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Aiuti A, D’Amelio R, Quinti I, Rossi P. Editorial to the Special Issue "Clinical Immunology in Italy, with Special Emphasis to Primary and Acquired Immunodeficiencies: A Commemorative Issue in Honor of Prof. Fernando Aiuti". Biomedicines 2023; 11:3191. [PMID: 38137412 PMCID: PMC10741147 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Fernando Aiuti (Figure 1), born in Urbino on 8 June 1935, suddenly died on 9 January 2019, leaving a great void not only among his family members and those who knew him and appreciated his great humanity and acute intelligence, but in the entire immunological scientific community [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Aiuti
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute S. Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaele D’Amelio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea University Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy;
| | - Isabella Quinti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Rossi
- Research Unit of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, 00165 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Brown SD, White CA, Bartlett MG. HPLC DETERMINATION OF ACYCLOVIR AND ZIDOVUDINE IN MATERNAL PLASMA, AMNIOTIC FLUID, FETAL, AND PLACENTAL TISSUES USING ULTRA-VIOLET DETECTION. J LIQ CHROMATOGR R T 2006. [DOI: 10.1081/jlc-120014955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D. Brown
- a Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences , The University of Georgia , Athens, GA 30602-2352, USA
| | - Catherine A. White
- a Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences , The University of Georgia , Athens, GA 30602-2352, USA
| | - Michael G. Bartlett
- b Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences , The University of Georgia , Athens, GA 30602-2352, USA
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Brown SD, Bartlett MG, White CA. Pharmacokinetics of intravenous acyclovir, zidovudine, and acyclovir-zidovudine in pregnant rats. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003; 47:991-6. [PMID: 12604532 PMCID: PMC149315 DOI: 10.1128/aac.47.3.991-996.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2002] [Revised: 10/08/2002] [Accepted: 12/19/2002] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of acyclovir and zidovudine monotherapies and acyclovir-zidovudine combination therapy were compared in the pregnant rat. Timed-pregnancy Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. Doses of 60 mg of each drug/kg of body weight in monotherapy and in combination therapy were given by intravenous bolus, and samples of maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, fetal tissue, and placental tissue were collected over a period of 8 h postdose. Concentrations of each drug in the various matrices were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. All data were analyzed by using WinNonlin. A one-compartment model with first-order elimination was used to fit the AZT plasma data from the combination therapy rats, but the plasma data from the other groups were fit to a two-compartment model. Tissue data were analyzed by noncompartmental analysis to generate area-under-the-concentration-time-curve values. Implementation of the combination therapy altered the pharmacokinetics of each drug compared to its monotherapy pharmacokinetics. The combination of these two drugs may potentiate fetal and amniotic fluid exposures to each drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy D Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Georgia, Athens 30602-2352, USA
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Kang LC, Kerben MJ, Ugen KE, Specter SC. Modulation of ex vivo cytokine production by splenocytes using in vitro combined therapeutics in murine retroviral model. DNA Cell Biol 1999; 18:585-92. [PMID: 10433557 DOI: 10.1089/104454999315132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered levels of Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines are important in retrovirus-induced immunosuppression. The combination of immunostimulatory agents with antiviral drugs alters the course of murine retroviral infections. Previously, it was demonstrated that in vitro treatment of noninfected splenocytes and in vivo treatment of Friend leukemia virus (FLV)-infected mice with the combination of azidothymidine (AZT) and methionine enkephalin (MENK) significantly increases Type 1 cytokine levels and decreases Type 2 cytokines compared with treatment with only AZT. In order to study the effect of the time of initiation of immunomodulation on the course of retroviral infections, we examined the kinetics of cytokine production by isolated splenocytes from infected mice. BALB/c mice were infected with FLV, and spleen cells were removed at specified times postinfection (days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14). Interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 production by unstimulated or ConA-stimulated splenocytes treated in vitro with AZT, MENK, or AZT + MENK was determined after 48 h. The capacity of the isolated splenocytes to produce the Type 1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma in response to stimulation with ConA and combination therapy decreased over the course of infection. These results suggest that MENK treatment initiated later in the course of infection is unable to modulate the cytokine profile and would likely be ineffective in altering the course of FLV induced-disease. The results indicate the necessity to initiate antiretroviral therapy early in infection. Such information may be applicable in designing future regimens for HIV-1 infections in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Kang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa 33612, USA
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Ioannidis JP, Contopoulos-Ioannidis DG, Lau J. Recursive cumulative meta-analysis: a diagnostic for the evolution of total randomized evidence from group and individual patient data. J Clin Epidemiol 1999; 52:281-91. [PMID: 10235168 DOI: 10.1016/s0895-4356(98)00159-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Meta-analyses of randomized evidence may include published, unpublished, and updated data in an ongoing estimation process that continuously accommodates more data. Synthesis may be performed either with group data or with meta-analysis of individual patient data (MIPD). Although MIPD with updated data is considered the gold standard of evidence, there is a need for a careful study of the impact different sources of data have on a meta-analysis and of the change in the treatment effect estimates over sequential information steps. Unpublished data and late-appearing data may be different from early-appearing data. Updated information after the end of the main study follow-up may be affected by cross-overs, missing information, and unblinding. The estimated treatment effect may thus depend on the completeness and updating of the available evidence. To address these issues, we present recursive cumulative meta-analysis (RCM) as an extension of cumulative metaanalysis. Recursive cumulative meta-analysis is based on the principle of recalculating the results of a cumulative meta-analysis with each new or updated piece of information and focuses on the evolution of the treatment effect as a more complete and updated picture of the evidence becomes available. An examination of the perturbations of the cumulative treatment effect over sequential information steps may signal the presence of bias or heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Recursive cumulative meta-analysis may suggest whether there is a true underlying treatment effect to which the meta-analysis is converging and how treatment effects are sequentially altered by new or modified evidence. The method is illustrated with an example from the conduct of an MIPD on acyclovir in human immunodeficiency virus infection. The relative strengths and limitations of both metaanalysis of group data and MIPD are discussed through the RCM perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Ioannidis
- Therapeutics Research Program, Division of Aids, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Stein DS, Graham NM. Interaction of Herpes Viruses with HIV: Can Antiherpes Drugs Prolong Survival Among AIDS Patients? Rev Med Virol 1996; 6:163-172. [PMID: 10398456 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1654(199609)6:3<163::aid-rmv173>3.0.co;2-l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- DS Stein
- Clinical Pharmacology Studies Unit, Divisions of Clinical Pharmacology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, A-142, Albany, NY 12208, USA and School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Sarin PS, Goldstein AL. Treatment of AIDS with drugs targeted to inhibit different stages of the HIV life cycle. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 1995; 17:217-45. [PMID: 7650288 DOI: 10.3109/08923979509019748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P S Sarin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA
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Specter S, Plotnikoff N, Bradley WG, Goodfellow D. Methionine enkephalin combined with AZT therapy reduce murine retrovirus-induced disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY 1994; 16:911-7. [PMID: 7868296 DOI: 10.1016/0192-0561(94)90046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
AZT (7.5 or 15 mg/kg/dose) and the neuropeptide methionine enkephalin (Met-ENK, 1 or 3 mg/kg/dose) were used in a combined protocol for therapy of established murine retroviral infection. In both models used, Friend virus leukemia (FV) and BM5 complex (lymphadenopathy and immune deficiency), the drug combination was able to reduce mortality and splenomegaly. While increasing mean survival time of those animals that did not survive infection by FV, when compared to infected control mice or mice treated with AZT alone, Met-ENK used alone at 1 and 3 mg/kg/mouse had no effect in reducing morbidity or mortality due to either virus. This suggested that Met-ENK had no direct antiviral effect at the concentrations used. In fact, mice treated with either single drug therapy or the combination still yielded virus in their spleen, even when splenomegaly was absent. The data suggest that Met-ENK, which has been reported to be immunostimulatory, acts in combination to improve the efficacy of AZT in reducing progression of disease in murine retrovirus models for human AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Specter
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612
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Jacobson MA, Gallant J, Wang LH, Coakley D, Weller S, Gary D, Squires L, Smiley ML, Blum MR, Feinberg J. Phase I trial of valaciclovir, the L-valyl ester of acyclovir, in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1994; 38:1534-40. [PMID: 7979285 PMCID: PMC284589 DOI: 10.1128/aac.38.7.1534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Valaciclovir, the L-valyl ester of acyclovir, is rapidly and extensively converted in humans to acyclovir after oral administration by first-pass metabolism. A phase I study was conducted in two cohorts of volunteers with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease (absolute CD4 lymphocyte count of < 150 cells per microliters) who received oral valaciclovir at dosages of 1,000 or 2,000 mg four times daily for 30 days. All patients were clinically stable without any changes in underlying HIV-related medications for > or = 6 weeks prior to entry in study; these medications were continued throughout the study. Multiple-dose administration of valaciclovir showed a generally favorable safety profile. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain each were reported in < or = 31% of the patients; of these symptoms, only one episode of diarrhea was considered causally related to valaciclovir exposure. Four patients developed neutropenia (two at each dose level) which was not clinically significant. There were no renal or neurologic adverse events. Valaciclovir was rapidly absorbed and converted to acyclovir, with plasma valaciclovir levels generally undetectable or levels of < or = 0.4 microgram/ml. After 3 h postdosing, valaciclovir was not detectable in plasma. Acyclovir was measurable in plasma as early as 15 min following valaciclovir dosing, and plasma concentrations of acyclovir greatly exceeded those of valaciclovir. The mean values for the maximum concentration of drug in plasma, time to maximum concentration of drug in plasma, area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to infinity, and apparent half-life of acyclovir obtained after single- and multiple-dose valaciclovir administration in HIV-infected patients were similar to those reported in normal healthy volunteers. The time to maximum concentration in serum and half-life of acyclovir after valaciclovir administration were approximately 2 and 3 h, respectively, which were similar to those reported after oral administration of acyclovir itself. The mean trough and peak acyclovir concentrations and the daily area under the concentration-time curve acyclovir values at steady state were 2.5 and 8.4 micrograms/ml and 120 h micrograms/ml, respectively, after a dosage of 2,000 mg of valaciclovir four times daily. These values were approximately fivefold greater than those achieved with high dosages of oral acyclovir (800 mg, five times daily) and were not affected by continued use of medications necessary for management of advanced HIV disease. Thus, 2,000 mg of valaciclovir given orally four times daily should be evaluated for its potential efficacy in suppressing cytomegalovirus and other herpes group virus infections not optimally managed with current oral acyclovir therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Jacobson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
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Picard O. Antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection: hope and despair. Biomed Pharmacother 1994; 48:85-8. [PMID: 7919110 DOI: 10.1016/0753-3322(94)90081-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
While considering AIDS as an infectious disease with a direct relation between the etiologic agent and the deep immunodeficiency, antiretroviral drugs created much hope. The only transient effect observed with AZT treatment may not be due only to resistance occurrence but to effects that AZT does not target. These effects seem to be related to cytokines secretion which major the immunodepression. Efficient treatment should restore a normal cytokines network.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Picard
- Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
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Wilde MI, Langtry HD. Zidovudine. An update of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy. Drugs 1993; 46:515-578. [PMID: 7693435 DOI: 10.2165/00003495-199346030-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Zidovudine remains the mainstay in the treatment of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The drug delays disease progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and to AIDS-related complex (ARC), reduces opportunistic infections, and increases survival in patients with advanced HIV infection. There is evidence to suggest that zidovudine also delays disease progression in patients with mild symptomatic disease. Although one study has shown zidovudine to have no significant beneficial effects on survival or disease progression in patients with asymptomatic HIV infection, several other studies have shown zidovudine to delay disease progression in this patient group. Results from related ongoing studies are awaited with interest. Zidovudine reduces the incidence of AIDS dementia complex (ADC) and appears to prolong survival in these patients, and improves other neurological complications of HIV infection. The drug also appears to enhance the efficacy of interferon-alpha in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Although zidovudine is widely used as postexposure prophylaxis following accidental exposure to HIV, its efficacy in preventing seroconversion is unclear. Whether zidovudine prevents vertical transmission also remains to be determined. The overall efficacy of zidovudine in the treatment of children with HIV infection appears similar to that in adults despite more rapid disease progression in younger patients. Zidovudine-resistant isolates can emerge as early as after 2 months' therapy, and primary infection with zidovudine-resistant strains has been documented. Both zidovudine resistance and the syncytium-inducing HIV phenotype appear to be associated with poor clinical outcome. However, zidovudine resistance may revert on drug withdrawal or switching to an alternative therapy. Zidovudine-associated haematotoxicity may be dose-limiting. Nonhaematological adverse events associated with zidovudine therapy are generally mild and usually resolve spontaneously. Dosages of approximately 500 to 600 mg/day appear to be at least as effective as dosages of 1200 to 1500 mg/day and are better tolerated in patients with less advanced disease. However, optimal dosage are unclear. Despite beneficial effects, zidovudine monotherapy is not curative. There is evidence to suggest that the concomitant administration of zidovudine with didanosine or zalcitabine is effective in patients with HIV disease progression despite receiving zidovudine monotherapy, and there is some evidence that concomitant zidovudine plus didanosine therapy is more effective than alternating monotherapy. However, results from studies of combination therapy in asymptomatic patients, and from comparative combination therapy studies are awaited. Cotherapy with agents that augment haematopoiesis allows the continuation of therapeutic zidovudine dosages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle I Wilde
- Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand
| | - Heather D Langtry
- Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand
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Tarabey R. Primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1499. [PMID: 8097561 DOI: 10.1056/nejm199305203282019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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McLeod GX, Hammer SM. Treatment of HIV infection: the antiretroviral nucleoside analogues. Nucleoside analogues: combination therapy. HOSPITAL PRACTICE (OFFICE ED.) 1992; 27 Suppl 2:14-25. [PMID: 1324254 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.1992.11705596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy is an important development in the management of HIV infection. AZT with ddC is the first such combination to be approved for clinical use. Several issues remain, however, including the precise clinical benefit and toxicity of combination therapy, its effect on drug resistance, and the development of ever more effective therapeutic strategies.
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Sutherland DC. Antiretroviral agents in the nineties. Med J Aust 1992. [DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137049.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David C Sutherland
- Clinical Immunology UnitJohn Hunter Hospital, Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
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