Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Cefepime, Meropenem, and Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience recurrent bacterial pulmonary exacerbations. Management of these infections is increasingly challenging due to decreased antimicrobial susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of these agents are inadequately characterized in patients with CF.

Prevalence, stability, and clinical significance of an isolated low FEV spirometry pattern in children.

Objectives: In adults, an isolated low FEV pattern (an FEV below the lower limit of normal with a preserved FVC and FEV/FVC) has been associated with the risk of developing airway obstruction. Our objective was to examine the prevalence, stability, and clinical significance of an isolated low FEV pattern in the pediatric population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of spirometries from children ages 6-21 years and categorized tests into spirometry patterns according to published guidelines and recent literature.

Longitudinal profiling of the intestinal microbiome in children with cystic fibrosis treated with elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor.

The intestinal microbiome influences growth and disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), the newest pharmaceutical modulator for CF, restores the function of the pathogenic mutated CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel. We performed a single-center longitudinal analysis of the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on the intestinal microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and clinical parameters in children with CF.

Longitudinal Profiling of the Intestinal Microbiome in Children with Cystic Fibrosis Treated with Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor.

The intestinal microbiome influences growth and disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), the newest pharmaceutical modulator for CF, restores function of the pathogenic mutated CFTR channel. We performed a single-center longitudinal analysis of the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on the intestinal microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and clinical parameters in children with CF.

Spirometry correlates with physical activity in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is associated with progressive muscle weakness and respiratory decline. To date, studies have focused on respiratory decline and loss of ambulation as a metric of loss of skeletal muscle strength. However, new functional measures can assess skeletal muscle disease regardless of ambulatory status.

Safety of Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine in Children With Asthma.

Background And Objectives: Asthma is considered a precaution for use of quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) in persons aged ≥5 years because of concerns for wheezing events. We evaluated the safety of LAIV4 in children with asthma, comparing the proportion of children with asthma exacerbations after LAIV4 or quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4).

Methods: We enrolled 151 children with asthma, aged 5 to 17 years, during 2 influenza seasons.

Leveraging cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess skeletal muscle progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by muscle deterioration and progressive weakness. As a result, patients with DMD have significant cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality that worsens with age and loss of ambulation. Since most validated muscle assessments require ambulation, new functional measures of DMD progression are needed.

Improving Access and Guideline Adherence in Pulmonary Care in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating, progressive neuromuscular disease that results in cardiopulmonary failure and death. In 2018, the DMD Care Considerations guidelines were updated to improve the multidisciplinary approach to care and promote early respiratory management. We sought to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary clinic on access to pulmonary care and adherence to respiratory care guidelines.

Association between one-carbon metabolism indices and DNA methylation status in maternal and cord blood.

One-carbon metabolism is essential for multiple cellular processes and can be assessed by the concentration of folate metabolites in the blood. One-carbon metabolites serve as methyl donors that are required for epigenetic regulation. Deficiencies in these metabolites are associated with a variety of poor health outcomes, including adverse pregnancy complications.

Folate/folic acid knowledge, intake, and self-efficacy of college-aged women: impact of text messaging and availability of a folic acid-containing supplement.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of educational text messages (TMs) on folate/folic acid knowledge and consumption among college-aged women, and to evaluate the impact of providing folic acid supplements on folate/folic acid intake among college-aged women.

Participants: A total of 162 women (18-24 years) recruited from a university.

Methods: The protocol included 3 study visits and a 6-week intervention for 4 groups: control; TM only; supplement only; and TM+supplement.

Host response to Staphylococcus aureus cytotoxins in children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the earliest bacterial pathogens to colonize the lungs of children with cystic fibrosis and is an important contributor to pulmonary exacerbations. The adaptive host response to S. aureus in cystic fibrosis remains inadequately defined and has important implications for pathogenesis and potential interventions.

Interaction with CREB binding protein modulates the activities of Nrf2 and NF-κB in cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by inflammatory lung disease that significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality. Airway epithelial cells play a role in the inflammatory signaling in CF and have been reported to exhibit a number of dysfunctions in signaling cascades that modulate inflammation. Previously, we reported that the activity of nuclear factor erythroid-derived-like 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates antioxidant and cytoprotective protein expression, is diminished in CF epithelia (7).