The objectives of this study were to describe meropenem pharmacokinetics (PK) in plasma and/or subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCT) in critically ill patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment and to develop a population PK model to simulate alternative dosing regimens and modes of administration. We conducted a prospective observational study. Ten patients on ECMO treatment received meropenem (1 or 2 g) intravenously over 5 min every 8 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPenicillin G is frequently used to treat infective endocarditis (IE) caused by streptococci, penicillin-susceptible staphylococci and enterococci. Appropriate antibiotic exposure is essential for survival and reduces the risk of complications and drug resistance development. We determined penicillin G plasma concentration [p-penicillin] once weekly in 46 IE patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe developed and validated a new analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of artemether and lumefantrine in fixed-dose tablets and powders for reconstitution into pediatric suspensions (PSs). The method showed linearity (r(2) > 0.9947), precision (coefficient of variation < 2%), accuracy (deviation of mean from actual concentrations < 4%), and specificity (peak purities > 99%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibiotic dosing in septic shock patients poses a challenge for clinicians due to the pharmacokinetic (PK) variability seen in this patient population. Piperacillin-tazobactam is often used for empirical treatment, and initial appropriate dosing is crucial for reducing mortality. Accordingly, we determined the pharmacokinetic profile of piperacillin (4 g) every 8 h, during the third consecutive dosing interval, in 15 patients treated empirically for septic shock.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhen antimicrobials are used empirically, pathogen MICs equal to clinical breakpoints or epidemiological cutoff values must be considered. This is to ensure that the most resistant pathogen subpopulation is appropriately targeted to prevent emergence of resistance. Accordingly, we determined the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of moxifloxacin at 400 mg/day in 18 patients treated empirically for community-acquired pneumonia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraditionally, the pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials in bone have been investigated using bone biopsy specimens, but this approach suffers from considerable methodological limitations. Consequently, new methods are needed. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of microdialysis (MD) for measuring cefuroxime in bone and to obtain pharmacokinetic profiles for the same drug in porcine cortical and cancellous bone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Haptocorrin (HC) carries cobalamin analogues (CorA), but whether CorA are produced in the body is unknown. All cobalamins (Cbl) to the foetus are delivered by the Cbl-specific protein transcobalamin (TC), and therefore analysis of cord serum for CorA may help to clarify the origin of CorA.
Methods: HC-CorA were quantified in paired samples of cord serum from newborns and serum from mothers (n = 69).
Background: Vitamin B(12), or cobalamin (Cbl), is absorbed in the intestine and transported to the cells bound to transcobalamin (TC). We hypothesize that cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) is absorbed unchanged, thereby allowing measurement of the complex of CNCbl bound to TC (TC-CNCbl) to be used for studying the absorption of the vitamin.
Methods: TC was immunoprecipitated from serum samples obtained from healthy donors at baseline and at 24 h after oral administration of three 9-microg CNCbl doses over 1 day.
Background: Transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC) are serum corrinoid-binding proteins. We developed new methods for measurement of the corrinoids bound to HC and TC.
Methods: TC (n = 10) or HC (n = 138) was immunoprecipitated, and corrinoids were released by enzymatic degradation [subtilisin Carlsberg (EC 3.
Objectives: Current extraction methods for cobalamins from serum influence the molecular characteristics of the vitamin. Therefore, an extraction procedure that leaves the cobalamins unchanged is needed.
Design And Methods: Monoclonal antibodies towards transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC) (in house) linked to magnetic microspheres were used for precipitation of the proteins.