Multi-center, pragmatic, cluster-randomized, controlled trial of standardized peritoneal dialysis (PD) training versus usual care on PD-related infections (the TEACH-PD trial): trial protocol.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infections, such as peritonitis, exit site, and tunnel infections, substantially impair the sustainability of PD. Accordingly, PD-related infection is the top-priority research outcome for patients and caregivers. While PD nurse trainers teach patients to perform their own PD, PD training curricula are not standardized or informed by an evidentiary base and may offer a potential approach to prevent PD infections.

Successful Manipulation of the Gut Microbiome to Treat Spontaneous and Induced Murine Models of Colitis.

Background And Aims: There is clinical interest in the sustainability or otherwise of prebiotic, microbial, and antibiotic treatments to both prevent and treat inflammatory bowel diseases. This study examined the role of antibiotic manipulation of the gut microbiome to treat spontaneous and induced murine models of colitis.

Methods: Symptomatic, histological, molecular, and microbial ecology and bioinformatic readouts were used to study the effect of a 10-day antibiotic cocktail and then follow-up over 2 months in the spontaneous Winnie colitis mouse preclinical model of ulcerative colitis and also the indirect antibiotic and Winnie microbiotic gavage effects in an acute dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in wild-type mice.

A Nucleotide Analog Prevents Colitis-Associated Cancer via Beta-Catenin Independently of Inflammation and Autophagy.

Background & Aims: Chronic bowel inflammation increases the risk of colon cancer; colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Thiopurine treatments are associated with a reduction in dysplasia and CAC in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Abnormal Wnt/β-catenin signalling is characteristic of >90% of colorectal cancers.

Colonic thioguanine pro-drug: Investigation of microbiome and novel host metabolism.

Thiopurines are analogues of endogenous purines. They are pro-drugs which require the purine salvage pathway to convert them to the active drug nucleotides (TGN). These drugs are used to maintain clinical remission in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Critical assessment of thioguanine treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases: Is it time to rehabilitate this treatment?

Objective: The potential therapeutic effect of thioguanine in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is hindered due to association with vascular hepatotoxicity. The study aimed to assess the evidence for efficacy of thioguanine in IBD management and the association with nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and other thioguanine-related hepatotoxicities.

Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used for literature search.

Microbial metabolism of thiopurines: A method to measure thioguanine nucleotides.

Thiopurines are anti-inflammatory prodrugs. We hypothesised that bacteria may contribute to conversion to active drug. Escherichia coli strain DH5α was evaluated to determine whether it could metabolise the thiopurine drugs, thioguanine or mercaptopurine, to thioguanine nucleotides.

A prospective study of incidence of medication-related problems in general medicine ward of a tertiary care hospital.

The study is aimed to assess the incidence of drug-related problems (DRPs) and provide pharmacist interventions for identified DRPs. A prospective, observational study was conducted among 189 patients with cardiovascular disease who were aged 18 years or older and admitted to the general medicine in-patient ward. During the 6 months study period, the incidence of DRPs was identified using Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Foundation classification system version 6.

Therapeutic challenges in cancer pain management: a systematic review of methadone.

The proven therapeutic efficacy of methadone in cancer pain is hindered by a challenging pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile, considerable interpatient variation, and increasing concern about the complexities of dosing. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for the use of methadone in cancer pain management. The authors conducted a systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published post the 2007 Cochrane review of methadone in cancer pain.