Project description:Practitioners commonly use amikacin in patients with cystic fibrosis. Establishment of the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in adults with cystic fibrosis may increase the efficacy and safety of therapy. This study was aimed to establish the population pharmacokinetics of amikacin in adults with cystic fibrosis. We used serum concentration data obtained during routine therapeutic drug monitoring and explored the influence of patient covariates on drug disposition. We performed a retrospective chart review to collect the amikacin dosing regimens, serum amikacin concentrations, blood sampling times, and patient characteristics for adults with cystic fibrosis admitted for treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations. Amikacin concentrations were retrospectively collected for 49 adults with cystic fibrosis, and 192 serum concentrations were available for analysis. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling with the first-order conditional estimation method. A two-compartment model with first-order elimination best described amikacin pharmacokinetics. Creatinine clearance and weight were identified as significant covariates for clearance and the volume of distribution, respectively, in the final model. Residual variability was modeled using a proportional error model. Typical estimates for clearance, central and peripheral volumes of distribution, and intercompartmental clearance were 3.06 liters/h, 14.4 liters, 17.1 liters, and 0.925 liters/h, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of amikacin in individuals with cystic fibrosis seems to differ from those in individuals without cystic fibrosis. However, further investigations are needed to confirm these results and, thus, the need for variations in amikacin dosing. Future pharmacodynamic studies will potentially establish the optimal amikacin dosing regimens for the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations in adult patients with CF.
Project description:Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal autosomal recessive disorder among Caucasians, is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel gene. Despite significant advances in the management of CF patients, novel disease-related biomarkers and therapies must be identified. We performed serum proteomics profiling in CF patients (n = 28) and healthy subjects (n = 10) using the 2D-DIGE MALDI-TOF proteomic approach. Out of a total of 198 proteins identified, 134 showed a statistically significant difference in abundance and a 1.5-fold change (ANOVA, p < 0.05), including 80 proteins with increased abundance and 54 proteins with decreased abundance in CF patients. A multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry analysis of six differentially expressed proteins identified by a proteomic approach (DIGE-MALD-MS) showed a significant increase in C3 and CP proteins and a decrease in APOA1, Complement C1, Hp, and RBP4proteins compared with healthy controls. Fifteen proteins were identified as potential biomarkers for CF diagnosis. An ingenuity pathway analysis of the differentially regulated proteins indicates that the central nodes dysregulated in CF subjects involve pro-inflammatory cytokines, ERK1/2, and P38 MAPK, which are primarily involved in catalytic activities and metabolic processes. The involved canonical pathways include those related to FXR/RXR, LXR/RXR, acute phase response, IL12, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species in macrophages. Our data support the current efforts toward augmenting protease inhibitors in patients with CF. Perturbations in lipid and vitamin metabolism frequently observed in CF patients may be partly due to abnormalities in their transport mechanism.
Project description:BackgroundWith the improvement of cystic fibrosis (CF) patient survival, the prevalence of long-term complications increased, among them rheumatologic disorders.MethodsThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of spinal and joint pain, and their impact on disability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in CF adult patients.ResultsForty-seven patients were analyzed, 72% of men, mean aged 28 years, with a mean body mass index of 22 kg/m2 and a mean FEV1% of 63%. Twenty-two patients (47%) described rheumatologic pain either spinal (n = 15, 32%) and/or joint pain (n = 14, 30%). Patients with spinal and/or joint pain were shorter (p = 0.023), more frequently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.008), had more frequent ΔF508 homozygous mutations (p = 0.014), and a trend for more impairment of the 6-min walking distance (p = 0.050). The presence of rheumatologic pain tended to be associated with disability according to the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and anxiety. Compared with patients with no pain patients with both spinal and joint pain exhibited a more pronounced impact on the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).ConclusionRheumatologic pain is frequent in CF adult patients, and may affect daily living, anxiety and quality of life. Systematic assessment of rheumatologic pain should be included in the management of CF patients.
Project description:BackgroundPostoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent complication after surgery. Older adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery are at higher risk for developing POD. Studies on the association of cholinesterase activities and POD are rare, but leading hypotheses implicate that the cholinergic pathway might play an important role in neuroinflammation and development of POD. The objective of this study was to figure out if there is an association between the development of POD and acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (AChE and BuChE) activities in older adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery.MethodsThe investigation was performed with a subpopulation of BioCog study patients. The BioCog project ( http://www.biocog.eu ) is a prospective multicenter observational study in older adult surgical patients. Patients ≥ 65 years undergoing elective surgery of at least 60 minutes who scored more than 23 points in the Mini-Mental-State-Examination were included. POD was assessed twice a day on seven consecutive days after the surgery, using the test instruments Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-Desc) and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM and CAM-ICU) and a patient chart review. Pre- and postoperative blood cholinesterase activities were measured with a photometric rapid-point-of-care-testing. The association between cholinesterase activities and POD was analyzed in a subpopulation of abdominal surgical patients using multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders.ResultsOne hundred twenty-seven patients were included for analysis (mean age 73 years, 59% female). Fifty-two patients (41%) fulfilled the criteria of POD. These patients were significantly older, had a longer time of surgery and anesthesia and achieved higher comorbidity scores compared to patients without POD. After adjusting for age, duration of surgery and charlson comorbity index, we found an association between pre- and postoperative AChE activity (U/gHb) and the development of POD (Odds ratio (OR), [95% confidence interval (CI)], preoperative 0.95 [0.89-1.00], postoperative 0.94 [0.89-1.00]).ConclusionsWe found an association between POD and AChE activity and provided new information considering patients with abdominal surgery. Future analyses should examine course dynamics of postoperative cholinesterase activities in order to clarify interactions between the cholinergic system and pathophysiological mechanisms leading to POD.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02265263.
Project description:This multi-center study will compare multi-target DNA and quantitative FIT stool-based testing to colonoscopy in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) undergoing colon cancer screening with colonoscopy. The primary endpoint is detection of any adenomas, including advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC).
Project description:BACKGROUND:Few studies have suggested the potential role of respiratory viruses in cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbation, but their real impact is probably underestimated. METHOD:Sixty-four sputum samples collected from 46 adult patients were included in the study: 33 samples were collected during exacerbation of CF, and 31 during the stable phase. After extraction, nucleic acids were tested for the presence of respiratory viruses. When rhinovirus (HRV) was detected, the 5'UTR and VP4/2 regions were sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. The characteristics of patients in exacerbation and stable phase were compared. RESULTS:Viruses were found in 25% of samples. The HRV viruses were the most frequently detected followed by coronaviruses. Only the HRV detection was significantly associated with the occurrence of CF pulmonary exacerbation (p<0.027). Characterization of 5'UTR and VP4/2 regions of the HRV genome specified that HRV-A, -B, -C were detected. All HRV-C were recombinant HRV-Ca. CONCLUSIONS:HRV were the most frequently detected viruses; their detection was significantly associated with the occurrence of an exacerbation. The reality of viral recombination between HRV was demonstrated in CF patients for the first time, raising the role of viruses in lung microbiota. Further studies are now warranted to decipher virus impact in CF.
Project description:PurposeThis study aims to define the extent of additional surgical procedures after abdominal wall closure (AWC) in patients with gastroschisis (GS) and omphalocele (OC) with special focus on gastrointestinal related operations.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed including all operations in GS and OC patients in the first year after AWC (2010-2019). The risk for surgery was calculated using the one-year cumulative incidence (CI).Results33 GS patients (18 simple GS, 15 complex) and 24 OC patients (12 without (= OCL), 12 OC patients with liver protrusion (= OCL +)) were eligible for analysis. 43 secondary operations (23 in GS, 20 in OC patients) occurred after a median time of 84 days (16-824) in GS and 114.5 days (12-4368) in OC. Patients with complex versus simple GS had a significantly higher risk of undergoing a secondary operation (one-year CI 64.3% vs. 24.4%; p = 0.05). 86.5% of surgical procedures in complex GS and 36.3% in OCL + were related to gastrointestinal complications. Complex GS had a significantly higher risk for GI-related surgery than simple GS. Bowel obstruction was a risk factor for surgery in complex GS (one-year CI 35.7%).ConclusionComplex GS and OCL + patients had the highest risk of undergoing secondary operations, especially those with gastrointestinal complications.
Project description:Sweat plays a crucial role in thermo-regulation and skin health and potentially antimicrobial defense. Its composition is highly dynamic and its homeostasis involves a fine tuning of metabolic pathways. In-depth profiling of sweat protein composition will increase our understanding of skin disorders. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is associated with high NaCl sweat concentration due to the absence of the CFTR protein. Patients with CF (pwCF) often display aquagenic palmoplantar keratodermia, a rare skin disorder characterized by skin wrinkling with oedema and whitish papules on the palms and/or soles, the pathophysiology of which is unknown. We report an in-depth analysis of the human sweat proteome of pwCF patients in comparison with that of healthy subjects (S).
Project description:Abdominal symptoms are a hallmark of Cystic fibrosis (CF). Yet, their association with morphological abnormalities of different abdominal organs is still poorly understood. Aim was therefore to relate these symptoms, assessed with a questionnaire, to findings in abdominal ultrasound (US). In 114 CF patients of all ages, findings in US considering seventeen specific parameters were related to abdominal symptoms compiled with our novel CF-specific 26-modal symptom score (CFAbd-Score). US abnormalities were detected in 95% of the patients. Most frequent findings were pancreatic lipomatosis (88%), liver steatosis (37%), hepatomegaly (31%), and thickened bowel walls (23%). Highest burden of GI-symptoms was clearly associated with pancreatic lipomatosis (p = 0.036). In detail, patients revealing this pathology reported higher rates of abdominal pain (p = 0.018), flatulence (p = 0.006), heartburn (p = 0.04), and reflux of stomach content (p = 0.006). Patients with pancreatic sufficiency had less US-findings (p = 0.033), which in turn was associated with lower rates of abdominal symptoms. The majority of them were carriers of class IV-VI or G551D mutations. Our approach gives new insights regarding the underestimated multi-organ abdominal involvement in CF. The new score can be of high interest e.g. as a complementary tool to assess the gastrointestinal effects of promising novel CF therapeutics.
Project description:Retained respiratory tract (RT) secretions, infection, and exuberant inflammatory responses are core abnormalities in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Factors contributing to the destructive CF airway inflammatory processes remain incompletely characterized. The pro-oxidative inflammatory CF RT milieu is known to contain enzymatically and nonenzymatically produced regulatory lipid mediators, a panel of structurally defined oxidized metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids known to play a role in pathology related to inflammation. Using an extraction protocol that maximizes recoveries of sputum-spiked deuterated standards, coupled with an LC/MS/MS detection system, this study presents a metabolomic method to assess a broad spectrum of regulatory lipid mediators in freshly obtained sputum from CF patients. A broad range of both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators was detected, including PGE2, PGD2, TXB2, LTB4, 6-trans-LTB4, 20-OH-LTB4, 20-COOH-LTB4, 20-HETE, 15-HETE, 11-HETE, 12-HETE, 8-HETE, 9-HETE, 5-HETE, EpETrEs, diols, resolvin E1, 15-deoxy-PGJ2, and LXA4. The vast majority of these oxylipins have not been reported previously in CF RT secretions. Whereas direct associations of individual proinflammatory lipid mediators with compromised lung function (FEV-1) were observed, the relationships were not robust. However, multiple statistical analyses revealed that the regulatory lipid mediators profile taken in aggregate proved to have a stronger association with lung function in relatively stable outpatient adult CF patients. Our data reveal a relative paucity of the anti-inflammatory lipid mediator lipoxin A4 in CF sputum. Patients displaying detectable levels of the anti-inflammatory lipid mediator resolvin E1 demonstrated a better lung function compared to those patients with undetectable levels. Our data suggest that comprehensive metabolomic profiling of regulatory lipid mediators in CF sputum should contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CF RT inflammatory pathobiology. Further studies are required to determine the extent to which nutritional or pharmacological interventions alter the regulatory lipid mediators profile of the CF RT and the impact of potential modulations of RT regulatory lipid mediators on the clinical progression of CF lung disease.