Pharmacokinetics of rec-hirudin in healthy volunteers after intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics of recombinant hirudin (rec-hirudin, Ciba-Geigy, CGP 39 393) in healthy volunteers after iv administration was investigated on the basis of the data from five different studies. A total of 77 plasma profiles following a single iv bolus dose of either 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg of rec-hirudin was used for the evaulation. Plasma concentrations and especially AUC were proportional to the dose. Kinetics of rec-hirudin after a bolus iv injection were best described by a three-compartment open model. Mean apparent terminal half-life was 2.8 hr and the total clearance 0.138 L/hr per kg.     

Pharmacokinetics of dihydroquinidine in congestive heart failure patients after intravenous quinidine administration

Summary The pharmacokinetics of dihydroquinidine were studied in 8 patients with congestive heart failure following a 22 min intravenous infusion of a quinidine preparation that contained 5.9% dihydroquinidine as an impurity. Using a thin layer chromatography-fluorometric assay procedure for dihydroquinidine, the post-infusion plasma dihydroquinidine concentrations declined biexponentially. The half-life of the fast and slow dispositional processes was 4.42±1.81 min and 6.52±2.40 h, respectively. The central compartment volume for dihydroquinidine in these patients was 0.44±0.11 l/kg with an overall apparent volume of distribution of 1.14±0.38 l/kg. The computed values of total body plasma clearance of dihydroquinidine ranged from 1.29 to 2.69 ml/min/kg with a mean value of 1.94±0.60 ml/min/kg. In these patients, approximately 16% of the administered dihydroquinidine dose was excreted intact into the urine in 48 h. The estimated value of renal clearance was 0.314±0.129 ml/min/kg. When compared to control cardiac patients, the data showed that the apparent volume of distribution for dihydroquinidine is smaller in patients with congestive heart failure and as a result of this diminished volume, the clearance rate of dihydroquinidine was slower. The net effect of these differences was the production of higher plasma concentrations of dihydroquinidine in the heart failure group.     

高效液相色谱法测定对乙酰氨基酚口服溶液的含量

目的 　建立高效液相色谱法测定对乙酰氨基酚口服溶液中对乙酰氨基酚的含量 ,方法 　 Alltech-C1 8柱为固定相 ,甲醇 -水 (2 0∶ 80 )为流动相 ,检测波长 :2 44 mm,用外标法定量。 结果 　线性范围 :对乙酰氨基酚在 12 μg· m L- 1～ 12 0 μg· m L- 1浓度范围呈良好线性关系。 A=-13 5 0 2 .760 8+ 783 0 4.5 789C,r=0 .999。测得 3批的回收率分别为 98.7%、98.5 %、97.8% ,RSD分别为 0 .5 9%、0 .64 %、0 .42 %。结论 　本法简便快捷、结果准确 ,适用于对乙酰氨基酚口服溶液的含量测定。     

Plasma timolol levels after oral and intravenous administration

Summary The plasma kinetics of timolol administered orally and intravenously to 5 male subjects were examined. Bioavailability was reduced by 25% when the drug was taken orally. Mean plasma half-life after oral dosing was 4.86 h, and after intravenous administration it was 4.56 h; the difference was not significant. The volume of distribution was 3.5 l/k. It is suggested that timolol is little affected by the first pass effect, even though there is marked interindividual variation in availability and peak plasma level.     

Pharmacokinetics of pyrrole‐imidazole polyamides after intravenous administration in rat

The pharmacokinetics of pyrrole (Py)‐imidazole (Im) polyamides was studied in rats after the intravenous administration of these compounds. Py‐Im polyamide (A) was composed of Ac‐ImPyPy‐ImPyPy‐β‐Dp (β: β‐alanine, Dp: N,N‐dimethylaminopropylamide). Py‐Im polyamide (B) was composed of Ac‐PyIm‐β‐ImIm‐PyPy‐β‐PyPy‐β‐Dp. Py‐Im polyamide (C) was composed of Ac‐PyPy‐β‐PyImPy‐PyPyPy‐β‐ImPy‐β‐Dp. The molecular weight of Py‐Im polyamide (A) was 1035.12, that of Py‐Im polyamide (B) was 1422.51 and that of Py‐Im polyamide (C) was 1665.78. After the intravenous injection of Py‐Im polyamide (A) at 1.3, 2.0, 7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg, Py‐Im polyamides (B) and (C) at 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/kg, the average systemic clearance and the volume of distribution at the steady state obtained by a non‐compartmental method were in the ranges of 4.6–6.4 ml/min/kg and 244–412 ml/kg, 8.9–10.3 ml/min/kg and 1990–4567 ml/kg, and 7.3–11.9 ml/min/kg and 407–667 ml/kg, respectively. Dose linearity of Py‐Im polyamides was observed. The plasma concentration‐time profiles after the intravenous administration of Py‐Im polyamides (A) and (B) were fitted well by a two‐compartment model. Py‐Im polyamide (C) was observed at high concentrations in the lungs. The plasma concentration‐time profiles after the intravenous administration of Py‐Im polyamide (C) were described using a catenary two‐compartment model. This model is useful for describing the time course after the administration of high‐molecular‐weight Py‐Im polyamides. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pharmacokinetics of amiodarone after intravenous and oral administration

Summary Seven patients with cardiac arrhythmias were given amiodarone 400 mg intravenously over 2 min, and 2–4 days later the same dose was given orally. The serum concentration of amiodarone was determined by HPLC; the sensitivity of the analysis was 0.1 µg/ml. The time sequence of the measurements of drug concentration made conventional compartemental analysis impossible. There was large individual variation but some of the curves suggested enterohepatic circulation. The time from oral intake to the peak serum concentration was estimated to be 7.3±2.9 h (SD). The amount of drug reaching the general circulation in 24 h after oral intake averaged 42% (22–80%). After oral administration of amiodarone 200 mg 8 hourly the serum concentration before the morning dose averaged 0.61 µg/ml after 24 h, 0.76 after 48 h, 1.18 after 1 week and 1.56 µg/ml after 1 month. In one patient, who had been on amiodarone therapy for 8 months, the drug was discontinued and the serum concentration was followed over the next 3 months. The drug elimination curve suggested an elimination half life of 13.7 days. Because of instability in physiological saline protein binding could not be precisely quantitated, but only characterized as strong. No unchanged amiodarone was found in urine. The urinary excretion of iodine over 2 h after intravenous administration suggested that 5% of orally administered amiodarone was eliminated in the urine after biotransformation. No effect of the drug was observed during the first 10 days of treatment. In 2 patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, an excellent response was seen, and in one with ventricular arrhythmia there was a good response.     

Current concepts of the actions of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and NSAIDs

There is much uncertainty about the mechanism of action of paracetamol (acetaminophen). It is commonly stated that, unlike the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it is a weak inhibitor of the synthesis of prostaglandins. This conclusion is made largely from studies in which the synthesis of prostaglandins was measured in homogenized tissues. However, in several cellular systems, paracetamol is an inhibitor of the synthesis of prostaglandins with IC₅₀ values ranging from approximately 4 μM to 200 μM. Paracetamol is not bound significantly to plasma proteins and therefore the concentrations in plasma can be equated directly with those used in in vitro experiments. After oral doses of 1 g, the peak plasma concentrations of paracetamol are approximately 100 μM and the plasma concentrations are therefore in the range where marked inhibition of the synthesis of prostaglandins should occur in some cells. Paracetamol is metabolized by the peroxidase component of prostaglandin H synthase but the relationship of this to inhibition of the cyclooxygenase or peroxidase activities of the enzyme is unclear. Paracetamol is also metabolized by several other peroxidases, including myeloperoxidase, the enzyme in neutrophils which is responsible for the production of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The metabolism of paracetamol by myeloperoxidase leads to the decreased total production of HOC1 by both intact neutrophils and isolated myeloperoxidase, even though the initial rate of production of HOC1 is increased. The IC₅₀ value, derived from inhibition of the total production of HOC1 by isolated myeloperoxidase, is 81 μM. Several NSAIDs inhibit functions of neutrophils in media containing low concentrations of protein but their effects, in contrast to that of paracetamol, are generally produced only at concentrations greater than those of the unbound drug in plasma during treatment with the NSAIDs. However, neutrophils isolated during treatment with NSAIDs, such as piroxicam, ibuprofen and indomethacin show decreased function. Paracetamol has little or no anti-inflammatory activity by itself but may potentiate the clinical activity of NSAIDs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.     

The effects of additives on the growth and morphology of paracetamol (acetaminophen) crystals

It is well known that the presence of impurities can dramatically affect the nucleation, morphology, and chemical properties of crystals. Although literature is replete with examples of impurity or additive-induced modifications of crystals, few have examined the interaction of these compounds with distinct growing faces. In this study, we utilize atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the influence of two structurally related additives of paracetamol (acetaminophen) on its crystal morphology. We also probe, in situ, the effects of these additives on the morphology and growth rate of steps on the (0 0 1) face of the crystal. This study, in conjunction with further investigations, aims to establish the specific mechanisms of inhibition of these additives on each face of paracetamol, and provide a means of overcoming the poor compaction behaviour of paracetamol.     

Stereoselective disposition of carvedilol in man after intravenous and oral administration of the racemic compound

The racemic compound carvedilol is a multiple-action oral antihypertensive drug that exhibits both vasodilator and non-selective beta-adrenergic blocking activities. The effects of the levorotatoryS-enantiomer [S( – )-CARV] are vasodilatation and beta-blockade. TheR (+)-enantiomer [R (+)-CARV] is a pure vasodilating agent. Quantitative determination of the enantiomers in human plasma by HPLC was carried out after formation of diastereoisomers with the chiral reagent 2,3,4,6-tetraO-acetyl--d-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate (GITC). The pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers were studied following i. v. (12.5 mg in 1 h) and p. o. (50 mg) administration of racemic carvedilol in ten healthy male subjects according to a randomized crossover design. The AUCs ofS (–)-CARV were significantly lower than those ofR (+)-CARV after both i. v. and p. o. administration. The systemic clearance of the two enantiomers was significantly different, whereas half-lives and apparent distribution volumes were comparable. Following p. o. administration, the absolute bioavailability (31.1% and 15.1%, respectively) and maximal plasma concentrations ofR (+ )-CARV were twice those ofS (–)-CARV A similar difference was found in the half-lives. A close correlation existed between enantiomeric ratios after i.v. and after p. o. administration, demonstrating slight intraindividual variability. The preferential systemic clearance of theS ( – )-enantiomer suggests stereoselective hepatic metabolism of carvedilol, becoming especially apparent after p. o. administration. The small intrasubject variability in enantiomer ratios indicates a relatively constant relation of beta-blockade to vasodilation during chronic treatment.     

Pharmacokinetics of metformin after intravenous and oral administration to man

Summary The kinetics of¹⁴C-metformin have been studied in five healthy subjects after oral and intravenous administration. The intravenous dose was distributed to a small central compartment of 9.9±1.61 ( ±SE), from which its elimination could be described using three-compartment open model. The elimination half-life from plasma was 1.7±0.1 h. Urinary excretion data revealed a quantitatively minor terminal elimination phase with a half-life of 8.9±0.7 h. After the intravenous dose, metformin was completely excreted unchanged in urine with a renal clearance of 454±47 ml/min. Metformin was not bound to plasma proteins. The concentration of metformin in saliva was considerably lower than in plasma and declined more slowly. The bioavailability of metformin tablets averaged 50–60%. The rate of absorption was slower than that of elimination, which resulted in a plasma concentration profile of flip-flop type for oral metformin.     

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of isosorbide-dinitrate after intravenous and oral administration

Summary The bioavailabilities of a conventional and two slow release 20 mg isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) formulations were compared after oral administration in a three way cross-over study in 8 male volunteers. In a further group of 6 male volunteers the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of ISDN were investigated after intravenous infusion of a median dose of 14.1 mg for 2.5 h. A new analytical procedure was developed for the determination of isosorbide-5-mononitrate-2-glucuronide (IS-5-MN-2-Glu) and of isosorbide (IS). Kinetic data analysis on a molar basis was performed by the program package KINPAK providing model independent parameters. The median elimination half-lives of ISDN, IS-5-MN, IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN-2-Glu were 0.7, 5.1, 3.2 and 2.5 h, respectively. The systemic clearance of ISDN was 3.7 l/min and the distribution volume 2521 (3.1 l/kg). Apart from IS-5-MN-2-Glu, with a renal clearance of 5.9 l/min which suggested substantial glucuronidation in the kidney, the renal clearances of ISDN, IS-5-MN, IS-2-MN and the corresponding amounts excreted were negligible. 27.8% of the administered ISDN was excreted as IS-5-MN-2-Glu (8.7%) and IS (19.1%). Calculations based on the two mononitrate metabolites formed from ISDN showed an incomplete recovery of 84.1%, leading to the assumption that a simultaneous denitration to IS must have occurred. The rate of denitration at each nitro group in ISDN was almost twice as high as for the same position in the corresponding mononitrate. The bioavailability of the conventional ISDN formulation was 19%, although complete absorption was indicated by comparison of the percentages of mononitrate metabolites formed after the different routes of administration. On the same basis the absorption of the two sustained release formulations was found to be poor.Preliminary results were presented at the 2nd World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Washington, 1983     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of amiodarone in plasma of ponies after single intravenous administration

Atrial fibrillation is a well-known heart disease in horses. The common therapy consists of administration of quinidine. More potent antiarrhythmic drugs have become available for human therapy and the use of these as alternatives to quinidine for equine antiarrhythmic therapy is a matter of interest. Amiodarone (AMD) is used in human medicine for treatment of many arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. Its disposition in horses has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of single intravenous doses of amiodarone (5 and 7 mg/kg) on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) of healthy minishetland ponies during the first 2 days after drug administration and to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters with a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) using amiodarone and desethylamiodarone (DAMD) plasma levels that were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As expected for a K(+)-channel-blocker, the main effect on the measured ECG could be seen on the ventricular complex, as the QT interval and the T wave showed statistically significant alterations. The doses investigated were well tolerated clinically. Results from the pharmacokinetic model were found to compare well with literature data of rats, dogs, and humans. It showed a rapid distribution in the tissue, beginning with the rapidly perfused tissue, like the heart, followed by slowly perfused tissues, and finally an accumulation in fat. The half-life for total elimination was calculated to be 16.3 days with 99% eliminated by 97 days. The model predicts that approximately 96% of amiodarone is eliminated as desethylamiodarone in urine, 2% eliminated as desethylamiodarone in bile, and 2% as other metabolites.     

Pharmacokinetics of proxyphylline in adults after intravenous and oral administration

Summary Serum concentrations and urinary excretion of proxyphylline have been measured in five healthy adults after intravenous (29 µmol/kg), single oral (21 µmol/kg) and multiple oral (21 µmol/kg three times a day) doses to produce steady state. The mean peak time after oral administration was 29 min. The mean fraction absorbed was 1.09 calculated from serum concentrations, and 1.05 calculated from urinary excretion of the drug. The apparent volume of distribution was 0.61 l/kg (0.53–0.72 l/kg), 26% higher in males than in females. A two-compartment open model was found to describe the decline in the serum concentrations, giving a mean distribution half-life of 6 min. The intersubject ranges of biological half-life were 8.1–12.1 h and 8.3–12.6 h calculated from serum and urine data, respectively. 24% (18–29%) of the dose was excreted unchanged in urine, which agreed with the relationship between the calculated total body clearance and the renal clearance of the drug.Fellow of the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities     

Pharmacokinetics of furosemide in man after intravenous and oral administration. Application of moment analysis

Summary Furosemide 40 mg was administered to 8 healthy subjects as an i.v. bolus dose, as 1 tablet in the fasting state, and as 1 tablet and a solution after food intake. The i.v. data gave a total body clearance of 162±10.8 ml/min and a renal clearance of 117±11.3 ml/min; the volume of distribution at steady state was 8.3±0.61. Oral administration gave a bioavailability of the tablet (fasting) of 51%. Food intake slightly reduced the bioavailability, but not to a significant extent. There was no significant difference in availability between the tablet and the solution. Moment analysis gave a mean residence time after the i.v. dose, MRT_i.v., of 51±1.5 min. The mean absorption times (MAT) for all oral doses were significantly longer than the MRT_i.v., indicating absorption rate-limited kinetics of furosemide. On average, food delayed the absorption by 60 min. The MAT for the tablet in the postprandial state was significantly longer than for the solution, indicating dissolution rate-limited absorption of the tablet.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral L-arginine in normal volunteers

AIMS: Recent studies in patients with cardiovascular diseases suggest potential for the use of orally administered L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, as a therapeutic agent. This crossover study was designed to examine the pharmacokinetics of single i.v. and oral doses of L-arginine in healthy volunteers (n = 10). METHODS: A preliminary control study (n = 12) was performed to assess the variation in plasma L-arginine concentrations when ingesting a normal diet. The observed variation was taken into account when interpreting the pharmacokinetic data obtained after exogenous administration. RESULTS: The mean baseline plasma concentration of L-arginine in the control study was 15.1+/-2.6 microg ml(-1). After intravenous administration (30 g over 30 min), the plasma concentration reached 1390+/-596 microg ml(-1). The disappearance of l-arginine appeared biphasic, with an initial rapid disappearance due to concentration-dependent renal clearance followed by a slower fall in plasma concentrations due to nonrenal elimination. The peak concentration after oral administration (10 g) was 50.0+/-13.4 microg ml(-1), occurring 1 h after administration. Renal elimination was not observed after oral administration of this dose. The absolute bioavailability of a single oral 10 g dose of L-arginine is approximately 20%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides basic knowledge of L-arginine pharmacokinetics in healthy humans. Intravenous and oral administrations show at minimum a biphasic pattern. Further studies will assess whether a similar profile is observed when the drug is administered to patients.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral tolmesoxide

Summary A high pressure liquid chromatographic assay was developed for simultaneous measurement of the plasma levels of tolmesoxide and its principal metabolite, RX71112. The assay was used to study the disposition of intravenous and oral tolmesoxide in ten normotensive subjects. Two exponential terms were required to describe the disposition of the drug following intravenous administration, whilst a single exponential term sufficied to account for the decay in the plasma concentration after oral administration. The bioavailability of oral tolmesoxide from capsules averaged 84.5% and was independent of dose. The mean half-life after i. v. dosing was 2.6 h (±0.3 SEM) compared to values of 1.9 h (±0.1 SEM) and 2.7 h (±0.5 SEM) following 200 and 400 mg oral doses respectively. In all subjects RX71112 appeared in plasma shortly after tolmesoxide following both routes of administration. The terminal half-life of the metabolite was significantly longer than tolmesoxide with a mean value of 4.9 h (±0.9 SEM) following the 200 mg oral dose of tolmesoxide. The binding of tolmesoxide and RX71112 at therapeutic plasma concentration was 36.8% (±0.5 SEM) and 58.5% (±0.3 SEM) and this remained unchanged at higher concentrations.     

Pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid: Disposition in bile,blood and urine after intravenous administration to man

Summary To study its pharmacokinetics and especially its biliary excretion, ¹⁴C-tolfenamic acid 9.84 µCi/100 mg was infused i.v. in 8 patients with a T-tube inserted in the common bile duct at choledocholithotomy 7–10 days prior to the study. Bile was collected in fractions by continuous suction over a 24 h period. Blood samples were taken and urine collected up to 48 h after the dose. Tolfenamic acid and its metabolites were separated by TLC and were quantitated by liquid scintillation counting. The pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid could be described by a two compartment open model with V₁ of 3.67±0.68 l and V_ss of 8.0±1.0 l. The total plasma clearance of tolfenamic acid averaged 106±8 ml/min and t_1/2 was 1.38±0.32 h. A three compartment open model was required to describe the kinetics of total ¹⁴C. The plasma clearance of total ¹⁴C was 15.4±3.9 ml/min and its terminal half life averaged 19.0±4.1 h. The long half-life was caused by the slow elimination of tolfenamic acid metabolites. Four metabolites were measured in plasma and bile. The principal metabolites in bile were glucuronide/sulphate conjugates of hydroxylated derivatives of tolfenamic acid. The recovery of tolfenamic acid in bile was 1.1±0.3% of the dose, whereas the recovery of total ¹⁴C was 18.6±4.9%. The biliary clearances of tolfenamic acid and total ¹⁴C were 1.2±0.3 and 5.0±2.1 ml/min, respectively. Thus, biliary excretion plays a considerable part in the pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime lysine after single intravenous,intraperitoneal, and intramuscular administration to rats

Aim:

To compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefuroxime lysine, a new second-generation of cephalosporin antibiotics, after intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP), or intramuscular (IM) administration.

Methods:

Twelve male and 12 virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing from 200 to 250 g, were divided into three groups (n=4 for each gender in each group). The rats were administered a single dose (67.5 mg/kg) of cefuroxime lysine via IV bolus or IP or IM injection. Blood samples were collected and analyzed with a validated UFLC-MS/MS method. The concentration-time data were then calculated by compartmental and non-compartmental pharmacokinetic methods using DAS software.

Results:

After IV, IP or IM administration, the plasma cefuroxime lysine disposition was best described by a tri-compartmental, bi-compartmental or mono-compartmental open model, respectively, with first-order elimination. The plasma concentration profiles were similar through the 3 administration routes. The distribution process was rapid after IV administration [t_1/2(d), 0.10±0.11 h vs 1.36±0.65 and 1.25±1.01 h]. The AUMC_0–∞ is markedly larger, and mean residence time (MRT) is greatly longer after IP administration than that in IV, or IM routes (AUMC_0–∞: 55.33±20.34 vs 16.84±4.85 and 36.17±13.24 mg·h²/L; MRT: 0.93±0.10 h vs 0.37±0.07 h and 0.65±0.05 h). The C_max after IM injection was significantly higher than that in IP injection (73.51±12.46 vs 49.09±7.06 mg/L). The AUC_0–∞ in male rats were significantly higher than that in female rats after IM administration (66.38±16.5 vs 44.23±6.37 mg·h/L). There was no significantly sex-related difference in other pharmacokinetic parameters of cefuroxime lysine between male and female rats.

Conclusion:

Cefuroxime lysine shows quick absorption after IV injection, a long retension after IP injection, and a high C_max after IM injection. After IM administration the AUC_0–∞ in male rats was significantly larger than that in female rats.     

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration in rats: hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration at various doses and first-pass effect at 30 mg/kg were evaluated in rats. After intravenous administration (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values were proportional to intravenous doses studied. However, after oral administration (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values increased significantly with increasing doses, possibly due to saturation of metabolism of sildenafil in rat intestinal tract. After oral administration (30 mg/kg), approximately 0.626% was not absorbed and F was 14.6%. The AUC after intragastric administration was significantly smaller (71.4% decrease) than that after intraportal administration, however, the values were not significantly different between intragastric and intraduodenal administration. The above data suggested that intestinal first-pass effect of sildenafil was approximately 71% of oral dose in rats. The AUC values after intraportal administration were significantly smaller (49% decrease) than that after intravenous administration. This suggested that hepatic first-pass effect of sildenafil after absorption into the portal vein was approximately 49% of oral dose in rats (approximately 49% was equivalent to approximately 13.7% of oral dose). The low F of sildenafil at a dose of 30 mg/kg in rats could be mainly due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect.