Journal of chemotherapy
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Journal of chemotherapy · Oct 2005
Clinical TrialEffect of aerosolized colistin on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bronchial secretions of patients without cystic fibrosis.
We performed a limited microbiological study to examine the effect of aerosolized colistin (1 million international units every 8 hours) on the colonization of the respiratory tract with Pseudomonas aeruginosa of five intubated, mechanically ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). No adverse or side effects of the administered aerosolized colistin were reported. The microbial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa prior to the use of aerosolized colistin, as well as during the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth day after the use of the drug were measured. The results of this preliminary study suggest that aerosolized colistin was effective in reducing quickly the microbial counts and eliminating microbial growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the sixth day of use in all studied patients.
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Journal of chemotherapy · Aug 2005
Comparative StudyLong-term azithromycin in cystic fibrosis: another possible mechanism of action?
Azithromycin is used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis lung disease, although its mechanisms of action are not completely understood. Besides its antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activities, one possibility could be the overexpression induction of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), which could affect chloride transport, thus overcoming the ion transport defect of cystic fibrosis. Seven patients were evaluated before and after 4 weeks of azithromycin treatment (500 mg once daily). ⋯ A significant direct correlation was found between MRP mRNA expression levels and NPD chloride response after azithromycin treatment (p = 0.04, r = 0.78). In conclusion, azithromycin may induce MRP overexpression and restore chloride conductance in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. These findings suggest a new potential role of azithromycin in the treatment of cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease, i.e. the possibility to upregulate proteins whose function may, at least in part, compensate for the basic defect of cystic fibrosis.
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Journal of chemotherapy · Nov 2004
Review Comparative StudyDrug discovery strategies: technologies to accelerate translation from target to drug.
The development of new molecular therapeutics for cancer treatment is based on the identification of molecular abnormalities that drive the malignant process. The discovery of novel molecular targets is made quicker and more efficient by use of powerful high throughput technologies such as genome sequencing and gene expression microarrays. Similarly, the drug discovery process is being accelerated by a range of other valuable technologies. Using these approaches, we can expect to see a range of personalised molecular therapeutics becoming available for cancer treatment.
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Journal of chemotherapy · Apr 2004
Clinical TrialInduction chemotherapy to weekly paclitaxel concurrent with curative radiotherapy in stage IV (M0) unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a dose escalation study.
The purpose was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of weekly paclitaxel with concurrent, daily irradiation in patients with unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma previously submitted to induction chemotherapy. Patients with stage IV, and unresectable tumor and/or node/s were enrolled. Nine male patients were submitted to a course of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 day 1 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 day 2 given every 3 weeks for three courses. ⋯ During weekly paclitaxel the major toxicity was mucositis that required a treatment break in two of three patients in dose level C; mucositis grade 4 required interruption of paclitaxel administration in all these patients. RT can be given in a continuous fashion with weekly paclitaxel after induction chemotherapy. The MTD of weekly paclitaxel was 40 mg/m2.