{"title":"Valacyclovir Neurotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in an Elderly Patient Complicated by Hyponatremia.","authors":"Takuya Murakami, Tetsu Akimoto, Mari Okada, Erika Hishida, Taro Sugase, Atsushi Miki, Marina Kohara, Hiromichi Yoshizawa, Takahiro Masuda, Takahisa Kobayashi, Osamu Saito, Shigeaki Muto, Daisuke Nagata","doi":"10.1177/1177392818782899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1177392818782899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 66-year-old women with no history of renal disease was admitted due to a coma and acute kidney injury with a serum creatinine level of 7.44 mg/dL which were ascribed to valacyclovir neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, respectively. She had received valacyclovir at a standard dosage for the treatment of herpes zoster and was finally discharged, having fully returned to her normal baseline mental status with a recovered serum creatinine level of 0.68 mg/dL. We feel that awareness of this pathology remains a challenge for physicians and therefore strongly recommend the further accumulation of experiences similar to our own. Our experience underscores the pitfalls of administering valacyclovir to elderly patients who barely appear to have a favorable renal function. Several concerns regarding the therapeutic management, including blood purification strategies, that emerged in this case are also discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"12 ","pages":"1177392818782899"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2018-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1177392818782899","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36318018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drug Target InsightsPub Date : 2017-10-25eCollection Date: 2017-01-01DOI: 10.1177/1177392817737515
Jagannadha Avasarala
{"title":"Anti-CD20 Cell Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis-A Fixed Dosing Schedule for Ocrelizumab is Overkill.","authors":"Jagannadha Avasarala","doi":"10.1177/1177392817737515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1177392817737515","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anti-CD 20 therapies have found significant uses in multiple sclerosis (MS). Based singularly on the accumulated evidence with the use of rituximab (RTX; Rituxan, Genentech, and Biogen) in neuroimmunological diseases, ocrelizumab (OCR; Ocrevus, Genentech) was developed as a treatment option for MS and selectively targets CD20 B cells, a cell surface antigen found on pre-B cells, mature, and memory B cells, but not on lymphoid stem cells and plasma cells. On the basis of indirect evidence, elimination of the antigen-presenting capabilities and antigen nonspecific immune functions of B cells appear to be central to the therapeutic efficacy of anti-CD20 B-cell therapies. An important question is this-Why does the drug need to be dosed at fixed intervals and not <i>based</i> on a measurable endpoint, such as tracking peripheral CD20 cell counts? There is minimal scientific validity in infusing the drug every 6 months particularly if CD20 cell counts are negligible in the peripheral blood. In this analysis, a case is made for following CD19 cell populations as a surrogate for CD20 cells on a monthly basis to guide OCR redosing parameters and does not follow a scheduled dosing parameter.</p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"11 ","pages":"1177392817737515"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2017-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1177392817737515","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35594183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olayinka O Otegbade, J. Ojo, D. Adefokun, O. Abiodun, B. Thomas, O. Ojurongbe
{"title":"Ethanol Extract of Stem Bark Show Remarkable Prophylactic Activity in Experimental –Infected Mice","authors":"Olayinka O Otegbade, J. Ojo, D. Adefokun, O. Abiodun, B. Thomas, O. Ojurongbe","doi":"10.4137/DTI.S42761","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4137/DTI.S42761","url":null,"abstract":"This work explores the antiplasmodial potential of ethanol extract of Blighia sapida (Lin. Sapindaceae) in chloroquine (CQ)-resistant Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain)–infected mice. Chloroquine-resistant (ANKA) strain of P berghei was inoculated intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice. Mice were treated orally for 4 consecutive days, before and after inoculation (prophylactic, suppressive, and curative models) with graded doses of the plant extracts with Artemether-Lumefantrine (Coartem) as control. Prophylactically, the extract showed a remarkable activity in the chemosuppression of P berghei parasites ( P","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"2017 1","pages":"0-0"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2017-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44814528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drug Target InsightsPub Date : 2017-08-28eCollection Date: 2017-01-01DOI: 10.1177/1177392817728725
Olayinka O Otegbade, Johnson A Ojo, Dolapo I Adefokun, Oyindamola O Abiodun, Bolaji N Thomas, Olusola Ojurongbe
{"title":"Ethanol Extract of <i>Blighia sapida</i> Stem Bark Show Remarkable Prophylactic Activity in Experimental <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>-Infected Mice.","authors":"Olayinka O Otegbade, Johnson A Ojo, Dolapo I Adefokun, Oyindamola O Abiodun, Bolaji N Thomas, Olusola Ojurongbe","doi":"10.1177/1177392817728725","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1177392817728725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This work explores the antiplasmodial potential of ethanol extract of <i>Blighia sapida</i> (Lin. Sapindaceae) in chloroquine (CQ)-resistant <i>Plasmodium berghei</i> (ANKA strain)-infected mice. Chloroquine-resistant (ANKA) strain of <i>P berghei</i> was inoculated intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice. Mice were treated orally for 4 consecutive days, before and after inoculation (prophylactic, suppressive, and curative models) with graded doses of the plant extracts with Artemether-Lumefantrine (Coartem) as control. Prophylactically, the extract showed a remarkable activity in the chemosuppression of <i>P berghei</i> parasites (<i>P</i> < .01) ranging from 57% to 36.5% at doses of 200 to 800 mg/kg, respectively, whereas Coartem (10 mg/kg) produced 62.1% chemosuppression. No significant chemosuppression was observed in the curative and suppressive models. The plant extract appeared to be safe at the highest dose tested (5000 mg/kg) for acute toxicity, with no adverse effect on the different organs. The plant extract possesses prophylactic antimalarial activity, which supports its use in the prevention of malaria.</p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"11 ","pages":"1177392817728725"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2017-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/6e/b8/10.1177_1177392817728725.PMC5576538.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35327847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modification of <i>S</i>-Adenosyl-l-Homocysteine as Inhibitor of Nonstructural Protein 5 Methyltransferase Dengue Virus Through Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.","authors":"Usman Sumo Friend Tambunan, Mochammad Arfin Fardiansyah Nasution, Fauziah Azhima, Arli Aditya Parikesit, Erwin Prasetya Toepak, Syarifuddin Idrus, Djati Kerami","doi":"10.1177/1177392817701726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1177392817701726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dengue fever is still a major threat worldwide, approximately threatening two-fifths of the world's population in tropical and subtropical countries. Nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) methyltransferase enzyme plays a vital role in the process of messenger RNA capping of dengue by transferring methyl groups from <i>S</i>-adenosyl-l-methionine to N7 atom of the guanine bases of RNA and the RNA ribose group of 2'OH, resulting in <i>S</i>-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH). The modification of SAH compound was screened using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, along with computational ADME-Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) test. The 2 simulations were performed using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) 2008.10 software, whereas the ADME-Tox test was performed using various software. The modification of SAH compound was done using several functional groups that possess different polarities and properties, resulting in 3460 ligands to be docked. After conducting docking simulation, we earned 3 best ligands (SAH-M331, SAH-M2696, and SAH-M1356) based on ΔG<sub>binding</sub> and molecular interactions, which show better results than the standard ligands. Moreover, the results of molecular dynamics simulation show that the best ligands are still able to maintain the active site residue interaction with the binding site until the end of the simulation. After a series of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed, we concluded that SAH-M1356 ligand is the most potential SAH-based compound to inhibit NS5 methyltransferase enzyme for treating dengue fever.</p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"11 ","pages":"1177392817701726"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2017-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1177392817701726","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34966272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drug Target InsightsPub Date : 2016-05-29eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.4137/DTI.S39077
Filippo Rapetto, Vito D Bruno, Gustavo Guida, Roberto Marsico, Pierpaolo Chivasso, Carlo Zebele
{"title":"Gentamicin-Impregnated Collagen Sponge: Effectiveness in Preventing Sternal Wound Infection in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery.","authors":"Filippo Rapetto, Vito D Bruno, Gustavo Guida, Roberto Marsico, Pierpaolo Chivasso, Carlo Zebele","doi":"10.4137/DTI.S39077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4137/DTI.S39077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sternal wound infections represent one of the most frequent complications after cardiac surgery and are associated with high postoperative mortality. Several preventive methods have been introduced, and recently, gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges (GICSs) have shown a promising effect in reducing the incidence of this type of complications. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that has been widely used to treat infections caused by multiresistant bacteria; despite its effectiveness, its systemic use carries a risk of toxicity. GICSs appear to overcome this side effect, topically delivering high antibiotic concentrations to the wound and thus reducing the toxic-related events. Although several retrospective analyses and randomized controlled trials have studied the use of GICSs in cardiac surgery, conclusions regarding their efficacy in preventing sternal wound infection are inconsistent. We have reviewed the current literature focusing on high-risk patients. </p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"10 Suppl 1","pages":"9-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2016-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4137/DTI.S39077","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34452743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drug Target InsightsPub Date : 2016-05-22eCollection Date: 2016-01-01DOI: 10.4137/DTI.S31565
Paraskevi Fragkou, Maria Souli, Maria Theochari, Christina Kontopoulou, Stelios Loukides, Anna Koumarianou
{"title":"A Case of Organizing Pneumonia (OP) Associated with Pembrolizumab.","authors":"Paraskevi Fragkou, Maria Souli, Maria Theochari, Christina Kontopoulou, Stelios Loukides, Anna Koumarianou","doi":"10.4137/DTI.S31565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4137/DTI.S31565","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Until recently, chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma had disappointing results. The identification of immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 has led to the development of an array of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). These immunologic approaches against tumoral cells come with a novel kind of side effects that the clinician needs to be familiarized with. Herein, we report for the first time a case of organizing pneumonia, based on imaging and cytological analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage, possibly associated with the use of pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 Mab recently approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. </p>","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"10 ","pages":"9-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2016-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4137/DTI.S31565","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34543869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuichiro Ueda, Hiroki Ishii, Taisuke Kitano, Mitsutoshi Shindo, Haruhisa Miyazawa, K. Ito, Keiji Hirai, Y. Kaku, H. Mori, T. Hoshino, S. Ookawara, M. Kakei, K. Tabei, Yoshiyuki Morishita
{"title":"Effects and Safety of Linagliptin as an Add-on Therapy in Advanced-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy Patients Taking Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Blockers","authors":"Yuichiro Ueda, Hiroki Ishii, Taisuke Kitano, Mitsutoshi Shindo, Haruhisa Miyazawa, K. Ito, Keiji Hirai, Y. Kaku, H. Mori, T. Hoshino, S. Ookawara, M. Kakei, K. Tabei, Yoshiyuki Morishita","doi":"10.4137/DTI.S38339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4137/DTI.S38339","url":null,"abstract":"Background We investigated the effects and safety of linagliptin as an add-on therapy in patients with advanced-stage diabetic nephropathy (DMN) taking renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers. Method Twenty advanced-stage DMN patients (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): 24.5 ± 13.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) taking RAAS blockers were administered 5 mg/day linagliptin for 52 weeks. Changes in glucose and lipid metabolism and renal function were evaluated. Results Linagliptin decreased glycosylated hemoglobin levels (from 7.32 ± 0.77% to 6.85 ± 0.87%, P < 0.05) without changing fasting blood glucose levels, and significantly decreased total cholesterol levels (from 189.6 ± 49.0 to 170.2 ± 39.2 mg/dL, P < 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (from 107.1 ± 32.4 to 90.2 ± 31.0 mg/dL, P < 0.05) without changing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Urine protein/creatinine ratio and annual change in eGFR remained unchanged. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusion Linagliptin as an add-on therapy had beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism without impairment of renal function, and did not have any adverse effects in this population of patients with advanced-stage DMN taking RAAS blockers.","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"10 1","pages":"13 - 18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4137/DTI.S38339","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70698731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Spadaccio, F. Nappi, N. Al-Attar, R. Coccia, M. Perluigi, F. Di Domenico
{"title":"CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DRUG ELUTING DEVICES: Introductory Editorial: Drug-Eluting Stents or Drug-Eluting Grafts? Insights from Proteomic Analysis","authors":"C. Spadaccio, F. Nappi, N. Al-Attar, R. Coccia, M. Perluigi, F. Di Domenico","doi":"10.4137/DTI.S41240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4137/DTI.S41240","url":null,"abstract":"Drug Target Insights aims to provide researchers working in this complex, quickly developing field with online, open access to highly relevant scholarly articles by leading international researchers. In a field where the literature is ever-expanding, researchers increasingly need access to up-to-date, high quality scholarly articles on areas of specific contemporary interest. This supplement aims to address this by presenting high-quality articles that allow readers to distinguish the signal from the noise. The editor in chief hopes that through this effort, practitioners and researchers will be aided in finding answers to some of the most complex and pressing issues of our time. Supplement Aims and Scope Journal name: Drug Target Insights","PeriodicalId":11326,"journal":{"name":"Drug Target Insights","volume":"10 1","pages":"15 - 19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.4137/DTI.S41240","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70699220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}