Determination of humanized anti-Tac in human serum by a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

A 'sandwich' enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed for measuring humanized anti-Tac (HAT), a humanized antibody to the IL-2 receptor on activated T cells (Tac), in human serum. The working range of this assay is 25-400 ng/ml with an overall precision of 5%. In this assay, the analyte, HAT, is sandwiched between Tac which is bound to a microtiter plate and biotinylated Tac that is conjugated to peroxidase labelled streptavidin. This assay was utilized to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of HAT in patients with graft-versus-host disease.

Lack of probenecid effect on nonrenal excretion of ceftriaxone in anephric patients.

Probenecid has been shown to decrease renal and biliary excretion of organic acids. In a randomized crossover study, the effect of coadministered probenecid on nonrenal excretion of ceftriaxone was studied in six functionally anephric patients in whom ceftriaxone is eliminated exclusively by nonrenal or presumably by biliary excretion. Each patient received 0.5 g IV ceftriaxone without and with probenecid (0.5 g at 10 and 2 hours prior to ceftriaxone and 0.5 g q12h X 3 doses post ceftriaxone). Serial blood samples were collected over 48 hours and plasma analyzed for ceftriaxone by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetic analysis was based on a model-independent approach. Probenecid did not significantly affect the disposition of ceftriaxone in this study, thus suggesting that nonrenal excretion of ceftriaxone is not inhibited by probenecid.

Role of gentian violet paint in burn wound management: a prospective randomised control trial.

In tribal part of central India burn remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Burn management is carried out in conventional manner in most places. The study carried out at Chhatisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur was Intended to evaluate the efficacy and outcome of 0.5% gentian violet paint local application over conventional dressing treatment of burn wound. The study encompasses 400 patients of burn of varied aetiology admitted in burn ward whose total body surface area of burn was 15% to 50%. The patients receiving conventional treatment were in group I (n=200), and those with gentian violet paint local application formed group II (n= 200). Although, fibrosis of the burn wound, hypertrophic scar were slightly higher in second group it was observed gentian violet paint local application, healed it in 6-8 weeks without severe sepsis and need for skin grafting. From the study it can be concluded that markedly inexpensive gentian violet paint is an useful alternative, for burn wound management.

Increased volume of distribution prolongs midazolam half-life.

It has recently been shown by several investigators that the half-life (t1/2) of midazolam is prolonged (greater than 7 h) in a small proportion of the population. One group has inferred that this subpopulation represents a group of slow metabolizers of midazolam to alpha-OH-midazolam. Others disagree and postulate that there is an increase in the volume of distribution (V) resulting in a prolonged t1/2. This controversy led us to report experience from 90 subjects and patients where t1/2, V, and clearance (CL) were determined by both model-dependent and -independent pharmacokinetic analysis. We found a 5.6% (5 of 90) incidence of prolonged t1/2, similar to that previously reported. V was clearly increased without a decrease in CL in the five subjects with prolonged t1/2. Thus, the prolonged t1/2 is secondary to an increase in V and not a result of alterations in CL and metabolism.

Multiple intravenous dose pharmacokinetic study of carumonam in healthy subjects.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of carumonam were investigated in twelve healthy adult male volunteers after 20 min intravenous infusions of three consecutive carumonam dosage regimens: 1 g every 8 h (3 g/day) from 0-72 h, 2 g every 8 h (6 g/day) from 88-120 h and 2 g every 6 h (8 g/day) from 132-216 h. Serial plasma samples were collected after the first dose of the first regimen and the last dose of all three regimens and were analysed for carumonam by a specific HPLC method. The overall mean maximal plasma concentrations were 108 and 211 mg/l at the end of infusion of 1 and 2 g, respectively. The steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters and plasma concentration-time profiles of carumonam when adjusted for dose were similar for the three regimens. The overall terminal elimination half-life was 1.4 h (range 1.1-1.8 h), the apparent volume of distribution at steady state reached 11.5 l (range 8.7-15.5 l) and the total systemic clearance amounted to 118 ml/min (range 83-158 ml/min). Considering the frequency of dosing relative to the elimination half-life, accumulation of the drug in plasma was not expected and none was found from any of the three regimens. Carumonam was well tolerated up to 8 g/day and exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics which were not altered upon multiple dosing.

The pharmacokinetics of midazolam in patients with congestive heart failure.

The disposition of midazolam was investigated in six patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and six age- and weight-matched healthy subjects by administering two single doses of the drug (3.75 mg i.v. and 7.5 mg p.o.) separated by 1 week. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 h after each dose and plasma was assayed for midazolam by GC-MS. In the CHF patients, the elimination half-life was prolonged (4 to 4.5 vs less than 3 h), the systemic clearance was lowered (376 vs 551 ml min-1) and the peak plasma drug concentration after the p.o. dose was higher (76 vs 42 ng ml-1). The systemic availability (45 vs 41%), the steady state volume of distribution (111 vs 108 l) and the time of peak plasma drug concentration after the p.o. dose (0.9 vs 0.9 h) were unchanged. The predominant effect of CHF was on the clearance of midazolam which was decreased by 30%. The drug was well tolerated and did not cause any adverse effects.