P=.04), proximal cap ambiguity (P=.01), distal cap at a bifurcation (P<.001), side branch at the proximal cap (P<.001), blunt/no stump (P=.01), occlusion length (P<.001), higher J-CTO score (P=.02), use of antegrade dissection and reentry or retrograde approach (P<.001), ad hoc CTO-PCI (P=.04), dual arterial access (P<.001), and 8 Fr guide catheters (P<.001) were associated with higher contrast volume; conversely, diabetes mellitus (P=.01) and in-stent restenosis (P=.01) were associated with lower contrast volume. On multivariable analysis, moderate/severe calcification (P=.04), distal cap at a bifurcation (P<.001), ad hoc CTO-PCI (P<.001), dual arterial access (P=.01), 8 Fr guide catheters (P=.02), and use of antegrade dissection/reentry or the retrograde approach (P<.001) were independently associated with higher contrast use, whereas diabetes (P=.02), larger target vessel diameter (P=.03), and presence of "interventional" collaterals (P<.001) were associated with lower contrast utilization.
CONCLUSIONS: Several baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics are associated with higher contrast volume administration during CTO-PCI.

PMID: 27342206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Psychiatric Patients with Antipsychotic Drug-Induced Hyperprolactinemia and Menstruation Disorders.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2017;40(10):1775-1778

Authors: Takechi K, Yoshioka Y, Kawazoe H, Tanaka M, Takatori S, Kobayashi M, Matsuoka I, Yanagawa H, Zamami Y, Imanishi M, Ishizawa K, Tanaka A, Araki H

Abstract
Treatment with antipsychotic drugs has been associated with hyperprolactinemia. The same antipsychotic drugs have also been associated with side effects such as menstruation disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia and menstruation disorders in women undergoing antipsychotic treatment. We performed a retrospective chart review study of psychiatric patients who underwent laboratory testing for serum prolactin (PRL) level between March 2011 and March 2015 in Ehime University Hospital. Patients presenting with and without menstruation disorders were evaluated to determine if they presented concomitant hyperprolactinemia. Patients with menstrual disorders had a significant increase in serum PRL level with a mean of approximately 90 ng/mL. Those with menstrual disorders presented increased PRL levels by 2-fold that of patients without menstrual disorder. However, there was no significant difference in the equivalent dose of chlorpromazine between these two groups. Additionally, about 70% of patients with menstrual disorders received risperidone treatment. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cutoff point of serum PRL level associated with the development of menstrual disorders was 60 ng/mL. Based on these results, we concluded that patients with menstrual disorders presented increased serum PRL, and that most of them underwent treatment with risperidone.

PMID: 28966250 [PubMed - in process]

Post-marketing safety surveillance conducted in Korea (2008-2013) following the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, RIX4414 (Rotarix™).

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Oct 02;12(10):2590-2594

Authors: Shin SM, Kim CS, Karkada N, Liu A, Jayadeva G, Han HH

Abstract
PURPOSE: According to regulations from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea, additional safety information on the use of Rotarix™ vaccine (RIX4414; GSK, Belgium) in ≥3000 evaluable Korean infants was required following vaccine registration. In order to comply with these regulations, we conducted a 6-year open, non-comparative, multicenter post-marketing surveillance (NCT00750893).
METHODS: During this time, the original lyophilized vaccine formulation of RIX4414 was replaced by a liquid formulation. Healthy infants aged ≥6 weeks were enrolled and given 2 doses of the RIX4414 vaccine, separated by an interval of ≥4 weeks. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) (expected and unexpected) was then assessed for up to 30 days along with the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs). Adverse drug reactions (ADRs: any AE whose causality to the drug could not be ruled out) were identified.
RESULTS: A total of 3040 children (mean age: 9.55 weeks) were analyzed. One or more expected AE was experienced by 30.5% infants and 8.6% had an ADR. The most commonly seen expected AE was irritability (14.0%). One or more unexpected AE was seen in 32.5% infants and 3.1% experienced an ADR. The most commonly seen unexpected AE was upper respiratory tract infection (8.7%). Of 34 SAEs recorded in 24 subjects, none were related to vaccination.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that this 6-year surveillance showed both formulations of RIX4414 to have acceptable safety profiles when administered to Korean infants according to local prescribing recommendations and current clinical practice.

PMID: 27494163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda).

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Nov;12(11):2777-2789

Authors: Kwok G, Yau TC, Chiu JW, Tse E, Kwong YL

Abstract
The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) is one of the checkpoints that regulates the immune response. Ligation of PD1 with its ligands PDL1 and PDL2 results in transduction of negative signals to T-cells. PD1 expression is an important mechanism contributing to the exhausted effector T-cell phenotype. The expression of PD1 on effector T-cells and PDL1 on neoplastic cells enables tumor cells to evade anti-tumor immunity. Blockade of PD1 is an important immunotherapeutic strategy for cancers. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a humanized monoclonal anti-PD1 antibody that has been extensively investigated in numerous malignancies. In melanoma refractory to targeted therapy, pembrolizumab induced overall response rates (ORRs) of 21-34%. It was superior to another immune checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy) in stage III/IV unresectable melanoma. In refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pembrolizumab induced ORRs of 19-25%. Based on these results, pembrolizumab was approved by the USA FDA for the treatment of advanced melanoma and NSCLC. Tumor cell PDL1 expression may be a valid response predictor. Molecular analysis also showed that tumors with high gene mutation burdens, which might result in the formation of more tumor-related neo-antigens, had better responses to pembrolizumab. In malignancies including lymphomas and other solid tumors, preliminary data showed that ORRs of around 20-50 % could be achieved. Adverse events occurred in up to 60% of patients, but grade 3/4 toxicities were observed in <10% of cases. Immune-related adverse events including thyroid dysfunction, hepatitis and pneumonitis are more serious and may lead to cessation of treatment.

PMID: 27398650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Post-licensure safety surveillance study of routine use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and 5-component acellular pertussis vaccine.

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Nov;12(11):2742-2748

Authors: Baxter R, Hansen J, Timbol J, Pool V, Greenberg DP, Johnson DR, Decker MD

Abstract
An observational post-licensure (Phase IV) retrospective large-database safety study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente, a US integrated medical care organization, to assess the safety of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and 5-Component Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap5) administered as part of routine healthcare among adolescents and adults. We evaluated incidence rates of various clinical events resulting in outpatient clinic, emergency department (ED), and hospital visits during various time intervals (windows) following Tdap5 vaccination using 2 pharmacoepidemiological methods (risk interval and historic cohort) and several screening thresholds. Plausible outcomes of interest with elevated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were further evaluated by reviewing individual patient records to confirm the diagnosis, timing (temporal relationship), alternative etiology, and other health record details to discern possible relatedness of the health events to vaccination. Overall, 124,139 people received Tdap5 vaccine from September 2005 through mid-October 2006, and 203,154 in the comparison cohort received a tetanus and diphtheria toxoid adsorbed vaccine (and no live virus vaccine) during the year prior to initiation of this study. In the outpatient, ED and hospital databases, respectively, we identified 11/26, 179/700 and 187/700 unique health outcomes with IRRs significantly >1.0. Among the same unique health outcomes in the outpatient, ED, and hospital databases, 9, 146, and 385, respectively, had IRRs significantly <1.0. Further scrutiny of the outcomes with elevated IRRs did not reveal unexpected signals of adverse outcomes related to vaccination. In conclusion, Tdap5 vaccine was found to be safe among this large population of adolescents and adults.

PMID: 27388557 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Safety and immunogenicity of 3 seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines in the Chinese military.

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Oct 02;12(10):2634-2639

Authors: Gao D, Yang H, Deng B, Yin G, Song W, Zhang H, Li Y

Abstract
Influenza, caused by the influenza virus, is a contagious acute viral respiratory disease with a high incidence rate and wide and rapid spread. Influenza-related morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization rates remain high and are increasing continuously in high-risk groups, with a significant impact on human health and the economy. In order to evaluate the immunogenicity of 3 seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines in Chinese military, we conducted this field trial. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of 3 seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines(TIVs)manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline(GSK), Beijing Sinovac Biotech (Sinovac), and Shenzhen Sanofi Pasteur (Pasteur) in healthy Chinese servicemen. We used theimported GSKTIV as the control, comparing it with the 2 domestic TIVs in a 1:1:1randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in a military command in Beijing. Healthy individuals, aged between 18 and 34 years, who had not received any influenza vaccine in the preceding3 years were enrolled and administered one dose of a TIV. Safety data were collected throughout the whole study (day 0 to day 30). Blood samples were collected to assess the subjects' immunogenicity before vaccination and 21 d after vaccination. In total, 292 subjects enrolled in the study. Twelve participants (4.1%) reported 12 adverse events. The incidence of adverse events was 1%, 5%, and7% for the GSK, Sinovac, and Pasteur TIVs, respectively. The reported injection-site reaction frequencies were similar for all 3 TIVs (p = 0.217). However, the proportion of systemic reactions was higher after the GSKTIV than after the Pasteur or Sinovac TIV (7.1% vs 3.1% or1%, respectively; p = 0.020). Three TIVs satisfied both the European and US Food and Drug Administration criteria for H1N1-179, H1N1-74, H3N2, and B strains based on the post vaccination sero-protection, the sero-conversion rate, and the geometric mean titer ratio. The Sinovac TIV, Pasteur TIV, and GSK TIV were well tolerated and immunogenic in healthy servicemen in the military. There was no significant difference in the immunogenicity of these 3 vaccines.

PMID: 27348250 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Evaluation of urinary corticosterone as a biomarker of stress in rats using fenitrothion as a chemical stressor.

J Immunotoxicol. 2016 May;13(3):386-92

Authors: Lapointe JM, Snyder PA, Reagan WJ

Abstract
Regulatory guidelines for pharmaceutical toxicity studies recommend using one dose near the maximum tolerated. At that level significant toxicities may occur, leading to systemic stress and secondary immune suppression which can be difficult to differentiate from a primary drug effect. Therefore, there is a need for a biomarker of stress applicable to toxicity studies. This study evaluated urinary corticosterone as a biomarker, using as a pharmacologic stressor fenitrothion, which was previously shown not to cause primary immune suppression. Rats were administered fenitrothion orally at 20 and 30 mg/kg daily for 2 or 8 days, with matched vehicle controls (n = 6/group). Urine was collected for 6 and 24 h, before treatment and on Day 2 and Day 8. Urine was assayed for corticosterone, separately for the first 6 h of collection and for the whole 24 h sample. Animals were euthanized on Day 3 or Day 9 and lymphoid tissue samples were collected, weighed and examined histologically. Treated rats showed neurologic signs following treatment. Findings also included time- and dose-dependent decreases in body weight and spleen and thymus weight decreases supra-proportional to body weight on Day 9. Histologic changes were mild at a dose of 20 mg/kg, but significant at 30 mg/kg, consisting of lymphocytolysis at Day 3 and lymphoid depletion at Day 9. Urine corticosterone levels were increased on Day 2 and Day 8, in the 6-h samples, but not the 24-h ones, at both dose levels. Based on the results, urine corticosterone appears to be a sensitive biomarker of systemic stress caused by fenitrothion. Other chemical stressors should be evaluated in a similar manner in order to fully validate urine corticosterone measurement as a stress biomarker.

PMID: 27297964 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Adverse events following HPV immunization in Australia: Establishment of a clinical network.

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Oct 02;12(10):2662-2665

Authors: Crawford NW, Hodgson K, Gold M, Buttery J, Wood N, AEFI-CAN network

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To formalise a collaborative national Adverse Events Following Immunisation Clinical Assessment Network (AEFI-CAN) following the expansion of the Australian Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation program to boys in 2013.
METHODS: AEFI-CAN linked state-based vaccine safety clinics and the Department of Health including the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Monthly teleconferences held to discuss HPV related cases. AEFI conditions of interest recorded in a centralised database.
RESULTS: Between 1(st) January 2013 - 31(st) October 2014, 118 HPV AEFI were documented, 56% in males. The median age was 13 y (range 12-16 years). The majority of AEFI reports were after dose 1 (59%). 76 of 118 (64%) AEFI were seen in a vaccine safety clinic: 62% in Victoria, NSW (16%), South Australia (9%) and Western Australia (8%). Eight TeleHealth consultations were undertaken. AEFI were categorised as: rash 24% of reports (n = 28), urticaria/angioedema 23% (n = 27), anaphylaxis 3% (n = 4). Syncope was also reported (n = 12, 10%) and other neurological events (n = 22, 19%).
CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the advantages of a national network, providing a collaborative approach to AEFI review and management. The vaccine safety network has applicability to any vaccination program, and has potential to collaborate more broadly with regional pharmacovigilance partners such as New Zealand.

PMID: 27295585 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Quick assessment of the influence of the Hepatitis B vaccine event on children's vaccination.

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016 Oct 02;12(10):2611-2615

Authors: Yue C, Sun X, Wei N, Yu W, Cui F, Wang H, Li L, Zhang L, Shi G, An Z

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: From December 2013 to January 2014, a large number of medias in China reported negative information about Hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) safety issues using eye-catching titles, such as "3 infants in Hunan inoculated with HepB occurred adverse event, and 2 died," and that caused crisis of confidence in vaccination, which we called "HepB event." The progress of "HepB event" could be divided into 3 stages which were initiation, peak and ending stages. In order to evaluate the influence of "HepB event" on the attitudes of participants toward Hepatitis B vaccine safety and their intention of vaccinating their children in different stages, and provide evidence for authority departments as soon as possible to take measures to prevent decrease of HepB coverage rate, a quick field investigation was carried out.
METHODS: Using convenience sampling methods during the initiation, peak and ending stages of the "HepB event."
RESULTS: In the 3 stages of the "HepB event," the awareness rate of the event among participants was rapidly rising, showing that the participants paid great attention to the event, and the information was spread very quickly. The proportion of participants who knew the event but thought that the Hepatitis B vaccine was unsafe were 31%, 37% and 26% respectively in 3 stages. In addition, the acceptance of vaccination by the participants was influenced, the proportion of participants who would like to delay or reject vaccinating their children was up to 43% in the peak stage of the event.
CONCLUSIONS: The "HepB event" had impacted on the participants' confidence in the safety of Hepatitis B vaccine. For such event, relevant authority departments need effectively communicate with the media and the public, and promptly issue positive information and the investigation result, thereby reducing the negative impact of the event, and improve the vaccine confidence among the public.

PMID: 27245742 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A sustained quality improvement program reduces nephrotoxic medication-associated acute kidney injury.

Kidney Int. 2016 Jul;90(1):212-21

Authors: Goldstein SL, Mottes T, Simpson K, Barclay C, Muething S, Haslam DB, Kirkendall ES

Abstract
Exposure to nephrotoxic medication is among the most common causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients. Here we conducted a prospective quality improvement project implementing a systematic Electronic Health Record screening and decision support process (trigger) in our quaternary pediatric inpatient hospital. Eligible patients were noncritically ill hospitalized children receiving an intravenous aminoglycoside for more than 3 days or more than 3 nephrotoxins simultaneously (exposure) from September 2011 through March 2015. Pharmacists recommended daily serum creatinine monitoring in exposed patients after appearance on the trigger report and AKI was defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes AKI criteria. A total of 1749 patients accounted for 2358 separate hospital admissions during which a total of 3243 episodes of nephrotoxin exposure were identified with 170 patients (9.7%) experiencing 2 or more exposures. A total of 575 individual AKI episodes occurred over the 43-month study period. Overall, the exposure rate decreased by 38% (11.63-7.24 exposures/1000 patient days), and the AKI rate decreased by 64% (2.96-1.06 episodes/1000 patient days). Assuming initial baseline exposure rates would have persisted without our project implementation, we estimate 633 exposures and 398 AKI episodes were avoided. Thus, systematic surveillance for nephrotoxic medication exposure and near real-time AKI risk can lead to sustained reductions in avoidable harm. These interventions and outcomes are translatable to other pediatric and nonpediatric hospitalized settings.

PMID: 27217196 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Antiepileptic drug-related neuropsychiatric adverse events in brain tumor-related epilepsy: levetiracetam front and center.

Eur J Neurol. 2017 Sep 30;:

Authors: Feyissa AM

PMID: 28963765 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Comparison of Clinical Efficacies of Preoperatively Initiated Naproxen Sodium-Codeine Phosphate in Combination, Diclofenac Potassium, and Benzydamine Hydrochloride for Pain, Edema, and Trismus After Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molar: A Randomized Double-Blind Study.

J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2017 Sep 08;:

Authors: Cigerim L, Eroglu CN

Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacies of naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate in combination, benzydamine hydrochloride, and diclofenac potassium for pain, edema, and trismus after lower third molar extraction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety healthy volunteers in whom impacted third molar extraction was indicated were randomly distributed into 3 groups. One hour before the tooth-extraction process, patients were administered one of the following drugs: naproxen sodium, 550 mg, and codeine phosphate, 30 mg, in a tablet; diclofenac potassium, 50 mg, in a coated pill; or benzydamine hydrochloride, 50 mg, in a coated pill. Pain assessment was conducted via a visual analog scale; edema assessment, by measuring the distances between predetermined facial landmarks; and trismus assessment, by measuring interincisal distance. Regarding rescue analgesics (paracetamol, 500 mg), the number and time of use by patients were recorded.
RESULTS: Naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate was more effective for pain, edema, and trismus than diclofenac potassium and benzydamine hydrochloride (P < .05). Benzydamine hydrochloride yielded similar clinical responses to diclofenac potassium (P > .05). No drug-related side effects were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Naproxen sodium-codeine phosphate constitutes the drug of choice after the extraction of a patient's impacted lower third molar. Benzydamine hydrochloride has similar efficacy to diclofenac potassium, and it can be used as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drug.

PMID: 28961427 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of DA-9601 versus Its New Formulation, DA-5204, in Patients with Gastritis: Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Non-Inferiority Study.

J Korean Med Sci. 2017 Nov;32(11):1807-1813

Authors: Choi YJ, Lee DH, Choi MG, Lee SJ, Kim SK, Song GA, Rhee PL, Jung HY, Kang DH, Lee YC, Lee SH, Choi SC, Shim KN, Seol SY, Moon JS, Shin YW, Kim HS, Lee ST, Cho JW, Choi EK, Lee OY, Jang JS

Abstract
This study compared the efficacy of DA-9601 (Dong-A ST Co., Seoul, Korea) and its new formulation, DA-5204 (Dong-A ST Co.), for treating erosive gastritis. This phase III, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, non-inferiority trial randomly assigned 434 patients with endoscopically proven gastric mucosal erosions into two groups: DA-9601 3 times daily or DA-5,204 twice daily for 2 weeks. The final analysis included 421 patients (DA-5204, 209; DA-9601, 212). The primary endpoint (rate of effective gastric erosion healing) and secondary endpoints (cure rate of endoscopic erosion and gastrointestinal [GI] symptom relief) were assessed using endoscopy after the treatment. Drug-related adverse events (AEs), including GI symptoms, were also compared. At week 2, gastric healing rates with DA-5204 and DA-9601 were 42.1% (88/209) and 42.5% (90/212), respectively. The difference between the groups was -0.4% (95% confidence interval, -9.8% to 9.1%), which was above the non-inferiority margin of -14%. The cure rate of gastric erosion in both groups was 37.3%. The improvement rates of GI symptoms with DA-5204 and DA-9601 were 40.4% and 40.8%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in both secondary endpoints. AEs were reported in 18 (8.4%) patients in the DA-5204 group and 19 (8.8%) in the DA-9601 group. Rates of AE were not different between the two groups. No serious AE or adverse drug reaction (ADR) occurred. These results demonstrate the non-inferiority of DA-5204 compared to DA-9601. DA-5204 is as effective as DA-9601 in the treatment of erosive gastritis. Registered randomized clinical trial at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02282670).

PMID: 28960033 [PubMed - in process]

Drug-Free Approach To Study the Unusual Cell Cycle of Giardia intestinalis.

mSphere. 2017 Sep-Oct;2(5):

Authors: Horlock-Roberts K, Reaume C, Dayer G, Ouellet C, Cook N, Yee J

Abstract
Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis, a form of severe and infectious diarrhea. Despite the importance of the cell cycle in the control of proliferation and differentiation during a giardia infection, it has been difficult to study this process due to the absence of a synchronization procedure that would not induce cellular damage resulting in artifacts. We utilized counterflow centrifugal elutriation (CCE), a size-based separation technique, to successfully obtain fractions of giardia cultures enriched in G1, S, and G2. Unlike drug-induced synchronization of giardia cultures, CCE did not induce double-stranded DNA damage or endoreplication. We observed increases in the appearance and size of the median body in the cells from elutriation fractions corresponding to the progression of the cell cycle from early G1 to late G2. Consequently, CCE could be used to examine the dynamics of the median body and other structures and organelles in the giardia cell cycle. For the cell cycle gene expression studies, the actin-related gene was identified by the program geNorm as the most suitable normalizer for reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of the CCE samples. Ten of 11 suspected cell cycle-regulated genes in the CCE fractions have expression profiles in giardia that resemble those of higher eukaryotes. However, the RNA levels of these genes during the cell cycle differ less than 4-fold to 5-fold, which might indicate that large changes in gene expression are not required by giardia to regulate the cell cycle. IMPORTANCE Giardias are among the most commonly reported intestinal protozoa in the world, with infections seen in humans and over 40 species of animals. The life cycle of giardia alternates between the motile trophozoite and the infectious cyst. The regulation of the cell cycle controls the proliferation of giardia trophozoites during an active infection and contains the restriction point for the differentiation of trophozoite to cyst. Here, we developed counterflow centrifugal elutriation as a drug-free method to obtain fractions of giardia cultures enriched in cells from the G1, S, and G2 stages of the cell cycle. Analysis of these fractions showed that the cells do not show side effects associated with the drugs used for synchronization of giardia cultures. Therefore, counterflow centrifugal elutriation would advance studies on key regulatory events during the giardia cell cycle and identify potential drug targets to block giardia proliferation and transmission.

PMID: 28959734 [PubMed]

Manipulating Glucose Metabolism during Different Stages of Viral Pathogenesis Can Have either Detrimental or Beneficial Effects.

J Immunol. 2017 Sep 01;199(5):1748-1761

Authors: Varanasi SK, Donohoe D, Jaggi U, Rouse BT

Abstract
This report deals with physiological changes and their implication following ocular infection with HSV. This infection usually results in a blinding inflammatory reaction in the cornea, orchestrated mainly by proinflammatory CD4 T cells and constrained in severity by regulatory T cells. In the present report, we make the unexpected finding that blood glucose levels change significantly during the course of infection. Whereas levels remained normal during the early phase of infection when the virus was actively replicating in the cornea, they increased around 2-fold during the time when inflammatory responses to the virus was occurring. We could show that glucose levels influenced the extent of induction of the inflammatory T cell subset in vitro that mainly drives lesions, but not regulatory T cells. Additionally, if glucose utilization was limited in vivo as a consequence of therapy in the inflammatory phase with the drug 2-deoxy-glucose (2DG), lesions were diminished compared with untreated infected controls. In addition, lesions in 2DG-treated animals contained less proinflammatory effectors. Glucose metabolism also influenced the acute phase of infection when the replicating virus was present in the eye. Thus, therapy with 2DG to limit glucose utilization caused mice to become susceptible to the lethal effects of HSV infection, with the virus spreading to the brain causing encephalitis. Taken together, our results indicate that glucose metabolism changed during the course of HSV infection and that modulating glucose levels can influence the outcome of infection, being detrimental or beneficial according to the stage of viral pathogenesis.

PMID: 28768727 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The role of HLA genes in pharmacogenomics: unravelling HLA associated adverse drug reactions.

Immunogenetics. 2017 Aug;69(8-9):617-630

Authors: Illing PT, Purcell AW, McCluskey J

Abstract
Genetic polymorphism in the genes encoding the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules enables presentation of a wide range peptide ligands thus maximising immune surveillance of pathogens. A consequence of the diversification of the HLA Ag-binding pocket is the enhanced opportunity for off-target binding of small drugs by HLA molecules, with subsequent immune reactivity. These potential off-target interactions are 'set up' to generate T cell-mediated adverse drug reactions even though the precise mechanisms of most HLA-drug interactions are still poorly understood. The association between abacavir hypersensitivity syndrome and HLA-B*57:01 is one exception that has been resolved at a molecular and mechanistic level. Here, we explore the road to understanding the interaction between abacavir and the HLA-B*57:01 molecule and review the current state of understanding of interactions between other drugs and HLA molecules implicated in adverse drug reactions, which appear to involve multiple mechanisms. The continued expansion of the pharmacopoeia generates an imperative to understand these interactions at the molecular level in order to prevent the continued burden on individuals and the health care system.

PMID: 28695285 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Assessment of afoxolaner efficacy against Otodectes cynotis infestations of dogs.

Parasit Vectors. 2016 Dec 09;9(1):635

Authors: Carithers D, Crawford J, de Vos C, Lotriet A, Fourie J

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of a single 2.5 mg/kg dose of afoxolaner (NexGard®, Merial) against induced Otodectes cynotis infestations was assessed in eight afoxolaner-treated dogs, compared to eight untreated dogs.
METHODS: After O. cynotis infestations were established and confirmed by otoscopic assessments in 16 dogs, all of the dogs were included in the study and allocated to two separate treatment groups. The first group of eight ear mite-infested dogs remained untreated, while afoxolaner was administered orally to the second group of dogs at the minimum recommended dose once on Day 0. Otoscopic assessments performed on all dogs (Days -7, -2, 14 and 28) confirmed the presence or absence of live mites throughout the study. No serious adverse events were recorded throughout the study, and no adverse events were likely related to the administration of NexGard.
RESULTS: By Day 28, seven out of eight untreated dogs were still infested with ear mites, while only two out of eight afoxolaner-treated dogs were infested, with one and four ear mites, respectively. On Day 28, the reductions of mite counts in the afoxolaner-treated group versus those of the control dogs were 98.5% based on geometric means, and 99.4% based on arithmetic means. Significantly fewer (P < 0.05) live mites were present in the afoxolaner-treated group than the untreated group on Day 28.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that a single oral administration of afoxolaner at the minimum recommended dose is highly effective (>98%) in treating dogs with induced O. cynotis infestations.

PMID: 27938395 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Incidence and physiological mechanism of carboplatin-induced electrolyte abnormality among patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Oncotarget. 2017 Mar 14;8(11):18417-18423

Authors: Ma Y, Hou L, Yu F, Lu G, Qin S, Xie R, Yang H, Wu T, Luo P, Chai L, Lv Z, Peng X, Wu C, Fu D

Abstract
To clarify the association between carboplatin and electrolyte abnormality, a pooled-analysis was performed with the adverse event reports of non-small cell lung cancer patients. A total of 19901 adverse events were retrieved from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pooled reporting odds ratios (RORs) and 95% CIs suggested that carboplatin was significantly associated with hyponatremia (pooled ROR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.18-2.09, P = 1.99×10-3) and hypokalemia (pooled ROR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.80-3.10, P = 5.24×10-10) as compared to other therapies. In addition, we found that dehydration was frequently concurrent with carboplatin therapy (pooled ROR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.52-2.66, P = 8.37×10-7), which may prompt excessive water ingestion and decrease serum electrolyte concentrations. This information has not been mentioned in the FDA-approved drug label and could help explain the physiological mechanism of carboplatin-induced electrolyte abnormality. In conclusion, the above results will facilitate clinical management and prompt intervention of life-threatening electrolyte imbalance in the course of cancer treatment.

PMID: 27780935 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]