Intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics of high doses of tigecycline in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Tigecycline is commonly used for infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, it is not approved for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) as increased mortality has been reported in VAP patients treated with conventional doses. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics of off-label high-dose tigecycline in patients with VAP.

Population Pharmacokinetic Modelling of the Complex Release Kinetics of Octreotide LAR: Defining Sub-Populations by Cluster Analysis.

The aim of the study is to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model, of Octreotide long acting repeatable (LAR) formulation in healthy volunteers, which describes the highly variable, multiple peak absorption pattern of the pharmacokinetics of the drug, in individual and population levels. An empirical absorption model, coupled with a one-compartment distribution model with linear elimination was found to describe the data well. Absorption was modelled as a weighted sum of a first order and three transit compartment absorption processes, with delays and appropriately constrained model parameters.

Population pharmacokinetics of micafungin over repeated doses in critically ill patients: a need for a loading dose?

Objectives: To study the population pharmacokinetics of micafungin in critically ill patients, evaluate and optimize dosage regimens.

Methods: An HPLC-fluorescence bioassay for micafungin was developed, fully validated and applied to a pharmacokinetic study conducted in 14 ICU patients. Dense blood sampling was performed from days 1 to 7.

Population pharmacokinetics of anidulafungin in ICU patients assessing inter- and intrasubject variability.

Aims: The population pharmacokinetics (PK) of anidulafungin in critically ill patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) was explored with the intention of evaluating and optimizing dosing regimens.

Methods: A PK study was conducted in a cohort of 13 patients treated with anidulafungin using intensive sampling during multiple periods per patient and the high-performance liquid chromatography method for drug quantification. A population PK model was developed to describe the concentration-time course of anidulafungin and the inter-individual (IIV) and interoccasion variability (IOV) of the PK parameters.

Bifid ureter with blind-ending branch: A rare anatomic variant detected during antegrade ureteric stent insertion.

Anatomic variants of the urinary tract are relatively common; however, a bifid ureter with a blind-ending branch is a rare congenital anomaly. This variant often goes unnoticed because patients are either asymptomatic or complain of vague abdominal symptoms. Diagnosis is often incidental, and may be missed on conventional imaging.

Vibrational angioplasty in recanalization of chronic femoropopliteal arterial occlusions: single center experience.

Purpose: This prospective study aims to present the overall success rate, safety and long-term outcome of vibrational angioplasty technique, in the treatment of chronic total femoropopliteal occlusions in our institute.

Methods: Between October 2000 and December 2008, patients with chronic total femoropoliteal arterial occlusions, treated with vibrational angioplasty during the same session after a failed attempt with conventional recanalization technique, were included. Patient's follow up included serial ankle-brachial index measurements and arterial duplex ultrasound examinations at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months.