Dose Selection (dose + selection)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Short-wave diathermy: current clinical and safety practices

PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002
Nora Shields MISCP
Abstract Background and Purpose Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is widely available, yet a comprehensive examination of current clinical practice remains absent from the literature. The present paper aims to assess clinical and safety issues in continuous (CSWD) and pulsed (PSWD) short-wave diathermy application and subsequently indicate areas for future research. Method A postal survey was carried out among 116 senior physiotherapists in 41 Irish hospital-based physiotherapy departments. Results The response rate to the study was 75%. Analysis found that PSWD was the preferred mode of treatment with 27% of respondents using it more than once daily. Respondents considered both modes of treatment indicated for a variety of conditions. CSWD was rated as an effective treatment for chronic osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, non-specific arthrosis and haematomas. PSWD was reported an effective modality for acute soft tissue injury, haematomas, acute osteoarthritis, sinusitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dose selection varied greatly but tended to be based on the type, nature and duration of the condition. Analysis of safety practices uncovered concerning findings. Although a high level of agreement was found on measures for patient safety, 30% of respondents reported that no measures for operator safety were taken and only five respondents stated they remained a specified distance from SWD equipment. Measures to ensure the safety of other personnel in the physiotherapy department were also lacking. Conclusions Given the availability of SWD equipment and its apparent efficacy in certain conditions, future research should aim to establish this by means of controlled clinical trials. The findings on safety practices underline the urgent need for comprehensive guidelines to ensure the safety of operators, patients and the general public during SWD application. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]


Dose selection and population pharmacokinetics of PEG-Intron in patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Samir Gupta
Aims To assess the dose selection using population pharmacokinetics of Pegylated Intron-,2b (PEG-Intron) in patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). Methods PEG-Intron 3,6 µg kg,1 was administered subcutaneously once a week and blood samples were collected up to 48 weeks of treatment. A total of 624 samples collected from 137 patients were included in the analysis. Nonlinear mixed-effects modelling was used to analyse the sparsely sampled concentration data from a clinical efficacy trial. Covariates in the analysis included weight, sex, age, race, serum creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance (CLcr). Results The apparent clearance of PEG-Intron decreased after repeated dosing. The clearance at treatment week 4 was 42.3 l day,1 (patients with CLcr 120 ml min,1) with interpatient variability 30%. At treatment week 48, the clearance value was reduced to 69% of its week 4 value. CLcr, a composite variable calculated from body weight, sex, age and serum creatinine, had a small but statistically significant influence on the clearance of PEG-Intron. The clearance of PEG-Intron in patients with CML was 40% higher than that of hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Conclusion The dose of PEG-Intron 6.0 µg kg,1 week,1 appeared appropriate in the treatment of patients with CML. [source]


Cardiovascular pharmacology and physiology of the isoprostanes

FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
Jean-Luc Cracowski
Abstract F2 -isoprostanes are a complex family of compounds produced from arachidonic acid via a free radical-catalyzed mechanism. Their quantification as a pathophysiological biomarker provides a unique opportunity to investigate lipid peroxidation in vascular diseases. Their measurement also provides an interesting biomarker for the rational dose selection of antioxidants in vascular diseases where oxidative stress might be involved. In addition to their use as biomarkers, some isoprostanes possess a biological activity. The 15-series F2 - and E2 -isoprostanes mediate vasoconstriction in different vascular beds and species. In addition, 15-F2t -IsoP induces smooth muscle cells mitogenesis and monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. The data available supports but does not prove the hypothesis that isoprostanes are involved in vascular physiology and pathogenesis. [source]


Three novel thiopurine S-methyltransferase allelic variants (TPMT*20, *21, *22) , association with decreased enzyme function,,

HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 9 2006
Elke Schaeffeler
Abstract The genetic polymorphism of the thiopurine S-methyltransferase, TPMT, comprises at least 21 alleles causing three distinct drug metabolism phenotypes termed normal/high, intermediate, and deficient methylators. In consequence, adverse drug reactions may occur if standard doses of thiopurines are applied routinely. Genetic prediction of the methylator phenotype as a basis for dose selection requires the extensive knowledge of single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring naturally in the population. Here we describe three novel missense variants in the TPMT gene which were associated with an intermediate red blood cell TPMT activity in three Caucasians. The following alleles were designated: TPMT*20 (c.712A>G), *21 (c.205C>G), and *22 (c.488G>C). No further genetic variations in remaining coding regions as well as the 5,flanking region of TPMT were identified. These sequence variants are present in highly conserved nucleotide positions of the TPMT gene throughout various mammalian species and in zebra fish, and are predicted to be intolerant when the functional consequences of variations were analyzed using SIFT (Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant) algorithm. In Caucasians the occurrence of these genetic variants appears to be extremely rare since none of these alleles were identified in a randomly selected control population of 1048 individuals. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Development and validation of the maximal electro-shock seizure model in dogs

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2007
P. R. TERRITO
The development and validation of the maximal electro-shock (MES) model using phenobarbital (Pb) as the positive control is described. This approach builds on previous work in rodent model systems, and has been adapted to dogs as a tool for pharmaceutical dose selection. Dogs, like rodents, exhibit generalized convulsions which manifest as progressive clinical signs in a dose (electrical current) dependent fashion. At the limit (300 mA, 200 msec) animals underwent clonic-tonic convulsions consistent with complete generalized (Grand Mal) seizures with a grade 3 clinical score (CS) and a menace response time of 98.5 ± 24.4 sec (n = 8). Pretreatment of animals with Pb at 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, in a 4-by-4 complete block crossover design (Latin-Square), resulted in a dose-dependant reduction in CS and menace response time. Estimates of plasma Pb concentration taken prior to MES induction showed a similar dose-dependent reduction in CS and menace response time with concentration. Using a cumulative logistic regression model, a predicted 50% probability of a CS = 1 was approximately 11.4 mg/kg. In addition, plasma Pb concentrations predicted a 50% probability of a CS = 1 occurs at plasma Pb concentration of approximately 16.0 ,g/mL. Combined these data suggest that MES is a useful model for evaluating generalized convulsions in canines and may provide a tool for dose selection of novel pharmaceutical compounds. [source]


RT08 Population PK and PK/PD investigations and Monte Carlo simulations for a rational dosage regimen

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2006
P. L. TOUTAIN
Objective There are several means whereby dosage schedules for clinical use may be set, some more appropriate and scientific than others! The challenge of the 21st century must be for colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry, those serving registration bodies and academic colleagues to pool their expertise with the objective of designing dosage schedules for clinical use, which are based on the application of sound scientific principles appropriate for each drug class. In this Roundtable Session colleagues of international standing will review (a) pharmacological and other sources of variability in the responses to drugs; (b) the advantages and limitations of pre-clinical studies for dose selection; (c) the roles of population PK and population PK/PD together with Monte Carlo simulations in dosage regimen selection; (d) Bayesian approaches to dosage selection and (e) regulatory guidelines on the type and extent of studies required for selecting dosages. There is no unanimity amongst stakeholders on either the principles or the methods underlying dosage schedule design. Dose titration studies have long been the principal means of fixing doses but PK-PD and population PK-PD studies are now challenging more traditional approaches. The papers and discussion in this Roundtable Session will provide a critical basis for future advances in this crucial area of therapeutic drug usage. Getting the doses right means that the patient will receive maximum benefit, in terms of optimal efficacy with minimal toxicity, and hence correct dosing will contribute enormously to animal welfare. [source]


RT09 Bayesian approaches in dosage selection

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2006
D. CONCORDET
Objective There are several means whereby dosage schedules for clinical use may be set, some more appropriate and scientific than others! The challenge of the 21st century must be for colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry, those serving registration bodies and academic colleagues to pool their expertise with the objective of designing dosage schedules for clinical use, which are based on the application of sound scientific principles appropriate for each drug class. In this Roundtable Session colleagues of international standing will review (a) pharmacological and other sources of variability in the responses to drugs; (b) the advantages and limitations of pre-clinical studies for dose selection; (c) the roles of population PK and population PK/PD together with Monte Carlo simulations in dosage regimen selection; (d) Bayesian approaches to dosage selection and (e) regulatory guidelines on the type and extent of studies required for selecting dosages. There is no unanimity amongst stakeholders on either the principles or the methods underlying dosage schedule design. Dose titration studies have long been the principal means of fixing doses but PK-PD and population PK-PD studies are now challenging more traditional approaches. The papers and discussion in this Roundtable Session will provide a critical basis for future advances in this crucial area of therapeutic drug usage. Getting the doses right means that the patient will receive maximum benefit, in terms of optimal efficacy with minimal toxicity, and hence correct dosing will contribute enormously to animal welfare. [source]


Phase II trial of CoQ10 for ALS finds insufficient evidence to justify phase III,

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Petra Kaufmann MD
Objective Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, and currently incurable, neuromuscular disease in which oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment are contributing to neuronal loss. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant and mitochondrial cofactor, has shown promise in ALS transgenic mice, and in clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases other than ALS. Our aims were to choose between two high doses of CoQ10 for ALS, and to determine if it merits testing in a Phase III clinical trial. Methods We designed and implemented a multicenter trial with an adaptive, two-stage, bias-adjusted, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, Phase II design (n = 185). The primary outcome in both stages was a decline in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised (ALSFRSr) score over 9 months. Stage 1 (dose selection, 35 participants per group) compared CoQ10 doses of 1,800 and 2,700mg/day. Stage 2 (futility test, 75 patients per group) compared the dose selected in Stage 1 against placebo. Results Stage 1 selected the 2,700mg dose. In Stage 2, the pre-specified primary null hypothesis that this dose is superior to placebo was not rejected. It was rejected, however, in an accompanying prespecified sensitivity test, and further supplementary analyses. Prespecified secondary analyses showed no significant differences between CoQ10 at 2,700mg/day and placebo. There were no safety concerns. Interpretation CoQ10 at 2,700mg daily for 9 months shows insufficient promise to warrant Phase III testing. Given this outcome, the adaptive Phase II design incorporating a dose selection and a futility test avoided the need for a much larger conventional Phase III trial. Ann Neurol 2009;66:235,244 [source]


An Adaptive Hierarchical Test Procedure for Selecting Safe and Efficient Treatments

BIOMETRICAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2006
Franz König
Abstract We consider the situation where during a multiple treatment (dose) control comparison high doses are truncated because of lack of safety and low doses are truncated because of lack of efficacy, e.g., by decisions of a data safety monitoring committee in multiple interim looks. We investigate the properties of a hierarchical test procedure for the efficacy outcome in the set of doses carried on until the end of the trial, starting with the highest selected dose group to be compared with the placebo at the full level ,. Left truncation, i.e., dropping doses in a sequence starting with the lowest dose, does not inflate the type I error rate. It is shown that right truncation does not inflate the type I error if efficacy and toxicity are positively related and dose selection is based on monotone functions of the safety data. A positive relation is given e.g. in the case where the efficacy and toxicity data are normally distributed with a positive pairwise correlation. A positive relation also applies if the probability for an adverse event is increasing with a normally distributed efficacy outcome. The properties of such truncation procedures are investigated by simulations. There is a conflict between achieving a small number of unsafely treated patients and a high power to detect safe and efficient doses. We also investigated a procedure to increase power where a reallocation of the sample size to the truncated treatments and the control remaining at the following stages is performed. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Desloratadine dose selection in children aged 6 months to 2 years: comparison of population pharmacokinetics between children and adults

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Samir K. Gupta
What is already known about this subject ,,According to recent literature, the pathophysiologies of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria are thought to be similar in adults and children. In addition, the response to antihistamine treatment is similar in adults and children, suggesting a similar concentration-response relationship. ,,However, an appropriate dose selection and the pharmacokinetics of desloratadine in children of ,6 months,,2 years old have never been addressed in the literature. What this study adds ,,This study demonstrated that desloratadine syrup offers a safe treatment option for allergic conditions in young children. ,,A suitable dose for children aged ,6 months,<1 year is 1.0 mg, while the corresponding predicted dose for children aged ,1 year,,2 years is 1.25 mg. These paediatric doses yielded similar systemic desloratadine exposures (AUC) to those seen with a typical adult dose of 5.0 mg. Aims The aim of this study was to identify the dose of desloratadine in children aged ,6 months,,2 years that would yield a single-dose target exposure (AUC) comparable with that in adults taking 5 mg desloratadine as syrup. Methods In a phase 1, single-dose, open-label, pharmacokinetic study in 58 children aged ,6 months,<1 year and ,1 year,,2 years were randomly assigned to desloratadine syrup 0.625 mg (1.25 ml) and 1.25 mg (2.5 ml), respectively. Because the volume of blood that could be collected from individual subjects was limited, a population pharmacokinetic approach was used to estimate the pharmacokinetics of desloratadine. Safety was assessed based on results of screening and postdose physical examinations, laboratory safety tests, vital signs, and adverse events. Results The apparent clearance (CL/F) of desloratadine, population estimate (%CV), in children aged ,6 months,<1 year was 27.8 l h,1 (35) and corresponding values in children ,1 year,,2 years was 35.5 l h,1 (51), compared with 137 l h,1 (58) for adults. The CL/F ratios (children to adults) indicated that doses of 1 mg for ,6 months,<1 year and 1.25 mg for ,1 year,,2 years would result in similar systemic exposure to that observed in adults receiving the recommended 5 mg dose. Desloratadine was well tolerated with no safety issues. Conclusions Doses of 1.0 and 1.25 mg in children aged ,6 months,,2 years should result in an exposure to desloratadine similar to that of adults receiving doses of 5 mg. [source]


Dose selection and population pharmacokinetics of PEG-Intron in patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Samir Gupta
Aims To assess the dose selection using population pharmacokinetics of Pegylated Intron-,2b (PEG-Intron) in patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). Methods PEG-Intron 3,6 µg kg,1 was administered subcutaneously once a week and blood samples were collected up to 48 weeks of treatment. A total of 624 samples collected from 137 patients were included in the analysis. Nonlinear mixed-effects modelling was used to analyse the sparsely sampled concentration data from a clinical efficacy trial. Covariates in the analysis included weight, sex, age, race, serum creatinine and estimated creatinine clearance (CLcr). Results The apparent clearance of PEG-Intron decreased after repeated dosing. The clearance at treatment week 4 was 42.3 l day,1 (patients with CLcr 120 ml min,1) with interpatient variability 30%. At treatment week 48, the clearance value was reduced to 69% of its week 4 value. CLcr, a composite variable calculated from body weight, sex, age and serum creatinine, had a small but statistically significant influence on the clearance of PEG-Intron. The clearance of PEG-Intron in patients with CML was 40% higher than that of hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Conclusion The dose of PEG-Intron 6.0 µg kg,1 week,1 appeared appropriate in the treatment of patients with CML. [source]


Influence of CYP3A5 and MDR1 polymorphisms on tacrolimus concentration in the early stage after renal transplantation

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2005
Xin Zhang
Abstract:, Objective:, Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive drug with a narrow therapeutic range and wide interindividual variation in its pharmacokinetics. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A and P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by MDR1) play an important role in the absorption and metabolism of tacrolimus. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether or not CYP3A5*1/*3 or MDR1 C3435T polymorphisms are associated with the tacrolimus concentration per dose. Methods:, CYP3A5 and MDR1 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 118 Chinese renal transplant patients receiving tacrolimus. Whole blood trough tacrolimus concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dose-adjusted concentration (ng/mL per mg/kg/d) was calculated at 1 wk, 1 month, and 3 months after transplantation. Results:, The dose-adjusted concentration of CYP3A5*1/*1 and *1/*3 patients was significantly lower than *3/*3 patients (32.8 ± 17.7 and 41.6 ± 15.8 vs. 102.3 ± 51.2 at 1 wk; 33.1 ± 7.5 and 46.4 ± 12.9 vs. 103 ± 47.5 at 1 month; 35.3 ± 20.9 and 59.0 ± 20.6 vs. 150 ± 85.3 at 3 months after transplantation respectively). At 1 wk, 46% of the CYP3A5*1 allele carriers had a tacrolimus concentration lower than 5 ng/mL and 77% lower than 8 ng/mL, whereas 20% of the *3/*3 patients had a concentration higher than 20 ng/mL. There was a mild difference between *1/*1 homozygotes and *1/*3 heterozygotes at 1 and 3 months after transplantation. No difference was found among the MDR1 genotypes. Conclusion:, CYP3A5*1/*3 polymorphisms are associated with tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and dose requirements in renal transplant recipients. Pharmacogenetic methods could be employed prospectively to help initial dose selection and to individualize immunosuppressive therapy. [source]