Tepotinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with high-level MET amplification detected by liquid biopsy: VISION Cohort B.

High-level MET amplification (METamp) is a primary driver in ∼1%-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Cohort B of the phase 2 VISION trial evaluates tepotinib, an oral MET inhibitor, in patients with advanced NSCLC with high-level METamp who were enrolled by liquid biopsy. While the study was halted before the enrollment of the planned 60 patients, the results of 24 enrolled patients are presented here. The objective response rate (ORR) is 41.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.1-63.4), and the median duration of response is 14.3 months (95% CI, 2.8-not estimable). In exploratory biomarker analyses, focal METamp, RB1 wild-type, MYC diploidy, low circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) burden at baseline, and early molecular response are associated with better outcomes. Adverse events include edema (composite term; any grade: 58.3%; grade 3: 12.5%) and constipation (any grade: 41.7%; grade 3: 4.2%). Tepotinib provides antitumor activity in high-level METamp NSCLC (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02864992).

Tepotinib Treatment in Patients With MET Exon 14-Skipping Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Long-term Follow-up of the VISION Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: MET inhibitors have recently demonstrated clinical activity in patients with MET exon 14 (METex14)-skipping non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, data with longer follow-up and in larger populations are needed to further optimize therapeutic approaches. Objective: To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of tepotinib, a potent and highly selective MET inhibitor, in patients with METex14-skipping NSCLC in the VISION study. Design, Setting, and Participants: The VISION phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial was a multicohort, open-label, multicenter study that enrolled patients with METex14-skipping advanced/metastatic NSCLC (cohorts A and C) from September 2016 to May 2021. Cohort C (>18 months' follow-up) was an independent cohort, designed to confirm findings from cohort A (>35 months' follow-up). Data cutoff was November 20, 2022. Intervention: Patients received tepotinib, 500 mg (450 mg active moiety), once daily. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was objective response by independent review committee (RECIST v1.1). Secondary end points included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: Cohorts A and C included 313 patients (50.8% female, 33.9% Asian; median [range] age, 72 [41-94] years). The objective response rate (ORR) was 51.4% (95% CI, 45.8%-57.1%) with a median (m)DOR of 18.0 (95% CI, 12.4-46.4) months. In cohort C (n = 161), an ORR of 55.9% (95% CI, 47.9%-63.7%) with an mDOR of 20.8 (95% CI, 12.6-not estimable [NE]) months was reported across treatment lines, comparable to cohort A (n = 152). In treatment-naive patients (cohorts A and C; n = 164), ORR was 57.3% (95% CI, 49.4%-65.0%) and mDOR was 46.4 (95% CI, 13.8-NE) months. In previously treated patients (n = 149), ORR was 45.0% (95% CI, 36.8%-53.3%) and mDOR was 12.6 (95% CI, 9.5-18.5) months. Peripheral edema, the most common treatment-related adverse event, occurred in 210 patients (67.1%) (35 [11.2%] experienced grade ≥3 events). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings from cohort C in this nonrandomized clinical trial supported the results from original cohort A. Overall, the long-term outcomes of VISION demonstrated robust and durable clinical activity following treatment with tepotinib, particularly in the treatment-naive setting, in the largest known clinical trial of patients with METex14-skipping NSCLC, supporting the global approvals of tepotinib and enabling clinicians to implement this therapeutic approach for such patients. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02864992.

Safety of Tepotinib in Patients With MET Exon 14 Skipping NSCLC and Recommendations for Management.

INTRODUCTION: The MET inhibitor tepotinib demonstrated durable clinical activity in patients with advanced MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping NSCLC. We report detailed analyses of adverse events of clinical interest (AECIs) in VISION, including edema, a class effect of MET inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Incidence, management, and time to first onset/resolution were analyzed for all-cause AECIs, according to composite categories (edema, hypoalbuminemia, creatinine increase, and ALT/AST increase) or individual preferred terms (pleural effusion, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting), for patients with METex14 skipping NSCLC in the phase II VISION trial. RESULTS: Of 255 patients analyzed (median age: 72 years), edema, the most common AECI, was reported in 69.8% (grade 3, 9.4%; grade 4, 0%). Median time to first edema onset was 7.9 weeks (range: 0.1-58.3). Edema was manageable with supportive measures, dose reduction (18.8%), and/or treatment interruption (23.1%), and rarely prompted discontinuation (4.3%). Other AECIs were also manageable and predominantly mild/moderate: hypoalbuminemia, 23.9% (grade 3, 5.5%); pleural effusion, 13.3% (grade ≥ 3, 5.1%); creatinine increase, 25.9% (grade 3, 0.4%); nausea, 26.7% (grade 3, 0.8%), diarrhea, 26.3% (grade 3, 0.4%), vomiting 12.9% (grade 3, 1.2%), and ALT/AST increase, 12.2% (grade ≥ 3, 3.1%). GI AEs typically occurred early and resolved in the first weeks. CONCLUSION: Tepotinib was well tolerated in the largest trial of a MET inhibitor in METex14 skipping NSCLC. The most frequent AEs were largely mild/moderate and manageable with supportive measures and/or dose reduction/interruption, and caused few withdrawals in this elderly population.

Tepotinib Efficacy and Safety in Patients with MET Exon 14 Skipping NSCLC: Outcomes in Patient Subgroups from the VISION Study with Relevance for Clinical Practice.

PURPOSE: Primary analysis of VISION showed tepotinib had durable clinical activity in patients with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We present updated outcomes for clinically relevant subgroups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This phase II, open-label, multi-cohort study of 500 mg (450 mg active moiety) tepotinib in patients with METex14 skipping NSCLC assessed efficacy and safety in predefined subgroups according to age, prior therapies (chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors), and brain metastases. An ad hoc retrospective analysis using Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) criteria assessed intracranial activity. RESULTS: 152 patients were evaluable for efficacy (median age: 73.1). Overall, objective response rate (ORR) was 44.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 36.7-53.0]. Patients aged <75 (n = 84) and ≥75 (n = 68) had ORRs of 48.8% (95% CI: 37.7-60.0) and 39.7% (95% CI: 28.0-52.3), respectively. Treatment-naïve (n = 69) versus previously treated (n = 83) patients showed consistent efficacy [ORR (95% CI): 44.9% (32.9-57.4) vs. 44.6% (33.7-55.9); median duration of response (95% CI): 10.8 (6.9-not estimable) vs. 11.1 (9.5-18.5) months]. Of 15 patients analyzed by RANO-BM (12 received prior radiotherapy), 13 achieved intracranial disease control; 5 of 7 patients with measurable brain metastases had partial intracranial responses. Of 255 patients evaluable for safety, 64 (25.1%) experienced grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE), leading to discontinuation in 27 patients (10.6%). Rates of adverse events (AE) were broadly consistent irrespective of prior therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Tepotinib showed meaningful activity across subgroups by age, prior therapies, and brain metastases, with a manageable safety profile and few treatment discontinuations. See related commentary by Rosner and Spira, p. 1055.

A large multicentre, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study in healthy volunteers to compare pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of a pegfilgrastim biosimilar with its US- and EU-reference biologics.

AIMS: Recombinant PEGylated human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (pegfilgrastim) is indicated for the reduction of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and prevention of febrile neutropenia. Biosimilar pegfilgrastim is expected to reduce the financial burden of this complication of chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to demonstrate biosimilarity between Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim and its US- and EU-approved reference biologics. METHODS: Phase I, randomized, double-blind, single-dose, 3-period, 6-sequence cross-over, multicentre study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and immunogenicity of Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim with US- and EU-references in healthy adults. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic similarity was demonstrated between the 3 biologics, as the 90% confidence interval for all primary pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic endpoint comparisons were contained within the predefined similarity margins of 0.80-1.25. Safety, immunogenicity and tolerability were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim demonstrated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic similarity to both US- and EU-reference biologics. No meaningful differences in safety, local tolerability and immunogenicity were identified.

Safety analysis of proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar in Phase I and Phase III studies.

Aim: This analysis compares safety data for Sandoz proposed biosimilar (LA-EP2006) and reference pegfilgrastim from a Phase I pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study in healthy volunteers (HVs) and two Phase III confirmatory studies in patients with breast cancer (BC; total n = 808). Patients & methods: Baseline characteristics were summarized, and event rates of bone pain and headache calculated. Results: HVs in the Phase I pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study were generally younger, with lower mean body mass index, versus BC patients in PROTECT-1/-2. Bone pain was the most frequent adverse event with similar incidences with reference versus proposed biosimilar in all studies. Conclusion: No differences in adverse events were found between Sandoz proposed biosimilar and reference pegfilgrastim, notwithstanding some differences between HVs and BC patients.

Quantifying the Effects of Prior Acetyl-Salicylic Acid on Sepsis-Related Deaths: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis Using Propensity Matching.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to conduct a meta-analysis on published observational cohort data describing the association between acetyl-salicylic acid (aspirin) use prior to the onset of sepsis and mortality in hospitalized patients. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that reported mortality in patients on aspirin with sepsis with a comparison group of patients with sepsis not on prior aspirin therapy were included. DATA SOURCES: Fifteen studies described hospital-based cohorts (n = 17,065), whereas one was a large insurance-based database (n = 683,421). Individual-level patient data were incorporated from all selected studies. DATA EXTRACTION: Propensity analyses with 1:1 propensity score matching at the study level were performed, using the most consistently available covariates judged to be associated with aspirin. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the pooled average treatment effect of aspirin on sepsis-related mortality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Use of aspirin was associated with a 7% (95% CI, 2-12%; p = 0.005) reduction in the risk of death as shown by meta-analysis with considerable statistical heterogeneity (I = 61.6%). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with effects ranging from a 2% to 12% reduction in mortality risk in patients taking aspirin prior to sepsis onset. This association anticipates results of definitive studies of the use of low-dose aspirin as a strategy for reduction of deaths in patients with sepsis.

Clinical Chemistry Reference Intervals for C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, and C3HeB/FeJ Mice (Mus musculus).

Although various mouse inbred strains are widely used to investigate disease mechanisms and to establish new therapeutic strategies, sex-specific reference intervals for laboratory diagnostic analytes that are generated from large numbers of animals have been unavailable. In this retrospective study, we screened data from more than 12,000 mice phenotyped in the German Mouse Clinic from January 2006 through June 2014 and selected animals with the genetic background of C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, or C3HeB/FeJ. In addition, we distinguished between the C57BL/6NTac substrain and C57BL/6N mice received from other vendors. The corresponding data sets of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, inorganic phosphate), lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride), and enzyme activities (ALT, AST, ALP, α-amylase) and urea, albumin, and total protein levels were analyzed. Significant effects of age and sex on these analytes were identified, and strain- or substrain- and sex-specific reference intervals for 90- to 135-d-old mice were calculated. In addition, we include an overview of the literature that reports clinical chemistry values for wild-type mice of different strains. Our results support researchers interpreting clinical chemistry values from various mouse mutants and corresponding wild-type controls based on the examined strains and substrains.

Acid Sphingomyelinase Promotes Endothelial Stress Response in Systemic Inflammation and Sepsis.

The pathophysiology of sepsis involves activation of acid sphingomyelinase (SMPD1) with subsequent generation of the bioactive mediator ceramide. We herein evaluated the hypothesis that the enzyme exerts biological effects in endothelial stress response. Plasma-secreted sphingomyelinase activity, ceramide generation and lipid raft formation were measured in human microcirculatory endothelial cells (HMEC-1) stimulated with serum obtained from sepsis patients. Clustering of receptors relevant for signal transduction was studied by immuno staining. The role of SMPD1 for macrodomain formation was tested by pharmacological inhibition. To confirm the involvement of the stress enzyme, direct inhibitors (amino bisphosphonates) and specific downregulation of the gene was tested with respect to ADAMTS13 expression and cytotoxicity. Plasma activity and amount of SMPD1 were increased in septic patients dependent on clinical severity. Increased breakdown of sphingomyelin to ceramide in HMECs was observed following stimulation with serum from sepsis patients in vitro. Hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, clustering of receptor complexes, such as the CD95L/Fas-receptor, as well as formation of ceramide enriched macrodomains was abrogated using functional inhibitors (desipramine and NB6). Strikingly, the stimulation of HMECs with serum obtained from sepsis patients or mixture of proinflammatory cytokines resulted in cytotoxicity and ADAMTS13 downregulation which was abrogated using desipramine, amino bisphosphonates and genetic inhibitors. SMPD1 is involved in the dysregulation of ceramide metabolism in endothelial cells leading to macrodomain formation, cytotoxicity and downregulation of ADAMTS13 expression. Functional inhibitors, such as desipramine, are capable to improve endothelial stress response during sepsis and might be considered as a pharmacological treatment strategy to favor the outcome.

Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Is Primarily Related to Inflammation during Sepsis: A Translational Approach.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) during sepsis is common and underestimated. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (plasma-NGAL) is discussed as new biomarker for AKI diagnosis, but during inflammation its function and diagnostic impact remain unclear. The association between plasma-NGAL and inflammatory markers in septic patients, but also in healthy controls and patients with chronic inflammation before and after either maximum exercise test or treatment with an anti-TNF therapy were investigated. In-vitro blood stimulations with IL-6, lipopolysaccharide, NGAL or its combinations were performed to investigate cause-effect-relationship. Plasma-NGAL levels were stronger associated with inflammation markers including IL-6 (Sepsis: r = 0.785 P < 0.001; chronic inflammation after anti-TNF: r = 0.558 P < 0.001), IL-8 (Sepsis: r = 0.714 P<0.004; healthy controls after exercise r = 0.786 P < 0.028; chronic inflammation before anti-TNF: r = 0.429 P < 0.041) and IL-10 (healthy controls before exercise: r = 0.791 P < 0.028) than with kidney injury or function. Correlation to kidney injury or function was found only in septic patients (for creatinine: r = 0.906 P < 0.001; for eGFR: r = -0.686 P = 0.005) and in patients with rheumatic disease after anti-TNF therapy (for creatinine: r = 0.466 P < 0.025). In stimulation assays with IL-6 and lipopolysaccharide plasma-NGAL was increased. Co-stimulation of lipopolysaccharide with plasma-NGAL decreased cellular injury (P < 0.05) and in trend IL-10 levels (P = 0.057). Septic mice demonstrated a significantly improved survival rate after NGAL treatment (P < 0.01). Plasma-NGAL seams to be strongly involved in inflammation. For clinical relevance, it might not only be useful for AKI detection during severe inflammation - indeed it has to be interpreted carefully within this setting - but additionally might offer therapeutic potential.

Impact of antibiotic treatment intensity on long-term sepsis-associated kidney injury in a polymicrobial peritoneal contamination and infection model.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Long-term kidney affections after sepsis are poorly understood. Animal models for investigating kidney damage in the late phase of disease progression are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of two antibiotic regimes on persistence of kidney injury after peritonitis. METHODS: Kidney damage was investigated 65 days after polymicrobial peritoneal contamination and infection (PCI) sepsis induction in C57BL/6 mice. Short-term antibiotic therapy (STA, 4 days) was compared to long-term (LTA, 10 days) treatment using plasma creatinine, plasma and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), urine albumin/creatinine ratio and renal histology. RESULTS: Sepsis resulted in mortality rates of 68.2% (STA) and 61.0% (LTA). Surviving STA animals showed the most pronounced kidney damage indicated by significantly elevated levels of creatinine and acute tubular damage (ATD), whereas NGAL was significantly increased in LTA survivors only. A creatinine level above 0.3 mg/dl was used to define kidney injury, found in 21.4% of STA animals and 7.8% of LTA animals. While animals with kidney injury demonstrated significantly higher ATD scores and persistent tubular damage, no significant differences were found for plasma or urine NGAL levels or urine albumin/creatinine ratios. CONCLUSION: Prolonged antibiotic treatment reduced the rate of ongoing peritonitis-induced kidney injury in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Plasma or urine NGAL levels were not able to identify animals with or without persistent kidney injury. The kidney injury after the PCI mouse model represents prototypic clinical findings and should be used for further studies investigating disease mechanisms.

Impact of plasma histones in human sepsis and their contribution to cellular injury and inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Circulating histones have been identified as mediators of damage in animal models of sepsis and in patients with trauma-associated lung injury. Despite existing controversies on actual histone concentrations, clinical implications and mechanism of action in various disease conditions, histone levels in human sepsis, association with disease progression and mediated effects on endothelial and immune cells remain unreported. This study aimed to determine histone levels and its clinical implication in septic patients and to elucidate histone-mediated effects ex-vivo. METHODS: Histone levels, endogenous activated protein C (APC) levels and clinical data from two independent cohorts of septic patients were obtained. Histone levels were compared with various control groups including healthy individuals, intensive care unit (ICU) patients without sepsis, ICU patients with multiple organ failure and patients with minor or multiple trauma, all without infection. Endothelial and monocytic cells were stimulated with histones. Cellular integrity and sepsis prototypical cytokines were evaluated. The mechanism of action of histones via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was evaluated using a function blocking antibody. Histone degradation in plasma was studied by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Histone H4 levels were significantly elevated in patients with sepsis (cohort I; n = 15 and cohort II; n = 19) versus ICU controls (n = 12), patients with multiple organ failure (n = 12) or minor trauma (n = 7), associated with need for renal replacement therapy and decrease in platelet count during disease progression, and remarkably were significantly associated with increased mortality rates in septic patients (ICU-, 28 day- and 90 day mortality rates). There was an inverse correlation between plasma histones and endogenous APC levels. Histone stimulation induced the release of sepsis prototypic cytokines and decreased cell integrity indicated by a significant increase of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Blocking of TLR4 decreased cellular cytotoxicity on endothelial cells. The calculated half-life of histones in spiked plasma was 4.6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Histone levels in septic patients are significantly increased and might mediate disease aggravation by cellular injury and inflammation via TLR4 signaling, which potentially results in multiple organ failure and fatal outcome.

Renal outcome after vancomycin treatment and renal replacement therapy in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury during systemic infections is common; however, renal outcome is poorly investigated. The increase of multiresistant pathogens leads to the use of potential nephrotoxic antibiotics as vancomycin. We investigated the impact of vancomycin and renal replacement therapy (RRT) for renal recovery during sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective data analysis of 1159 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: In total, 390 (33.6%) patients required RRT during intensive care unit (ICU) stay; 233 (20.1%), at discharge. Admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) predicted the need of RRT during stay (odds ratio [OR] 0.969 [0.959-0.979] per increase of 1 mL/min, P<.001) and the prolonged need of RRT at ICU discharge (OR 0.979 [0.967-0.990], P<.001). Survivors without any RRT showed an improvement of eGFR at discharge, whereas patients after RRT did not (7.1 vs 0.8 mL/[min 1.73 m2], P<.001). The use (OR 1.648 [1.067-2.546], P<.05) and duration of vancomycin treatment (OR 1.043 [1.004-1.084] per each additional treatment day, P<.05) were predictors for ongoing RRT at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Estimated GFR at ICU admission predicts renal outcome, whereas the use of vancomycin increases the probability of a prolonged need for RRT at discharge from ICU. The use of alternative antibiotics for certain patients, indicated by eGFR at admission, might be considered.

Novel approach for bacteremia detection in patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.

Severe systemic infections are one of the leading causes of death in patients with end-stage renal disease and are often associated with hospitalization. Since bacteria can be identified in used hemofilters in an ICU setting, it was investigated whether this method might be useful in patients undergoing regular intermittent hemodialysis. By analyzing used hemodialyzers in (n = 13) patients, we identified systemic bacteremia in two patients (15.4%) while corresponding blood cultures were negative. In two further patients, positive microbiological findings from hemodialyzers appeared to be of unclear clinical relevance. Cultures from hemodialyzers might be an add-on approach for the identification of bacteria in the blood stream of patients undergoing regular intermittent hemodialysis.

Potential effect of physiotherapeutic treatment on mortality rate in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: a retrospective cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the onset and frequency of physiotherapeutic interventions (PTI) and their potential effects on the intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rate in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective data analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: About 6.2% of all patients (n = 999, length of ICU stay 12 days, averaged SOFA score 14) developed sepsis within three years. Of these, 77% received at least once PTI. The relative number of PTI (RNPTI index, individually calculated by the number of PTI/length of stay) in patients with sepsis was 42%. The first physiotherapeutic treatment was five days after ICU admission. Cox regression multivariate analysis adjusted by disease severity scores, sedation state and other clinical variables found RNPTI index as significant risk factor for the ICU mortality rate (hazard ratio, 0.982; 95% confidence interval, 0.974-0.990; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapists routinely assess and treat patients with sepsis. The frequency of PTI was associated with an improved outcome. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm the potential favorable impact.

Physical exercise induces specific adaptations resulting in reduced organ injury and mortality during severe polymicrobial sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: High physical activity levels are associated with wide-ranging health benefits, disease prevention, and longevity. In the present study, we examined the impact of regular physical exercise on the severity of organ injury and survival probability, as well as characteristics of the systemic immune and metabolic response during severe polymicrobial sepsis. DESIGN: Animal study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Male C57BL/6N mice. INTERVENTIONS: Mice were trained for 6 weeks by treadmill and voluntary wheel running or housed normally. Polymicrobial sepsis in mice was induced by injection of fecal slurry. Subsequently, mice were randomized into the following groups: healthy controls, 6 hours postsepsis, and 24 hours postsepsis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Blood and organ samples were collected and investigated by measuring clinical chemistry variables, cytokines, plasma metabolites, and bacterial clearance. Organ morphology and damage were characterized by histological staining. Physical exercise improved survival and the ability of bacterial clearance in blood and organs. The release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 and interleukin-10, was diminished in trained compared to untrained mice during sepsis. The sepsis-associated acute kidney tubular damage was less pronounced in pretrained animals. By metabolic profiling and regression analysis, we detected lysophosphatidylcholine 14:0, tryptophan, as well as pimelylcarnitine linked with levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin representing acute tubular injury (corrected R=0.910; p<0.001). We identified plasma lysophosphatidylcholine 16:0, lysophosphatidylcholine 17:0, and lysophosphatidylcholine 18:0 as significant metabolites discriminating between trained and untrained mice during sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical exercise reduces sepsis-associated acute kidney injury and death. As a specific mechanism of exercise-induced adaptation, we identified various lysophosphatidylcholines that might function as surrogate for improved outcome in sepsis.

Benefit of low-dose aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in septic patients.

Analyzing medical records of 979 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock provided some evidence that the use of low-dose aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with decreased hospital mortality. However, the benefit was abolished when aspirin and NSAIDs were given together.