Comparison of everolimus QMS immunoassay on Architect ci4100 and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry: lack of agreement in organ-transplanted patients.

Background: Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the method of choice for the determination of everolimus whole blood concentrations but is not always available. Therefore, immunoassays have been developed for clinical monitoring of everolimus. In previous studies, the Quantitative Microsphere System (QMS) immunoassay had a positive bias compared with LC-MS/MS, but was judged acceptable, although clinical agreement (eg, 95% limits of agreement) was not reported.

Busulfan use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: pharmacology, dose adjustment, safety and efficacy in adults and children.

Busulphan (1, 4-bis [methanesulfonyl-y] butane) is a bi-functional alkylating agent that, in combination with cyclophosphamide, has been commonly used in conditioning regimens before hematological stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for nearly 20 years. Busulfan has a very narrow therapeutic index, and acute toxicity may be related to absorption and disposition of the drug and metabolites. Precise delivery of the oral formulation is compromised by erratic gastrointestinal absorption, particularly in infants and small children.

Pharmacokinetics of high-dose diluted lidocaine in local anesthesia for facelift procedures.

The maximal recommended local anesthetic dose of lidocaine is 7 mg/kg; higher doses are used in tumescent liposuction. The objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of high-dose diluted lidocaine administered together with epinephrine for local anesthesia in facelift procedures. This was a prospective study of six female patients undergoing elective facelift surgery.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies as a predictor of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: . The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed dramatically with the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Unfortunately, a subset of patients have partial or no response.

Monitoring of occupational exposure to methylene chloride: sampling protocol and stability of urine samples.

A sampling protocol for biomonitoring of the volatile solvent methylene chloride (MeCl(2)) by analysis of urine from exposed workers was established. Storage temperature, sample volume in headspace vial (HSV), and time to sealing HSV on determination of MeCl(2) in urine were evaluated. MeCl(2) was analyzed by a solid-phase microextraction technique combined with gas chromatography.

A simple approximation for busulfan dose adjustment in adult patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Busulfan is an alkylating agent used in preparative regimens before bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Busulfan concentrations in plasma, expressed as the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), were reported to correlate with treatment outcome. Because busulfan is administered in 16 doses of 1 mg/kg every 6 hours for 4 days, the opportunities to "correct" the dose as a consequence of the measured AUC are limited to the 16-dosage protocol.

Lamotrigine for intractable sciatica: correlation between dose, plasma concentration and analgesia.

An open trial was conducted to study the potential efficacy of the antiepileptic agent lamotrigine in relieving the sciatic pain and the relationship between lamotrigine dosage, plasma concentration and the clinical response. Subsequent to a 1 week washout period from previous analgesics, lamotrigine dose was titrated on a weekly basis from 25 to 400mg/day and was maintained at that dose for additional 4 weeks. Spontaneous pain, the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ), the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, and range of motion of the lumbar spine (leaning foreword, to the affected side) were used to assess lamotrigine efficacy.

N-Acetylcysteine enhances the action of anti-inflammatory drugs as suppressors of prostaglandin production in monocytes.

The anti-inflammatory effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins. Since oxygen free radicals can act as second cellular messengers, especially to modulate the metabolism of arachidonic acid and the prostaglandin tract, it seems plausible that antioxidants might affect the production of prostaglandin by activated cells. This research is focused on the effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) formation in activated monocytes by specific and non-specific COX inhibitors.