Elucidating stroke etiology through lipidomics of thrombi and plasma in acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) requires detailed etiology information to guide optimal management. Given the pivotal role of lipids in AIS, we conducted a comprehensive lipidomics analysis of paired thrombi and plasma from AIS patients, correlating the findings with stroke etiology. Patients were recruited across four etiologies: cardioembolism (CE), large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), active cancer (Cancer), and undetermined.

Measurements of tenofovir-diphosphate and emtricitabine-triphosphate concentrations in dried blood spots of people receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV with co-formulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine.

Background/purpose(s): Data regarding the concentrations of tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) and emtricitabine-triphosphate (FTC-TP) in the Asian population receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) (TDF/FTC) are limited, and the associations between the frequency of TDF/FTC administration and drug concentration among people receiving on-demand PrEP remain unclear.

Methods: Fifty-seven participants receiving daily TDF/FTC and 113 participants receiving on-demand TDF/FTC were enrolled in this study. The concentrations of TFV-DP and FTC-TP were measured in dried blood spots using liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry.

Evaluation of the association between bevacizumab concentration and clinical outcomes in patients with breast cancer brain metastasis.

Bevacizumab is widely used in various clinical indications, but investigations into its optimal dosage for treating CNS metastases remain limited. The BEEP regimen, comprising bevacizumab, etoposide, and cisplatin, has recently demonstrated promising clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) or leptomeningeal metastasis (LM). This study aimed to evaluate the exposure-response relationship of bevacizumab in BCBM patients and to explore the improved CNS penetration of chemotherapy by bevacizumab with LM patients.

Quantifying payloads of antibody‒drug conjugates using a postcolumn infused-internal standard strategy with LC‒MS.

Background: Antibody‒drug conjugates (ADCs) are innovative biopharmaceutics consisting of a monoclonal antibody, linkers, and cytotoxic payloads. Monitoring circulating payload concentrations has the potential to identify ADC toxicity; however, accurate quantification faces challenges, including low plasma concentrations, severe matrix effects, and the absence of stable isotope-labeled internal standards (SIL-IS) for payloads and their derivatives. Previous studies used structural analogs as internal standards, but different retention times between structural analogs and target analytes may hinder effective matrix correction.

Enhancing the identification of voriconazole-associated hepatotoxicity by targeted metabolomics.

Voriconazole-associated hepatotoxicity is a common condition that generally manifests as elevated liver enzymes and can lead to drug discontinuation. Careful monitoring of voriconazole-associated hepatotoxicity is needed but there are no specific plasma biomarkers for this condition. Metabolomics has emerged as a promising technique for investigating biomarkers associated with drug-induced toxicity.

Development of the dried blood spot preparation protocol for comprehensive evaluation of the hematocrit effect.

The application of dried blood spots (DBS) has gradually increased in different fields because of its several advantages. The hematocrit (Hct) effect is one major analytical challenge that may affect the quantification accuracy of DBS samples and should be investigated when developing a novel DBS method. However, previous studies usually overlooked the Hct-related distribution bias when evaluating the Hct effect.

Investigating sphingolipids as biomarkers for the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients receiving endovascular treatment.

Background: Long-chain ceramides are associated with the mechanisms and clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to investigate the plasma ceramides and sphingosine-1-phosphate in AIS patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and their associations with outcomes.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 75 AIS patients who underwent EVT before (T1), immediately after (T2), and 24 h after (T3) the procedures and 19 controls that were matched with age, sex, and co-morbidities.

Short-course daily isoniazid and rifapentine for latent tuberculosis infection in people living with HIV who received coformulated bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide.

Introduction: Short-course preventive therapy with 1-month course of daily administration of isoniazid (300-mg) plus rifapentine (600-mg) (1HP) and 3-month course of weekly administration of isoniazid (900-mg) plus rifapentine (900-mg) (3HP) has higher completion rates than 9-month course of daily isoniazid (9H) for individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We aimed to evaluate the effect, safety and tolerability of 1HP in people living with HIV (PLWH) and LTBI who received coformulated bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF).

Methods: PLWH testing positive by interferon-gamma release assay and having received BIC/FTC/TAF for >2 weeks with plasma HIV RNA load (PVL) <200 copies/ml were enrolled.

Survival, health care resource utilization and expenditures of first-line treatments for multiple myeloma patients ineligible for transplant in Taiwan.

Background: We aimed to provide real-world information on survival, health care resource utilization (HCRU), and expenditures related to various first lines of therapy (1LOTs) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients who were transplant ineligible (TI).

Patients And Methods: From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database (2008-2016), we identified 1,511 NDMM-TI patients who had received 1LOT since June 2012. We categorized 1LOT regimens into four groups: bortezomib (V)+thalidomide (T), V, T, and non-V/T.

Investigating the Association of the Biogenic Amine Profile in Urine with Therapeutic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients.

Neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) can downstage breast cancer and can be utilized for different clinical applications. However, the response to NAT varies among individuals. Having effective biomarkers is important to optimize the treatment of breast cancer.

Metabolomics analysis of plasma reveals voriconazole-induced hepatotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress.

Voriconazole is one of the most frequently used antifungal drugs for the initial treatment of invasive aspergillosis, but liver-related adverse events occur frequently and usually lead to drug discontinuation. Moreover, the mechanism of voriconazole-induced hepatotoxicity remains unsettled. A holistic understanding of its mechanism is critical to prevent liver-related adverse events.

Impact of high plasma concentrations of linezolid in Taiwanese adult patients- therapeutic drug monitoring in improving adverse drug reactions.

Background: Previous studies have shown that the development of thrombocytopenia was associated with the elevated plasma concentration of linezolid, but little is known about the relationship between other uncommon adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and plasma concentration. The appropriate dosing adjustment has remained controversial. This prospective observational study was conducted to investigate the association between the plasma concentration of linezolid, ADRs, and clinical outcomes.

Clinical outcomes of basal insulin and oral antidiabetic agents as an add-on to dual therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

While basal insulin remains the most effective antidiabetic agent and substantially reduces the risk of hypoglycemia, few studies have examined the comparative effect of basal insulin in the real-world setting. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of adding basal insulin compared with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) as a third antidiabetic agent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A retrospective cohort study involving T2DM was conducted with health administrative data in Taiwan.

Early linezolid-associated lactic acidosis in a patient with Child's class C liver cirrhosis and end stage renal disease.

Linezolid, an oxazolidinone antibiotic, does not required dose adjustment in patients with Child's class A and B liver cirrhosis. The dose adjustment data for Child's class C liver cirrhosis is inadequate. We reported a case of Child's class C liver cirrhosis, in which lactic acidosis, an adverse effect related to prolonged use, occurred only after two weeks of linezolid treatment.