Efficacy and Safety of Elvitegravir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Asian Subjects with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Infection: A Sub-Analysis of Phase 3 Clinical Trials.

The efficacy and safety of a single tablet regimen (STR) of elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (E/C/F/TDF) were analyzed in Phase 3 clinical trials in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve and ART-experienced Asian subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. Studies GS-US-236-102 and GS-US-236-103 were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 144-week studies conducted in ART-naïve subjects, comparing E/C/F/TDF versus efavirenz (EFV)/F/TDF or ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV+RTV) plus emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (F/TDF), respectively. Studies GS-US-236-115 and GS-US-236-121 were randomized, open-label, 96-week long conducted in ART-experienced subjects, who switched to E/C/F/TDF from ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI+RTV)+F/TDF, or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI)+F/TDF regimens.

A case of piperacillin-induced occupational anaphylaxis: detection of serum IgE to piperacillin-HSA conjugate.

This is the first reported detection of serum IgE antibody to piperacillin-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate in a patient presenting with anaphylaxis that developed after occupational exposure. A 24-yr-old nurse, who had worked at a University Hospital for 2 yr, experienced chest tightness, dizziness, generalized urticaria, abdominal pain, and diarrhea 10 min after administering a piperacillin injection. She had previously suffered from atopic dermatitis.

Genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes and anti-TB drug-induced hepatitis.

Aims: Although some genetic risk factors have been reported for the development of hepatitis due to anti-TB drugs, an extensive candidate gene approach evaluating drug-metabolizing enzymes has not been attempted. This study aimed to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing enzymes with anti-TB drug-induced hepatitis.

Materials & Methods: We compared genotype distributions of tagging SNPs in promoter, exons and haplotypes in seven drug-metabolizing enzyme genes (CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, NAT2, UGT1A1 and UGT1A3) between 67 cases and 159 controls.

Association between polymorphisms in prostanoid receptor genes and aspirin-intolerant asthma.

Background: Genetic predisposition is linked to the pathogenesis of aspirin-intolerant asthma. Most candidate gene approaches have focused on leukotriene-related pathways, whereas there have been relatively few studies evaluating the effects of polymorphisms in prostanoid receptor genes on the development of aspirin-intolerant asthma. Therefore, we investigated the potential association between prostanoid receptor gene polymorphisms and the aspirin-intolerant asthma phenotype.

Role of staphylococcal superantigen-specific IgE antibodies in aspirin-intolerant asthma.

IgE antibodies specific for staphylococcal superantigens (SAg) have been implicated in the pathology of several allergic diseases such as rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, asthma, and aspirin intolerance. We sought to determine whether SAg-specific IgE levels associate with clinical parameters in patients with aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA), as compared with patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) and nonatopic controls. Eighty patients with AIA, 62 patients with ATA, and 52 normal controls were enrolled in this study.

A case of pulmonary cryptococcosis by capsule-deficient Cryptococcus neoformans.

Pulmonary infection by capsule-deficient Cryptococcus neoformans (CDCN) is a very rare form of pneumonia and it is seldom seen in the immunocompetent host. The authors experienced a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis by CDCN in 25-year-old woman who was without any significant underlying disease. The diagnosis was made from the percutaneous lung biopsy and special tissue staining, including Fontana-Masson silver (FMS) staining.

Association between genetic variations of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and atopy in the Korean population.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been suggested to be a key mediator in the development of atopy and T(H)2 inflammation.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effects of variations in the gene coding VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 2 on intermediate phenotypes of asthma in the Korean population.

Methods: A cohort of 2055 children and adolescents responded to a questionnaire concerning asthma symptoms and risk factors and underwent methacholine bronchial challenge and skin tests.

Comparison of asthma phenotypes using different sensitizing protocols in mice.

Background: Several methods have been reported to induce asthmatic reactions in mice but few studies have compared their efficiency. We evaluated the efficiency of the protocols frequently used in the literature.

Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection; 1] Once a week for two weeks using OVA with alum (IPOA-2) or without (IPO-2), and provocation on days 28-30 by 1% OVA inhalation; 2] seven times for two weeks by OVA with alum (IPOA-7) or without (IPO-7) and provocation by 1% OVA inhalation on days 42-44.

Airway inflammation and allergen specific IgE production may persist longer than airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.

During the preclinical study of new therapeutic modality, we evaluate whether the treatment can reverse the established asthma phenotypes in animal model. However, few have reported on the long term persistence of asthma phenotypes upon re-challenge with allergen (secondary challenge) in animal model. We evaluated the persistence of asthma phenotypes by secondary challenge at different times in previously challenged murine asthma model.