Flowchart for predicting achieving the target area under the concentration-time curve of vancomycin in critically ill Japanese patients: A multicenter retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: In therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of vancomycin (VCM), the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) is related to the clinical efficacy and toxicity. Therefore, herein, we examined the factors associated with achieving the target AUC at follow-up and developed a decision flowchart for achieving the target AUC in critically ill patients. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted at eight hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who had received VCM in the intensive care unit from January 2020 to December 2022. Decision-tree (DT) analysis was performed using factors with p < 0.1 in univariate analysis as the independent variables. Case data were split up to two times, and four subgroups were included. The primary endpoint was achieving the target AUC at the follow-up TDM (AUCfollow-up) and target AUCfollow-up achievement was defined as an AUC of 400-600 µg‧h/mL. The initial AUC values were calculated with the 2-point concentrations (peak and trough) using the Bayesian estimation software Practical AUC-guided TDM (PAT). RESULTS: Among 70 patients (median age [interquartile range], 66 [56, 79] years; 50 % women), the AUCfollow-up was achieved in 70 % (49/70). Three factors were selected for the decision flow chart: predicted AUCfollow-up of 400-600 µg‧h/mL, dosing at 12-h intervals, and CCr of 130 mL/min/1.73 m2 or higher; the accuracy was adequate (92 %, R2 0.52). CONCLUSION: We successfully identified the factors associated with achieving the target AUC of VCM at follow-up TDM and developed a simple-to-use DT model. However, the validity of the findings needs to be evaluated.

[Cocaine, in The Affair at the Victory Ball].

The Affair at the Victory Ball is a short story that depicts a murder case involving cocaine use and also portrays the symptoms of cocaine addiction. Cocaine was once used as an anesthetic for surgeries involving the eyes and nose and was even an ingredient in Coca-Cola in the late 19th century in the United States. As concerns about drug contamination increase in Japan, it is important to examine the content of the work and address the current scenario and risks associated with cocaine addiction. Furthermore, it is crucial to discuss the necessity of collaboration between medical institutions and government authorities in addressing this issue.

Failure of liposomal amphotericin B therapy in patients with severe pancreatitis complicated by Candida lusitaniae infection.

Candida lusitaniae is an uncommon pathogen that accounts for approximately 1% of patients with candidiasis. In this report, we present the case of a 24-year-old woman with severe pancreatitis who was emergently admitted to Northern Yokohama Hospital. We started treating the pancreatitis and infections according to her culture results. However, her symptoms, accompanied by a necrotic pancreas, did not improve. Finally, C. lusitaniae was detected in the blood and catheter samples. We started antifungal treatment according to the culture results, but the patient died. Generally, the mortality rate for acute pancreatitis ranges from 3% for patients with interstitial edematous pancreatitis to 17% for those who develop pancreatic necrosis. Although we chose appropriate antibiotics and antifungal agents based on the culture results, the treatments failed. Early detection, sufficient doses of antimicrobials and frequent monitoring using sample culture are crucial because infection control may be inadequate, especially in tissues with low blood flow, such as necrotic tissues.

[Concentration of Soluble CD14-Subtype (Presepsin) in Plasma of Non-Inflammatory and Septic Febrile Children].

CD14 is present in macrophage, monocyte, and granulocyte cell membranes. Its soluble fraction (soluble CD14-subtype), named presepsin (P-SEP) is present in blood in association with infections, due to phagocy- tosis of microorganisms. Increased serum concentration of P-SEP was reported in adult patients with se- vere bacterial sepsis, however, reports on pediatric patients have been limited. In order to clarify if P-SEP increases in pediatric patients with bacterial sepsis, we conducted a study of plasma P-SEP concentration in children with various febrile diseases. Eighty-eight subjects (49 males, 39 females, 18 days to 168 months after birth, mean 3.2 years old) who admitted to our hospital were enrolled. Among them, blood culture was performed for 56 children. As control, twelve afebrile, non-septic children who admitted for routine cardiac catheter examinations for con- genital heart anomaly were enrolled. Blood was withdrawn on admission. Plasma was obtained within 24 hours after blood withdrawal, stored at 4 Celsius degree until assays. P-SEP was assayed using PATHFAST(TM) chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay system (LSI Medience Inc, Tokyo, Japan). Together with P-SEP assays, blood culture, white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were assayed. Local ethic committee approved this study. P-SEP concentration ranged 195 to 866 (median 445) pg/mL in patients whose blood culture was positive on admission (n=7). On the other hand, patients with blood culture negative (n=49) remained low level, 82.1 to 770 (median 242) pg/mL(p=0.046). Control subjects (n=12) showed significantly low concentration of P-SEP (mean 160, SD 189, ranged 79.4 to 411 pg/mL) compared to those from blood culture positive children (mean 487, SD 478 pg/mL, p=0.010). Though number of samples was limited, P-SEP may possibly act as a new mark- er of febrile bacteremia even in children. More study is needed for reference intervals for children. [Original].

Potentiated macrophage activation by acid sensing under low adiponectin levels.

Adiponectin can protect against inflammation; one of the mechanisms involves direct, inhibition of macrophages (MΦ). We postulated that adiponectin anti-sense transgenic (AsTg) mice raised in our laboratory are prone to inflammation because of systemic low adiponectin levels. The writhing response to acetic acid was utilized as an in vivo inflammatory model, and using Ca(2)(+), response to the acid was exploited in vitro to evaluate the function of resident peritoneal MΦ. The in vivo response to the acid was increased and the Ca(2)(+) response of MΦ was enhanced in AsTg mice, compared with those in wild type (WT) mice. In parallel with these enhanced responses, MΦ from AsTg mice augmented TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression. We further analyzed the enhancement in activity of MΦ from AsTg mice by acid sensing using specific inhibitors, amiloride for acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) and KB-R7943 for Na(+)/Ca(2)(+) exchangers (NCXs). Our results indicated that in AsTg mice, the Ca(2)(+) response to the acid was facilitated in MΦ by a low threshold of ASIC1 and NCX1 molecules and the activity of these channel was possibly regulated by adiponectin.