Quantitative Electromerism of a Well-defined Mononuclear Copper Complex Through Reversible Intramolecular Metal-Ligand Electron Transfer.

Copper amine oxidases are enzymes that exhibit in their active site a mononuclear copper complex and a 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ) cofactor; in the oxidative half of the catalytic cycle, the enzymes regulate their activity by a temperature-dependent electron transfer equilibrium between the Cu complex with the reduced, aminoquinol form of the cofactor and the reactive Cu complex with the corresponding oxidized, semiquinone form of the cofactor. Here, we report the first mononuclear copper complex with redox-active ligands showing quantitative, reversible electromerism between a Cu eletromer with reduced, neutral ligand and a Cu electromer with an oxidized, radical monocationic ligand. The Cu form, being exclusively present at low temperature, exhibits a lower enthalpy (like the enzymes), but the Cu complex exhibits a higher entropy and is exclusively present at room temperature in CH Cl solution.

Pharmacokinetics and Antifungal Activity of Echinocandins in Ascites Fluid of Critically Ill Patients.

The pharmacokinetics and antifungal activity of the echinocandins anidulafungin (AFG), micafungin (MFG), and caspofungin (CAS) were assessed in ascites fluid and plasma of critically ill adults treated for suspected or proven invasive candidiasis. Ascites fluid was obtained from ascites drains or during paracentesis. The antifungal activity of the echinocandins in ascites fluid was assessed by incubation of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata at concentrations of 0.

Penetration of echinocandins into wound secretion of critically ill patients.

Purpose: Wound infections caused by Candida are life-threatening and difficult to treat. Echinocandins are highly effective against Candida species and recommended for treatment of invasive candidiasis. As penetration of echinocandins into wounds is largely unknown, we measured the concentrations of the echinocandins anidulafungin (AFG), micafungin (MFG), and caspofungin (CAS) in wound secretion (WS) and in plasma of critically ill patients.

Pharmacokinetics of caspofungin in critically ill patients on continuous renal replacement therapy.

Caspofungin pharmacokinetics was assessed in 27 critically ill patients, including 7 on continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), 8 on continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), and 13 not requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Caspofungin exposure during CRRT was very similar to that of the control group and comparable to that in healthy volunteers. Caspofungin clearance by CRRT was very low.

[Cardiac interventions in Switzerland].

The activity of the working group PTCA and Fibrinolysis of the Swiss Society of Cardiology from spring 1990 to spring 1991 is reported. It included a survey of fibrinolysis for acute myocardial infarction, therapeutic cardiac catheter interventions, and heart operations in Switzerland in 1990. Of the 6096 patients admitted for acute infarction to the participating hospitals, 1768 (29%) underwent fibrinolysis.