Influence of vasopressin receptor antagonists on triple-whammy acute kidney injury: A VigiBase analysis.

Although diuretics play an important role in triple-whammy acute kidney injury (AKI), it is unclear whether the type of diuretic influences the risk of triple-whammy AKI. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vasopressin receptor antagonists affect triple-whammy AKI. This cross-sectional study used disproportionality analysis of VigiBase data to assess the risk of AKI with various diuretics. Although multiple logistic regression analysis showed that aldosterone antagonists (odds ratio [OR] 2.19, 95% CI 2.01-2.37), loop diuretics (OR 4.40, 95% CI 4.07-4.76) and thiazide diuretics (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.83-2.15) increased the risk of AKI in patients who received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), vasopressin receptor antagonists did not increase the risk of AKI in those patients. Vasopressin receptor antagonists might not influence the development of triple-whammy AKI.

Low-dose acyclovir for prophylaxis of varicella-zoster virus reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children.

BACKGROUND: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Although low-dose acyclovir can prevent VZV reactivation after HSCT in adults, the efficacy of a dose of acyclovir lower than the recommended dose, such as 60-80 mg/kg/day in children, is unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence of VZV reactivation after HSCT during and after low-dose acyclovir administration for preventing VZV reactivation in children. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included children aged ≤15 years who received oral acyclovir (at 15 mg/kg/day) to prevent VZV reactivation after HSCT. We examined the cumulative incidence of VZV reactivation after HSCT, during and after prophylactic acyclovir administration. RESULTS: Fifty-three eligible patients were included in this study, of whom 37 underwent allogeneic HSCT. The median duration of prophylactic acyclovir therapy was 264 days (range: 69-1140 days). VZV reactivation occurred in 13 patients (24.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.9-37.6). The cumulative incidence of VZV reactivation 1 and 2 years after HSCT was 6.26% (95% CI: 1.60-15.5) and 20.9% (95% CI: 10.3-34.0), respectively. While only one patient developed VZV reactivation during the administration of prophylactic acyclovir, the cumulative incidence of VZV reactivation increased to 24.2% (95% CI: 12.5-38.0) 1 year after the cessation of acyclovir. CONCLUSION: Low-dose acyclovir (15 mg/kg/day) could be effective for preventing VZV reactivation after HSCT in children because VZV reactivation seldom occurs during the administration of 15 mg/kg/day acyclovir.

Retrospective Cohort Study of Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Cefozopran for Treating Febrile Neutropenia during Chemotherapy in Patients with Lung Cancer.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious side effect in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy and frequently proves fatal. Since infection control is crucial in the management of FN, the antimicrobial agent cefozopran (CZOP) has been recommended but not approved for routine use in clinical care of FN in Japan. However, few studies of CZOP in the management of FN have used a thrice daily dose schedule. The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the efficacy and safety of CZOP at a dose of 1 g three times daily to those of cefepime (CFPM) in the treatment of FN in our lung cancer patients. The response rates of the CZOP and CFPM groups were 89.5% (17/19 cases) and 83.0% (39/47 cases), respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups. The median duration of antimicrobial treatment was 6 days (4-10 days) in the CZOP group and 7 days (3-13 days) in the CFPM group, with no significant difference between groups. The incidence rates of adverse events were 21.1% (4/19 cases) in the CZOP group and 19.1% (9/47 cases) in the CFPM group. No adverse events of Grade 3 or higher were observed in either group. The findings of the present study suggest that CZOP administration at a dose of 1 g three times per day as an antimicrobial treatment alternative against FN.

[Adefovir Dipivoxil-induced Fanconi's Syndrome and Osteomalacia Following Multiple Bone Fractures in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis B].

We herein present the case of a 66-year-old Japanese man with Fanconi's syndrome. He had been receiving adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) for the treatment of entecavir (ETV)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) for four years in his 8-year treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but was referred to our hospital after increased levels of bone pain in his ribs, knees, and ankles. Renal dysfunction, hypophosphatemia, and increased levels of bone alkaline phosphatase were found by a hematology test after admission for treatment of HCC. Radiography and 99m Tc-labeled hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) scintigraphy revealed multiple insufficiency fractures in the ribs, knees, ankles, and heels. After switching from ADV to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and treatment with calcitriol and sodium dihydrogenphosphate, the patient's serum phosphate levels slightly increased and renal dysfunction did not improve, but after six months his clinical symptoms disappeared. To detect and prevent adverse effects from ADV, physicians and pharmacists should carefully monitor renal function and serum phosphate levels in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) treated for a long time with ADV.

Clinical risk factors associated with postoperative delirium and evaluation of delirium management and assessment team in lung and esophageal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is an acute change in cognition and concentration that complicates the postoperative course. Patients who suffer delirium after surgery have an increased risk of persistent cognitive impairment, functional decline, and death. Postoperative delirium is also associated with an increased length of hospital stay and higher costs. With the goal of preventing delirium in postoperative patients, we organized a medical team from the Delirium Management and Assessment Center (D-mac) at Okayama University Hospital in January 2012. The team members consisted of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and clinical psychologists. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with delirium to examine risk factors related to the patients' background. RESULTS: Fifty-nine postoperative patients with lung or esophageal cancer were investigated; 25% exhibited delirium during hospitalization. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between the presence of delirium and a past history of delirium (odds ratio, 4.22; 95% CI, 1.10-16.2; p = 0.09) and use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (odds ratio, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.09-14.5; p = 0.03). Intervention by the D-mac significantly reduced the rate of delirium episodes in lung cancer patients (p =0.01). Notably, prior to intervention, the incidence of delirium was 100% when three high-risk factors for delirium were present. In contrast, the incidence of delirium in patients with three high-risk factors decreased following implementation of the D-mac intervention. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that active participation by various staff in the medical team managing delirium had a marked therapeutic impact.

Preparation of enteric-coated capsules of beclomethasone dipropionate for patients with intestinal graft-versus-host disease and a case study.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major concern in transplantation patients. Gut GVHD is accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal pain, and/or melena. Although oral treatment with corticosteroids (CSs) is effective in treating gut GVHD, it can cause adverse reactions that affect the entire body. Topical administration of CSs can be effective in treating diseases in which lesions are limited locally, because adverse reactions can then be alleviated. In this study, we examine and discuss an enteric-coated beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) capsule (BDP-EC) formulated at Okayama University Hospital. The BDP-EC did not dissolve in solution 1 (pH1.2), and began disintegrating in solution 2 (pH6.8) after 5min, with a mean dissolution rate at 15min of 85%. We then used the capsule to treat a patient who developed gut GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clinically, the frequency of diarrhea decreased after BDP-EC administration. In addition, we were able to decrease the prednisolone equivalent dose. Symptoms associated with adverse reactions to BDP were not observed during the hospitalization period. These findings suggest that the administration of BDP-EC in the early stages of gut GVHD may allow a reduction in the initial doses of systemic CSs.