OBJECTIVETo evaluate the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation（allo-HSCT）for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria（PNH）and aplastic anemia（AA）- PNH syndrome.

METHODSThe clinical data of 18 PNH or AA-PNH patients, including 4 classic PNH and 14 AA-PNH, received allo-HSCT from Dec 2007 to Feb 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Nine patients received HLA-haploidentical donor HSCT（1 patient received salvage HLA-haploidentical donor HSCT after the graft failure of double cord blood transplantation）, 7 patients received HLA-identical sibling donor HSCT, and 2 HLA-identical unrelated donor HSCT. The conditioning regimens were as follow: 13 patients received modified BU/CY- based regimens, 5 non- myeloablative regimens ［fludarabine （Flu） + antithymocyte globulin（ATG）+ cyclophosphamide（CY）or busulfan（BU）］. Prophylaxis for graft- versushost disease（GVHD）: the patients with HLA-identical sibling donor received cyclosporine（CsA）plus short-term methotrexate（MTX）, the patients with HLA -haploidentical donor or HLA-identical unrelated donor received CsA or tacrolimus（FK506）+ mycophenolate mofetil（MMF）+ short- term methotrexate （MTX）.

RESULTSAll patients were engrafted successfully（1 patient engrafted by haploidentical donor after the graft failure of double cord blood transplantation）. The median days of neutrophils（ANC）above 0.5 × 109/L and platelets （PLT） more than 20 × 10⁹/L were 11（10- 26）days and 15（11- 120）days, respectively. Three patients（17.6%）developed acute GVHD（aGVHD）, 2 for grade Ⅱ aGVHD, 1 for grade Ⅳ aGVHD. Of 16 patients, 2 occurred limited chronic GVHD（cGVHD）. After a median follow-up of 14.6（2.0-86.7）months, 3 patients（17.6%）died, out of which one died of severe aGVHD, one died of severe pulmonary infection, one pulmonary infection with transplant- associated thrombotic microangiopathy. The 5- year estimated disease free survival was（80.5 ± 10.2）%. No patient relapsed.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT is an effective and curable therapy for PNH or AA-PNH with improved prognosis, and offers a valid therapeutic option for these patients before humanized monoclonal antibody against C5 are widely used clinically.

Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Busulfan ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cyclosporine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; therapy ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Tacrolimus ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Treatment Outcome ; Unrelated Donors ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The dose of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been reduced in Asia due to side effects associated with the conventional fixed dose of 2-3 g/day. We aimed to determine the pharmacokinetics of a reduced dose of MMF and to validate its feasibility in combination with tacrolimus in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Two sequential studies were performed in adult LDLT between October 2009 and 2011. First, we performed a prospective pharmacokinetic study in 15 recipients. We measured the area under the curve from 0 to 12 hours (AUC0-12) for mycophenolic acid at postoperative days 7 and 14, and we performed a protocol biopsy before discharge. Second, among 215 recipients, we reviewed 74 patients who were initially administered a reduced dose of MMF (1.0 g/day) with tacrolimus (trough, 8-12 ng/mL during the first month, and 5-8 ng/mL thereafter), with a 1-year follow-up. We performed protocol biopsies at 2 weeks and 1 year post-LDLT. RESULTS: In the first part of study, AUC0-12 was less than 30 mgh/L in 93.3% of cases. In the second, validating study, 41.9% of the recipients needed dose reduction or cessation due to side effects within the first year after LDLT. At 12 months post-LDLT, 17.6% of the recipients were administered a lower dose of MMF (0.5 g/day), and 16.2% needed permanent cessation due to side effects. The 1- and 12-month rejection-free survival rates were 98.6% and 97.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A reduced dose of MMF was associated with low blood levels compared to the existing recommended therapeutic range. However, reducing the dose of MMF combined with a low level of tacrolimus was feasible clinically, with an excellent short-term outcome in LDLT.
Adult ; Aged ; Area Under Curve ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology ; Graft Rejection/prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/blood/*pharmacokinetics ; Leukopenia/etiology ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Failure/*therapy ; *Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/blood/pharmacokinetics ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use ; Tissue Donors

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of multiple-trough sampling design and nonlinear mixed effect modeling (NONMEM) algorithm on the estimation of population and individual pharmacokinetic parameters. Oxcarbazepine and tacrolimus were used as one-compartment and two-compartment model drugs, respectively. Seven sampling designs were investigated using various number of trough concentrations per individual ranging from 1-4. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to produce state-steady trough concentrations. One-compartment model was used to fit simulated data from oxcarbazepine and tacrolimus. The accuracy and precision of the estimated parameters were evaluated using the median prediction error (PE), the median absolute PE and boxplot. The results indicated that trough concentrations could yield reliable estimates of apparent clearance (CL/F). For oxcarbazepine, as the number of trough concentrations per subject increased, the accuracy and precision of CL/F, between-subject variability (BSV) of CL/F and residual variability (RUV) tended to be improved. For tacrolimus, however, although no improvement were observed in the accuracy of CL/F and BSV of CL/F, the PE distribution ranges were significantly narrowed and the RUV estimates were less bias and imprecise. In terms of algorithm, Monte Carlo importance sampling (IMP) and IMP assisted by mode a posteriori estimation (IMPMAP) were consistently better than other methods. Additionally, the sampling design had no significant effects on the individual parameter estimates, which were only depended on the interaction between BSV and RUV in various algorithms. Decreased in BSV and RUV levels can improve the accuracy and precision of the estimation for both population and individual pharmacokinetic parameter estimates.
Algorithms ; Bayes Theorem ; Carbamazepine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Models, Biological ; Monte Carlo Method ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Regression Analysis ; Tacrolimus ; pharmacokinetics

Amino Acid Substitution ; Exocytosis ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Sirolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tacrolimus Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of pimecrolimus cream 1% for sensitive skin in adult women and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe changes of subjective symptoms and signs were evaluated before and after the application of pimecrolimus cream 1% based on the severity of pruritus (SP) and severity of burning sensation (SB) scores, and on a basic syntax and molecular substrate (molecular psychophysics) of nociception and proprioception established by temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.

RESULTSThe SP and SB scores were significantly decreased in 32 patients with sensitive skin after using topical pimecrolimus cream 1% (P<0.05). Twenty (62.5%) patients showed positive capsaicin-like response (i.e. burning with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus or burning sensation) and 6 (18.8%) showed positive camphor-like response (i.e. warming with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus) on application sites after using the topical pimecrolimus cream 1%, and 6 (18.8%) showed negative capsaicin-like response and/or negative camphor-like response.

CONCLUSIONSPimecrolimus may rapidly inhibit or alleviate itch or burning sensation of patients with sensitive skin. The therapeutic effect of pimecrolimus is relevant to the mechanisms that activate or sensitize transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and desensitizes TRPV1 in the skin sensory afferents.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; drug therapy ; Skin ; drug effects ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Tacrolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

During the past few years, new immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and basiliximab, have been shown to successfully decrease the incidence of acute rejection, possibly acting as potent substrates for safe steroid withdrawal. Therefore, clinical outcome of 3 months steroid withdrawal, while using the above immunosuppressants, was analyzed. Clinical trial registry No. was NCT 01550445. Thirty de novo renal transplant recipients were enrolled, and prednisolone was slowly withdrawn 3 months post-transplantation by 2.5 mg at every two weeks, until 8 weeks. During steroid withdrawal, 10 patients (30.0%) discontinued the protocol and they were maintained on steroid treatment. Among 20 steroid free patients, 8 patients (40.0%) re-started the steroid within 12 months post-transplantation. By the study endpoint, 12 (40%) recipients did not take steroid and survival of patients and grafts was 100%. In conclusion, in kidney transplant patients, 3 months steroid withdrawal while taking tacrolimus, basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil was not associated with increased mortality or graft loss. Despite various causes of failure of steroid withdrawal during the follow-up period, it is a strategy well advised for kidney transplant recipients with regard to long-term steroid-related complications.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cholesterol/blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Female ; Graft Rejection/mortality/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; *Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Prednisolone/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use

During the past few years, new immunosuppressants, such as tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and basiliximab, have been shown to successfully decrease the incidence of acute rejection, possibly acting as potent substrates for safe steroid withdrawal. Therefore, clinical outcome of 3 months steroid withdrawal, while using the above immunosuppressants, was analyzed. Clinical trial registry No. was NCT 01550445. Thirty de novo renal transplant recipients were enrolled, and prednisolone was slowly withdrawn 3 months post-transplantation by 2.5 mg at every two weeks, until 8 weeks. During steroid withdrawal, 10 patients (30.0%) discontinued the protocol and they were maintained on steroid treatment. Among 20 steroid free patients, 8 patients (40.0%) re-started the steroid within 12 months post-transplantation. By the study endpoint, 12 (40%) recipients did not take steroid and survival of patients and grafts was 100%. In conclusion, in kidney transplant patients, 3 months steroid withdrawal while taking tacrolimus, basiliximab and mycophenolate mofetil was not associated with increased mortality or graft loss. Despite various causes of failure of steroid withdrawal during the follow-up period, it is a strategy well advised for kidney transplant recipients with regard to long-term steroid-related complications.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cholesterol/blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Female ; Graft Rejection/mortality/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; *Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Prednisolone/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use

It is reported that a conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) relieves gastrointestinal (GI) symptom burden and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, it is unclear whether renal transplant recipients using tacrolimus receive the same benefit from the conversion. In this prospective, multi-center, open-label trial, patients were categorized into two groups by their GI symptom screening. Equimolar EC-MPS (n=175) was prescribed for patients with GI burdens; those with no complaints remained on MMF (n=83). Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) were evaluated at baseline and after one month. Patients and physicians completed Overall Treatment Effect (OTE) at one month. EC-MPS-converted patients had worse GSRS and GIQLI scores at baseline than MMF-continued patients (all P<0.001). Significant improvements in GSRS and GIQLI scores were observed for EC-MPS-converted patients at one month, but MMF-continued patients showed worsened GSRS scores (all P<0.05). OTE scale indicated that EC-MPS patients improved in overall GI symptoms and HRQoL more than MMF patients did (P<0.001). In tacrolimus-treated renal transplant recipients with GI burdens, a conversion from MMF to EC-MPS improves GI-related symptoms and HRQoL.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*chemically induced ; Graft Rejection/drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; *Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antipruritic mechanisms of pimecrolimus cream for women facial dermatitis.

METHODSTopical pimecrolimus cream 1% was applied in 52 women patients with facial dermatitis. The Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) score, severity of pruritus (SP) scores, and a basic syntax and molecular substrate (molecular psychophysics) of nociception and pruriception established by temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were used to evaluate the clinical signs, severity of pruritus, and skin sensory phenomenon.

RESULTSThe IGA scores at day 1 and 4 of treatment and the SP score at day 1, 4, and 11 of treatment were significantly lower than the baseline scores before treatment (P < 0.05). Among these 52 patients, 28 (53.8%) showed positive capsaicin-like response (i.e., burning with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus) at the application sites, 12 (23.1%) showed camphor-like response (i.e., warming with consequent rapid amelioration of pruritus), and 12 (23.1%) showed negative capsaicin-like response or negative camphor-like response.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment with pimecrolimus cream 1% can rapidly and effectively improve the signs and symptoms of facial dermatitis in adult women patients. Pimecrolimus cream 1% may act on the transient potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor in the skin sensory afferents to induce capsaicin-like response or camphor-like response and then desensitizes TRPV1 and rapidly inhibits or alleviate itching.

Administration, Topical ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antipruritics ; administration & dosage ; Dermatitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Face ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify the factors responsible for the inter-individual variations in the dosage/concentration of tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients.

METHODSThis study involved renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy with the tacrolimus, mycophenolate and prednisone regimen after the operation. The gender, age, height, body weight, tacrolimus dosage, hormone dosage, diarrhea, blood lipids, liver function, renal function, albumin, and hematocrit of the patients were recorded at different time points, namely in early stage (3, 7, 14, and 30 days postoperatively, 118 cases), at 3 months (103 cases), 6 months (75 cases) and over one year (119 cases) after the operation. The concentrations of tacrolimus and gene polymorphisms at CYP3A5, MDR1 3435, MDR1 2677 and MDR1 1236 were also determined in these patients. Multiple linear regression was used for analysis of these factors with tacrolimus concentration/dosage*body surface area as the independent variable.

RESULTSPatients in early stage following renal transplantation showed rather poor fitting of the stepwise regression model, which increased obviously 3 months after the operation and further increased till reaching a stable level at 6 months. Multiple factors were found to affect tacrolimus concentration/dosage in the early postoperative stage, during which period these factors underwent drastic variations and became stable 3 months later. In terms of pharmacogenomics, the major factors affecting tacrolimus concentration/dosage included MDR1 3435, MDR1 2677 and MDR1 1236 polymorphisms, which vastly varied between the patients early after the operation. Of these polymorphic sites, CYP3A5 produced only minor effects on tacrolimus concentration/dosage, and was not included as an active factor until the stable phase (over 1 year) following the transplantation; MDR1 3435 was found to be the predominant factor affecting tacrolimus metabolism in the stable phase. Age, liver function, albumin and hematocrit were found to be positively correlated to the independent variable tacrolimus concentration/dosage*body surface area, and identified as important factors responsible for the intra-individual variation of tacrolimus dosage/concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe variations in the factors affecting tacrolimus dosage/concentration after renal transplantation are consistent with the clinical features of the patients, and these factors vary with the postoperative stages. Pharmacogenomic factors produce the most conspicuous effect on tacrolimus dosage/concentration, and agents that may interfere with tacrolimus metabolism should be avoided after the operation. Age, liver function, albumin and hematocrit are also important factors responsible for the variation of tacrolimus dosage/concentration.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; Adult ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Pharmacogenetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Postoperative Period ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage