Polarization-independent plasmonic subtractive color filtering in ultrathin Ag nanodisks with high transmission.

We demonstrate a TE/TM polarization-independent plasmonic subtractive color filtering scheme employing ultrathin two-dimensional Ag nanodisks. These TE/TM polarization-independent subtractive color filters exhibit small feature sizes (below 200 nm) and high transmission up to 70% in the visible spectral region, superior to previously reported plasmonic color filters. Simulated optical transmission spectra and colors are in good agreement with experimental results. The color-filtering behaviors strongly depend on thickness and period of nanodisks. Underlying mechanisms are also discussed in detail.

Glucuronidation in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes): studies with acetaminophen, oestradiol and morphine.

The chimpanzee has recently been characterized as a surrogate for oxidative drug metabolism in humans and as a pharmacokinetic model for the selection of drug candidates. In the current study, the glucuronidation of acetaminophen, morphine and oestradiol was evaluated in the chimpanzee to extend the characterization of this important animal model. Following oral administration of acetaminophen (600 mg) to chimpanzees (n=2), pharmacokinetics were comparable with previously reported human values, namely mean oral clearance 0.91 vs. 0.62+/-0.05 l h-1 kg-1, apparent volume of distribution 2.29 vs. 1.65+/-0.25 l kg-1, and half-life 1.86 vs. 1.89+/-7h, for chimpanzee vs. human, respectively. Urinary excretions (percentage of dose) of acetaminophen, acetaminophen glucuronide and acetaminophen sulfate were also similar between chimpanzees and humans, namely 2.3 vs. 5.0, 63.1 vs. 54.7, and 25.0 vs. 32.3%, respectively. Acetaminophen, oestradiol and morphine glucuronide formation kinetics were investigated using chimpanzee (n=2) and pooled human liver microsomes (n=10). V(max) (app) and K(m)(app) (or S(50)(app)) for acetaminophen glucuronide, morphine 3- and 6-glucuronide, and oestradiol 3- and 17-glucuronide formation were comparable in both species. Eadie-Hofstee plots of oestradiol 3-glucuronide formation in chimpanzee microsomes were characteristic of autoactivation kinetics. Western immunoblot analysis of chimpanzee liver microsomes revealed a single immunoreactive band when probed with anti-human UGT1A1, anti-human UGT1A6, and anti-human UGT2B7. Taken collectively, these data demonstrate similar glucuronidation characteristics in chimpanzees and humans.

Pharmacokinetics of sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim in a 5:1 ratio following intraperitoneal and oral administration, in the hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxitalis).

Selected pharmacokinetic parameters for sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim, administered in a 5:1 ratio, via the oral and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes were determined in the hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxitalis). Plasma concentrations of both drugs were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. A first-order one-compartment model adequately described plasma drug disposition. The elimination half-lives for sulfadimethoxine following i.p. and oral administration were 26 and 10.5 h, respectively. The half-lives for ormetoprim administered via i.p. and oral routes were 7.5 and 3.9 h, respectively. Cmax for sulfadimethoxine via the i.p. and oral routes were calculated to be 27.7 (+/-9.0) microg/mL at 3.6 h and 3.2 (+/-1.2) microg/mL at 1.2 h, respectively. Cmax for ormetoprim via the i.p. route was calculated to be 1.2 (+/-0.5) microg/mL at 9.1 h and 1.58 (+/-0.7) microg/mL at 5.7 h for the oral route. The oral availability of sulfadimethoxine relative to the i.p. route was 4.6%, while the oral availability of ormetoprim relative to the i.p. route was 78.5%. Due to the nonconstant ratio of these drugs in the plasma of the animal, the actual drug ratio to use for determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is unclear. Using the ratio of the total amount of each drug that is absorbed as a surrogate for the mean actual ratio may be the best alternative to current methods. Using this ratio as determined in these studies, (2.14:1 sulfadimethoxine:ormetoprim) to determine the MICs the single 50 mg/kg oral dose of the 5:1 combination of sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim appears to provide plasma concentrations high enough to inhibit the growth of Yersinia ruckeri, Edwardsiella tarda, and Escherichia coli.

Cloning of canine cytochrome P450 2E1 cDNA: identification and characterization of two variant alleles.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 is a toxicologically important enzyme that inactivates a number of drugs and xenobiotics and also bioactivates many xenobiotic substrates to their hepatotoxic or carcinogenic forms. Although cDNAs for the human, rodent, and rabbit forms of CYP2E1 have been isolated and studied extensively, there is an absence of information about canine CYP2E1, despite the fact that the dog is routinely used in drug safety studies. In this study, we isolated and sequenced a full-length CYP2E1 cDNA from a beagle liver cDNA library. The deduced canine CYP2E1 amino acid sequence exhibited 75 to 76% identity with rat, mouse, and rabbit CYP2E1 sequences, and 77% identity with human CYP2E1. Two populations of clones, differing at a single nucleotide, were isolated from the unamplified library. The T1453C base change results in a Tyr485His amino acid substitution, which is well beyond the heme binding region but is possibly part of a beta-sheet structure. An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction-based restriction enzyme test was developed for genotyping individual dogs from genomic DNA samples. One hundred mixed breed dogs were genotyped, and the frequencies of the Tyr485 and His485 alleles were found to be 0. 85 and 0.15, respectively. The canine Tyr485 and His485 alleles and human CYP2E1 were expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and catalytic activities of the proteins were assessed using the substrate chlorzoxazone. Although the two canine enzymes had similar catalytic activity; significant kinetic differences were seen between canine and human CYP2E1s.

Isolation of a new canine cytochrome P450 CDNA from the cytochrome P450 2C subfamily (CYP2C41) and evidence for polymorphic differences in its expression.

Two members of the canine cytochrome P4502C subfamily [CYP2C21 and CYP2C41 (sequence has been submitted to Genbank with accession number AF016248)] were cloned from three beagle liver cDNA libraries. The two canine CYP2C cDNAs exhibited 70% nucleotide and amino acid identity as well as 74-83% nucleotide and 67-76% amino acid identity with the human CYP2Cs. Canine CYP2C41 is more homologous to the human CYP2Cs than CYP2C21. The two canine CYP2C cDNAs exhibited a slightly lower nucleotide and amino acid identity (66-77%) with the rat P450CYPs, 2C11 and 2C12. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based restriction enzyme tests for CYP2C21 and 2C41 mRNAs as well as polymerase chain reaction-based tests for genomic DNA were developed. CYP2C21 cDNA was present in the livers of all dogs tested (N = 9), but CYP2C41 was present in only 1 of the 9 (11%). Genomic tests found that the gene coding for CYP2C21 was also present in all dogs tested (N = 25), of which 15 were beagles and 10 mixed breeds. In contrast, the gene coding for CYP2C41 was present in only 16% (4 out of 25) of the dogs. An even distribution of the CYP2C41 gene was found between the sexes and between beagles and mixed breeds. This unique polymorphism in the canine CYP2C subfamily may be a source of variability in the metabolic clearance in dogs of xenobiotics that are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 2C subfamily of enzymes.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relations of losartan and EXP3174 in a porcine animal model.

The pharmacokinetics of losartan and EXP3174, an active metabolite of losartan, were evaluated in the anesthetized pig after both a single intravenous dose (3 mg/kg) and during constant intravenous infusion. The pharmacodynamic activities of losartan and EXP3174 were determined during constant intravenous infusion as the degree of inhibition of angiotensin II-induced increase in the diastolic pressure. The systemic plasma clearance of losartan was 22.1 +/- 4.4 ml/min/kg (mean +/- SEM) and had an apparent volume of distribution at steady state of 0.56 +/- 0.16 L/kg after a 3-mg/kg intravenous dose. The elimination half-life of losartan was 40 +/- 6 min. Less than 2% of the intravenous losartan doses was estimated to be present as unconjugated EXP3174. The plasma clearance of EXP3174 was approximately 50% that of losartan, 11.8 +/- 1.5 ml/min/kg, and had a smaller steady-state apparent volume of distribution, 0.18 +/- 0.04 L/kg. The elimination half-life for EXP3174 was slightly longer than that of losartan (52 min). The time course of the pharmacodynamic effects of losartan and EXP3174 closely followed their respective plasma concentrations. The apparent dissociation constant of EXP3174 to the angiotensin II receptor was estimated, based on the total plasma concentrations, to be approximately 5 times lower than that for losartan.

Determination of concentration of albendazole sulfoxide in plasma and uterine fluid of heifers.

OBJECTIVES: To determine time and concentration of peak plasma and uterine fluid concentrations of albendazole (ABZ) sulfoxide (ABZSO) in heifers after oral administration of ABZ. SAMPLE POPULATION: 25 young Angus and Simmental heifers maintained on pasture with ad libitum access to hay and water. PROCEDURE: Heifers were assigned at random to ABZ or control (water) groups, and were drenched with ABZ suspension at a dosage of 15, 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg of body weight, or with water. Plasma was collected hourly, from 14 to 25 hours after administration of ABZ or water. After a drug-withdrawal period, heifers were synchronized for estrus and drenched with 60 mg of ABZ/kg, or water (50 ml). Each uterine horn was flushed. All samples were extracted and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. RESULTS: For all groups, highest mean +/- SEM plasma concentration of ABZSO was observed between 15 and 16 hours after ABZ administration, at 2.0 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml (15 mg/kg), 5.3 +/- 1.0 micrograms/ml (30 mg/kg), 7.4 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml (60 mg/kg), and 11.1 +/- 2.7 micrograms/ml (120 mg/kg). Mean concentration for all uterine horn fluid samples was 265 +/- 25 ng/ml/horn; range was 79 to 546 ng/ml/horn. The only significant (P = 0.0006) source of variation was the technician performing the flush. Mean concentration for each technician was 184 +/- 24 ng/ml/horn and 345 +/- 35 ng/ml/horn. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of ABZSO differ for ewes and heifers. Albendazole sulfoxide is detectable in the uterus of heifers; however, ABZSO peaks in heifer plasma earlier and at a lower concentration than that reported for ewes, perhaps contribution to differences in susceptibility at similar dosages.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of conventional and CD-formulated diltiazem in cats.

The i.v. and apparent steady-state kinetics of diltiazem HCI (DLT) and slow-absorption long-acting diltiazem (CD) given p.o. were investigated in cats. The effects of p.o. diltiazem on heart rate and PR interval were also studied. Plasma diltiazem concentrations were determined by ultraviolet high-performance liquid chromatography (UV-HPLC), using verapamil as the internal standard. Heart rate and PR interval determinations were evaluated over a 24-hour period for the PO formulations and compared with values under diltiazemfree conditions. The mean systemic clearance and apparent volume of distribution of i.v. diltiazem were 15.0 mL/min/kg and 2.70 L/kg, respectively. The elimination half-life of diltiazem after i.v. and p.o. DLT administration were approximately 120 minutes. In contrast, the terminal half-life of CD was 460 minutes. The mean apparent bioavailability of DLT p.o. was 71%, which was significantly higher than that observed with CD (36%). Heart rate and PR intervals in cats receiving the 2 formulations at steady-state were not different from those measured in the drug-free state. We conclude that DLT at 1 mg/kg p.o. tid and CD at 10 mg/kg p.o. sid provide plasma concentrations that are known to have pharmacodynamic effects in other species.

The influence of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of verapamil in the dog during multiple oral dosing.

The disposition of intravenously (0.5 mg/kg) and orally (5 mg/kg) administered verapamil was studied in six dogs after 3 days' pre-treatment with verapamil alone (5 mg/kg, every 8 h) and during concomitant oral administration of cimetidine (16 mg/kg, every 8 h). Racemic verapamil and norverapamil, an active metabolite of verapamil, were measured by fluorescence high performance liquid chromatography using an achiral phenyl column. The isolated racemic verapamil was rechromatographed on an Ultron-OVM chiral column, which separated the two verapamil enantiomers. Cimetidine co-administration significantly reduced the systemic clearance of racemic verapamil as well as that of its enantiomers by 25-29%. The clearance of racemic verapamil administered orally as well as that of its enantiomers was also reduced by 28% during cimetidine coadministration. The decrease in verapamil metabolism by cimetidine appeared to be non-stereoselective. On the other hand, cimetidine co-administration had no significant effect on the apparent volume of distribution of racemic verapamil and its enantiomers or the plasma protein binding or the blood to plasma concentration ratio of racemic verapamil. In addition, the ratio of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve for norverapamil to that of verapamil was unaffected by cimetidine co-administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Determination of the stereochemical composition of the major metabolites of verapamil in dog urine with enantioselective liquid chromatographic techniques.

The stereochemical composition of verapamil and seven of its basic-extractable metabolites, isolated from the urine of dogs administered oral racemic verapamil, was determined by HPLC, using an Ultron OVM (ovomucoid) column. One dog was given oral (R)-verapamil alone in order to discriminate the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the metabolites. Structure identification of the isolated verapamil metabolites was accomplished using a combination of HPLC-MS and FAB-MS-MS techniques. Six of the urinary verapamil metabolites, including verapamil, were predominantly of the (R)-configuration, whereas one of the metabolites was predominantly in the (S)-form. The remaining isolated metabolite was comprised of approximately equal amounts of the two forms.

Aging increases pharmacodynamic sensitivity to the hypnotic effects of midazolam.

The effect of aging on the pharmacodynamics of midazolam was investigated in a double-blinded study involving 39 consenting patients ranging in age from 39 to 77 yr. Midazolam was infused intravenously (i.v.) using a pharmacokinetic model-driven drug infusion device to achieve a plasma midazolam concentration that was held constant for the 10-min duration of the study. Blood samples were obtained from the radial artery at 5 and 10 min for subsequent measurement of the plasma midazolam concentrations. With the 10-min sample, the patients were also assessed for the presence or absence of responsiveness to verbal command. To ensure that the pharmacodynamic end-point was assessed under the condition of a relative steady-state effect-site midazolam concentration, only those patients (n = 33) in whom the plasma midazolam concentration at 10 min was within 30% of the measured concentration at 5 min were included in the subsequent data analyses. Logistic regression was used to fit the verbal command response/no response data to a mathematical model that included patient age and the plasma midazolam concentration measured at 10 min. Cp50, the steady-state plasma midazolam concentration at which 50% of patients would be expected not to respond to a specific stimulus (e.g., verbal command), was calculated as a function of age from the parameterized logistic model. The midazolam Cp50 for response to verbal command decreased significantly (P = 0.034) with increasing patient age, demonstrating that aging increases pharmacodynamic sensitivity to the hypnotic effects of midazolam independent of pharmacokinetic factors.

Effects of diltiazem on the disposition and metabolism of the enantiomers of propranolol in the dog during multiple oral dosing.

The intravenous and oral dose kinetics and metabolism of the enantiomers of propranolol were investigated in five dogs during steady-state oral racemic propranolol dosing (5 mg/kg, every 8 hr for 3 days). These results were compared with those obtained during concomitant administration of oral diltiazem (2.5 mg/kg, every 8 hr for 3 days) in the same animals. The oral and intravenous propranolol test doses consisted of a pseudoracemic mixture of equal amounts of hexadeuterated-(R-(+))- and dideuterated-(S-(-))-propranolol. Propranolol metabolism in the urine was evaluated by coadministering 150 muCi of [4'-3H]racemic propranolol HCl, along with the deuterium-labeled compounds. Plasma concentrations of the deuterated enantiomers were measured by HPLC-thermospray MS, using undecadeuterated racemic propranolol as the internal standard. Diltiazem coadministration had no significant effects on either the systemic clearance, renal clearance, the apparent volume of distribution, or the elimination half-lives of either enantiomer. On the other hand, concomitant diltiazem treatment significantly reduced the oral clearance of S-(-)- and R-(+)-propranolol by 58 and 61%, respectively. These reductions resulted in an increase in their respective apparent steady-state oral availabilities of 129 and 106%. The S/R enantiomeric ratio of the oral availability of propranolol was not significantly changed from control. The urinary propranolol metabolites were isolated and purified by solvent extraction and HPLC and quantitated by radioactivity. Twelve metabolites, including propranolol, were isolated and quantitated in the urine. A significant reduction in the percentage of ring oxidation products and a significant increase in the percentage of naphthoxylactic acid and propranolol glucuronide excreted in the urine occurred in the diltiazem-treated animals. The S/R enantiomeric ratios of urinary excreted propranolol, propranolol glucuronide, 4'-hydroxypropranolol glucuronide, and its sulfate were not altered by diltiazem. These results suggest that the decreased oral clearances of the enantiomers of propranolol by diltiazem is caused by a selective decrease in the formation of ring-oxidized products.

Midazolam and fentanyl continuous infusion anesthesia for cardiac surgery: a comparison of computer-assisted versus manual infusion systems.

Continuous infusion of intravenous anesthetics can be achieved either by a manually controlled infusion (MCI) pump, or by a computer-assisted continuous infusion (CACI) pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion system. Randomized double-blind comparisons of the two infusion systems for general anesthesia were performed in 24 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were allocated to receive continuous infusions of midazolam and fentanyl by either a MCI device or CACI. Midazolam and fentanyl infusions were independently titrated to maintain hemodynamic stability, defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) within 20% of baseline values. As directed by the study design, comparable hemodynamic control was achieved in both groups. Mean plasma fentanyl concentrations measured at specific timepoints were similar between groups. The plasma midazolam level for induction was 196 +/- 139 ng/mL in the CACI group and 300 +/- 128 ng/mL in the MCI group, and the fentanyl level was similar in both groups, 6.7 +/- 1.9 ng/mL in CACI and 6.3 +/- 4.6 ng/mL in the MCI group. The drug levels were lower (P < or = .05) for midazolam during maintenance of anesthesia and similar for fentanyl during the maintenance of anesthesia. In the MCI group, the average duration of anesthesia was 246.5 +/- 35.0 minutes, with a mean total fentanyl dose of 30.27 +/- 11.14 micrograms/kg. In the CACI group, the average duration of anesthesia was 230.8 +/- 44.1 minutes, with a mean total fentanyl dose of 34.61 +/- 5.40 micrograms/kg (P > 0.05 for comparisons between groups for duration of anesthesia and total fentanyl dose).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of verapamil in the dog.

The intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) and oral (5 mg/kg) dose kinetics of verapamil were studied in 6 dogs during steady-state oral verapamil dosing (5 mg/kg every 8 h for 3 days). Racemic verapamil and norverapamil, a metabolite of verapamil, were quantitated in plasma by HPLC-fluorescence detection. The verapamil peaks eluting off the column were collected and rechromatographed on an Ultron-OVM column, which resolved the two verapamil enantiomers. After intravenous administration, the systemic clearance and apparent volume of distribution of (-)-(S)-verapamil were nearly twice that of the (+)-(R)-isomer. There was no difference in the elimination half-lives between the two isomers. After oral administration, the oral clearance of (-)-(S)-verapamil was 20 times that of the (+)-(R)-isomer. The apparent bioavailability of (+)-(R)-verapamil was over 14 times that of (-)-(S)-verapamil. The plasma protein binding of the (+)-(R)-isomer was slightly higher by 5% than (-)-(S)-verapamil; however, this effect was not enough to account for the difference between the apparent volume of distribution of the enantiomers, indicating that the tissue binding of (-)-(S)-verapamil was greater than that of the (+)-(R)-isomer. This data on the disposition of the enantiomers of verapamil in the dog is similar to that reported for man and demonstrates that the dog may be an appropriate animal model for man in future studies on the disposition of the enantiomers of verapamil.

Effects of propranolol on the disposition and negative dromotropic activity of diltiazem in the dog during multiple dosing.

The effects of propranolol coadministration on the disposition and negative dromotropic action of intravenous and oral diltiazem were studied in six dogs after 3 days pretreatment with diltiazem alone (2.5 mg/kg, every 8 hr) and with coadministration of oral propranolol (5 mg/kg, every 8 hr). Diltiazem and two of its metabolites, desacetyldiltiazem and demethyldiltiazem, were measured by HPLC. Propranolol coadministration had no significant effects on either the systemic clearance, the apparent volume of distribution, elimination half-life, or the blood binding of diltiazem. On the other hand, the oral clearance of diltiazem was significantly reduced by 51%, and its oral bioavailability was significantly increased by 48% during propranolol coadministration. The area under the plasma demethyldiltiazem concentration-time curve after oral diltiazem increased significantly during propranolol coadministration. This increase was in proportion to the increase in the plasma diltiazem area under the concentration-time curve, such that the ratio of the areas of demethyldiltiazem to that of diltiazem remained the same between control and propranolol coadministration. Propranolol coadministration increased the area under the negative dromotropic activity-time curve after both intravenous and oral diltiazem by 37 and 48%, respectively. Using a log-linear pharmacodynamic model to analyze the data, there were no significant effects on either the slope, y-intercept, or the estimated diltiazem concentration needed to increase the PR interval by 20% of either intravenous or oral diltiazem with propranolol coadministration. These data suggest that propranolol coadministration can result in an increase in the pharmacological activity of diltiazem due to a kinetic drug interaction by increasing its oral bioavailability.

The effects of chronic oral diltiazem and cimetidine dosing on the pharmacokinetics and negative dromotropic action of intravenous and oral diltiazem in the dog.

The kinetics and negative dromotropic action of intravenous (1 mg kg-1) and oral (5 mg kg-1) diltiazem were studied in dogs after acute doses, after treatment for 3 days with oral diltiazem (5 mg kg-1, t.i.d.), and after 3 days' treatment with oral diltiazem (5 mg kg-1 t.i.d.) and cimetidine (200 mg t.i.d.). Plasma concentrations of diltiazem and two of its metabolites, desacetyldiltiazem and desmethyldiltiazem were measured by HPLC. Chronic oral dosing significantly lowered both the systemic and oral clearance of diltiazem, with no changes in either the volume of distribution or blood binding of diltiazem. Cimetidine treatment resulted in a significant reduction in diltiazem oral clearance from chronic control with no effect on its systemic clearance. The AUCs of both metabolites increased by greater than threefold from acute to chronic oral dosing; however, the ratio of each metabolite's AUC to that of diltiazem AUC was not significantly altered. Cimetidine treatment significantly lowered these ratios. The negative dromotropic potency of diltiazem after the acute oral dose was three times greater than that after intravenous or chronic control dosing. Cimetidine treatment resulted in further lowering chronic oral diltiazem potency. These data indicate that the disposition and negative dromotropic action of diltiazem is dependent both on the route of administration and the duration of treatment, and can be altered by co-administration with cimetidine.

Pharmacokinetics of potential anti-AIDS agents thiofoscarnet and foscarnet in the cat.

The pharmacokinetics of thiophosphonoformate (TPFA) and phosphonoformate (foscarnet, PFA) were studied in normal adult cats, a species susceptible to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. Parent drugs and metabolites were quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). TPFA had a mean terminal plasma half-life of 42 min, a total clearance of 4.58 ml/min/kg, and a renal clearance of 1.24 ml/min/kg (N = 4). TPFA underwent in vivo metabolism to PFA and thiophosphonic acid (TPA); the latter was inactive against HIV reverse transcriptase. The 6-h cumulative urinary excretion was 42.3% of the intravenous administered dose of TPFA, consisting of 23.5% unchanged TPFA, 13.8% PFA, and 5.0% TPA. In comparison, PFA had a mean (N = 5) terminal half-life of 172 min and a total clearance of 1.88 ml/min/kg, approximating its renal clearance. There was no evidence of PFA metabolism. Oral doses of TPFA were administered either in enteric-coated capsules or in solution by gavage. The mean oral bioavailability of encapsulated TPFA and PFA was 22 and 8%, respectively. When given by gavage, TPFA had a higher mean bioavailability (33%), but with a greater variability. Based on the 6-h cumulative urinary excretion of TPFA, the mean oral bioavailability of TPFA was 44%, similar to that based on plasma data. The TPFA appears to be superior to PFA because of its greater oral bioavailability and its ability to deliver an active metabolite, PFA, to the systemic circulation after oral dosing.

Pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion of fentanyl: assessment of accuracy.

Computer-assisted continuous infusion (CACI) is a pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion device that enables physicians to administer intravenous (iv) drugs in a quantitative fashion, specifying a theoretical blood or plasma concentration. This study evaluated the accuracy of CACI administration of fentanyl using a newly developed CACI device programmed with a well-known set of pharmacokinetic parameters for fentanyl. Patients received diazepam 1 or 2 h before surgery. Anesthesia was induced by a combination of 70% N2O and fentanyl administered by CACI to a predicted concentration of 15-25 ng.ml-1. After neuromuscular blockade and tracheal intubation, the desired plasma fentanyl concentration (setpoint) entered into CACI was 3-6 ng.ml-1, and then the setpoint fentanyl concentration was titrated according to strict criteria of adequate or inadequate anesthesia. Plasma samples for subsequent assay of fentanyl concentration then were taken: at predefined stimuli, when inadequate anesthesia occurred, or 5 min before an anticipated decrease in the fentanyl setpoint. The predictive accuracy of CACI was assessed by calculating for each patient the tenth, 50th, and 90th percentile of the performance error and absolute performance error from each measured and predicted plasma sample pair. Cumulative probability functions for each of these were then plotted. Precision was defined as the dispersion of the tenth to 90th percentile of the median percent performance error for the population and was found to be -31-26%. The median population performance error was -4%, and the median population absolute performance error was 21%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of a 4'-methylthio derivative of propranolol in the dog.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a methylthio substituent in the metabolically most active position of propranolol, i.e. the 4'-position, on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of this drug in the dog. The kinetics of 4'-methylthiopropranolol (MTP) were compared to those of propranolol following simultaneous iv doses of labeled drug and oral doses of unlabeled drug. MTP had a significantly larger volume of distribution and a longer half-life, and demonstrated a greater accumulation by red blood cells and cardiac conductile tissue than propranolol, effects which presumably are due to a higher lipophilicity of MTP. The greatest effect was on the oral clearance, which was substantially lower for MTP (1.6 vs. 5.5 liters/min) with an associated higher bioavailability (23.1 vs. 10.9%). Studies of MTP metabolism using radiolabeled drug showed that MTP, like propranolol, was eliminated entirely by metabolism. About 70% of the urinary radioactivity was extractable into ethyl acetate at pH 9.8 and pH 2.0. The extractable metabolites were separated by HPLC and identified by GC/MS, direct probe MS, and comparison with authentic compounds. Eleven metabolites were identified as sulfoxides and, in particular, sulfones of MTP and its N-dealkylated and subsequently deaminated glycollic and lactic acid metabolites. The nonextractable urinary radioactivity (30%) was isolated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and identified by HPLC/MS as four glucuronic acid conjugates. In contrast to propranolol, there was no evidence of aromatic carbon oxidation for MTP. These observations suggest that the markedly decreased oral clearance of MTP compared to propranolol is due to qualitatively altered metabolism from a highly efficient aromatic carbon oxidation for propranolol to a less efficient sulfur oxidation for MTP.

Increased clearance of propranolol and theophylline by high-protein compared with high-carbohydrate diet.

The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in dietary protein and carbohydrate influence the oral clearance of propranolol, a high-clearance drug, and theophylline, a low-clearance drug. Six normal subjects studied in a clinical research center each received a single oral dose of propranolol, 80 mg, and theophylline, 5 mg/kg, after having been on each of two well-defined diets for a period of 10 days. When the diet was altered from high carbohydrate/low protein to low carbohydrate/high protein, the oral clearance of propranolol increased by 74% +/- 20% (mean +/- SE; range 9% to 156%; P less than 0.01) with no change in plasma half-life or plasma binding. This dietary change resulted in an increase in theophylline clearance of 32% +/- 6% (range 18% to 50%; P less than 0.02) and a corresponding decrease in plasma half-life of 26% +/- 6% (range 6% to 42%; P less than 0.05) with no alteration in the apparent volume of distribution. These observations reemphasize the importance of diet in drug disposition and suggest that the clearance of high-clearance drugs like propranolol is more susceptible than the clearance of low-clearance drugs to dietary manipulations, effects that may have to be considered in drug therapy.