[Association of CYP3A5 and MDR1 genetic polymorphisms with the blood concentration of tacrolimus in Chinese liver and renal transplant recipients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of CYP3A5 and MDR1 genetic polymorphisms with the concentration/ dose (C/D) ratio of tacrolimus for the feasibility of individualized medication. METHODS: The concentration of tacrolimus was detected by enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique, and was adjusted by weight and dosage to C/D ratios. The single nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP3A5 A6986G and MDR1 C3435T, G2677T/ A, T1236C were determined by TaqMan RT-PCR. The differences of C/D ratio were compared among all of the genotype groups. RESULTS: There were 5 cases with CYP3A5 *1/*1, 22 cases with CYP3A5 *1/*3, and 33 cases with CYP3A5 *3/*3. The C/D ratios of the patients with at least one CYP3A5 *1 allele (130.40 +/- 53.94) was significantly lower than those with CYP3A5 *3/*3 (198.12 +/- 90.80) (P < 0.01). For MDR1, there were 22, 23 and 15 recipients carried C/C, C/T and T/T respectively in C3435T, and 8, 32 and 20 recipients carried T/T, T/ C and C/C respectively in T1236C. The carriers with G/G, G/T, G/A, T/A, T/T were 9, 24, 5, 8 and 14 respectively in G2677T/A. No significant difference was found in the C/D ratios of tacrolimus among different MDR1 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of CYP3A5 genotype could help individualize tacrolimus dose regimen prospectively. The patients with CYP3A5 *3 *3 require less dose of tacrolimus to reach the same concentrations comparing with the patients with at least one CYP3A5 * 1 allele.

[Clinical pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics study on pazufloxacin methanesulphonate injection].

OBJECTIVE: To identify rational dosage regimen for pazufloxacin methanesulphonate injection through a pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) study. METHODS: Pazufloxacin methanesulphonate at the doses of 300 mg and 500 mg were injected to 24 healthy volunteers. The plasma concentrations of pazufloxacin were measured by RPHPLC-UV. The MICs of pazufloxacin against 130 strains of 7 species of bacterias, as well as the MPCs of pazufloxacin against 5 species of bacterias were measured by double broth dilution method. RESULTS: The AUC0-24/MIC50 of pazufloxacin methanesulphonate at a stabilized concentration state against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and S. pneumoniae were 215.36 and 107.68 at the dose of 300 mg, and 309.60 and 154.80 at the dose of 500 mg, respectively. The Cmax/MIC50 were 57.52 and 28.76 at the dose of 300 mg, and 81.28 and 40.64 at the dose of 500 mg, respectively. However, the AUC0-24/MIC of pazufloxacin methanesulphonate against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were far less than 40. Both the AUC0-24/MIC50 and the Cmax/MIC50 of pazufloxacin against P. aeruginosa at the doses of 300 mg and 500 mg exceeded the defined criteria 100 and 10. Whereas the AUC0-24/MIC and Cmax/MIC of pazufloxacin against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and A. baumanii were much less than 100 and 10. The capability of pazufloxacin methanesulphonate to prevent mutations of MSSA was strong at the dose of 500 mg, but not for other pathogenic bacteria either at 300 mg or 500 mg. CONCLUSION: Pazufloxacin methanesulphonate at the dose of 300 mg and 500 mg have similar efficacy in treating acute bacterial infections. The dosage regimen of 300 mg Q12h intravenous infusion is recommended.

Targeting radioimmunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma with iodine (131I) metuximab injection: clinical phase I/II trials.

PURPOSE: HAb18G/CD147 is a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated antigen. We developed iodine (131I) metuximab injection (Licartin), a novel 131I-labeled HAb18G/CD147-specific monoclonal antibody Fab'2 fragment, and evaluated its safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy on HCC in Phase I/II trials. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In a Phase I trial, 28 patients were randomly assigned to receive the injection in 9.25-, 18.5-, 27.75-, or 37-MBq/kg doses by hepatic artery infusion. In a multicenter Phase II trial, 106 patients received the injection (27.75 MBq/kg) on Day 1 of a 28-day cycle. Response rate and survival rate were the endpoints. RESULTS: No life-threatening toxic effects were found. The safe dosage was 27.75 MBq/kg. The blood clearance fitted a biphasic model, and its half-life was 90.56-63.93 h. In the Phase II trial, the injection was found to be targeted and concentrated to tumor tissues. Of the 73 patients completing two cycles, 6 (8.22%) had a partial response, 14 (19.18%) minor response, and 43 (58.90%) stable disease. The 21-month survival rate was 44.54%. The survival rate of progression-free patients was significantly higher than that of patients with progressive disease after either one or two cycles (p < 0.0001 or p = 0.0019). CONCLUSION: Iodine (131I) metuximab injection is safe and active for HCC patients.

[A multicentre study on the pathogenic agents in 665 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in cities of China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathogenic causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adult patients in China, the relation of previous antibiotic use and the Pneumonia Patient Outcome Research Team (PORT) classification to microbial etiology, and the prevalence of drug resistance of common CAP bacteria. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 665 consecutive adult patients with CAP at 12 centers in 7 Chinese cities during one year. The etiology of pneumonia was considered if one of the following criteria was met: (1) valid sputum sample yielding one or more predominant strains; (2) blood cultures yielding a bacterial pathogen; (3) seroconversion, a > or = 4-fold increase or decrease titers of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of respiratory tract isolates was determined using the agar dilution method. RESULTS: Pathogens were identified in 324/610 patients (53.1%) with valid serum samples and sputum cultures as follows: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (126, 20.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (63, 10.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (56, 9.2%), Chlamydia pneumoniae (40, 6.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (37, 6.1%), Legionella pneumophila (31, 5.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (23, 3.8%), Escherichia coli (10, 1.6%), Moraxella catarrhalis (8, 1.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6, 1.0%). Of 195 patients with a bacterial pathogen, an atypical pathogen was identified in 62 (10.2%) cases. The non-susceptibility rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin, azithromycin, and moxifloxacin was 20.3%, 75.4% and 4.3% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical pathogens have important role in CAP, with Mycoplasma pneumoniae being the most common pathogen, and mixed infection of atypical pathogens with bacteria was found in 10.2% of the cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae remain the most important bacteria for CAP. More than 75.0% of Streptococcus pneumoniae was resistant to macrolides and 20.3% was resistant to penicillin.

[Efficacy and safety of cefditoren pivoxil in treatment of respiratory infections, a clinical study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefditoren pivoxil in treatment of respiratory infections. METHODS: 199 cases of respiratory infection confirmed by etiological and clinical examinations were treated with cefditoren pivoxil tablets taken orally. Therapeutic evaluation was conducted among 196 cases and safety evaluation was conducted among 199 cases. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 94.9%, and the causative bacteria -elimination rate was 96.7%. Clinical adverse events, including moderate diarrhea, mild nausea and vomiting, and stomach discomfort, were seen in 9 cases with an incidence rate of 4.5%. Laboratory adverse events, including increase of with an incidence rate of 3.5%. CONCLUSION: Cefditoren pivoxil is effective and safe in treatment of mild and moderate respiratory infections. The resistance rate to cefditoren pivoxil of pathogens of respiratory infections and the efficacy of cefditoren pivoxil show no difference from those tested 7 years ago.