Pharmacogenetics in critical care: association between CYP3A5 rs776746 A/G genotype and acetaminophen response in sepsis and septic shock

BACKGROUND

Pharmacogenetics could represent a further resource to understand the interindividual heterogeneity of response of the host to sepsis and to provide a personalized approach to the critical care patient.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from the prospective observational study NCT02750163, in 50 adult septic and septic shock patients treated with Acetaminophen (ACT) for pyrexia. We investigated the presence of two polymorphisms, located respectively in the genes UGT1A1 and CYP3A5, that encode for proteins related to the hepatic metabolism of ACT. The main dependent variables explored were plasmatic concentration of ACT, body temperature and hepatic parameters.

RESULTS

8% of the patients carried CYP3A5 rs776746 A/G genotypes and showed significantly higher plasma levels of ACT than GG wild type patients, and than patients with UGT1A1 rs8330 C/G genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying specific genotypes of response to ACT may be helpful to guide a more personalized titration of therapy in sepsis and septic shock. CYP3A5 might be a good biomarker for ACT metabolism; however further studies are needed to confirm this result.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02750163.

Chemical modification of proteins by insertion of synthetic peptides using tandem protein trans-splicing

Manipulation of proteins by chemical modification is a powerful way to decipher their function. However, most ribosome-dependent and semi-synthetic methods have limitations in the number and type of modifications that can be introduced, especially in live cells. Here, we present an approach to incorporate single or multiple post-translational modifications or non-canonical amino acids into proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells. We insert synthetic peptides into GFP, NaV1.5 and P2X2 receptors via tandem protein trans-splicing using two orthogonal split intein pairs and validate our approach by investigating protein function. We anticipate the approach will overcome some drawbacks of existing protein enigineering methods.

Abstract P3-06-05: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

Euxyl K 400: a new sensitizer in cosmetics

Euxyl K 400 is a preservative for cosmetics and toiletries containing 2 active ingredients, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutan and 2-phenoxyethanol. 2057 consecutive patients with contact dermatitis were patch tested with Euxyl K 400 2.5% pet. and ethanol. A positive patch test occurred in 24 patients (1.2%). The source of sensitization was traced in 8 patients to their cosmetics. Both leave-on and rinse-off products were responsible. Further patch tests with Euxyl K 400 0.5% pet. and phenoxyethanol 5% pet. were performed in 11 patients. A positive patch test to phenoxyethanol was detected in 1 of them. Only 3 patients showed a mild reaction to Euxyl K 400 0.5%. A provocative use test with a lotion preserved with Euxyl K 400 0.1% was positive in 5 of these 11 patients. Patients with Euxyl K 400 sensitivity showed a high prevalence of positive patch tests to other common ingredients of cosmetics. Since the use of Euxyl K 400 in cosmetic products is rapidly increasing, it should be included in the patch test series for patients with suspected cosmetic allergy.

Perioperative chemotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Two hundred forty-eight women from 1969-71 who underwent surgery for carcinoma of the cervix and were treated with triaziquone (0.2 mg i.v. daily) from day 2-5 after the operation, are compared to a group of 301 conventionally treated patients examined over the 3 following years. Survival rates after 5 years did not differ significantly between the 2 groups of patients, considered either globally or divided according to their clinical or surgical-pathological stage. The incidence of complications in the "treated" patients was not significantly higher, particularly considering local and general post-operative recovery. A prospective randomized study using drugs with a high cytotoxic activity in patients with tumors limited to the cervix and unfavorable prognostic factors, could in the future help evaluate the possibility of using surgical adjuvant chemotherapy in carcinoma of the cervix.

Comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in coincidence for short-term antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery

In 48 patients undergoing elective gynecological, urological and otorhinolaryngological surgery a pharmacokinetic study after 1 g dose of ceftriaxone or cefotaxime was done. Concentrations of the two antibiotics were studied in interstitial fluid with the suction blister technique and in some tissues collected during the operation. The mean tissue levels were generally higher after ceftriaxone administration than after cefotaxime and for both drugs they were lower than the contemporary drug levels in interstitial fluid. However at the concentrations found almost all aerobic and anaerobic bacteria causing postoperative wound infections are inhibited.

Hysteroscopic reversible tubal sterilization

The Authors describe their experience with a new type of intratubal mechanical device to be inserted under hysteroscopic control. Up to present time, 1471 cycles without any other form of contraception have been observed. Although the promising results of this preliminary report in the field of hysteroscopic reversible tubal sterilization, the Authors underline that this new technique is still evolving and will be improved with further experience.

Chemotherapy of Choriocarcinoma

The department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Florence University reports the following findings for the chemotherapy of gestational choriocarcinoma daring the period 1962–74. Sixteen cases, 11 of which were rated high risk cases, were given chemotherapy with MTX alone or in association with other cytotoxic agents. In the 12 surviving cases that may be considered the incidence of complete remission (from 4 to 13 years) is 67 %. Of the 8 cases rated as cured 3 were high risk cases at the beginning of treatment. Intermittent chemotherapy with MTX only was given by slow intravenous injection at doses of 3 to 4 mg/kg for 24–48 h followed from the 48th h by folinic acid treatment for 1–2 days. This schedule is recommended because of its negligible toxicity as a replacemen for intramuscular MTX in 5-day courses, which carries a fairly high risk of toxicity.

Evaluation of Cell-mediated Immunity in the Course of Primary Malignant Tumors of the Ovary. Cutaneous Reactivity

The present possibilities of clinically evaluating cell-mediated immune potential using skin reactivity to microbial protein antigens (streptokinase-streptodornase; tuberculin; formalin-killed parotitis virus) together with a contact sensitized such as dinitrochlorobenzene are examined. A single evaluation index for the set of cutireactions is proposed and, as a practical example, the delayed hypersensitivity data based on intradermal and patch tests in 41 cases of primary malignant tumor of the ovary are reported. There is a definite correlation between immune impairment and cancer spread, with a survival prognosis value even in initial cases.