Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; drug therapy ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Triazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Voriconazole

This paper presents a case of reversible dysphasia occurring in a patient prescribed atorvastatin in combination with indapamide. A milder dysphasia recurred with the prescription of rosuvastatin and was documented on clinical examination. This resolved following cessation of rosuvastatin. The case highlights both a need for a wider understanding of potential drug interactions through the CYP 450 system and for an increased awareness, questioning and reporting of drug side-effects.
Anticholesteremic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use ; Anxiety/diagnosis ; Aphasia/diagnosis/*etiology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism ; Depression/diagnosis ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Heptanoic Acids/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia/drug therapy ; Indapamide/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Pyrimidines/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Pyrroles/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Sulfonamides/adverse effects/*therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDRosuvastatin has been claimed to be more potent than other statins in its ability to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of rosuvastatin in LDL cholesterol lowering therapy for new or switched hyperlipidaemic Chinese patients.

METHODSThis study was a retrospective one in patients who took rosuvastatin in the outpatient clinics of Prince of Wales Hospital during the period of July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. The prescribing pattern, the utilization pattern and the side effect profile were recorded. Attainment of lipid goals for each patient was assessed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP) III guidelines.

RESULTSA total of 261 Chinese patients (mean age (64.8 +/- 12) years; 55.6% male) were recruited into the study. The mean LDL-cholesterol level was (3.50 +/- 1.29) mmol/L prior to Rosuvastatin and (2.30 +/- 1.73) mmol/L after Rosuvastatin treatment (P < 0.0001). Rosuvastatin raised the LDL-cholesterol goal achievement rate from 28.0% to 74.3% in all patients combined (P < 0.0001) and from 11.0% to 79.0% for statin naive patients (P < 0.0001). Approximately 4% of patients developed side effects including myalgia, elevated liver enzymes, and dizziness.

CONCLUSIONRosuvastatin was effective in improving LDL-cholesterol goal attainment and lowering LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in either newly started or switched patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Gynecomastia ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; Male ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDLiver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage liver diseases; however, infections after transplantation can seriously affect the patient's health. The aim of this research was to investigate the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infection following liver transplantation.

METHODSClinical data for 232 liver transplant patients at risk of fungal infection were examined for the presence of fungus in the blood, fluid, sputum, urine and stools of patients and by chest or abdominal CT scans. Patients diagnosed with a fungal infection were treated with Fluconazole or, if this was not effective, Voriconazole or Amphotericin B. Immunosuppressive therapy was also reviewed.

RESULTSThirty-seven of 232 (15.9%) patients were diagnosed with a fungal infection, which occurred 4 to 34 days post-transplantation. Candida infections were diagnosed in 23 cases (62.2%) and Aspergillus infections in 12 cases (32.4%). Twenty-one cases were effectively treated with Fluconazole, 11 cases with Voriconazole, and two cases with Amphotericin B; however, three cases were not effectively treated with any of the antifungal agents. Overall, treatment was effective in 91.9% of patients.

CONCLUSIONSFungal infection has a significant influence on survival rate after liver transplantation. Imaging studies, and pathogenic and biopsy examinations can diagnose fungal infections, which can be effectively treated with antifungal agents such as Fluconazole, Voriconazole or Amphotericin B.

Adult ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use ; Voriconazole

OBJECTIVESThis study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin on treating Chinese patients with hypercholesterolemia.

METHODSThis randomized double-blind multi-center study enrolled the patients with LDL-C > or = 160 mg/dL but < 250 mg/dL and TG < 400 mg/dL after six-week dietary run-in. Patients were randomized to receive either rosuvastatin 10 mg/d (R) or atorvastatin (A) 10 mg/d in 2:1 ratio for 12 weeks. Patients with LDL-C levels not reaching goal defined by ATP III guideline in R group were titrated to 20 mg for additional 8 weeks.

RESULTSAltogether, 304 patients were included in the study, 201 patients in R group and 103 in A group. The ITT population is 290 and PP is 263. The LDL-C level decreased after 12 weeks in R group than that in A group, (45.6% vs 39.0%, P < 0.001). The rate reaching the target level defined by ATP III in R group tended to be higher than that in A group (78.0% vs 72.7%), especially in patients with high risk (56.5% vs 35%), however the difference did not reach statistical significance. The magnitudes of TG reduction (-22.8%), HDL-C (+6.6%) and ApoA-1 increase (+12.5%) in R group had no significant difference compared to those in A group (-16.6%, +4.3% and +9.8%, respectively). 29 patients were titrated to receive 20 mg of rosuvastatin. 10 of 22 patients reached the LDL-C target. There were no drug related SAE found during the study.

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of rosuvastatin in reducing LDL-C is more effective than atorvastatin in the same dose, however, the safety data is similar between them in the period of 3-month follow-up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib therapy for children with thalassemia after unrelated or haploidentical stem cell transplantation. METHODS: From March 2020 to March 2021, 22 patients received successfully allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, from +30 to 100 days,those patients received ruxolitinib therapy (2.5 mg, twice daily) and all adverse reactions were observed, include aGVHD, cGVHD, CMV and EBV infection. RESULTS: 22 patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation, 5 patients were diagnosed as aGVHD, 3 patients had grade I－II skin GVHD and 2 patients had grade II intestinal GVHD, those patients were cured. All patients were followed up for more than 21 weeks, 4 cases developed cGVHD, including 3 cases of localized liver GVHD and 1 case of pulmonary GVHD, those were relieved after active treatment. 8 patients had elevated EBV copies (>3×10³/ml), and 3 patients had increased CMV copies, the patients recovered after immunosuppressant and antiviral treatment. There was no CMV infection and EBV related post-transplantant lymphoproliferative disorders(PTLD), and no transplant related deaths. CONCLUSION Ruxolitinib can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of GVHD without affecting the hematopoietic recovery, and improve the survival status of thalassemia children after transplantation.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Child ; Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Nitriles ; Pyrazoles ; Pyrimidines ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalassemia

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gleevec (Imatinib) in the treatment of patients with Ph positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP).

METHODSA total of 54 CML-CP patients in whom previous therapy with interferon-alpha had been failed or untolerated, or relapsed after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) were treated with 400 mg/d of oral Gleevec for 6 to 11 months.

RESULTFifty-three patients being able to evaluate achieved complete hematological response within 7 to 28 days. Fifty-two (98%) of them remained in this situation at last follow-up. One patient relapsed after 7 months' treatment, and progressed to accelerated phase. Gleevec induced major cytogenetic response in 37 patients (70%) and complete cytogenetic response in 27 (51%). Twenty-nine of 37 patients (78%) achieved major cytogenetic response within 3 months. Grade 3 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia occurred in about 10% of patients, which were manageable or tolerated. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic adverse effects were infrequent. Only 1 patient (2%) discontinued treatment because of drug-related adverse events.

CONCLUSIONSGleevec induced high rate of cytogenetic and hematologic responses in patients with CML-CP who failed in previous interferon therapy. The adverse effects were mild and manageable, or no need for treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of dasatinib and imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP).

METHODS37 CML-CP patients were randomized to receive dasatinib 100 mg orally daily or imatinib 400 mg orally daily. The efficacy and safety data were collected and compared.

RESULTSOf 37 CML-CP patients, 18 received dasatinib and 19 received imatinib. The both of median duration of drug therapy and follow-up were 38 months. (1) The rate of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at 12 months was higher in dasatinib group than in imatinib group (89% vs 68%), but there was no significantly statistic significance between two groups (P = 0.232). The cumulative CCyR rate by 36 months was 89% in both arms. The major molecular response (MMR) at 18 months was 76% in dasatinib arm, being significantly higher than that in imatinib arm (37%) (P = 0.017). The cumulative MMR rate by 36 months was 82% versus 68% in dasatinib or imatinib (P = 0.694). The median time to CCyR and MMR was significantly faster for dasatinib than for imatinib (3 months vs. 6 months, and 14 months vs. 34 months, respectively). (2) The drug-related adverse events were mostly grade 1/2 and were well-tolerated. Increase of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, pleural effusion and thrombocytopenia were more common in dasatinib arm, while hypophosphatemia, edema and neutropenia were more common in imatinib arm.

CONCLUSIONDasatinib is an effective and safe therapy option and can be used as first-line therapy for newly diagnosed CML-CP patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Benzamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Dasatinib ; Female ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Survival Rate ; Thiazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Background: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study assessed the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in Chinese patients with RA enrolled in Phase 3 and long-term extension (LTE) studies. Methods: ORAL Sync was a 1-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trial. Patients received tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg twice daily (BID) or placebo advanced to tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg BID at 3 or 6 months. All patients remained on ≥1 background conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. ORAL Sequel is an open-label LTE study (data-cut: March 2015; data collection and analyses were ongoing, and study database was not locked at the time of analysis; study was closed in 2017). Efficacy outcomes: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20/50/70 response rates and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-4 [ESR]). Patient- and physician-reported outcomes: Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Patient and Physician Global Assessment of Arthritis, and pain (visual analog scale). Safety was assessed throughout. Results: ORAL Sync included 218 patients; 192 were subsequently enrolled into ORAL Sequel. In ORAL Sync, more patients achieved ACR20 (tofacitinib 5 mg BID, 67.4%; 10 mg BID, 70.6%; placebo, 34.1%) and DAS28-4 (ESR) <2.6 (tofacitinib 5 mg BID, 7.1%; 10 mg BID, 13.1%; placebo, 2.3%) with tofacitinib versus placebo at Month 6. Mean changes from baseline in HAQ-DI were greater with tofacitinib versus placebo at Month 6. In ORAL Sequel, efficacy was consistent to Month 48. Incidence rates for adverse events of special interest in tofacitinib-treated patients were similar to the global population. Conclusions: Tofacitinib significantly reduced signs/symptoms and improved physical function and quality of life in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severely active RA up to Month 48. The safety profile was consistent with the global population. Clinical Trial Identifier NCT00856544 and NCT00413699.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult