Rivaroxaban (BAY 59-7939) is an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor in advanced development. This study was undertaken to investigate its effects on thrombin generation. In this placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study, 12 healthy subjects received rivaroxaban (single 5- or 30-mg dose) or placebo. Thrombin generation was investigated by measuring the endogenous thrombin potential and prothrombinase-induced clotting time. Maximal effect of rivaroxaban was observed 2 hours after drug administration: prothrombinase-induced clotting time was prolonged 1.8 and 2.3 times baseline after rivaroxaban 5 and 30 mg, respectively. Collagen-induced endogenous thrombin potential was reduced by approximately 80% and approximately 90% compared with baseline after rivaroxaban 5 and 30 mg, respectively, and tissue factor-induced endogenous thrombin potential was reduced by approximately 40% (5 mg) and approximately 65% (30 mg), respectively. Thrombin generation remained inhibited for 24 hours. There was a close correlation between plasma concentration of rivaroxaban and prolongation of prothrombinase-induced clotting time and reduction in endogenous thrombin potential. Rivaroxaban strongly inhibits platelet-induced thrombin generation, after activation of either platelets or the coagulation pathway, even in the presence of minimal factor Xa inhibition in plasma.

On the basis of an analysis spanning the whole gene locus, from the DRD2 promoter to the ANKK1 rs1800497C>T polymorphism, DRD2 genetic polymorphisms modulate both the risk of opiate addiction, leading to the necessity of methadone substitution therapy, and the course of this therapy in terms of dosage requirements.

Genetics were reflected in the outpatient pain therapy only to a modest degree. The need of outpatient therapy of pain of various causes guided by the presently known functional genetic variants cannot be convincingly concluded from the present data. Using the ABCB1 3435 genotype to predefine lower individual opioid doses barely merits the laboratory effort. If any, the results suggest that a genetics guided outpatient pain therapy may be based on ABCB1 and OPRM1 variants.

Among HIV-infected patients, the rate of seroconversion after the first dose of an adjuvanted H1N1 influenza A vaccine was 68% and increased to 92% after a second doses.

Seroconversion after one dose of a split virion, inactivated, adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine of HIV-infected patients was 69%. Studies to investigate whether a second dose of the vaccine will increase seroconversion rate are needed.