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Introduction: Isavuconazole is an emerging therapeutic option for invasive infections caused by molds, especially aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Isavuconazole has predictable pharmacokinetics and good bioavailability. These attributes have led to some doubts regarding the need for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). There are no data from India regarding TDM for isavuconazole. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 50 patients who received oral isavuconazole for therapeutic purposes. Plasma isavuconazole levels were measured using a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV detector with acetonitrile (ACN) as protein precipitating solvent. Results: Of the 50 cases, 5 (10.0%) patients had subtherapeutic levels, while 45 (90.0%) had therapeutic levels. Higher body weight and solid organ transplantation (SOT) were significantly associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole (p-value < 0.05 for all). Receipt of a SOT was the only independent and statistically significant factor which was associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study reemphasizes the need of TDM for isavuconazole and adds to the growing evidence for the need to obtain drug levels. Factors associated with subtherapeutic levels of isavuconazole need to be assessed in larger studies to help identify those patients who are at risk of having subtherapeutic drug levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to identify an association among dietary components, iron, and inflammatory status among adolescent girls.Method: Dietary information for 85 adolescent girls was collected through food frequency questionnaires. Biomarkers of iron and inflammatory status were analyzed.Results: We found that 28.2% of adolescent girls had anemia and 65.9% girls were iron-deficient. Girls who did not consume guava had 3.8-fold (95% confidence interval =1.1-9.4; p = 0.020) increased the risk of having low serum iron levels. Girls who consumed amaranth had significantly (p = 0.024) higher serum hepcidin levels (n = 44; 129.7 ± 81.40 pg/mL vs n = 41; 94.6 ± 55.8 pg/mL) as well as ferritin levels (n = 44; 19.7 ± 16.4 µg/L vs n = 41; 14.0 ± 10.2 µg/L). Overall consumption of fruits and green leafy vegetables among girls significantly affects their iron status.Conclusions: Regular consumption of vitamin C-rich fruits and green leafy vegetable intake are imperative for improvement of iron status among adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate if plasma maternal folate, vitamin B-12 and homocysteine levels had an effect on maternal global DNA methylation and neonatal anthropometrics in Indian pregnant women. Methods: A total of 49 participants having completed ≥36 weeks of pregnancy were enrolled in the study. Estimation of folate was by Ion capture assay, vitamin B-12 by microparticle enzyme immunoassay, total homocysteine by fluorescence polarization immunoassay and global DNA methylation using Cayman's DNA methylation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. Results: Folate and vitamin B-12 were inversely correlated to homocysteine in pregnant women consuming vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet. No difference in global DNA methylation was found between the vegetarian and non-vegetarian pregnant women. Folate and vitamin B-12 did not show association with global DNA methylation, however plasma total homocysteine of the vegetarian group showed significant correlation to global DNA methylation ( r2 = 0.49, p = 0.011). Plasma total homocysteine was inversely related to tricep skinfold ( r2 = −0.484, p = 0.01) and chest circumference ( r2 = −0.104, p = 0.04) of neonates in vegetarian group. Conclusion: Moderate vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegetarian pregnant women might be the cause of hyperhomocystinemia, hypermethylation when compared to vitamin B-12 sufficient non-vegetarian group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]