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- Castro, María Del Mar, et al.
(author)
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Pharmacokinetics of Miltefosine in Children and Adults with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
- 2017
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In: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. - 0066-4804 .- 1098-6596. ; 61:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An open-label pharmacokinetics (PK) clinical trial was conducted to comparatively assess the PK and explore the pharmacodynamics (PD) of miltefosine in children and adults with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Colombia. Sixty patients, 30 children aged 2 to 12 years and 30 adults aged 18 to 60 years, were enrolled. Participants received miltefosine (Impavido) at a nominal dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Miltefosine concentrations were measured in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of samples obtained during treatment and up to 6 months following completion of treatment, when therapeutic outcome was determined. Fifty-two patients were cured, 5 pediatric patients failed treatment, and 3 participants were lost to follow-up. Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis predominated among the strains isolated (42/46; 91%). Noncompartmental analysis demonstrated that plasma and intracellular miltefosine concentrations were, overall, lower in children than in adults. Exposure to miltefosine, estimated by area under the concentration-time curve and maximum concentration, was significantly lower in children in both the central and intracellular compartments (P < 0.01). Leishmania persistence was detected in 43% of study participants at the end of treatment and in 27% at 90 days after initiation of treatment. Clinical response was not dependent on parasite elimination. In vitro miltefosine susceptibility was similar for Leishmania strains from adults and children. Our results document PK differences for miltefosine in children and adults with cutaneous leishmaniasis that affect drug exposure and could influence the outcome of treatment, and they provide bases for optimizing therapeutic regimens for CL in pediatric populations. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01462500.).
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2. |
- Dohmen, Luuk C T, et al.
(author)
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Functional Validation of ABCA3 as a Miltefosine Transporter in Human Macrophages : Impact on Intracellular Survival of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis
- 2016
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In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 291:18, s. 9638-9647
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Within its mammalian host, Leishmania resides and replicates as an intracellular parasite. The direct activity of antileishmanials must therefore depend on host intracellular drug transport, metabolism and accumulation. In this study, we explored the role of human macrophage transporters in the intracellular accumulation and antileishmanial activity of miltefosine (MLF), the only oral drug available for the treatment of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Membrane transporter gene expression in primary human macrophages infected in vitro with L.V. panamensis and exposed to MLF showed modulation of ABC and SLC transporters gene transcripts. Among these, ABCA3, a lipid transporter, was significantly induced after exposure to MLF and this induction was confirmed in primary macrophages from CL patients. Functional validation of MLF as a substrate for ABCA3 was performed by shRNA gene knockdown (KD) in THP-1 monocytes. Intracellular accumulation of radiolabelled-MLF was significantly higher in ABCA3KD macrophages. ABCA3KD resulted in increased cytotoxicity induced by MLF exposure. ABCA3 gene expression inversely correlated with intracellular MLF content in primary macrophages from CL patients. ABCA3KD reduced parasite survival during macrophage infection with an L.V. panamensis strain exhibiting low in vitro susceptibility to MLF. Confocal microscopy showed ABCA3 to be located in the cell membrane of resting macrophages, and in intracellular compartments in L.V. panamensis infected cells. These results provide evidence of ABCA3 as an MLF efflux transporter in human macrophages, and support its role in the direct antileishmanial effect of this alkylphosphocholine drug.
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3. |
- Razavi-Shearer, Devin M., et al.
(author)
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Adjusted estimate of the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus in 25 countries and territories
- 2024
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In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. - 0168-8278 .- 1600-0641. ; 80:2, s. 232-242
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background & Aims: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a satellite RNA virus that requires the hepatitis B virus (HBV) for assembly and propagation. Individuals infected with HDV progress to advanced liver disease faster than HBV-monoinfected individuals. Recent studies have estimated the global prevalence of anti-HDV antibodies among the HBV-infected population to be 5-15%. This study aimed to better understand HDV prevalence at the population level in 25 countries/territories. Methods: We conducted a literature review to determine the prevalence of anti-HDV and HDV RNA in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive individuals in 25 countries/territories. Virtual meetings were held with experts from each setting to discuss the findings and collect unpublished data. Data were weighted for patient segments and regional heterogeneity to estimate the prevalence in the HBV-infected population. The findings were then combined with The Polaris Observatory HBV data to estimate the anti-HDV and HDV RNA prevalence in each country/territory at the population level. Results: After adjusting for geographical distribution, disease stage and special populations, the anti-HDV prevalence among the HBsAg+ population changed from the literature estimate in 19 countries. The highest anti-HDV prevalence was 60.1% in Mongolia. Once adjusted for the size of the HBsAg+ population and HDV RNA positivity rate, China had the highest absolute number of HDV RNA+ cases. Conclusions: We found substantially lower HDV prevalence than previously reported, as prior meta-analyses primarily focused on studies conducted in groups/regions that have a higher probability of HBV infection: tertiary care centers, specific risk groups or geographical regions. There is large uncertainty in HDV prevalence estimates. The implementation of reflex testing would improve estimates, while also allowing earlier linkage to care for HDV RNA+ individuals. The logistical and economic burden of reflex testing on the health system would be limited, as only HBsAg+ cases would be screened.
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