ABSTRACT
Long-range interparticle interactions are revealed in extremely dilute thermal atomic ensembles using highly sensitive nonlinear femtosecond spectroscopy. Delocalized excitons are detected in the atomic systems at particle densities where the mean interatomic distance (>10 µm) is much greater than the laser wavelength and multi-particle coherences should destructively interfere over the ensemble average. With a combined experimental and theoretical analysis, we identify an effective interaction mechanism, presumably of dipolar nature, as the origin of the excitonic signals. Our study implies that even in highly-dilute thermal atom ensembles, significant transition dipole-dipole interaction networks may form that require advanced modeling beyond the nearest neighbor approximation to quantitatively capture the details of their many-body properties.
ABSTRACT
Dose adaptation for liver disease is important in patients treated with antineoplastic drugs because of the high prevalence of impaired liver function in this population and the dose-dependent, frequently serious adverse effects of these drugs. We classified the antineoplastic drugs marketed in Switzerland at the end of 2004 according to their bioavailability and/or hepatic extraction to predict their kinetic behaviour in patients with decreased liver function. This prediction was compared with kinetic studies carried out with these drugs in patients with liver disease. The studies were identified by a structured, computer-based literature search. Of the 69 drugs identified, 52 had a predominant extrarenal (in most cases hepatic) metabolism and/or excretion. For 49 drugs, hepatic extraction could be calculated and/or bioavailability data were available, allowing classification according to hepatic extraction. For 18 drugs, kinetic studies have been reported in patients with impaired liver function, with the findings generally resulting in quantitative recommendations for adaptation of the dosage. In particular, recommendations are precise for 16 drugs excreted by the bile (e.g. doxorubicin and derivatives and vinca alkaloids). Validation studies comparing such recommendations with kinetics and/or dynamics of antineoplastic drugs in patients with decreased liver function have not been published. We conclude that there are currently not enough data for safe use of cyctostatics in patients with liver disease. Pharmaceutical companies should be urged to provide kinetic data (especially hepatic extraction data) for the classification of such drugs and to conduct kinetic studies for drugs with primarily hepatic metabolism in patients with impaired liver function to allow quantitative advice to be given for dose adaptation.
