A cyclosporine (CsA)-based immunosuppression is associated with an increased incidence of cholelithiasis after heart transplantation. It is not known if tacrolimus (Tac) has comparable biliary side effects in humans. We evaluated the incidence of gallbladder sludge and cholelithiasis under Tac-based immunosuppression by ultrasound examinations in 31 cardiac transplants (25 male, 6 female, mean ...

OBJECTIVE Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently coadministered with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as tacrolimus (TAC) and cyclosporin A (CSA), to treat or prevent upper gastrointestinal complications in Japanese patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The coadministration of PPIs increases the blood concentration of TAC due to drug interaction. We retrospectively investigat...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The human system possesses antioxidants that act harmoniously to neutralize the harmful oxidants. This study was aimed to evaluate the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as a single parameter in Eales' disease (ED) and in an acute inflammatory condition such as uveitis and in cataract which is chronic, compared to healthy controls. METHODS The TAC assay was done sp...

Single-chain immunotoxins anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 and anti-Tac(Fv)PE40KDEL, composed of variable domains of the anti-Tac monocional antibody and truncated forms of P s e u d o m o n a s exotoxin, have shown potent cytotoxic activity against malignant peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients originating from the Caribbean. However, several clinically importa...

Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs) include cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing. Associated structural lesions may be found, but a causal relationship is often difficult to establish. We sought to identify clinical predictors of underlying structural abnormalities by reviewing previously described...

BACKGROUND Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) commonly presents with nephrotic syndrome (NS), and spontaneous remission is rare. NS is a poor prognostic marker for renal survival, and has serious extra-renal complications. Rapid remission using drugs with minimal side effects is desirable. Tacrolimus (Tac) has a more potent immunosuppressive effect and may be less toxic at therapeutic do...

BACKGROUND Chronic pressure overload causes myocardial hypertrophy, increased fibrillar collagen content, and abnormal diastolic function. We hypothesized that one determinant of these pressure overload-induced changes is the extracellular processing of newly synthesized procollagen into mature collagen fibrils. We further hypothesized that secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) p...

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of calcineurin inhibitors [cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac)] to inhibit cellular uptake of atorvastatin mediated by the liver-specific organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) in vitro. Patients with solid organ transplants are frequently treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). CsA increases atorvastatin sy...

In order to improve the aqueous solubility and dissolution of Tacrolimus (TAC), amorphous solid dispersions of TAC were prepared by hot melt extrusion with three hydrophilic polymers, Polyvinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate (PVP VA64), Soluplus® and Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (HPC), at a drug loading of 10% w/w. Molecular modeling was used to determine the miscibility of the drug with the carrier polym...

Modifications in the timing and dosage of immunosuppression can ameliorate the morbidity and mortality that has prevented widespread use of intestinal transplantation (ITx) in children. Thirty-six patients receiving ITx, aged 5 months to 20 years were given 2-3 mg(kg of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG, thymoglobulin) just before ITx, and 2-3 mg(kg postoperatively (total 5 mg(kg). Twice dai...