Pharmacokinetics of 'party pill' drug N-benzylpiperazine (BZP) in healthy human participants.

There have been many reports of benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) being used as recreational drugs which have been widely marketed in the form of 'party pills' since the late 1990's. However, there is no information currently available describing the pharmacokinetics of these drugs in humans. Human plasma concentrations of BZP were measured in blood and urine samples taken from healthy adults (n=7) over 24h following a 200mg oral dose of BZP. Plasma concentrations of BZP were found to peak at 262 ng/mL (C(max)) and 75min (T(max)). Plasma concentrations of the major metabolites of BZP, 4-OH BZP and 3-OH BZP, were found to peak at 7 ng/mL (at 60 min) and 13 ng/mL (at 75 min) respectively. The elimination half-life (t(1/2)) for BZP was found to be 5.5h. Clearance (Cl/F) was found to be 99L/h. The results of this study indicate that BZP may be detectable in plasma for up to 30 h following an oral dose. Additionally, several urinary metabolites can be detected.

A study of the use of Ephedra in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The Ephedra plant has been identified as an excellent source of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, both of which can be chemically reduced to form the widely abused illicit drug methamphetamine. Ephedra contains several additional alkaloids that undergo analogous reductions to form amphetamine and N,N-dimethylamphetamine (also drugs of abuse). The main alkaloids obtained from the Ephedra plant have been reduced using four common methods used by the clandestine operator. The intermediates and byproducts of these reductions have been identified and/or tentatively assigned and the mechanism of formation discussed.

Childhood burns in south eastern Nigeria.

In a ten year retrospective study of burns in children in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, the main causes were hot water, hot soup or oil (56.6%) involving children mostly in the one to three year age group. The relative safety of the home environment seen in other forms of paediatric trauma is not observed in burns in children. A changing pattern of burns in children has emerged within the region with naked flames/bush fire coming second and affecting 22.7% of the children. Chemical burns hitherto a rare occurrence is now frequent because of the storage of caustic soda and acids in living rooms by soap making parents. Burns affecting the perineum, axilla and buttocks are difficult to keep clean and frequently lead to infections, with associated increased morbidity. Causes of childhood burns are largely preventable requiring active social/medical education and public enlightenment campaigns on the various methods of prevention.

Sequestrectomy and local muscle flap implantation for chronic osteomyelitis in children and adolescents.

Forty one children and adolescents (mean age 11.9 years) with chronic osteomyelitis that were not previously managed surgically were prospectively studied during a 5-year period in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. All cases were managed by sequestrectcomy of curretage and local muscle flap implantation into the space so created. Preoperative care in this series included blood transfusion for anaemic patients and augmentin (amoxycillin and clavulanic acid) while definitive antibiotic therapy depended on the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas species which were the predominant bacterial isolates. Overall, the incidence of wound dehiscence and recurrence of chronic osteomyelitis were low (19.5%), and complete healing of all cases occurred by two years of follow-up. The major complications were joint stiffness, limb shortening and pathological fractures.