Monoclonal Antibody Activity in Human Umbilical Endothelial Cells That Possess Opposing Growth Factor Signaling Receptors

In various clinical settings such a peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, patients can develop leaky blood vessels that leads to the extravasation of fluid in surrounding tissues, mainly in the lower limbs, ultimately resulting in edema and compromised blood flow. In an attempt to maintain vascular integrity and stability researchers have tried to modulate two key receptors on endothelial cells, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR2) and tunica internal endothelial cell kinase 2 (Tie2) receptor using various approaches, including ligand administration and small molecule inhibition of kinase activity on the intracellular part of Tie-2. Various strategies for a therapy include monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) that influence the aforementioned pathways. The current poster describes a monoclonal antibody that binds a cell surface target protein and indirectly modulates the Tie-2 receptor activity

A Comparison of the Effect of Intermittent and Continuous Infusion of Meropenem on the Prevalence of Nausea in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease, leading to changes of membrane secretions causing obstruction of smaller airways. CF patients often develop pulmonary infections and require antibiotic treatment. Meropenem is a broad spectrum beta lactam that acts by lysing microbes through interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis. Although a safe and effective treatment, data on pediatric patients is limited

Marissa Cushing

https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/white_coat_ceremony_gallery_2012/1039/thumbnail.jp

A Comparison of the Effect of Intermittent and Continuous Infusion of Meropenem on the Prevalence of Nausea in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease affecting the lungs and Gl tract, is the second most common disease leading to shortened life spans in children. As a result of disease pathology, patients experience frequent lung infections along with nausea, loss of appetite, and poor absorption of nutrients. Current treatment for these infections involves continuous or intermittent IV meropenem therapy. One frequent side effect of meropenem in cystic fibrosis patients is nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to further weight loss in these patients. It is hypothesized that increased serum concentrations of meropenem lead to increased incidences of the Gl side effects, and that continuous IV administration of meropenem will reduce nausea when compared to intermittent administration. This collaborative project with Dayton Children\u27s Hospital, to be completed in the spring of 2015, proposes to improve the quality of life and care for pediatric CF patients by assessing reported nausea and its relationship to serum concentration of meropenem as well as testing established clinical protocols for meropenem administration in pediatric CF patients admitted to Dayton Children\u27s. A crossover design will be used, with patients randomly divided into two treatment groups. One group will receive four days of a 120 mg/kg/day continuous IV dose of meropenem followed by an intermittent 40 mg/kg/dose infused over 30 minutes every eight hours for another four days. The other group will receive the intermittent dose followed by the continuous infusion. Serum concentrations will be quantified utilizing a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography instrument and incidence of nausea will be measured through the average doses of kytril, an antiemetic, ordered for each patient in addition to the number of episodes of emesis. This study will be carried out with around 10 participants in order to provide a framework for further multi-site studies of the same nature

Assessing Plasma Meropenem Concentrations: Validation of an HPLC Protocol

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate a laboratory protocol for comparing the assessing the concentration of meropenem in plasma samples. Methods: To validate the laboratory component of a clinical protocol, plasma samples with meropenem and an internal standard of ceftazidime were analyzed using a Dionex® Ultimate 3000 HPLC and both an Acclaim® 120 C18 guard column (4.6 x 10 mm, 5 µm silica), and an Acclaim® 120 C18 analytical column (4.6 x 150 mm, 5 µm silica). Samples analyzed included quality control, calibration standards, and spiked unknowns blinded to the analysts. Each sample was prepared according to protocol and run at ambient temperature with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and an injection volume of 10 µL, in a mobile phase composed of 92% 0.1M mixed phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and 8% acetonitrile with a stabilizer buffer of 3-[N-morpholino]propanesulfonic acid (MOPS). Results: After analysis of a calibration curve and spiked samples, the correct concentration (± 10 µg/mL) was determined for nine out of ten plasma samples. However, there was significant variation in the data obtained by individual analysts. Conclusions: The HPLC method is a valid analytical protocol for determining plasma concentration of meropenem. However, further laboratory training of the analysts is needed before analyzing patient samples