Drug Concentrations (drug + concentration)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of Drug Concentrations

  • plasma drug concentration
  • serum drug concentration
  • total drug concentration


  • Selected Abstracts


    Plasma pharmacokinetics of warfarin enantiomers in cats

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2000
    S.A. SMITH
    The purpose of this study was to determine the dispositions of S-warfarin and R-warfarin in normal cats following intravenous and oral administrations of racemic warfarin. Citrated blood samples were collected from 10 cats prior to and at times 5, 15, and 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h following a single intravenous bolus of 0.5 mg/kg of racemic warfarin. After a 21-day washout period, samples were then similarly collected in three groups of four cats for 120 h following oral administration of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg racemic warfarin. S-warfarin and R-warfarin were detected using a high-performance liquid chromatography assay validated for cat plasma. Drug concentration,time curves were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Median pharmacokinetic parameters associated with the intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg racemic warfarin were as follows: t1/2 (S:28.2, R:18.3 h), area under the plasma concentration,time curve (AUC; S:33.0, R:24.6 h*,g/mL), area under the moment curve (AUMC; S:1889, R:527.8 h*h*,g/mL), and mean residence time (MRT; S:38.7, R:20.9 h). For each parameter, S-warfarin was significantly different from R-warfarin (P<0.05). Warfarin was absorbed rapidly after oral administration, and the dosage did not affect the time to maximum concentration (S:0.87, R:0.75 h). Oral dosage significantly influenced maximum plasma concentration (ng/mL, S:1267, R:1355 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:614.9, R:679.4 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:250.5, R:367.6 at 0.1 mg/kg), AUC (h*,g/mL, S:45.12, R:30.91 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:22.98:, R:18.99 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:3.922, R:3.570 at 0.1 mg/kg) and AUMC (h*h*,g/mL, S:2135, R:1062 at 0.5 mg/kg; S:943.1, R:599.9 at 0.25 mg/kg; S:132.2, R:59.03 at 0.1 mg/kg), but not t1/2 (S:23.5, R:11.6 h) nor MRT (S:26.3, R:13.5 h). Both warfarin enantiomers were highly (>96.5%) protein-bound. Quantitation of the warfarin content in commercially available tablets indicated an unequal distribution of the drug throughout the tablet. [source]


    Clinical benefit of interventions driven by therapeutic drug monitoring

    HIV MEDICINE, Issue 5 2005
    AL Rendón
    Background Adequate plasma concentrations of antiretroviral drugs are key to achieving and maintaining long-term suppression of HIV replication. Multiple factors may influence drug levels, causing increases or reductions that may, respectively, result in toxicity or virological failure. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) might help to detect and correct such abnormalities. Objective To evaluate the usefulness of TDM in the care of HIV-infected patients in an out-patient clinical setting. Methods All the requests for TDM of protease inhibitors (PIs) and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) for patients attending our HIV out-patient clinic from October 2000 to August 2003 were analysed. Blood samples were collected before the morning dose. Drug concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography by ultraviolet waves (HPLC-UV). Results A total of 151 requests from 137 patients were assessed. The reasons for requesting TDM were drug toxicity (59%), virological failure (39%) and possible drug interactions (2%). NNRTI levels were more often requested because of toxicity, while PI levels were more often requested because of virological failure. Elevated drug levels were confirmed in 36% of patients with suspected drug toxicity, while subtherapeutic levels were found in 37% of patients failing virologically. Based on the results of TDM, dose modifications were made in 37% of patients, allowing correction of such abnormalities in 80% of cases. Moreover, adequate plasma concentrations were confirmed in 79% of patients whose levels were assessed again. Conclusions Therapeutic drug monitoring may be a useful tool to identify toxic levels of NNRTI and subtherapeutic concentrations of PI. Dose adjustments following TDM may ameliorate drug-related toxicities or improve virological response rates. [source]


    An overview of factors affecting the disposition of intramammary preparations used to treat bovine mastitis

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2006
    R. GEHRING
    The administration of antimicrobial drugs by the intramammary route offers a convenient option for the treatment of bovine mastitis. The goal of antimicrobial treatment is to achieve effective drug concentrations at the site of infection. Drug concentrations must also decrease to safe levels before the milk is harvested for human consumption. The rate of change of drug concentrations in the milk and udder tissues over time is dependent on the physicochemical characteristics of the drug and how these interact with the biological environment, affecting the rate and extent of absorption, distribution and elimination. Studies reported in the literature have identified various pathophysiological and pharmaceutical factors that may influence these processes. This review summarizes current understanding of factors affecting the disposition of drugs following intramammary administration. Areas of incomplete knowledge requiring further research have been identified. [source]


    Moxidectin and ivermectin metabolic stability in sheep ruminal and abomasal contents

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2005
    A. LIFSCHITZ
    The oral administration of macrocyclic lactones to sheep leads to poorer efficacy and shorter persistence of the antiparasitic activity compared to the subcutaneous treatment. Gastrointestinal biotransformation occurring after oral treatment to ruminant species has been considered as a possible cause of the differences observed between routes of administration. The current work was addressed to evaluate on a comparative basis the in vitro metabolism of moxidectin (MXD) and ivermectin (IVM) in sheep ruminal and abomasal contents. Both compounds were incubated under anaerobic conditions during 2, 6 and 24 h in ruminal and abomasal contents collected from untreated adult sheep. Drug concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after sample clean up and solid phase extraction. Neither MXD nor IVM suffered metabolic conversion and/or chemical degradation after 24-h incubation in ruminal and abomasal contents collected from adult sheep. Unchanged MXD and IVM parent compounds represented between 95.5 and 100% of the total drug recovered in the ruminal and abomasal incubation mixtures compared with those measured in inactive control incubations. The partition of both molecules between the solid and fluid phases of both sheep digestive contents was assessed. MXD and IVM were extensively bound (>90%) to the solid material of both ruminal and abomasal contents collected from sheep fed on lucerne hay. The results reported here confirm the extensive degree of association to the solid digestive material and demonstrates a high chemical stability without evident metabolism and/or degradation for both MXD and IVM in ruminal and abomasal contents. [source]


    Chemical Stability of Ziconotide-Clonidine Hydrochloride Admixtures With and Without Morphine Sulfate During Simulated Intrathecal Administration

    NEUROMODULATION, Issue 2007
    David Shields PhD
    ABSTRACT Objective., To determine the stability of ziconotide,clonidine hydrochloride admixtures with and without morphine sulfate during simulated intrathecal infusion under laboratory conditions at 37°. Materials and Methods., Admixtures of ziconotide (25 µg/mL) and clonidine hydrochloride (2 mg/mL) with and without morphine sulfate (35 mg/mL) were stored in Medtronic SynchroMed® II pumps at 37°. Pumps were sampled immediately after filling and at four additional time points over the course of 28 (ziconotide,clonidine hydrochloride admixture) or 20 (ziconotide,clonidine hydrochloride,morphine sulfate admixture) days. Drug concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results., Ziconotide concentration exceeded 97% of initial at all time points when combined with clonidine alone; statistical evaluation indicated that both ziconotide and clonidine concentrations would remain above 90% of initial for more than 60 days. When compounded with both clonidine and morphine, ziconotide and clonidine concentrations declined; statistical evaluation indicated that the ziconotide concentration was 70% of initial after 20 days, and that clonidine would remain 90% stable for 42 days. Morphine was stable in the presence of ziconotide and clonidine. Conclusions., A ziconotide-clonidine admixture was 90% stable for 60 days (extrapolated), and a ziconotide-clonidine-morphine admixture was 70% stable for 20 days. [source]


    The transplacental transfer of the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
    Gynaecology), Tuija Heikkinen Consultant (Obstetrics
    Objective To investigate the transplacental transfer of the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin. Methods Twenty-one term placentas were obtained with maternal consent immediately after delivery and a two-hour nonrecirculating perfusion of a single placental cotyledon was performed. Erythromycin (2 ,g/mL), roxithromycin (2 ,g/mL) and azithromycin (0.3 ,g/mL) were infused to the maternal inflow at a constant rate, with antipyrine as a reference compound, and their appearance in the fetal circulation was followed. Drug concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography for 120 min. Results The mean transplacental transfers (TPTss) for erythromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin were 3.0%, 4.3% and 2.6%, respectively, calculated as the ratio between the steady state concentrations in fetal venous and maternal arterial sides. Similar results were obtained when the TPT was calculated as the absolute amount of drug transferred across the placenta during 2-hour perfusion (TPTA). No significant differences were found among the three macrolides in TPTSS (P= 0.39) or TPTA (P= 0.35). The TPTSS of erythromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin were 41%, 35% and 32% of the freely diffusable reference compound antipyrine, respectively. Steady state was reached in 60 minutes in each perfusion indicating sufficient perfusion time. Conclusion The limited transplacental transfer of erythromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin suggests compromised efficacy in the treatment of fetal infections. On the other hand, the placenta seems to produce an effective barrier reducing the fetal exposure when these three macrolides are used to treat maternal infections. [source]


    Intracellular and plasma steady-state pharmacokinetics of raltegravir, darunavir, etravirine and ritonavir in heavily pre-treated HIV-infected patients

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
    Rob Ter Heine
    WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , The combination of raltegravir, etravirine and ritonavir boosted darunavir is a potent antiretroviral regimen for patients who have been heavily pre-treated for HIV-infection. All these agents have to exert their action intracellularly. However, only little is known about the cellular pharmacology of these agents. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , We investigated the steady-state plasma and cellular pharmacokinetics of raltegravir, etravirine, darunavir and ritonavir and the observed distinct intracellular accumulation ratios indicated that these antiretroviral drugs have different affinity for the cellular compartment. AIM To study the steady-state plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics of raltegravir, etravirine, darunavir and ritonavir in heavily pre-treated patients. METHODS Patients on a salvage regimen containing raltegravir, etravirine, darunavir and ritonavir were eligible for inclusion. During a 12 h dosing interval plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected. Drug concentrations were measured using a validated LC-MS/MS assay and pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using non-linear mixed effect modelling. RESULTS Irregular absorption was observed with raltegravir and darunavir, which may be caused by enterohepatic cycling. Relative bioavailability of ritonavir was low, when compared with other ritonavir regimens. Raltegravir plasma pharmacokinetics showed wide interpatient variability, while intracellular raltegravir concentrations could not be detected (<0.001 mg l,1 in cell lysate). The intracellular to plasma ratios for etravirine, darunavir and ritonavir were 12.9, 1.32 and 7.72, respectively, and the relative standard error of these estimates were 16.3%, 12.3% and 13.0%. CONCLUSIONS The observed distinct intracellular accumulation indicated that these drugs have different affinity for the cellular compartment. The relatively high intracellular accumulation of etravirine may explain its efficacy and its previously described absence of PK,PD relationships in the therapeutic concentration range, when compared with other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Lastly, the intracellular concentrations of ritonavir seem sufficient for inhibition of viral replication in the cellular compartment in PI-naive patients, but not in patients with HIV harbouring PI resistance. [source]


    Variability in non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitor concentrations among HIV-infected adults in routine clinical practice

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
    José Moltó
    What is already known about this subject ,,The concentration of protease and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibtors in plasma has been related to both efficacy and toxicity. ,,Most antiretroviral concentration data come from selected populations of patients undergoing therapeutic drug monitoring programmes, which may overestimate interindividual variability. What this study adds ,,Our study has demonstrated the large interindividual variability in antiretroviral drug concentrations in an unselected population of patients during routine clinical practice. ,,These results may provide interesting information to clinicians for the management of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients. Aims The objective of this study was to assess interindividual variability in trough concentrations of plasma of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) and protease inhibitors (PI) among HIV-infected adults in a routine outpatient setting. Methods One hundred and seventeen patients who attended our clinic for routine blood tests, and who were receiving antiretroviral therapy which included NNRTI or PI were studied. Patients were not informed that drug concentrations were going to be measured until blood sampling. The times of the last antiretroviral dose and of blood sampling were recorded. Drug concentrations were considered optimal if they were above the proposed minimum effective value. In addition, efavirenz, nevirapine and atazanavir concentrations were considered potentially toxic if they were >,4.0 mg l,1, >,6.0 mg l,1 and >,0.85 mg l,1, respectively. Results Overall, interindividual variability of NNRTI and PI concentrations in plasma was approximately 50%, and only 68.4% of the patients had drug concentrations within the proposed therapeutic range. Poor adherence explained only 35% of subtherapeutic drug concentrations. Conclusion Interindividual variability in trough concentrations of NNRTI and PI among HIV-infected adults is large in routine clinical practice, with drug concentrations being outside the therapeutic window in a significant proportion of patients. These findings provide further evidence that therapeutic drug monitoring may be useful to guide antiretroviral therapy in clinical practice. [source]


    Pharmacokinetics and systemic endocrine effects of the phyto-oestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin after single oral doses to postmenopausal women

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
    M. Rad
    Aims Pre-clinical data suggest that the racemic phyto-oestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) may have beneficial effects in postmenopausal women and may become an alternative to classical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment regimes. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics, endocrine effects and tolerability of chemically synthesized 8-PN in postmenopausal women. Methods The study was performed using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation design with three groups of eight healthy postmenopausal women. In each group six subjects received 8-PN and two subjects placebo. 8-PN was given orally in doses of 50, 250 or 750 mg. Drug concentrations in serum, urine and faeces were measured up to 48 h and follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations up to 24 h. Results All treatments were well tolerated and associated with a low incidence of (drug unrelated) adverse events. Serum concentrations of free 8-PN showed rapid drug absorption and secondary peaks suggestive of marked enterohepatic recirculation. Independent of the treatment group, approximately 30% of the dose was recovered in excreta as free compound or conjugates over the 48-h observation period. The first Cmax and AUC0,48 h showed dose linearity with ratios of 1 : 4.5 : 13.6 (Cmax) and 1 : 5.2 : 17.1 (AUC). The750- mg dose decreased LH concentrations by 16.7% (95% confidence interval 0.5, 30.2). Conclusion Single oral doses of up to 750 mg 8-PN were well tolerated by postmenopausal women. The pharmacokinetic profile of 8-PN was characterized by rapid and probably complete enteral absorption, high metabolic stability, pronounced enterohepatic recirculation and tight dose linearity. The decrease in LH serum concentrations found after the highest dose demonstrates the ability of 8-PN to exert systemic endocrine effects in postmenopausal women. [source]


    Characterization of interaction between doxycycline and human serum albumin by capillary electrophoresis-frontal analysis

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2009
    Hanwen Sun
    Abstract The binding of doxycycline to HSA under simulated physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 67,mM phosphate, I=0.17, drug concentration 100,,M, HSA concentration up to 475,,M, 36.5°C) was studied by CE-frontal analysis. The number of primary binding sites, binding constant and physiological protein-binding percentage were 1.9, 1.51×103,M,1 and 59.80%, respectively. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters including enthalpy change (,H), entropy change (,S) and free energy change (,G) of the reaction were obtained in order to characterize the acting forces between doxycycline and HSA. Furthermore, to better understand the nature of doxycycline,HSA binding and to get information about potential interaction with other drugs, displacement experiments were performed. The results showed that doxycycline binds at site II of HSA. [source]


    Original Article: Pulmonary function, airway cytology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid drug concentration after aerosol administration of cefquinome to horses

    EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 9 2010
    T. Art
    Summary The administration of antibiotics by aerosol to horses suffering from respiratory infections may partially circumvent the limitations of antimicrobial therapy, e.g. large injection volumes, low bioavailability and risk of diarrhoea. Only injectable formulations are available currently and usually contain other substances that could irritate the mucosa and induce coughing and bronchospasm. In addition, the quality of the aerosol, particularly in terms of the delivery of antibiotics to the deep parts of the lung, is unknown. Although used under field conditions, cefquinome delivered by aerosol has never been studied in horses. This study examined the safety of cefquinome injectable solution, administered by aerosol at a dose of 225 mg/inhalation to 7 healthy horses, by assessing (1) pulmonary function before and 15 min after a single inhalation, at the first day (Day 1) and the fifth day (Day 5) of a 5 day period treatment; and (2) the inflammatory status of the lung, i.e. percentage neutrophils and myeloperoxidase concentration, based on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at D1 and D5. In addition, cefquinome concentrations were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after aerosol, intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administrations. A single aerosol of cefquinome injectable solution did not induce any immediate nor delayed pulmonary side effects in healthy horses and produced cefquinome concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) within 30 min that were higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration of the main equine respiratory pathogens. These results should stimulate further studies, especially in horses suffering from bronchial hyper-reactivity. Aerosol delivery of antibiotics may well have a role in equine therapeutics. [source]


    The role of peripheral Na+ channels in triggering the central excitatory effects of intravenous cocaine

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2006
    P. Leon Brown
    Abstract While alterations in dopamine (DA) uptake appear to be a critical mechanism underlying locomotor and reinforcing effects of cocaine (COC), many centrally mediated physiological and affective effects of this drug are resistant to DA receptor blockade and are expressed more quickly following an intravenous (i.v.) injection than expected based on the dynamics of drug concentration in the brain. Because COC is also a potent local anesthetic, its rapid action on Na+ channels may be responsible for triggering these effects. We monitored temperatures in the nucleus accumbens, temporal muscle and skin together with conventional locomotion during a single i.v. injection of COC (1 mg/kg), procaine (PRO, 5 mg/kg; equipotential anesthetic dose), a short-acting local anesthetic drug that, like COC, interacts with Na+ channels, and cocaine methiodide (COC-MET, 1.31 mg/kg, equimolar dose), a quaternary COC derivative that is unable to cross the blood,brain barrier. In this way, we explored not only the importance of Na+ channels in general, but also the importance of central vs. peripheral Na+ channels specifically. COC induced locomotor activation, temperature increase in the brain and muscle, and a biphasic temperature fluctuation in skin. Though PRO did not induce locomotor activation, it mimicked, to a greater degree, the temperature effects of COC. Therefore, Na+ channels appear to be a key substrate for COC-induced temperature fluctuations in the brain and periphery. Similar to PRO, COC-MET had minimal effects on locomotion, but mimicked COC in its ability to increase brain and muscle temperature, and induce transient skin hypothermia. It appears therefore that COC's interaction with peripherally located Na+ channels triggers its central excitatory effects manifested by brain temperature increase, thereby playing a major role in drug sensing and possibly contributing to COC reinforcement. [source]


    Dissociation between objective psychomotor impairment and subjective sleepiness after diazepam administration in the aged people

    HUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 6 2007
    Masaru Echizenya
    Abstract The aim of the present study was to clarify whether subjective sleepiness accurately reflects benzodiazepine-related decline in psychomotor function after taking benzodiazepines (BZPs) in aged people. Subjects were eight healthy, young (mean age, 19.8,years) and seven healthy, older (mean age, 60.9,years) men. Placebo and diazepam (DZP) were administered orally in a single-blind crossover manner to the young subjects (placebo, 5,mg DZP and 10,mg DZP) and to the older subjects (placebo and 5,mg DZP). Plasma drug concentration, choice reaction time (CRT) as an objective measure of psychomotor function, and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) as a measure of subjective sleepiness were monitored every 20,min from 1000 until 1600,h, being the drug administered at 1200,h. Pharmacokinetic variables did not differ significantly between the two age groups. DZP at 10,mg in young subjects induced significant increases in both the CRT and SSS score. DZP at 5,mg induced no significant increase in SSS score in either age group but did induce a significant increase in CRT only in the older subjects that matched that in young subjects given 10,mg DZP. The older subjects suffered from dissociation between subjective sleepiness and objective psychomotor impairment under DZP treatment. Such individuals may underestimate the detrimental effects on brain function. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Reversal of doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer cells by photochemical internalization

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 11 2006
    Pei-Jen Lou
    Abstract Multiple drug resistance (MDR) is a problem that seriously reduces the efficacy of many chemotherapy agents. One mechanism for MDR is increased acidification of endocytic vesicles and increased cytosol pH, so weak base chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin, are trapped in endocytic vesicles and exhibit a drug resistant phenotype. Treatments that selectively reverse this accumulation may therefore reverse the MDR phenotype. Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a novel technology developed for site-specific enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of macromolecules by selective photochemical rupture of endocytic vesicles and consequent release of endocytosed macromolecules into the cytosol. This study evaluates PCI for release of doxorubicin from endocytic vesicles in MDR cells. Two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR (the latter resistant to doxorubicin), were selected. They were found equally sensitive to photochemical treatment with the photosensitiser TPPS2a (disulfonated meso-tetraphenylporphine) and light. On exposure to doxorubicin alone, the IC50 (drug concentration for 50% reduction in colony formation) was 0.1 ,M for MCF-7 and 1 ,M for MCF-7/ADR. After PCI (photochemical treatment followed by doxorubicin), the IC50 concentration was 0.1 ,M for both cell lines. Comparable changes were seen with assay of cell viability using 3-(4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). On fluorescence microscopy in MCF-7/ADR cells, doxorubicin localised in granules identified as lysosomes. After PCI, doxorubicin was released into the cytosol and entered cell nuclei, as was seen in MCF-7 cells without PCI. In conclusion, PCI reversed the MDR phenotype of doxorubicin resistant breast cancer cells by endo-lysosomal release of the drug. The technique is a promising new approach to tackling the problem of MDR. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Biodegradable blend films based on two polysaccharide derivatives and their use as ibuprofen-releasing matrices

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
    Ju-Zhen Yi
    Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and viscosity methods were used to examine the miscibility, interaction, and degradability of cationic guar gum (GG) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) in their blend films. The experiment results prove that there exist electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding between GG and NaCMC. Blend films degrade quicker than pure GG or NaCMC film. Furthermore, the degradation rate of blend films is related to the interactions between GG and NaCMC. Based on the research of blend films as the drug carriers for Ibuprofen, it is found that the blend composition, initial drug concentration, and pH value affect the drug release and the GG/NaCMC blend films have good sustained release performance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3553,3559, 2007 [source]


    Controlled drug delivery: therapeutic and pharmacological aspects

    JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2000
    J. Urquhart
    Abstract. Urquhart J (Department of Epidemiology, Pharmaco-epidemiology Group, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands). Controlled drug delivery: therapeutic and pharmacological aspects (Internal Medicine in the 21st Century). J Intern Med 2000; 248: 357,376. Concerted work to develop human pharmaceuticals based on rate-controlled drug delivery systems began in 1970. Today there are over three dozen such products, plus a few for veterinary use. In addition, osmotic minipumps have been extensively used since 1978, resulting in over 6000 publications in the pharmacological, endocrinological and physiological literature. Rate-controlled delivery provides for drug entry into the bloodstream continuously at either a constant or a modulated rate. By this means, one avoids the usual peak and trough pattern of drug concentrations in plasma, with its echoing peak and trough pattern of drug actions, during the interval between successive doses. In contrast to the happenstance release kinetics of rapid-release dosage forms, rate-controlled delivery systems can be designed to provide specific temporal patterns of drug concentration in plasma, for the purpose of optimizing the selectivity of drug action, the interval between successive administerings of drug and the likelihood that the next administering will occur at the proper time. [source]


    The role of ultrasound and magnetic resonance in local drug delivery

    JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 2 2008
    Roel Deckers MS
    Abstract Local drug delivery has recently attracted much attention since it represents a strategy to increase the drug concentration at the target location and decrease systemic toxicity effects. Ultrasound can be used in different ways to trigger regional drug delivery. It can cause the local drug release from a carrier vehicle and the local increase of cell membrane permeability either by a mechanical action or by a temperature increase. Ultrasound contrast agents may enhance these effects by means of cavitation. Ultrasound can be focused deep inside the body into a small region with dimensions on the order of 1 mm. Several types of drug microcarriers have been proposed, from nano- to micrometer sized particles. The objective of real-time imaging of local drug delivery is to assure that the delivery takes place in the target region, that the drug concentration and the resulting physiological reaction are sufficient, and to intervene if necessary. Ultrasound and nuclear imaging techniques play an important role. MRI is rather insensitive but allows precise targeting of (focused) ultrasound, can provide real-time temperature maps, and gives access to a variety of imaging biomarkers that may be used to assess drug action. Examples from recent articles illustrate the potential of the principles of ultrasound-triggered local drug delivery. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;27:400,409. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Characterization of drug-resistance mutations in HIV-1 isolates from non-HAART and HAART treated patients in Burkina Faso

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 11 2006
    W.M. Nadembega
    Abstract Non-B HIV subtypes have been estimated to account for 88% of HIV infections in the world. These subtypes are particularly relevant in view of the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, since subtype-specific mutations are associated with drug-resistance in developing countries. Therefore, the pol gene sequences in HIV-1 isolates were examined from the three distinct groups of 39 infected patients from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso: 17 patients who had not received any antiretroviral therapy (ART); 16 patients received ART, and 6 HIV-infected children, from infected mothers, received a single Nevirapine dose prophylaxis during birth. HIV-1 pol sequencing was successful for 29 samples. As expected, all patients presented the common (non-B subtype) M36I polymorphism and 26/29 (90%) the K20I mutation. Phylogenetic studies showed high predominance of recombinant HIV-1 strains: CRF06_cpx 16/29 (55.17%), CRF02_AG 9/29 (31.03%), A1 2/29 (6.89%), G 1/29 (3.44%), and CRF09_cpx 1/29 (3.44%). Two twins showed, 6 months after birth, a NNRTI-mutation (Y181C/Y). During the same period, the twin mother presented a different NNRTI-mutation (V106I), thus suggesting that the different blood drug concentration may determine a different drug-resistance pathway. Among 17 non-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) patients, 3/17 (17.64%) presented virus with reverse transcriptase (RT) mutations [V118I: 1/17 patients (5.88%), V179E: 2/17 patients (11.76%)]. 10/17 (58.82%) presented virus with minor protease (PR) mutations [L63P: 5/17 patients (29.41%), V77I: 3/17 patients (17.64%), L10I: 2/17 patients (11.76%)]. 4/17 patients did not show any PR and RT mutations (23.52%). Among six HAART-treated patients, 6/6 and 3/6 had M36I and L63LP protease minor subtypes, respectively; and only two (33.33%) presented virus with K103N mutation. The low prevalence of drug-resistant associated mutations in Burkina Faso is encouraging. However, further studies with a larger cohort with a high non-B subtype prevalence are necessary to optimize ART in developing countries. J. Med. Virol. 78:1385,1391, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    On the possibility of self-induction of drug protein binding

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 10 2010
    Leonid M. Berezhkovskiy
    Abstract The equilibrium unbound drug fraction (fu) is an important pharmacokinetic parameter, which influences drug elimination and distribution in the body. Commonly the drug plasma concentration is substantially less then that of drug binding proteins, so that fu can be assumed constant independent of drug concentration. A general consideration of protein binding based on the mass-action law provides that the unbound drug fraction increases with the increase of drug concentration, which is also a usual experimental observation. For several drugs, though, a seemingly unusual sharp decrease of the unbound drug fraction with the increase of total drug concentration (Ro) in the interval 0,<,Ro,,,5,µM was experimentally observed. A possible explanation of this apparently strange phenomenon is presented. The explanation is based on the consideration of a two-step mechanism of drug protein binding. The first step occurs as a drug binding to the site with relatively low affinity. Consequently this binding leads to the activation of a high affinity site, which otherwise is not available for binding. The suggested binding scheme yields the curves for fu dependence on the total drug concentration that are in good agreement with experimental measurements. The interpretation of pharmacokinetic data for the drugs with such unusual concentration dependence of fu appears to be a formidable problem. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:4400,4405, 2010 [source]


    Consideration of the linear concentration increase of the unbound drug fraction in plasma

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009
    Leonid M. Berezhkovskiy
    Abstract The concentration of drug in plasma may not necessarily be much less than that of the drug binding proteins, as often considered. Thus the unbound drug fraction could be concentration dependent, which should be taken into account in the interpretation of drug pharmacokinetics and modeling. It is shown that the increase of the unbound drug fraction, fu, can be very accurately considered proportional to the drug plasma concentration for a relatively wide range of concentrations. Equations for the calculation of fu in this linear range are obtained, as well the limiting drug concentration when the linear approximation of fu is applicable. The suggested approach greatly simplifies the calculation of fu and can be ready used in pharmacokinetic calculations and PK-PD models, as well as for the prediction of the change of fu due to the variation of protein concentrations in plasma. Naproxen protein binding in human plasma is considered as an illustration of the method. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:383,393, 2009 [source]


    In vitro assessment of cytochrome P450 inhibition: Strategies for increasing LC/MS-based assay throughput using a one-point IC50 method and multiplexing high-performance liquid chromatography

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2007
    Tong Lin
    Abstract A fast and robust LC/MS-based cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition assay, using human liver microsomes, has been fully developed and validated for the major human liver CYPs. Probe substrates were phenacetin, diclofenac, S-mephenytoin, and dextromethorphan for CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6, respectively. Midazolam and testosterone were chosen for CYP3A4. Furafylline, sulfaphenazole, tranylcypromine, quinidine, and ketoconazole were identified as positive control inhibitors for CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4, respectively. To increase the throughput of the assay, a one-point method was developed, using data from CYP inhibition assays conducted at one concentration (i.e., 10 µM), to estimate the drug concentration at which the metabolism of the CYP probe substrate was reduced by 50% (IC50). The IC50 values from the one-point assay were validated by correlating the results with IC50 values that were obtained with a traditional eight-point concentration,response curve. Good correlation was achieved with the slopes of the trendlines between 0.95 and 1.02 and with R2 between 0.77 and 1.0. Throughput was increased twofold by using a Cohesive multiplexing high-performance liquid chromatography system. The one-point IC50 estimate is useful for initial compound screening, while the full concentration,response IC50 method provides detailed CYP inhibition data for later stages of drug development. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96: 2485,2493, 2007 [source]


    On the calculation of the concentration dependence of drug binding to plasma proteins with multiple binding sites of different affinities: Determination of the possible variation of the unbound drug fraction and calculation of the number of binding sites of the protein

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2007
    Leonid M. Berezhkovskiy
    Abstract The measurement of the unbound drug fraction in plasma is routinely performed at drug concentrations much less than that of plasma proteins. Commonly, the protein has several binding sites of different affinities. The obtained value of the unbound drug fraction does not yield the affinity of each binding site separately. For drug binding to a single type of protein, it is shown that the assumption that all binding sites of the protein have the same affinity yields the slowest possible concentration increase of the unbound drug fraction, while the assumption that a drug binds to a single binding site yields the highest possible value of the unbound fraction for a given drug concentration. The conditions to be imposed on the affinities of binding sites, to provide the fastest and the slowest possible concentration increase of the unbound drug fraction are also obtained for the case of drug binding to several types of plasma proteins. The suggested approach is applied to the determination of the number of binding sites of the protein from the measured values of the unbound drug fraction at different drug concentrations. ©2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96:249,257, 2007 [source]


    In situ measurement of solvent-mediated phase transformations during dissolution testing

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 12 2006
    Jaakko Aaltonen
    Abstract In this study, solvent-mediated phase transformations of theophylline (TP) and nitrofurantoin (NF) were measured in a channel flow intrinsic dissolution test system. The test set-up comprised simultaneous measurement of drug concentration in the dissolution medium (with UV-Vis spectrophotometry) and measurement of the solid-state form of the dissolving solid (in situ with Raman spectroscopy). The solid phase transformations were also investigated off-line with scanning electron microscopy. TP anhydrate underwent a transformation to TP monohydrate, and NF anhydrate (form ,) to NF monohydrate (form II). Transformation of TP anhydrate to TP monohydrate resulted in a clear decrease in the dissolution rate, while the transformation of NF anhydrate (form ,) to NF monohydrate (form II) could not be linked as clearly to changes in the dissolution rate. The transformation of TP was an order of magnitude faster than that of NF. The presence of a water absorbing excipient, microcrystalline cellulose, was found to delay the onset of the transformation of TP anhydrate. Combining the measurement of drug concentration in the dissolution medium with the solid phase measurement offers a deeper understanding of the solvent-mediated phase transformation phenomena during dissolution. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 95:2730,2737, 2006 [source]


    Tolerability and improved protective action of idebenone-loaded pegylated liposomes on ethanol-induced injury in primary cortical astrocytes,

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 7 2004
    Donatella Paolino
    Abstract The potential therapeutic advantages of the encapsulation of idebenone within pegylated liposomes were investigated in vitro on primary cortical astrocytes of rats. In particular, both the concentration-dependent effects and the therapeutic effectiveness toward excitotoxic injury, elicited by chronic treatment with ethanol (100 ,M) for 12 days, were evaluated. The following parameters were taken into consideration to assay free or liposomally entrapped idebenone: lactic dehydrogenase release, respiratory capacity measured by tetrazolium salt conversion, glutamine synthetase, and the levels of constitutive and inducible 70-kDa heat shock proteins. To evaluate the effects on astrocytes, three different drug concentrations were used (0.5 ,M, 5 ,M, and 50 ,M). At the highest concentration used (50 ,M), a toxic effect of the free and liposomally entrapped drug was observed. Toxic effects seem to be due to a cellular membrane perturbation, as demonstrated by 45Ca2+ permeation. The therapeutic effect of free or liposomally entrapped idebenone on ethanol-induced injury of primary cortical astrocytes was evaluated as a function of the drug concentration. The drug liposome formulation was much more effective than the free drug in counteracting the ethanol-induced damage in astrocytes, i.e., 10-times-lower doses of liposomally entrapped idebenone are able to provide a greater protective action than the free drug. The improved action of idebenone-loaded liposomes is probably due to the greater drug bioavailability at the cellular level. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1815,1827, 2004 [source]


    Volume of distribution at steady state for a linear pharmacokinetic system with peripheral elimination

    JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2004
    Leonid M. Berezhkovskiy
    Abstract The problem of finding the steady-state volume of distribution Vss for a linear pharmacokinetic system with peripheral drug elimination is considered. A commonly used equation Vss,=,(D/AUC)*MRT is applicable only for the systems with central (plasma) drug elimination. The following equation, Vss,=,(D/AUC)*MRTint, was obtained, where AUC is the commonly calculated area under the time curve of the total drug concentration in plasma after intravenous (iv) administration of bolus drug dose, D, and MRTint is the intrinsic mean residence time, which is the average time the drug spends in the body (system) after entering the systemic circulation (plasma). The value of MRTint cannot be found from a drug plasma concentration profile after an iv bolus drug input if a peripheral drug exit occurs. The obtained equation does not contain the assumption of an immediate equilibrium of protein and tissue binding in plasma and organs, and thus incorporates the rates of all possible reactions. If drug exits the system only through central compartment (plasma) and there is an instant equilibrium between bound and unbound drug fractions in plasma, then MRTint becomes equal to MRT,=,AUMC/AUC, which is calculated using the time course of the total drug concentration in plasma after an iv bolus injection. Thus, the obtained equation coincides with the traditional one, Vss,=,(D/AUC)*MRT, if the assumptions for validity of this equation are met. Experimental methods for determining the steady-state volume of distribution and MRTint, as well as the problem of determining whether peripheral drug elimination occurs, are considered. The equation for calculation of the tissue,plasma partition coefficient with the account of peripheral elimination is obtained. The difference between traditionally calculated Vss,=,(D/AUC)*MRT and the true value given by (D/AUC)*MRTint is discussed. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1628,1640, 2004 [source]


    Pharmacokinetic profile and behavioral effects of gabapentin in the horse

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2010
    R. L. TERRY
    Terry, R. L., McDonnell, S. M., van Eps, A. W., Soma, L. R., Liu, Y., Uboh, C. E., Moate, P. J., Driessen, B. Pharmacokinetic profile and behavioral effects of gabapentin in the horse. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33, 485,494. Gabapentin is being used in horses although its pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, pharmacodynamic (PD) effects and safety in the equine are not fully investigated. Therefore, we characterized PKs and cardiovascular and behavioral effects of gabapentin in horses. Gabapentin (20 mg/kg) was administered i.v. or p.o. to six horses using a randomized crossover design. Plasma gabapentin concentrations were measured in samples collected 0,48 h postadministration employing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Blood pressures, ECG, and sedation scores were recorded before and for 12 h after gabapentin dosage. Nineteen quantitative measures of behaviors were evaluated. After i.v. gabapentin, the decline in plasma drug concentration over time was best described by a 3-compartment mammillary model. Terminal elimination half-life (t1/2,) was 8.5 (7.1,13.3) h. After p.o. gabapentin terminal elimination half-life () was 7.7 (6.7,11.9) h. The mean oral bioavailability of gabapentin (±SD) was 16.2 ± 2.8% indicating relatively poor absorption of gabapentin following oral administration in horses. Gabapentin caused a significant increase in sedation scores for 1 h after i.v. dose only (P < 0.05). Among behaviors, drinking frequency was greater and standing rest duration was lower with i.v. gabapentin (P < 0.05). Horses tolerated both i.v. and p.o. gabapentin doses well. There were no significant differences in and . Oral administration yielded much lower plasma concentrations because of low bioavailability. [source]


    Correlation between serum concentrations following continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine or medetomidine in cats and their sedative and analgesic effects

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2000
    Ansah
    Dexmedetomidine (DEX) may have some therapeutic advantages over the racemate medetomidine (MED). Here we have examined how serum concentrations of DEX correlate with some of its anaesthetic effects. Cats (n = 6) were administered with a continuous stepwise intravenous (i.v.) infusion of DEX or MED on different occasions in a cross-over design. Maintenance infusion rates (mg/kg/min) used were: DEX = 0.25 (MED = 0.50); DEX = 1 (MED = 2) and DEX = 4 (MED = 8) for infusion steps 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Each maintenance infusion lasted at least 50 min and was preceded with a loading dose. There was no significant difference between serum DEX and 0.5 serum MED concentrations at any dose level nor was there a significant difference between serum DEX and the (entire) serum MED concentrations. There was no significant difference between DEX and MED for sedation, analgesia, muscular relaxation and heart and respiratory rates. For both DEX and MED, serum drug concentration and analgesia were dose-dependent and sedation increased until the end of infusion step 2 (dose level 2) and decreased at the end of step 3 (dose level 3). Muscular relaxation was not dose-dependent. We conclude that increasing the blood concentration of DEX or MED beyond a certain level decreases the level of sedation instead of increasing it even though analgesia increases. The rate at which DEX and MED are metabolized in cats may not be the same. [source]


    Intrathecal inflammatory masses: is the yearly opioid dose increase an early indicator?

    NEUROMODULATION, Issue 2 2010
    Rui V. Duarte BSc
    Objectives:, The objective of this study is to investigate the association between intrathecal drug, flow rate, drug concentration, and drug dose with the formation of intrathecal inflammatory masses. Methods:, A retrospective longitudinal study of 56 consecutive patients receiving long-term intrathecal analgesic administration was undertaken through screening of medical records. Data regarding drug flow rate, dose per day, and concentration of drugs administered were recorded for morphine, diamorphine, bupivicaine, clonidine and baclofen and averages computed. Results:, The average follow-up time post-implant was 91 ± 55 months (range: 9,209). Four of the 56 patients were diagnosed with intrathecal granuloma indicating a rate of 7%, the equivalent to 0.009 events per patient year. Twenty-one of the patients had received morphine either alone or combined; 22 had received diamorphine either alone or mixed; and 13 crossed over from morphine to diamorphine or the inverse. None of the patients with granuloma crossed over before diagnosis. A significant correlation was found between opioid dose (r= 0.275, p < 0.05), yearly increase of the opioid dose (r= 0.433, p < 0.05), and granuloma formation. Clonidine appeared to have a protective effect for the non-granuloma patients. No association was found with flow rate (r= 0.056) or opioid concentration (r= 0.214). Conclusion:, This is the first detailed study showing an association of diamorphine with granulomas. This study supports the previous finding of intrathecal opioid dose being a risk factor for intrathecal granulomas and clonidine being protective. In addition we have found that the yearly increase in opioid dose is a risk factor for granulomas and could serve as an indicator for closer surveillance. [source]


    Pharmacokinetic parameters estimation using adaptive Bayesian P-splines models

    PHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS: THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED STATISTICS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, Issue 2 2009
    Astrid Jullion
    Abstract In preclinical and clinical experiments, pharmacokinetic (PK) studies are designed to analyse the evolution of drug concentration in plasma over time i.e. the PK profile. Some PK parameters are estimated in order to summarize the complete drug's kinetic profile: area under the curve (AUC), maximal concentration (Cmax), time at which the maximal concentration occurs (tmax) and half-life time (t1/2). Several methods have been proposed to estimate these PK parameters. A first method relies on interpolating between observed concentrations. The interpolation method is often chosen linear. This method is simple and fast. Another method relies on compartmental modelling. In this case, nonlinear methods are used to estimate parameters of a chosen compartmental model. This method provides generally good results. However, if the data are sparse and noisy, two difficulties can arise with this method. The first one is related to the choice of the suitable compartmental model given the small number of data available in preclinical experiment for instance. Second, nonlinear methods can fail to converge. Much work has been done recently to circumvent these problems (J. Pharmacokinet. Pharmacodyn. 2007; 34:229,249, Stat. Comput., to appear, Biometrical J., to appear, ESAIM P&S 2004; 8:115,131). In this paper, we propose a Bayesian nonparametric model based on P-splines. This method provides good PK parameters estimation, whatever be the number of available observations and the level of noise in the data. Simulations show that the proposed method provides better PK parameters estimations than the interpolation method, both in terms of bias and precision. The Bayesian nonparametric method provides also better AUC and t1/2 estimations than a correctly specified compartmental model, whereas this last method performs better in tmax and Cmax estimations. We extend the basic model to a hierarchical one that treats the case where we have concentrations from different subjects. We are then able to get individual PK parameter estimations. Finally, with Bayesian methods, we can get easily some uncertainty measures by obtaining credibility sets for each PK parameter. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Nonparametric confidence intervals for Tmax in sequence-stratified crossover studies

    PHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS: THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED STATISTICS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, Issue 1 2008
    Susan A. Willavize
    Abstract Tmax is the time associated with the maximum serum or plasma drug concentration achieved following a dose. While Tmax is continuous in theory, it is usually discrete in practice because it is equated to a nominal sampling time in the noncompartmental pharmacokinetics approach. For a 2-treatment crossover design, a Hodges,Lehmann method exists for a confidence interval on treatment differences. For appropriately designed crossover studies with more than two treatments, a new median-scaling method is proposed to obtain estimates and confidence intervals for treatment effects. A simulation study was done comparing this new method with two previously described rank-based nonparametric methods, a stratified ranks method and a signed ranks method due to Ohrvik. The Normal theory, a nonparametric confidence interval approach without adjustment for periods, and a nonparametric bootstrap method were also compared. Results show that less dense sampling and period effects cause increases in confidence interval length. The Normal theory method can be liberal (i.e. less than nominal coverage) if there is a true treatment effect. The nonparametric methods tend to be conservative with regard to coverage probability and among them the median-scaling method is least conservative and has shortest confidence intervals. The stratified ranks method was the most conservative and had very long confidence intervals. The bootstrap method was generally less conservative than the median-scaling method, but it tended to have longer confidence intervals. Overall, the median-scaling method had the best combination of coverage and confidence interval length. All methods performed adequately with respect to bias. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]