Potential Pitfalls in the Analysis and Structural Interpretation of Seismic Data from the Mars InSight Mission.

The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) of the mission to Mars, has been providing direct information on Martian interior structure and dynamics of that planet since it landed. Compared to seismic recordings on Earth, ground motion measurements acquired by SEIS on Mars are made under dramatically different ambient noise conditions, but include idiosyncratic signals that arise from coupling between different sensors and spacecraft components. This work is to synthesize what is known about these signal types, illustrate how they can manifest in waveforms and noise correlations, and present pitfalls in structural interpretations based on standard seismic analysis methods.

SEIS: Insight's Seismic Experiment for Internal Structure of Mars.

Unlabelled: By the end of 2018, 42 years after the landing of the two Viking seismometers on Mars, InSight will deploy onto Mars' surface the SEIS (eismic xperiment for nternal tructure) instrument; a six-axes seismometer equipped with both a long-period three-axes Very Broad Band (VBB) instrument and a three-axes short-period (SP) instrument. These six sensors will cover a broad range of the seismic bandwidth, from 0.01 Hz to 50 Hz, with possible extension to longer periods.

Socioeconomic determinants of health inequalities among the older population in India: a decomposition analysis.

This study quantified and decomposed health inequalities among the older population in India and analyzes how health status varies for populations between 60 to 69 years and 70 years and above. Data from the 60th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) was used for the analyses. Socioeconomic inequalities in health status were measured by using Concentration Index (CI) and further decomposed to find critical determinants and their relative contributions to total health inequality.

High intra-individual variability of cyclosporine pharmacokinetics in lung transplant recipients without cystic fibrosis.

Background: There has been little study on the variability of CsA pharmacokinetics in stable lung transplant (LT) recipients without cystic fibrosis. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of high intra-individual variability of CsA in LT recipients and its implications in CsA monitoring.

Methods: Twenty-nine pharmacokinetic curves were performed in 10 consecutive stable patients from a single center.

Pharmacokinetic study of conversion from tacrolimus twice-daily to tacrolimus once-daily in stable lung transplantation.

Background: Tacrolimus twice-daily (TAC BID) is widely used in lung transplantation (LT), but there are little data on the use of tacrolimus once-daily (TAC QD) in this population. The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) of TAC BID and TAC QD in stable, adult LT patients.

Methods: Phase II, open-label, single-center, single-arm, prospective pilot PK study.

Determination of ganciclovir in human plasma by ultra performance liquid chromatography-UV detection.

Objectives: Implement a sensitive UHPLC method for the assay of ganciclovir in human plasma.

Design And Methods: We developed and validated a chromatographic method coupled to ultraviolet detection for quantification of ganciclovir, with a short run time using a small volume of human plasma. Comparison of system performance was made with respect to analysis time, efficiency and sensitivity.

Voriconazole drug monitoring in the management of invasive fungal infection in immunocompromised children: a prospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate voriconazole plasma level monitoring in immunocompromised children and determine the relationship of plasma levels with dose, safety and efficacy.

Methods: We used a prospective study including all consecutive children with invasive fungal infection (IFI) treated with voriconazole between August 2008 and May 2010. IFI diagnosis and clinical outcome evaluation were based on European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group ('EORTC/MSG') definitions.

State of the art in therapeutic drug monitoring.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a multidisciplinary activity. Because laboratory reports are part of the patient's chart, some clinical information is required. In order to guarantee quality and safety, an increasing number of TDM departments have implemented a quality management system.

Sequential treatment of cytomegalovirus infection or disease with a short course of intravenous ganciclovir followed by oral valganciclovir: efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics.

Oral (p.o.) or intravenous (IV) ganciclovir (GCV) has been the first-line agent for prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in solid organ transplantation (SOT).

Population pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir after intravenous ganciclovir and oral valganciclovir administration in solid organ transplant patients infected with cytomegalovirus.

A population pharmacokinetics analysis was performed after intravenous ganciclovir and oral valganciclovir in solid organ transplant patients with cytomegalovirus. Patients received ganciclovir at 5 mg/kg of body weight (5 days) and then 900 mg of valganciclovir (16 days), both twice daily with dose adjustment for renal function. A total of 382 serum concentrations from days 5 and 15 were analyzed with NONMEM VI.

Indications and management of everolimus after liver transplantation.

Objective: Our aim was to assess our experience with the use and management of everolimus after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Materials And Methods: Among the 759 patients who underwent transplantation from 1988 to 2008, 25 (3.2%) received immunosuppression with everolimus.

Impact of valganciclovir on Epstein-Barr Virus polymerase chain reaction in pediatric liver transplantation: preliminary report.

Unlabelled: Preemptive therapy with ganciclovir has been recommended in the pediatric liver transplant strategy to avoid the development of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) from an high Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is detected. We sought viral load to analyze the response to preemptive therapy with valganciclovir (VGC) in children with liver transplantations and an high quantitative EBV-PCR.

Methods: From June 2005 to December 2007, we tested 979 EBV-PCR among 80 pediatric liver transplant recipients, from those 21/80 PCR were tested from the date of transplantation and 59/80 belonged to the historical cohort (7/59 had a prior history of PTLD).

Nebulized liposomal amphotericin B prophylaxis for Aspergillus infection in lung transplantation: pharmacokinetics and safety.

Background: The main problem with using nebulized liposomal amphotericin (n-LAB) as prophylaxis for Aspergillus infection after lung transplantation is the lack of knowledge of its pharmacokinetics and its possible adverse effects. The aim of this study was to measure post-inhalation amphotericin B concentration in the respiratory tract and serum of lung transplant patients and assess the effects of n-LAB on respiratory function.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive bronchoscopies were performed on 27 lung transplant patients at two hospitals.

Early monitoring of ribavirin serum concentration is not useful to optimize hepatitis C virus treatment in HIV-coinfected patients.

Background: Emerging data suggest that higher ribavirin (RBV) exposure could improve early hepatitis C virus (HCV) response. Furthermore, interindividual RBV bioavailability shows high variation, and dose-limiting haemolytic anaemia is a common adverse event. Therefore, it has been suggested that monitoring RBV serum levels could be used to drive dose modification and to optimize management of HCV-infected patients receiving combination treatment.

Efficacy and safety of 'rescue therapy' with mycophenolate mofetil in resistant primary glomerulonephritis--a multicenter study.

Background: Studies of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in primary glomerulonephritis have varied in their inclusion criteria, regimen and follow-up compromising assessments of efficacy and optimal dose.

Method: This multicentre study analysed the safety and efficacy of MMF monotherapy in a large cohort with primary glomerulonephritis that was resistant to other conventional therapies. A total of 98 patients with biopsy-proven primary glomerulonephritis resistant to other drugs received MMF monotherapy for 1 year.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between rifampicin and the once-daily combination of saquinavir and low-dose ritonavir in HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis.

Objectives: To assess plasma steady-state pharmacokinetics (PK) of rifampicin, isoniazid, saquinavir and ritonavir in HIV and tuberculosis (TB) co-infected patients, and investigate potential interactions between TB drugs and protease inhibitors (PIs).

Methods: Open-label, single-arm, sequential PK study including 22 patients with HIV infection and TB. During the first 2 months, patients received rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, with or without ethambutol (first PK study, n = 22).

Immunosuppression based on mycophenolate mofetil in stable liver transplanted patients.

Aim: To analyze our results with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in stable liver transplantation (LT) patients presenting with adverse events (AE) related to prolonged use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI).

Methods: Conversion to MMF was performed in 56 out of 323 LT patients from 91-02: 24 (43%) were converted to MMF in monotherapy and 32 (57%) to MMF+low doses of CNI. The indication for conversion was chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in all patients.

Atazanavir and lopinavir/ritonavir: pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of a promising double-boosted protease inhibitor regimen.

Objective: To assess the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of lopinavir (LPV), ritonavir (RTV) and atazanavir (ATV) as a double-boosted protease inhibitor regimen in HIV-infected adults.

Methods: Sixteen patients who started LPV/RTV (400/100 mg b.i.

Hematocrit influences immunoassay performance for the measurement of tacrolimus in whole blood.

The comparison between the MEIA II and the EMIT assays for tacrolimus measurement and the interference by the hematocrit were evaluated in 93 samples from routine therapeutic monitoring at tacrolimus concentrations less than 9 microg/L (group A). Additionally, the incidence of false-positive results were determined in samples (n=46) from patients who were not receiving the drug (group B). In group A, no statistical differences were observed between the mean+/-SD values obtained by MEIA II (5.

A prospective randomized trial comparing tacrolimus and steroids with tacrolimus monotherapy in liver transplantation: the impact on recurrence of hepatitis C.

The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to study the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus monotherapy (TACRO) and compare it with our standard treatment of tacrolimus plus steroids (TACRO + ST) after liver transplant (LT). Furthermore, the impact of steroid-free immunosuppression on outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was analysed. Between 1998 and 2000, 60 patients (mean age: 57 years) were included in the study and randomized to receive TACRO (n = 28) or TACRO + ST (n = 32).

Once-daily regimen of saquinavir, ritonavir, didanosine, and lamivudine in HIV-infected patients with standard tuberculosis therapy (TBQD Study).

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of a once-daily regimen with didanosine, lamivudine, saquinavir, and low-dose ritonavir in antiretroviral (ARV)-naive patients with tuberculosis treated with rifampin and the influence of rifampin on plasma trough concentration (Ctrough) of saquinavir.

Methods: Single-arm, prospective, multicenter, open-label pilot study, including 32 adult ARV-naive subjects with HIV infection and tuberculosis under standard treatment that included rifampin (600 mg q.d.

Evaluation of a limited sampling strategy to estimate area under the curve of tacrolimus in adult renal transplant patients.

Limited sampling strategies have been developed to predict full AUCs. The goal of this study was to develop a limited sampling strategy to estimate the AUC of tacrolimus in adult renal transplant patients and to evaluate its predictive performance in an independent patient population. A total of 27 tacrolimus pharmacokinetic profiles were studied.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of a double-boosting regimen of saquinavir soft gel plus lopinavir plus minidose ritonavir in human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults.

Management of treatment-experienced human immunodeficiency virus patients has become complex, and therapy may need to include two protease inhibitors at therapeutic doses. The objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics in serum of saquinavir (1,000 mg twice daily [b.i.

Blood cyclosporine C0 and C2 concentrations and cytomegalovirus infections following lung transplantation.

The aim of this study was to determine whether cyclosporine levels predose (C0) and at two hours postdose (C2) were higher among patients presenting with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease. Between days 40 and 365 posttransplantation serial C0 and C2 levels were measured in 15 lung transplant recipients. Nine developed 13 episodes of CMV infection or disease.