Safety and Pharmacokinetics Following Oral or Intravenous Lefamulin in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis.

PURPOSE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are increasing in prevalence in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and are associated with worsening lung function and increased mortality. Lefamulin is a pleuromutilin antimicrobial approved to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia based on potent in vitro activity and clinical efficacy. This Phase I, open-label, randomized crossover study assessed the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of oral and intravenous (IV) lefamulin in adults with CF. METHODS: The study comprised 2 dosing periods in which adults with CF (N = 13) received a single dose of lefamulin via a 150-mg IV infusion or 600-mg immediate-release orally administered tablet, separated by a 4- to 7-day washout period. Pharmacokinetic and safety parameters were assessed after lefamulin treatment. FINDINGS: Single doses of lefamulin administered via oral tablet or IV infusion resulted in comparable drug exposure, and sputum analysis suggested rapid penetration of lefamulin into the lung. Comparison of the present results with those obtained from prior single-dose studies of healthy volunteers indicate no meaningful difference in the pharmacokinetic properties of lefamulin in patients with CF. Treatment-emergent adverse events were consistent with previous reports, and the majority were mild in severity. IMPLICATIONS: These results show similar lefamulin pharmacokinetic and safety profiles between patients with CF and healthy volunteers receiving the same oral and IV doses, suggesting no need for lefamulin dose adjustment in patients with CF and indicating the potential of lefamulin as therapy for lung infections in patients with CF. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT05225805.

Two-Way Crossover Phase 1 Bioequivalence and Safety Studies in Healthy Adults for a Ready-to-Use, Room-Temperature, Liquid-Stable Glucagon Administered by Autoinjector, Prefilled Syringe, or Vial and Syringe.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate bioequivalence and safety for a ready-to-use room-temperature liquid-stable glucagon administered subcutaneously (SC) through a glucagon autoinjector (GAI) or a glucagon vial and syringe kit (GVS), versus a glucagon prefilled syringe (G-PFS). METHODS: Healthy adults (N = 32) were randomly assigned to receive 1-mg glucagon as GAI or G-PFS, and then as the alternative three to seven days later. Other healthy adults (N = 40) were randomly assigned to receive 1-mg glucagon as GVS or G-PFS, and then as the alternative two days later. Samples for plasma glucagon were obtained through 240 minutes after glucagon injection. Bioequivalence was declared when the geometric mean estimate ratio of the area under-the-concentration-versus-time curve from 0 to 240 minutes (AUC0-240) and maximum concentration (Cmax) for plasma glucagon between treatment groups was contained within the bounds of 80% and 125%. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded. RESULTS: The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for AUC0-240 and Cmax geometric mean ratios for G-PFS to GAI and GVS to G-PFS were contained within the bounds 80% to 125% (G-PFS:GAI AUC0-240 95.05%, 119.67% and Cmax 88.01%, 120.24%; GVS:G-PFS AUC0-240 87.39%, 100.66% and Cmax 89.08%, 106.08%). At least one AE occurred in 15.6% (5/32) participants with GAI, 25% (18/72) with G-PFS, and 32.5% (13/40) with GVS. Sixty-nine of 73 (94.5%) AEs were mild, and none were serious. Nausea was the most common (33/73 [45%]). CONCLUSIONS: Bioequivalence and safety were established after 1 mg of this ready-to-use room-temperature liquid-stable glucagon, administered SC to healthy adults, by autoinjector, prefilled syringe, or vial and syringe kit.

Comparison of a ready-to-use liquid glucagon injection administered by autoinjector to glucagon emergency kit for the symptomatic relief of severe hypoglycemia: two randomized crossover non-inferiority studies.

INTRODUCTION: To prevent medical sequelae of severe hypoglycemic emergencies, prompt and reliable rescue intervention is critically important. A ready-to-use, liquid stable glucagon, administered subcutaneously by glucagon autoinjector (GAI), Gvoke HypoPen (glucagon injection; Xeris Pharmaceuticals), was evaluated for rescue treatment of severe hypoglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Two phase III, randomized, controlled, blinded, non-inferiority crossover studies were conducted in 161 adults with type 1 diabetes to compare 1 mg doses of GAI versus glucagon emergency kit (GEK) for treating insulin-induced severe hypoglycemia. Efficacy was evaluated as either a return of plasma glucose to >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or increase ≥20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L) from a baseline glucose of <50 mg/dL (2.9 mmol/L), within 30 min of dosing. RESULTS: For successful plasma glucose recovery within 30 min, treatment with GAI was non-inferior to GEK. Treatment with GAI was non-inferior to GEK for a plasma glucose >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or neuroglycopenic symptom relief within 30 min. From administration of glucagon, the mean time to achieve plasma glucose >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or increase ≥20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L) was 13.8±5.6 min for GAI and 10.0±3.6 min for GEK. This mean time does not account for the significantly shorter (p<0.0001) drug preparation and administration time for GAI (27.3±19.7 s) versus GEK (97.2±45.1 s). The incidence of treatment emergent adverse events was comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A ready-to-use GAI was non-inferior to GEK, with a similar tolerability profile. GAI is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia and is a viable alternative to GEK. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT02656069 and NCT03439072.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on symptoms and quality of life among service members with persistent postconcussion symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE: Improvement has been anecdotally observed in patients with persistent postconcussion symptoms (PCS) after mild traumatic brain injury following treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The effectiveness of HBO as an adjunctive treatment for PCS is unknown to date. OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety of and to estimate the efficacy for symptomatic outcomes from standard PCS care alone, care supplemented with HBO, or a sham procedure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial of 72 military service members with ongoing symptoms at least 4 months after mild traumatic brain injury enrolled at military hospitals in Colorado, North Carolina, California, and Georgia between April 26, 2011, and August 24, 2012. Assessments occurred before randomization, at the midpoint, and within 1 month after completing the interventions. INTERVENTIONS: Routine PCS care was provided in specialized clinics. In addition, participants were randomized 1:1:1 to 40 HBO sessions administered at 1.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA), 40 sham sessions consisting of room air at 1.2 ATA, or no supplemental chamber procedures. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) served as the primary outcome measure. A change score of at least 2 points on the RPQ-3 subscale (range, 0-12) was defined as clinically significant. Change scores from baseline were calculated for the RPQ-3 and for the total RPQ. Secondary measures included additional patient-reported outcomes and automated neuropsychometric testing. RESULTS: On average, participants had sustained 3 lifetime mild traumatic brain injuries; the most recent occurred 23 months before enrollment. No differences were observed between groups for improvement of at least 2 points on the RPQ-3 subscale (25% in the no intervention group, 52% in the HBO group, and 33% in the sham group; P = .24). Compared with the no intervention group (mean change score, 0.5; 95% CI, -4.8 to 5.8; P = .91), both groups undergoing supplemental chamber procedures showed improvement in symptoms on the RPQ (mean change score, 5.4; 95% CI, -0.5 to 11.3; P = .008 in the HBO group and 7.0; 95% CI, 1.0-12.9; P = .02 in the sham group). No difference between the HBO group and the sham group was observed (P = .70). Chamber sessions were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among service members with persistent PCS, HBO showed no benefits over sham compressions. Both intervention groups demonstrated improved outcomes compared with PCS care alone. This finding suggests that the observed improvements were not oxygen mediated but may reflect nonspecific improvements related to placebo effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01306968.

Field-user acceptability evaluation of a new stick camouflage face paint formulation with and without the insect repellent DEET.

Two newly designed formulations of stick camouflage face paint, one with 30% N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) and the other without DEET, were evaluated for acceptability among soldiers upon completion of normal military field training exercises. A total of 156 soldiers participated and completed a self-administered survey answering questions about product acceptability, packaging, and ease of use. Results of the study indicated that soldiers found stick formulations, with and without DEET, to be acceptable for use (62.9% and 83.7%, respectively). This data will be used by the Program Management Office at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity to support a request to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board to assign a National Stock Number.

Association of HIV neutralizing antibody with lower viral load after treatment interruption in a prospective trial (A5170).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the impact of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) on CD4 T-cell count and viral load in a cohort of HAART recipients who underwent extended structured treatment interruption. DESIGN: Substudy of NAb in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5170 trial. METHODS: Early plasma samples from 50 volunteers who discontinued HAART were evaluated in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based neutralization assay against a panel of four subtype B primary isolates. RESULTS: We found that high-titer (90% inhibitory dose > 500) NAb against two or more isolates was associated with reduced viral load (P = 0.003 at 12-week posttreatment interruption). This effect faded with time, losing significance (P = 0.161) by study conclusion. Participants possessing the highest NAb levels against individual isolates appeared more likely to have lower viral loads with the association gaining significance against the R5-tropic primary isolate US1 (P = 0.005). There was no association between broader neutralization and CD4 T-cell slope over time. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that high-titer NAb responses at the time of treatment interruption are associated with reduced viral load over time, but not CD4(+) T-cell decline.

HIV awareness and condom use among female sex workers in Afghanistan: implications for intervention.

There is little information about HIV awareness or condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) in Afghanistan. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess HIV awareness, knowledge, and condom use among FSWs in three Afghan cities. FSWs residing in Jalalabad, Kabul, and Mazar-i-Sharif were recruited through outreach programs and completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and rapid tests for hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C virus. Logistic regression identified factors associated with HIV awareness, comprehensive HIV knowledge (knowledge that HIV cannot be detected by sight, that condoms prevent HIV, and rejection of local misconceptions about HIV transmission), and consistent condom use (use with every sex act) with clients in the last six months. Of 520 participants, 76.9% had no formal education and 37.7% lived outside Afghanistan in the last five years. Nearly half (44.2%) were aware of HIV but, of these, only 17.4% (N = 40) had comprehensive HIV knowledge. There were significant differences by site; FSWs in Jalalabad were more likely to be aware of HIV but FSWs in Kabul were more likely to have correct HIV knowledge and use condoms consistently with clients. Consistent client condom use was reported by 11.5% (N = 60) and was independently associated with having more clients per month (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.04-3.81). In conclusion, comprehensive HIV knowledge and consistent condom use with clients are low among Afghan FSWs in these cities. Efforts to reach this population should focus on relaying accurate information and expanding condom use with clients.

Evaluation of efficacy and duration of the stick camouflage face paint with 30% deet against mosquitoes in Belize.

A combination of insect repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet), with camouflage face paint in a newly designed stick formulation was evaluated on human volunteers under field conditions in Belize during February 2007. The formulation provided over 90% protection against mosquitoes for 8 hours and at least 80% protection for 12 hours, with 100% protection for 2 to 4 hours after application.