Article
Microbiology
Chris Kosmidis, Akan Otu, Caroline B. Moore, Malcolm D. Richardson, Riina Rautemaa-Richardson
Summary: Isavuconazole shows promising pharmacokinetic and safety profiles in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Lower daily doses may be sufficient to maintain adequate drug levels and lead to better tolerability, enabling long-term therapy continuation.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Malene Risum, Mai-Britt Vestergaard, Ulla Moller Weinreich, Marie Helleberg, Nadja Hawwa Vissing, Rene Jorgensen
Summary: This study evaluated the therapeutic drug monitoring of Isavuconazole in the treatment of aspergillosis and mucormycosis. The majority of patients achieved Isavuconazole serum levels within the therapeutic range with lower coefficient of variation compared to patients receiving Voriconazole.
Article
Dermatology
Ralph Bertram, Hans-Theodor Naumann, Vanessa Bartsch, Wolfgang Hitzl, Martina Kinzig, Golo-Sung Haarmeyer, Matthias Baumgaertel, Arnim Geise, Dorothea Muschner, Jens Nentwich, Stefan John, Fritz Soergel, Joerg Steinmann, Rainer Hoehl
Summary: This study aimed to determine the plasma concentrations of isavuconazole in ICU patients with COVID-19 and invasive fungal infection, and evaluate the factors contributing to sub-therapeutic drug levels. The results showed that patients' risk factors and supportive therapies can negatively affect the plasma levels of isavuconazole.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lea Bolcato, Anne Thiebaut-Bertrand, Francoise Stanke-Labesque, Elodie Gautier-Veyret
Summary: Isavuconazole (ISA), a triazole antifungal agent, is used for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is crucial for treatment efficacy, and this study investigated the inter- and intra-individual variability of ISA trough concentrations (Cmin) and identified the determinants involved, including dose, aspartate aminotransferase, and protein levels.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Marlene L. Durand, Therese M. Kitt, Yi Song, Francisco M. Marty
Summary: This post hoc analysis of international phase III isavuconazole trials found that overall survival rates for patients with invasive fungal sinusitis treated with isavuconazole were 82% at day 42 and 70% at day 84.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lisa Kriegl, Stefan Hatzl, Christoph Zurl, Alexander Christian Reisinger, Gernot Schilcher, Philipp Eller, Yvonne Gringschl, Tina Muhr, Andreas Meinitzer, Juergen Prattes, Martin Hoenigl, Robert Krause
Summary: This study found that ECMO therapy may influence isavuconazole plasma concentrations, but not altered by the ECMO oxygenator. Patients achieved median plasma concentrations >1 μg/mL 24 hours after the first loading dose.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Yuliya Yasinskaya, Shukal Bala, Ursula Waack, Cheryl Dixon, Karen Higgins, Jason N. Moore, Caroline J. Jjingo, Elizabeth O'Shaughnessy, Philip Colangelo, Radu Botgros, Sumathi Nambiar, David Angulo, Aaron Dane, Tom Chiller, Michael R. Hodges, Taylor Sandison, William Hope, Thomas J. Walsh, Peter Pappas, Aspasia Katragkou, Laura Kovanda, John H. Rex, Kieren A. Marr, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Shohko Sekine, Monika Deshpande, Sunita J. Shukla, John Farley
Summary: In order to address challenges in developing new antifungal therapies for invasive fungal infections (IFIs), the US Food and Drug Administration organized a workshop to discuss drug resistance, emerging pathogens, and strategies for more efficient product development. The development of new antifungal drugs is hindered by limited diagnostics, difficulties in clinical trial design and patient recruitment, and the heterogeneity of IFIs. The workshop brought together experts from academia, industry, and government agencies to discuss the IFI landscape and potential collaborations to facilitate antifungal drug development.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sacha Sarfati, Julien Wils, Timothee Lambert, Celine Mory, Laurent Imbert, Gilles Gargala, Helene Morisse-Pradier, Fabien Lamoureux
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility and utility of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of voriconazole concentration in sputum for patients treated for pulmonary aspergillosis. The results showed a correlation between sputum and plasma levels of voriconazole, and an equation was established to predict voriconazole concentration in plasma from sputum.
Article
Dermatology
Julia Jeck, Sebastian M. Wingen-Heimann, Florian Jakobs, Anna Kron, Jennifer Franz, Oliver A. Cornely, Florian Kron
Summary: This study assessed the hospital costs of patients diagnosed with invasive fungal diseases (IFD) and treated with isavuconazole using real-world data. The results showed that treating IFD requires significant resources, often involves intensive care, and incurs high hospital treatment costs.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Liang Liu, Liu Zhang, Xiangyi Zheng, Xing Liu, Wei Liu, Jianhua Wu
Summary: In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platform was developed for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of 14 antibacterial and antifungal agents. The method is simple, sensitive, and only requires 100 μL of serum. After validation, it has been successfully used for TDM in routine practice.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Julia Jeck, Sebastian M. Wingen-Heimann, Christian Thielscher, Anna Kron, Jennifer Bonn, Florian Jakobs, Santiago Grau, David A. Enoch, Christianne Micallef, Oliver A. Cornely, Florian Kron
Summary: The study found that the market access processes in both England and Spain are broadly similar. Full reimbursement of innovative pharmaceutical isavuconazole may lead to a reduction in resource utilization and cost savings. Without medication costs, isavuconazole can result in cost savings for patients due to a reduction in length of stay, contributing to greater patient benefit.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Amy Legg, Sinead Carmichael, Ming G. Chai, Jason A. Roberts, Menino O. Cotta
Summary: Beta-lactam antibiotics are commonly used in critically ill patients to treat infections, but the optimal exposure targets for these drugs are still debated. Overcoming pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges in the intensive care unit is necessary to achieve desired exposures. Therapeutic drug monitoring has shown promise for determining if the desired exposures are reached, but more research is needed to determine its impact on infection-related outcomes. Improving the efficiency of sampling and reporting results in at-risk patients is important for an ideal beta-lactam TDM service.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Matthew R. Davis, Sandy Chang, Pryce Gaynor, Erin K. McCreary, Paul Allyn
Summary: Isavuconazole concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be lower than plasma concentrations in patients with coccidioidal meningitis (CM), but detectable in lumbar CSF. More studies are needed to determine the efficacy of isavuconazole as salvage therapy for refractory CM.
Article
Microbiology
Emilie Guemas, Sophie Cassaing, Sandra Malavaud, Judith Fillaux, Pamela Chauvin, Lucie Lelievre, Stephanie Ruiz, Beatrice Riu, Antoine Berry, Xavier Iriart
Summary: This retrospective study investigated fungal infections among COVID-19 adult patients in an ICU in Southern France. The study found that COVID-19-associated aspergillosis was common, while mucormycosis seemed to be rare. However, in industrialized countries, a cluster of cases can still occur if environmental conditions in ICU, particularly during construction work, are associated with a high number of COVID-19 patients.
Article
Microbiology
Siobhan O'Regan, Brendan O'Kelly, Paul Reidy, Aoibhlinn O'Toole, John Caird, Cora McNally, Samuel McConkey, Eoghan de Barra
Summary: This case describes the successful treatment of a cervical spinal cord Aspergillus fumigatus infection in an immunocompromised patient using (1,3)-beta-D glucan guidance. The patient, who was immunocompromised due to steroid and anti-TNF therapy as well as underlying conditions, underwent neurosurgical intervention and received prolonged antifungal therapy, resulting in clinical cure.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kathrin Kahnert, Stefan Andreas, Christina Kellerer, Johanna Lutter, Tanja Lucke, Oender Yildirim, Mareike Lehmann, Jochen Seissler, Juergen Behr, Marion Frankenberger, Robert Bals, Henrik Watz, Tobias Welte, Franziska C. Trudzinski, Claus F. Vogelmeier, Peter Alter, Rudolf A. Joerres, Thomas Bahmer, Burkhard Bewig, Ralf Ewert, Beate Stubbe, Joachim H. Ficker, Christian Grohe, Matthias Held, Markus Henke, Felix Herth, Anne-Marie Kirsten, Henrik Watz, Rembert Koczulla, Juliane Kronsbein, Cornelia Kropf-Sanchen, Christian Herzmann, Michael Pfeifer, Winfried J. Randerath, Werner Seeger, Michael Studnicka, Christian Taube, Hartmut Timmermann, Bernd Schmeck, Claus Vogelmeier, Hubert Wirtz
Summary: This study examined the association between metformin treatment and lung function decline in COPD patients. The findings suggest that COPD patients receiving metformin had a slower decline in lung diffusing capacity, supporting the hypothesis of the anti-aging effects of metformin.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Aleksandra Purkiewicz, Renata Pietrzak-Fiecko, Fritz Sorgel, Martina Kinzig
Summary: This study assessed the content of caffeine and its metabolites in breast milk of women living in the east-northeast region of Poland. Factors such as place of residence, level of education, age, and stage of lactation influenced the level of caffeine and its metabolites in breast milk.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Franziska C. Trudzinski, Rudolf A. Joerres, Peter Alter, Julia Walter, Henrik Watz, Andrea Koch, Matthias John, Marek Lommatzsch, Claus F. Vogelmeier, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Tobias Welte, Juergen Behr, Amanda Tufman, Robert Bals, Felix J. F. Herth, Kathrin Kahnert
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in COPD comorbidities and their association with prognosis. The results showed that there were differences in COPD comorbidities between men and women, which should be considered in the risk assessment and treatment of COPD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Tobias Latimer, Johanna Erber, Roland M. Schmid, Jochen Schneider, Christoph D. Spinner, Peter Luppa, Fritz Soergel, Martina Kinzig, Sebastian Rasch
Summary: This study investigated the impact of remdesivir treatment on viral dynamics in immunosuppressed critically ill patients. The results showed that remdesivir treatment potentially reduces the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in these patients. However, the implications of viral load reduction on morbidity and mortality require further investigation.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Paul Koebler, Eva K. Krauss-Koestler, Barbara Stein, Joachim H. Ficker, Martin Wilhelm, Alexander Dechene, Christiane Waller
Summary: The Nuremberg Integrated Psychosomatic Acute Unit (NIPA) aims to integrate treatment of psychosocial and physical impairments for patients with complex physical and mental health problems. NIPA has been established in internal medical wards for respiratory medicine, oncology, and gastroenterology. A naturalistic study design was used to evaluate treatment effects, and the results showed significant reduction in depressive mood, anxiety, stress, and somatic symptom burden. Most patients reported high satisfaction with the treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
MeiLan K. Han, Martti Antila, Joachim H. Ficker, Ivan Gordeev, Alfredo Guerreros, Amparo Lopez Bernus, Antoine Roquilly, Jose Sifuentes-Osornio, Fehmi Tabak, Ricardo Teijeiro, Lorraine Bandelli, Diane S. Bonagura, Xu Shu, James M. Felser, Barbara Knorr, Weihua Cao, Peter Langmuir, Thomas Lehmann, Michael Levine, Sinisa Savic
Summary: The JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib showed no benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in this clinical trial.
LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Ralph Bertram, Hans-Theodor Naumann, Vanessa Bartsch, Wolfgang Hitzl, Martina Kinzig, Golo-Sung Haarmeyer, Matthias Baumgaertel, Arnim Geise, Dorothea Muschner, Jens Nentwich, Stefan John, Fritz Soergel, Joerg Steinmann, Rainer Hoehl
Summary: This study aimed to determine the plasma concentrations of isavuconazole in ICU patients with COVID-19 and invasive fungal infection, and evaluate the factors contributing to sub-therapeutic drug levels. The results showed that patients' risk factors and supportive therapies can negatively affect the plasma levels of isavuconazole.
Article
Respiratory System
Thomas Sgarbossa, Pavlina Lenga, Franz Stanzel, Angelique Holland, Christian Grah, Wolfgang Gesierich, Andreas Gebhardt, Joachim Ficker, Stephan Eggeling, Stefan Andreas, Bernd Schmidt, Stephan Eisenmann, Bjoern Schwick, Karl-Josef Franke, Andreas Fertl, Martin Witzenrath, Ralf-Harto Huebner
Summary: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) in patients with different levels of FEV1 restriction. The results showed that ELVR could effectively improve FEV1, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with both high and very low FEV1 levels, with no reported deaths and a good safety profile.
Article
Oncology
Markus Falk, Eva Willing, Stefanie Schmidt, Stefanie Schatz, Marco Galster, Markus Tiemann, Joachim H. Ficker, Wolfgang M. Brueckl
Summary: HER2-targeted therapy with T-DXd shows promising clinical response in a patient with HER2 mutated lung adenocarcinoma, as monitored by plasma ctDNA analysis at 12 timepoints. This highlights the potential of longitudinal liquid biopsy quantification of driver alterations as a diagnostic tool for therapy monitoring in NSCLC patients.
Article
Oncology
Markus Falk, Stefanie Schatz, Fabian P. M. Reich, Stefanie Schmidt, Marco Galster, Markus Tiemann, Joachim H. Ficker, Wolfgang M. Brueckl
Summary: Osimertinib has become the preferred first-line therapy for EGFR mutation-positive metastatic NSCLC. Liquid biopsy ctDNA analysis can help identify resistance alterations, and in this case, the tumor showed prolonged response to osimertinib and first-generation EGFR TKI treatment.
Article
Respiratory System
Peter Alter, Kathrin Kahnert, Franziska C. Trudzinski, Robert Bals, Henrik Watz, Tim Speicher, Sandra Soehler, Stefan Andreas, Tobias Welte, Klaus F. Rabe, Emiel F. M. Wouters, Antonia Sassmann-Schweda, Hubert Wirtz, Joachim H. Ficker, Claus F. Vogelmeier, Rudolf A. Joerres
Summary: This study analyzed the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity in COPD over time and separated the age-independent contributions from intrinsic COPD-related disease progression. The results showed different contributions of COPD progression and age to the prevalence of different comorbidities, which is important for the assessment of disease progression in COPD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2022)