Feasibility of, and critical paths for mycophenolate mofetil Bayesian dose adjustment: pharmacological re-appraisal of a concentration-controlled versus fixed-dose trial in renal transplant recipients.

The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively and critically the different steps of the individual dose adjustment procedure employed in the concentration-controlled (CC) versus fixed-dose trial Apomygre, which showed that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) dose adjustment using a limited sampling strategy significantly reduced the risk of treatment failures and acute rejection in renal transplants at one year posttransplantation. The number of AUCs performed during the study and circumstances of collection, time of blood sampling, Bayesian mycophenolic acid (MPA) area-under-the-curve (AUC) estimation procedures and physicians' compliance with MMF dose recommendations were retrospectively analyzed. 92% of AUCs scheduled over the study were actually performed.

Protection against endotoxic shock as a consequence of reduced nitrosative stress in MLCK210-null mice.

This study investigated the consequences of deletion of the long isoform of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK210) on the cardiovascular changes induced by the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cecal ligation puncture using MLCK210-/- mice. Here, we provide evidence that deletion of MLCK210 enhanced survival after intraperitoneal injection of LPS or cecal ligation puncture. LPS-induced vascular hyporeactivity to vasoconstrictor agents was completely prevented in aorta from MLCK210-/- mice.

Long daytime exchange in children on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis: preservation of drained volume because of icodextrin use.

Daytime exchanges with glucose osmotic agents often lead to dialysate reabsorption, poor ultrafiltration (UF), positive sodium balance, and restricted purification of uremic toxins. We studied 5 anuric children on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (mean age: 10 years, 10 months), comparing icodextrin to a conventional glucose-based dialysate. The same fill volume (980 +/- 290 mL/m2) and the same dwell duration (720 minutes) were used with both solutions for the daytime exchange.

Measurement by magnetic resonance imaging of the peritoneal membrane in contact with dialysate in rats.

To be optimal, a peritoneal dialysis prescription should consider the peritoneal surface area recruitment. In fact, as shown by computed tomography imaging, only a fraction of the available anatomic peritoneum is in contact with the dialysate (PDF). Various factors may dynamically affect the recruitment of the wetted membrane: posture, fill volume, PDF composition (biocompatibility), and pharmacologic agents (phospholipids).

Deletion of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha induces an alteration of cardiac functions.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) plays a major role in the control of cardiac energy metabolism. The role of PPARalpha on cardiac functions was evaluated by using PPARalpha knockout (PPARalpha -/-) mice. Hemodynamic parameters by sphygmomanometric measurements show that deletion of PPARalpha did not affect systolic blood pressure and heart rate.