Long-term ocular hypotensive effect of levobunolol: results of a one-year study.

Data for the first 12 months are reported for an ongoing, multicentre, clinical study comparing the long-term, ocular hypotensive efficacy and safety of topical levobunolol (0.5% and 1%) and timolol (0.5%). This study was a double-masked trial testing 88 patients with chronic open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. During the 12-month period drops were instilled twice daily into both eyes after a washout of prestudy ocular hypotensive medication. The effect of the three treatments in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) was similar. Mean IOP reductions over the 12 months averaged 7.2 mmHg for the 0.5% levobunolol group, 6.2 mmHg for the 1% levobunolol group, and 6.0 mmHg for the timolol group. Decreases in mean heart rate of up to 5 beats per minute were observed in the 0.5% levobunolol group, up to 8 beats per minute in the 1% levobunolol group, and up to 4 beats per minute in the timolol group. Several patients were removed from the study owing to side effects possibly related to levobunolol treatment.

Isoprinosine in the treatment of genital warts.

Several modes of therapy are presently available for treatment of genital warts. These include use of keratolytics such as podophyllin or trichloroacetic acid, electrocoagulation, cryotherapy, and laser therapy. Responses have not been uniformly successful, however, and particularly in patients with resistant warts there is evidence of impairment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). In the healing process both humoral and CMI responses are of importance, and indeed it has been reported that in patients with recalcitrant viral warts the lesions disappeared at the same time the CMI response returned to normal. Isoprinosine is an orally administered drug known to have both in vitro and in vivo immunopotentiating activity and has been shown previously to restore toward normal the depressed CMI responses of diverse etiology accompanying a variety of clinical conditions. Recent evidence implicating certain types of genital warts in later development of cervical cancer in females has led to the search for a more effective treatment of this condition. Clinical studies to date involving the use of isoprinosine alone or in combination appear to have established the role of this safe and easily administered oral drug in increasing the chances of total eradication of condylomatous lesions and sparing a high percentage of patients from having to undergo repeated and more traumatic therapies.

Effect of naproxen on glucose metabolism and tolbutamide kinetics and dynamics in maturity onset diabetics.

1 The influence of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen on glucose metabolism and on tolbutamide pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics has been studied in ten maturity-onset diabetics. 2 Comparison of both plasma glucose decay curves and insulin responses during an intravenous glucose tolerance test before and after eight 12 hourly doses of naproxen revealed that naproxen had no significant influence on fasting glucose levels or on rates of glucose elimination. 3 When the subjects were given a combination of naproxen and tolbutamide for 3 days naproxen had no influence on tolbutamide absorption, protein binding, disposition or pharmacological effect. 4 Treatment with tolbutamide in maturity-onset diabetics need not be modified if concurrent administration of naproxen is contemplated.

Ophthalmic rods. New ocular drug delivery devices.

Ophthalmic Rods, new drug delivery devices for ophthalmic medications, are 2-inch-long plastic rods coated with an ocular diagnostic or therapeutic agent. When the drug-coated tip of the rod is brought into contact with the conjunctiva, the medication dissolves into the tear film. We evaluated the safety, comfort, and ease of use of Ophthalmic Rods coated with fluorescein (30 micrograms) in 28 volunteers. Seventy-nine percent (22 of 28) of the patients rated the device as superior to eyedrops, citing cleanliness, comfort, and ease of application as the primary advantages. Ophthalmic Rods effectively delivered fluorescein to the eye and were found to be safe in patients with various refractive conditions, including those with compromised near vision and accommodation.