Assessment of the antinociceptive effect of a single fentanyl bolus dose in children: A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis based on the nociception level index during sevoflurane general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The Nociception Level Index has shown benefits in estimating the nociception/antinociception balance in adults, but there is limited evidence in the pediatric population. Evaluating the index performance in children might provide valuable insights to guide opioid administration. AIMS: To evaluate the Nociception Level Index ability to identify a standardized nociceptive stimulus and the analgesic effect of a fentanyl bolus. Additionally, to characterize the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship of fentanyl with the Nociception Level Index response during sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Nineteen children, 5.3 (4.1-6.7) years, scheduled for lower abdominal or urological surgery, were studied. After sevoflurane anesthesia and caudal block, a tetanic stimulus (50 Hz, 60 mA, 5 s) was performed in the forearm. Following the administration of fentanyl 2 µg/kg intravenous bolus, three similar consecutive tetanic stimuli were performed at 5-, 15-, and 30-min post-fentanyl administration. Changes in the Nociception Level Index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and bispectral index were compared in response to the tetanic stimuli. Fentanyl plasma concentrations and the Nociception Level Index data were used to elaborate a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model using a sequential modeling approach in NONMEM®. RESULTS: After the first tetanic stimulus, both the Nociception Level Index and the heart rate increased compared to baseline (8 ± 7 vs. 19 ± 10; mean difference (CI95) -12(-18--6) and 100 ± 10 vs. 102 ± 10; -2(-4--0.1)) and decrease following fentanyl administration (19 ± 10 vs. 8 ± 8; 12 (5-18) and 102 ± 10 vs. 91 ± 11; 11 (7-16)). In subsequent tetanic stimuli, heart rate remained unchanged, while the Nociception Level Index progressively increased within 15 min to values similar to those before fentanyl. An allometric weight-scaled, 3-compartment model best characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of fentanyl. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling analysis revealed hysteresis between fentanyl plasma concentrations and the Nociception Level Index response, characterized by plasma effect-site equilibration half-time of 1.69 (0.4-2.9) min. The estimated fentanyl C50 was 1.93 (0.73-4.2) ng/mL. CONCLUSION: The Nociception Level Index showed superior capability compared to traditional hemodynamic variables in discriminating different nociception-antinociception levels during varying fentanyl concentrations in children under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Pharmacokinetic Models of Tafenoquine: Insights for Optimal Malaria Treatment Strategies.

Tafenoquine (TQ) is a new 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drug developed by the US Army for Plasmodium vivax malaria treatment. Modeling and simulation are essential tools for drug development and improving rationality in pharmacotherapy, and different modeling approaches are used. This study aims to summarize and explore the pharmacokinetic (PK) models available for tafenoquine in the literature. An integrative methodology was used to collect and review published data. Fifteen articles were identified using three modeling approaches: non-compartmental analysis (NCA), population pharmacokinetic analysis (popPK), and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis (PK/PD). An NCA was mainly used to describe the PK profile of TQ and to compare its PK profile alone to those obtained in association with other drugs. PopPK was used to assess TQ population PK parameters, covariates' impact, and dose selection. PK/PD helped understand the relationship between TQ concentrations, some adverse events common for 8-aminoquilones, and the efficacy assessment for Plasmodium falciparum. In summary, pharmacokinetic models were widely used during TQ development. However, there is still a need for different modeling approaches to support further therapeutic questions, such as treatment for special populations and potential drug-drug interactions.

The Vehicle of Administration and Prandial State May Reduce the Spectrum of Oral Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics (Oxytetracycline, Fosfomycin and Amoxicillin) Administered to Piglets: A Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Approach.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the vehicle of administration and the prandial state of post weaning piglets on the indices of therapeutic efficacy for different broad-spectrum antibiotic/pathogen combinations. Pharmacokinetic data were retrieved from previous studies, in which we orally administered oxytetracycline (OTC), fosfomycin (FOS), or amoxicillin (AMX) according to the following treatments: dissolved in soft water to fasted or non-fasted piglets, dissolved in hard water to fasted or non-fasted piglets, and mixed with feed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for susceptible strains of bacteria causing swine diseases were obtained from the database of European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) for each antibiotic. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) indices of therapeutic efficacy-drug exposure over the dosing interval (fAUC/MIC) for OTC and FOS; time that free drug concentration remains above MIC (%fT>MIC) for AMX-were calculated for each antibiotic/pathogen combination under each treatment. After all OTC and in-feed FOS and AMX treatments, the indices of therapeutic efficacy were below the target value for all the study microorganisms. When FOS or AMX were delivered dissolved in soft or hard water, the indices were above the target value over which therapeutic efficacy would be expected for Escherichia coli treated with FOS and, Glaesserella parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae treated with AMX. The prandial state of piglets showed no influence on the indices of therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic profiles of broad-spectrum antibiotics, specifically the ability to achieve target concentrations, may be largely reduced due to drug interactions with components present in feed or water resulting in a discrepancy with PK/PD principles of prudent and responsible use of antibiotics.

Cannabidiol: Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders.

In this chapter we explored the growing interest in cannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol (CBD), over the last two decades due to their potential therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. CBD, a major non-psychotomimetic compound derived from Cannabis sativa, is highlighted as a safer alternative to other cannabinoids like Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Clinical trials have been investigating CBD formulations for conditions such as schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's diseases, and stress-related disorders. However, limited access to CBD-approved formulations primarily due to their high-cost and concerns about the quality of market-available products, challenges regulatory agencies globally. The pharmacokinetics of CBD, especially after oral administration, present challenges with erratic absorption and low bioavailability. CBD's "promiscuous" pharmacodynamics involve interactions with various targets beyond the endocannabinoid system, complicating precise dosing in therapeutic interventions. This chapter delves into CBD's dose-response curves, revealing complexities that pose challenges in clinical practice. Nanobiotechnology emerges as a promising solution, with recent developments showing improved bioavailability, stability, and reduced toxicity through nanoencapsulation of CBD. While this phytocannabinoid holds immense promise in neuropsychopharmacology, we provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of CBD research and suggests potential future directions regarding the pharmacology of CBD, harnessing the benefits of this intriguing compound.

Sufentanyl: una opción al paradigma clásico / Sufentanyl: an option to the classic paradigm

Resumen: Introducción: los opioides forman parte del manejo anestésico desde tiempos remotos. El desarrollo de nuevos fármacos a partir del fentanilo dio como resultado opioides más potentes y específicos. El sufentanyl se presenta como una opción más para el manejo anestésico perioperatorio, en diferentes escenarios clínicos, como anestesia general, sedación o adyuvante; el margen terapéutico amplio, la potencia analgésica y los efectos adversos predecibles lo presentan como una opción equiparable y en algunos casos superior a otros opioides como el fentanilo. Las dosis referidas por la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) y algunos artículos son amplias, en una gran variedad de situaciones la orientación a la dosificación mínima efectiva es la más recomendada. Objetivo: presentar una revisión de los aspectos farmacocinéticos y farmacodinámicos del sufentanyl, sus propiedades farmacológicas, aplicaciones y recomendaciones basadas en la literatura y la práctica clínica. Aportar difusión del conocimiento y uso del sufentanyl para fomentar un cambio en el paradigma clásico del uso de opioides en anestesia. Conclusiones: El sufentanil es una de las mejores opciones para el manejo del dolor en distintos escenarios clínicos, desde procedimientos de corta duración como las sedaciones hasta cirugías de gran complejidad, su perfil farmacocinético muy similar al fentanilo, con un amplio margen terapéutico y mayor potencia analgésica, lo convierten en una opción más que adecuada para la práctica anestésica contemporánea.

Abstract: Introduction: since ancient times opioids have been part of anesthesia. The development of new drugs based on the piperidine class prototype fentanyl has resulted in more potent and specific opioids. One such example is sufentanil. Sufentanil is presented as a further option for perioperative anesthetic management in different clinical scenarios from general anesthesia to sedation or critical care. Its wide therapeutic range, analgesic potency and predictable adverse effects make it a comparable or superior option to other opioids like fentanyl. The dosage recommended by the FDA and other sources are broad but in a wide variety of situations opting for the minimum effective dosage is the most recommended. Objective: a review of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects of sufentanil, its applications and recommendations based on literature and clinical practice. To spread knowledge of the clinical use of sufentanil in order to promote a change in the classical paradigm of opioid use in anesthesia. Conclusions: Sufentanil is one of the best options for pain management in different clinical scenarios, from short-term procedures such as sedations to highly complex surgeries, its pharmacokinetic profile very similar to fentanyl, with a wide therapeutic margin and greater analgesic potency, make it a more than adequate option for contemporary anesthetic practice.

Selection of clinically relevant drug concentrations for in vitro studies of candidates drugs for cancer repurposing: a proposal.

Drug repurposing of widely prescribed patent-off and cheap drugs may provide affordable drugs for cancer treatment. Nevertheless, many preclinical studies of cancer drug repurposing candidates use in vitro drug concentrations too high to have clinical relevance. Hence, preclinical studies must use clinically achievable drug concentrations. In this work, several FDA-approved cancer drugs are analyzed regarding the correlation between the drug inhibitory concentrations 50% (IC50) tested in cancer cell lines and their corresponding peak serum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) reported in clinical studies of these drugs. We found that for most targeted cancer drugs, the AUC and not the Cmax is closest to the IC50; therefore, we suggest that the initial testing of candidate drugs for repurposing could select the AUC pharmacokinetic parameter and not the Cmax as the translated drug concentration for in vitro testing. Nevertheless, this is a suggestion only as experimental evidence does not exist to prove this concept. Studies on this issue are required to advance in cancer drug repurposing.

Syringe immersion test as in vitro bioassay against Rhipicephalus microplus: Macrocyclic lactones dose-response relationship.

Background: For the diagnosis of tick sensitivity against different acaricides, there are in vitro and in vivo methods. The main in vivo method, the stable test, is considered a defining methodology. In Uruguay, the Rhipicephalus microplus (R. microplus) strain Mozo is used as the standard susceptible strain by the regulatory authorities. In vitro techniques applied both on adult and larvae stages are validated by FAO and can serve as an orientation diagnosis of the resistance profile developed in field conditions. An alternative was proposed as a modification of the larval immersion test (LIT), where syringes were used seeking to reduce the work necessary to perform the original technique, resulting in the syringe immersion test (SIT). Aim: The aim of this study was to expand the SIT for the characterization of sensitivity to Macrocyclic Lactones (MLs) in R. microplus and provide information on field strain sensitivity of R. microplus larvae. Methods: Log-logistic dose-response model for Ivermectin (IVM), Doramectin (DRM), and Moxidectin (MOX) were performed using concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 20.0 ppm (n = 6, 3 replicates per level on each drug). Larvae sensitivity results were determined after 24 hours of incubation at 27°C/90% RH, counting live/dead larvae. The final model will be decided as the best fit according to the model selection AIC criteria for each drug. Pharmacodynamic parameters [lower limit, slope, and effective dose at different levels (ED20, ED50, ED80, and ED95)] and its 95% confidence interval were considered for drug comparison. Results: Dose-response models were fitted for IVM, DRM, and MOX. MOX had the lowest ED50 of the three drugs, implying that MOX is of higher potency (two folds) when compared to IVM and DRM on R. microplus larvae using SIT. DRM had a different slope compared to IVM and MOX (p < 0.05), while IVM and MOX showed a similar slope (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study allowed us to standardize the technique for larvae immersion for each ML, granting a new tool for in vitro test as a screening technique for tick sensitivity.

Dose-Effect Determination of a Neuroprotector Fraction Standardized in Coumarins of Tagetes lucida and Bioavailability.

Neurodegeneration has been associated with chronic inflammation states in the brain. For this reason, attention has been directed to drugs indicated as anti-inflammatory as possible therapies for the treatment of said conditions. Tagetes lucida has been widely used as a folk remedy in illnesses associated with the central nervous system and inflammatory ailments. Among the compounds that stand out in the plant against these conditions are coumarins, such as 7-O-prenyl scopoletin, scoparone, dimethylfraxetin, herniarin, and 7-O-prenylumbelliferone. Therefore, the relationship between the therapeutic effect and the concentration was evaluated through pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, including vascular permeability evaluation by blue Evans and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines quantification, under a neuroinflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide by the oral administration of three different doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) of a bioactive fraction of T. lucida. In the present study, it was found that all doses showed a neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effect, although the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg were able to exert their effect for a longer time and to a greater extent. The protective effects of the fraction may be mainly associated with the DR, HR, and SC coumarins due to their structural profile and plasmatic and brain tissue bioavailability.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Index Linked to In Vivo Efficacy of the Ampicillin-Ceftriaxone Combination against Enterococcus faecalis.

Combination therapy with ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (AMP+CRO) is the first-line therapy for treating severe infections due to Enterococcus faecalis. However, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) index linked to the in vivo efficacy of the combination is not yet defined, hindering dose optimization in the clinic. Because classical PK/PD indices are not directly applicable to antimicrobial combinations, two novel indices were tested in the optimized murine model of infection by E. faecalis to delineate the potentiation of AMP by CRO: the time above the CRO threshold (T>threshold) and the time above the AMP instantaneous MIC (T>MICi). The potential clinical relevance was evaluated by simulating human doses of AMP and CRO. Hill's equation fitted well the exposure-response data in terms of T>threshold, with a CRO threshold of 1 mg/L. The required exposures were 46%, 49%, and 52% for stasis and 1- and 2-log10 killing, respectively. Human ceftriaxone doses of 2 g every 12 h (q12h) would reach the target in >90% of strains with thresholds ≤64 mg/L. The AMP T>MICi index also fitted well, and the required exposures were 37%, 41%, and 46% for stasis and 1- and 2-log10 killing, respectively. In humans, the addition of CRO would allow use of lower AMP doses to reach the same T>MICi and to treat strains with higher MICs. This is the first report of the PK/PD indices and required magnitudes linked to AMP+CRO against E. faecalis; these results can be used as the basis to guide the design of clinical trials to improve combined therapy against enterococci.

The influence of sepsis on antimicrobials tissue penetration: The use of microdialysis technique to access free drug distribution

Abstract Sepsis is described as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a host's response to infection, leading to an unbalance in body homeostasis. It is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. Considering that in critically ill patients, such as those with sepsis, plasma concentrations do not necessarily reflect tissue concentrations, one way to assess tissue concentrations is through the microdialysis technique, which allows direct measurements of free drug at the site of action. This review was carried out after searching the Pubmed, Scielo and Web of Science databases, using the following descriptors: (microdialysis AND (sepsis OR septic shock OR severe sepsis OR septicemia)) OR (microdialysis AND (sepsis OR septic shock OR severe sepsis) OR septicemia) AND (antimicrobial OR antibiotic OR antifungal)). The physiological changes generated by sepsis may imply changes in pharmacokinetic parameters, such as in clearance, which may be reduced in these patients and in volume of distribution, which presents an expansion, mainly due to edema. Both events contribute to a high inter- individual variability in tissue penetration of antimicrobials which is generally observed in patients with sepsis.

[Pharmacological and clinical characteristics of Insulin Faster Aspart (Fiasp®)]. / Características farmacológicas y clínicas de Insulina Aspártica Más Rápida (Fiasp®).

Fast acting aspart insulin is a faster-acting formulation of aspart insulin, having nicotinamide and Larginine added to the molecule, in order to achieve a faster absorption through the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies showed a left-shifted mean serum concentration-time profile compared to the conventional formulation. Its efficacy profile is highlighted in terms of early postprandial glycemic control. In addition, fast acting aspart insulin allows a more flexible treatment schedule, as it may be administrated at mealtime, immediately before or up to 20 minutes after; this schedule represents an advantage regarding quality of life in patients with diabetes treated with prandial insulin, especially in populations such as children, pregnant women or elderly subjects. The safety and tolerability profiles are comparable to conventional aspart insulin.

La insulina aspártica de acción rápida es una formulación más rápida de la insulina aspártica convencional, a la que se adicionan nicotinamida y L-arginina para lograr una absorción más rápida en el tejido celular subcutáneo. Estudios farmacocinéticos y farmacodinámicos demostraron un desplazamiento de las curvas de concentración sérica de insulina/tiempo hacia la izquierda en comparación con la formulación convencional. Su perfil de eficacia se destaca en términos del control de la glucemia posprandial temprana. Además, la insulina aspártica de acción rápida aporta flexibilidad al tratamiento, ya que puede aplicarse al momento de la comida, inmediatamente antes o hasta 20 minutos después, lo que constituye una ventaja en cuanto a calidad de vida en los pacientes con diabetes en tratamiento con insulina prandial, especialmente en poblaciones como los niños, las embarazadas o los ancianos. El patrón de seguridad y tolerabilidad es comparable al de la insulina aspártica convencional.

Características farmacológicas y clínicas de insulina aspártica más rápida (Fiasp®) / Pharmacological and clinical characteristics of Insulin Faster Aspart (Fiasp®)

Resumen La insulina aspártica de acción rápida es una formulación más rápida de la insulina aspártica convencional, a la que se adicionan nicotinamida y L-arginina para lograr una absorción más rápida en el tejido celular subcutáneo. Estudios farmacocinéticos y farmacodinámicos demostraron un desplazamiento de las curvas de concentración sérica de insulina/tiempo hacia la izquierda en comparación con la formulación conven cional. Su perfil de eficacia se destaca en términos del control de la glucemia posprandial temprana. Además, la insulina aspártica de acción rápida aporta flexibilidad al tratamiento, ya que puede aplicarse al momento de la comida, inmediatamente antes o hasta 20 minutos después, lo que constituye una ventaja en cuanto a calidad de vida en los pacientes con diabetes en tratamiento con insulina prandial, especialmente en poblaciones como los niños, las embarazadas o los ancianos. El patrón de seguridad y tolerabilidad es comparable al de la insulina aspártica convencional.

Abstract Fast acting aspart insulin is a faster-acting formulation of aspart insulin, having nicotinamide and L-arginine added to the molecule, in order to achieve a faster absorption through the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies showed a left-shifted mean serum concentration-time profile compared to the conventional formulation. Its efficacy profile is highlighted in terms of early postprandial glycemic control. In addition, fast acting aspart insulin allows a more flexible treatment schedule, as it may be administrated at mealtime, immediately before or up to 20 minutes after; this schedule represents an advantage regarding quality of life in patients with diabetes treated with prandial insulin, especially in populations such as children, pregnant women or elderly subjects. The safety and tolerability profiles are comparable to conventional aspart insulin.

Experimental models for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of antifungals used in cryptococcosis treatment.

Studies on cryptococcosis in the mammal animal model have demonstrated the occurrence of central nervous system infection and similarities in fungal pathogenicity with clinical and immunological features of the human infection. Although there is still a lack of studies involving pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) in animal models of cryptococcosis in the literature, these experimental models are useful for understanding this mycosis and antifungal effectiveness in improving the therapeutic schemes. The scope of this review is to describe and discuss the main mammal animal models for PK and PD studies of antifungals used in cryptococcosis treatment. Alternative models and computational methods are also addressed. All approaches for PK/PD studies are relevant to investigating drug-infection interaction and improving cryptococcosis therapy.

Linfomas no Hodgkin indolentes y terapia anti-CD20: una revisión de la literatura / Indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and anti-CD20 therapy: a literature review

Introducción: Los linfomas no Hodgkin indolentes se destacan por el reto que suponen desde el punto de vista terapéutico. La introducción de la terapia con rituximab, un anticuerpo monoclonal que se une al antígeno CD20 de la membrana de los linfocitos B, revolucionó los tratamientos hasta ese momento y abrió el camino para el desarrollo de otros anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CD20. Objetivo: Describir las características generales de los linfomas no Hodgkin indolentes y de los anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CD20, así como el rol de la terapia anti-CD20 en dichas enfermedades. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura publicada en los últimos 20 años, disponible en los repositorios: Scielo, Scopus, Pubmed/Medline, ScienceDirect y Mediagraphic. Se emplearon para elaborar este manuscrito 35 documentos, de ellos 80 por ciento correspondieron a los últimos 5 años. Conclusiones: La sólida evidencia científica, acumulada durante las últimas dos décadas, respalda el uso clínico de los anticuerpos monoclonales anti-CD20 en el tratamiento de los linfomas no Hodgkin indolentes. El uso efectivo de estos fármacos como agentes únicos o combinados con quimioterapia demuestran su versatilidad terapéutica(AU)

Introduction: Indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are notable for the challenge they pose from a therapeutic point of view. The introduction of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen of the B-lymphocyte membrane, revolutionized treatments up to that time and opened the way for the development of other anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Objective: To describe the general characteristics of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, as well as the role of anti-CD20 therapy in these diseases. Methods: A review of the literature published in the last 20 years, available in the repositories: Scielo, Scopus, Pubmed/Medline, Science Direct and Mediagraphic, was performed. Thirty-five papers were used to prepare this manuscript, 80 percent of which corresponded to the last 5 years. Conclusions: Strong scientific evidence, accumulated over the last two decades, supports the clinical use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The effective use of these drugs as single agents or in combination with chemotherapy demonstrates their therapeutic versatility(AU)

Global sensitivity analysis in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models of inhaled and opioids anesthetics and its application to generate virtual populations.

The integration between physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) models and pharmacodynamics (PD) models makes it possible to describe the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion processes of drugs, together with the concentration-response relationship, being a fundamental framework with wide applications in pharmacology. Nevertheless, the enormous complexity of PBPK models and the large number of parameters that define them leads to the need to study and understand how the uncertainty of the parameters affects the variability of the models output. To study this issue, this paper proposes a global sensitivity analysis (GSA) to identify the parameters that have the greatest influence on the response of the model. It has been selected as study cases the PBPK models of an inhaled anesthetic and an analgesic, along with two PD interaction models that describe two relevant clinical effects, hypnosis and analgesia during general anesthesia. The subset of the most relevant parameters found adequately with the GSA method has been optimized for the generation of a virtual population that represents the theoretical output variability of various model responses. The generated virtual population has the potential to be used for the design, development and evaluation of physiological closed-loop control systems.

Beta-Lactams Therapeutic Monitoring in Septic Children-What Target Are We Aiming for? A Scoping Review.

The antimicrobial therapy of sepsis and septic shock should be individualized based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters to deliver effective and timely treatment of life-threatening infections. We conducted a literature scoping review to identify therapeutic targets of beta-lactam antibiotics in septic pediatric patients and the strategies that have been applied to overcome sepsis-related altered pharmacokinetics and increase target attainment against susceptible pathogens. A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases to select studies conducted since 2010 with therapeutic monitoring data of beta-lactams in septic children. Last searches were performed on 02 September 2021. Two independent authors selected the studies and extracted the data. A narrative and qualitative approach was used to summarize the findings. Out of the 118 identified articles, 21 met the eligibility criteria. Population pharmacokinetic modeling was performed in 12 studies, while nine studies reported data from bedside monitoring of beta-lactams. Most studies were conducted in the United States of America (n = 9) and France (n = 5) and reported PK/PD data of amoxicillin, ampicillin, azlocillin, aztreonam, cefazolin, cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftaroline, ceftazidime, doripenem, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam. Therapeutic targets ranged from to 40% fT> MIC to 100% fT> 6 × MIC. Prolonging the infusion time and frequency were most described strategies to increase target attainment. Monitoring beta-lactam serum concentrations in clinical practice may potentially maximize therapeutic target attainment. Further studies are required to define the therapeutic target associated with the best clinical outcomes.

A randomized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic trial of two regular human insulins demonstrates bioequivalence in type 1 diabetes and availability of biosimilar insulin may improve access to this medication.

AIMS: To compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) effects and safety of therapeutic dosages of a regular insulin (experimental drug) produced by Bioton S.A. (Warsaw, Poland) versus Humulin® R, a regular insulin (reference drug) produced by Eli Lilly (Indianapolis, Indiana). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single-centre, randomized, double-blinded phase 1 crossover study, we used the manual euglycaemic clamp technique to compare PK and PD profiles between single subcutaneous doses (0.3 units/kg) of the two regular insulins in participants with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) with a washout period of 14 (± 7) days between tests. RESULTS: We evaluated 56 participants. The mean participant age and body mass index were 32.9 years and 22.9 kg/m2 , respectively. The ratios (experimental/reference) of the geometric means of maximum plasma insulin concentration and for plasma insulin area under the curve (AUC) were 0.909 (90% confidence interval [CI] 0.822-1.01) and 0.993 (90% CI 0.944-1.04), respectively. The ratios of the geometric means of maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR) and for GIR AUC were 0.999 (95% CI 0.912-1.09) and 1.04 (95% CI 0.962-1.12), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental product regular human insulin and comparator Humulin® R are bioequivalent in patients with T1DM. Wider entry to the pharmaceutical market of affordable, biosimilar regular insulins may substantially improve access to insulin for many socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with diabetes.