In this study we treated five patients with prostacyclin suffering vasospasm after a ruptured aneurysm not responding to high i.v. doses of nimodipine. All patients were severely ill, Wnt inhibitor unconscious and in need of intensive care.

A

low dose of prostacyclin i.v. infusion for 72 h reversed the vasospasm as measured by transcranial Doppler technique. The mean MCA blood flow velocity decreased from 199 +/- 31 cm/s to 92 +/- 6 cm/s within 72 h after the start of the prostacyclin infusion.

We suggest that low-dose prostacyclin treatment, an old treatment strategy, can be a treatment option in patients with vasospasm not responding to ordinary measures.”
“Background: Voriconazole is a triazole agent with excellent antifungal activity against Aspergillus species. However, despite its potential advantages, the occurrence of unpredictable toxicities might be critical in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors for voriconazole-related severe adverse events (SAEs).

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in Korean patients with hematological

malignancies and invasive aspergillosis on intravenous voriconazole therapy between June 2008 and April 2009.

Results: Of the 25 patients enrolled, eight (32%) showed voriconazole-related SAEs, which included hepatotoxicities (n = 5), cardiac tachyarrhythmias (n = 2), and neurotoxicity (n = 1). Sex, age, underlying find more hematological malignancies, voriconazole dose, the co-administration of a proton pump inhibitor, and CYP2C19 genotype were not found to be related to the occurrence of SAEs. However, trough plasma concentrations of voriconazole were found to be significantly higher in the patients with an SAE: median 6.32 mg/l (interquartile range (IQR) 2.86-9.71 mg/l) vs. median 2.15 mg/l (IQR 0.92-4.00 mg/l); p = Selleckchem ZD1839 0.011. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified a cut-off trough concentration for SAEs of 5.83 mg/l (sensitivity 62.5% and specificity 94.1%). Furthermore, multivariate

analysis showed that a trough concentration of >= 5.83 mg/l was the only significant independent risk factor of an SAE.

Conclusions: This study shows that therapeutic drug monitoring is indicated in patients with a voriconazole-related SAE and that dose adjustment is required if the trough concentration of voriconazole exceeds 5.83 mg/l. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Two series of blends, O-PP15 and O-PP35, were prepared by mixing polypropylene (PP), luminescent powders (SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+) of 15 and 35 mu m average particle diameter, and hydrophobic dispersant at about 190 degrees C in the Brabender mixer. The effect of amounts and diameter of luminescent powders on the physical properties of PP material were discussed herein. The luminescence and afterglow time tests indicated that the initial luminescence of all blends increased with the luminescent powders amounts.