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Objectives: Teicoplanin has been extensively used in the treatment for infections caused by gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, current teicoplanin treatment is challenging due to relatively low and variable concentrations under standard dosage regimens. This study aimed to investigate the population pharmacokinetics (PPK) characteristics of teicoplanin in adult sepsis patients and provide recommendations for optimal teicoplanin dosing regimens.Methods: A total of 249 serum concentration samples from 59 septic patients were prospectively collected in the intensive care unit (ICU). Teicoplanin concentrations were detected, and patients’ clinical data were recorded. PPK analysis was performed using a non-linear, mixed-effect modeling approach. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate currently recommended dosing and other dosage regimens. The optimal dosing regimens were defined and compared by different pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters, including trough concentration (Cmin), the ratio of 24-h area under the concentration-time curve to the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC0-24/MIC), as well as the probability of target attainment (PTA) and the cumulative fraction of response (CFR) against MRSA.Results: A two-compartment model adequately described the data. The final model parameter estimates for clearance, central compartment volume of distribution, intercompartmental clearance and peripheral compartment volume were 1.03 L/h, 20.1 L, 3.12 L/h and 101 L, respectively. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was the only covariate that significantly affected teicoplanin clearance. Model-based simulations revealed that 3 or 5 loading doses of 12/15 mg/kg every 12 h followed by a maintenance dose of 12/15 mg/kg every 24 h–72 h for patients with different renal functions were required to achieve a target Cmin of 15 mg/L and a target AUC0-24/MIC of 610. For MRSA infections, PTAs and CFRs were not satisfactory for simulated regimens. Prolonging the dosing interval may be easier to achieve the target AUC0-24/MIC than reducing the unit dose for renal insufficient patients.Conclusion: A PPK model for teicoplanin in adult septic patients was successfully developed. Model-based simulations revealed that current standard doses may result in undertherapeutic Cmin and AUC, and a single dose of at least 12 mg/kg may be needed. AUC0-24/MIC should be preferred as the PK/PD indicator of teicoplanin, if AUC estimation is unavailable, in addition to routine detection of teicoplanin Cmin on Day 4, follow-up therapeutic drug monitoring at steady-state is recommended.

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of biochar (BC) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF)−Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradic...

Little attention has been paid to the combined use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and steel slag (SS) for ameliorating heavy metal polluted soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of SS and AMF

Little is known about the impact of the combined application of intercropping and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on the plant growth and Cd accumulation in the two intercropped plants. A greenhouse pot experiment was performed to investigate the effects of intercropping (IC) and AMF-Glomus versiforme (GV) on the growth, photosynthesis, Cd accumulation and antioxidant activities in the two intercropped plants-upland rice and Cd hyperaccumulator Sphagneticola calendulacea (L.) Pruski in the soils added with 5 mg Cd kg-1. It was found that the GV inoculation and the combined treatment of IC and GV (IC + GV) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the biomasses and the P contents of upland rice and S. calendulacea. In addition, the Cd concentrations and uptakes of plants in IC, GV and IC + GV treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) dropped in upland rice but increased in S. calendulacea compared with the monocropping control, and the compound treatment showed better effect on decreasing Cd accumulation in upland rice (especially grains) and increasing Cd uptake by S. calendulacea compared with the single intercropping or AMF treatment. Moreover, IC, GV and IC + GV treatments significantly (p < 0.05) improved the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of the two intercropped plants. Finally, IC, GV and IC + GV treatments all significantly increased the catalase activities and total antioxidant capacities, while decreased the malondialdehyde contents in upland rice and S. calendulacea. The present work could provide a feasible strategy for safe production of upland rice and phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soils.

As the activities to improve the process rationalization, optimized production assists the enterprises to improve the production and management processes, product quality, productivity and customer service efficiency. This study analyzed the data collected from the experiments made by a lean production simulation laboratory at a university in Taiwan, so as to investigate whether production optimization results of the enterprises can promote the overall performance of production and service. This study first compared the data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the experimental data, so as to evaluate whether the optimized production can improve the performance. It then analyzed main factors influencing the income with decision tree, and established the optimized production performance detection model respectively using three data mining technologies, namely the GABPN, BPN and decision tree. The analytic results showed that the output through optimized production does improve the overall performance of product...

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis) to enhance immunity, antioxidation, digestive enzymes activity and hematological profile of Shaoxing duck. A population of 200 laying ducks (160 days old) was divided into two groups each further divided in five replications. The control (G1) were fed on basal diet and (G2) with B. subtilis 1×108 cfu/kg in addition of basal diet for thirty five days. The results showed that, ducks were treated with probiotics (B. subtilis), their serum IL-2 increased and IL-10 decreased (P

The removal of diesel exhausts by non-thermal plasma technology has been investigated focused on the simulation gas experiment at atmospheric pressure and room temperature for many years. However, the research for real diesel engine is need to be further studied. In the experiments, a non-thermal plasma (NTP) reactor was designed based upon dielectric barrier discharge. NO/NO2 conversion was studied as a function of the specific input energy (SIE) by varying the frequency and voltage applied on the NTP reactor through bench test. Results showed that NTP SIE was increased with the voltage at each frequency. The conversion of NO to NO2 was increased at higher NTP SIE. However, NO will further be converted to other active species but not only NO2.