Comparison of adinazolam pharmacokinetics and effects in healthy and cirrhotic subjects

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of adinazolam were investigated in six patients with cirrhosis and six sex-matched control subjects. These subjects received a single 30-mg oral dose of adinazolam mesylate. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours after drug administration. Plasma was assayed for adinazolam and mono-desmethyl-adinazolam (NDMAD) concentrations by a specific HPLC technique. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by noncompartmental methods. Psychomotor effects of adinazolam were assessed using a digit-symbol substitution test (DSST) and aiming test (AIM). Memory effects were assessed by a modification of the Randt memory test (MEM); sedation was assessed using an observer-rated scale. Differences in pharmacokinetics of the parent drug were noted: adinazolam oral clearance was lower in patients with cirrhosis (35.0 +/- 27.9 L/hr) than in normal subjects (73.7 +/- 22.1 L/hr; P = .024); Kel was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis (.126 +/- .084 vs. .278 +/- .070; P = .007), whereas the mean t1/2 in patients with cirrhosis was 7.70 hours as compared with 2.67 hours in normal subjects. Cmax was higher in the group with cirrhosis (266 +/- 95.5 vs. 153 +/- 29.3 ng/mL; P = .019). For NDMAD, Kel was lower in cirrhotic subjects and resulted in a prolonged t1/2 in cirrhotic subjects compared with normal subjects (6.70 vs. 3.79 hr; P = .0152). NDMAD AUC tended to be higher in cirrhotic subjects (1515 +/- 254 vs. 1162 +/- 254 ng.hr/mL; P = .064). No significant differences were noted in psychomotor performance, memory, or sedation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the pharmacodynamic effects of deflazacort and prednisolone in healthy subjects

  Objective: Deflazacort, a synthetic oxazoline derivative of prednisolone, has been suggested as having major advantages over other glucocorticoids, as it is claimed to cause fewer adverse effects at equivalent antiinflammatory potency. The assumed equipotency ratio of deflazacort versus other glucocorticoids is critical for this assumption. Methods: In a randomized cross-over study we compared the acute effects of deflazacort and prednisolone on serum cortisol, osteocalcin, insulin and blood cells (eosinophils and lymphocytes) in normal subjects. On seven occasions separated by a wash out period ≥ 1 week all participants received placebo, prednisolone (8 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg) and deflazacort (12 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg). The medication was given orally at 20.00 h as a single dose. Blood was collected at 8.00 h before and after each medication. Log (dose) response relationships were calculated and were used to compare the drugs. Results: The following equipotent dose ratios (mg deflazacort: mg prednisolone) were found: osteocalcin suppression 1.54, cortisol suppression 2.27, suppression of eosinophils 1.14 and lymphocytes 2.77. As parallelism between regression curves was rejected, equipotency could not be calculated for insulin. In 3 subjects even the highest dose of deflazacort failed to suppress serum cortisol. Conclusion: Our study highlights the difficulties of establishing equipotency ratios for glucocorticoids. It casts doubts on the generally assumed equipotency dose ratio of deflazacort vs prednisolone, as both for cortisol and lymphocytes the 95% CI was > 1.2. Thus, reduced adverse effects during deflazacort therapy may be a consequence of lower effective glucocorticoid dosage. Received: 11 December 1995 /Accepted in revised form: 16 March 1996     

Comparison of bronchial effects of nabilone and terbutaline in healthy and asthmatic subjects

The acute bronchomotor effect of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid compound, was compared to that of terbutaline sulfate and placebo in six healthy and six asthmatic subjects. Bronchodilation following nabilone was intermediate between that of terbutaline and placebo in the healthy subjects but was equivalent to placebo in the asthmatics. We conclude that oral nabilone (2 mg) does not result in significant acute bronchodilation in patients with asthma.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral heparin solid dosage form in healthy human subjects

The present investigation determined the molecular structure and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of oral unfractionated heparin containing oral absorption enhancer sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino]caprylate, salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) and assessed the safety and tolerability of the orally dosed heparin solid dosage form versus other routes. Sixteen healthy men were included in this single-dose, 3-way crossover, randomized, open-label study. Disaccharide compositional analysis was performed using capillary high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection. The pharmacodynamics of heparin were obtained from analysis of plasma anti-factor Xa, anti-factor IIa, activated partial thromboplastin time, and total tissue factor pathway inhibitor data. The molecular weight properties and the disaccharide composition of orally administered unfractionated heparin/SNAC and parenterally administered unfractionated heparin are identical and consistent with the starting pharmaceutical standard heparin. Furthermore, the anti-factor Xa/anti-factor IIa ratio achieved is of approximately 1:1. This is the first true pharmacokinetic study to measure the chemical compositions of heparin administered by different routes.     

Pharmacokinetics and safety of FFR-rFVIIa after single doses in healthy subjects

FFR-rFVIIa is an antithrombotic agent, which has also proven to have antirestenotic properties in animal models. FFR-rFVIIa is a modified recombinant FVIIa in which the catalytic site is irreversibly inactivated by a synthetic tripeptide covalently bound with the FVIIa molecule. The modified rFVIIa retains its tissue factor (TF) binding capacity but is otherwise enzymatically inactive. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized dose escalation trial was conducted to investigate eight single i.v. doses of FFR-rFVIIa (0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.12, 0.18, 0.27, or 0.40 mg/kg body weight) in healthy male volunteers (n = 62). Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of FFR-rFVIIa were assessed. Mean (SD)AUC0-infinity ranged from 0.35 (0.11) to 28.8 (3.5)microg.h/ml, and mean Cmax ranged from 0.078 (0.019) to 4.8 (0.7) microg/ml. The mean elimination half-life ranged from 3.8 to 5.8 hours. Mean AUC0-infinity increased with increasing dose levels. Cmax appeared to be proportional to the dose level, with the exception of the lowest dose level. A dose-dependent prolongation of the prothrombin time was found, demonstrating that FFR-rFVIIa inhibited coagulation via the TF-dependent pathway FFR-rFVIIa was generally well tolerated at all dose levels studied.     

Pharmacokinetics and endocrine effects of terguride in healthy subjects

Summary Plasma levels of the partial dopamine agonist, terguride, were measured by RIA in healthy volunteers after a single i. v. dose of 50 g and on the first and seventh day of an oral treatment with 250 g, 500 g and 750 g b. d. Basal and releasing hormone (TRH, GHRH, CRF, LHRH) — stimulated pituitary hormone secretion (PRL, TSH, GH, FSH, LH) and cortisol were also determined by RIA.Following the i. v. injection, plasma terguride levels declined biphasically, with half-lives of 0.2 and 1.5 h; total clearance was 17 ml·min^–1·kg^–1. the oral bioavailability of terguride over all doses was about 20%. Basal and TRH-stimulated prolactin levels were dose-dependently depressed, but the secretion of other hormones remained unaffected. Tolerance of terguride was excellent and there was no negative effect on performance or mood, nor on mixed-function oxygenase activity, assessed as urinary 6-OH cortisol.     

低分子肝素的抗凝与抗血栓作用

目的研究低分子肝素的抗凝特点及抗栓作用。方法分别测定其抗Xa因子与抗IIa因子的比率(FXa/FIIa);全凝血时间（CT）、复钙时间（RT）、凝血酶原时间（PT）、凝血酶时间（TT）、活化的部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）;制备体内、体外血栓。结果低分子肝素FXa/FIIa<1,对RT、TT的延长作用明显低于肝素,对CT、PT、ATPP无影响;在两种血栓模型中,低分子肝素组的血栓重均低于肝素组。结论低分子肝素对凝血系统的作用低于肝素;而其抗栓作用大于肝素。     

Comparison of the spectrum of cognitive effects of alprazolam and adinazolam after single doses in healthy subjects

Single doses of alprazolam (0, 0.5, 1.5 mg) or adinazolam mesylate sustained release tablets (SR) (0, 15, 45 mg) were administered to separate groups of 12 healthy men in a crossover design. Psychomotor performance was assessed by digit symbol substitution (DSST), and memory was assessed using a test battery which reflects various aspects of memory, including attention/working memory, explicit memory (recall of categorically related words), semantic memory (fragmented picture recognition, generation of category exemplars), and implicit memory (time saved in resolving fragmented pictures on the second exposure). Maximal psychomotor performance and memory decrements for the highest active doses were significantly different from placebo for all tasks at some time after dosing. The maximum decrement in DSST was not significantly different between drugs at the high dose (P=0.288). Maximum attention/working memory decrements were significantly different between the high doses of the active compounds (P=0.031), and the difference in maximum category recall decrement was marginally significant (P=0.067). Access to knowledge memory was not significantly altered by these drugs; these results are similar to those obtained for other benzodiazepines. Both drugs exhibited slight effects on implicit memory. The results suggest that the sedative and memory effects of these triazolobenzodiazepines may not be closely related and suggest that adinazolam has a somewhat different spectrum of cognitive effects relative to alprazolam.     

Neurochemical and psychotropic effects of bupropion in healthy male subjects

Bupropion is a weak inhibitor of noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA) reuptake and has no direct action on serotonin (5-HT) neuronal elements. In the rat brain, bupropion suppresses NE neuron firing activity via the activation of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and increases that of 5-HT neurons through an indirect action on NE neurons. Twenty-five healthy young male volunteers, with no previous history of psychiatric disorders, were randomized to one of four 7-day regimens: placebo, bupropion (150 mg) once daily, bupropion (150 mg) twice a day, and methylphenidate SR (20 mg daily). To assess the activity of the NE reuptake process, the blood pressure response to intravenous tyramine was determined. A decrease in the systolic pressure response to tyramine was considered evidence of NE reuptake inhibition. Effects on 5-HT reuptake were assessed by measuring whole blood 5-HT concentration, with a decrease serving as an index of 5-HT reuptake blockade. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale was used to assess behavioral and psychological changes. Neither bupropion nor methylphenidate altered the tyramine pressor response, in contrast to previous data that demonstrated decreases were obtained with NE reuptake inhibitors. Neither drug modified 5-HT concentrations. However, POMS scores revealed that bupropion at a dosage of 150 mg/day increased composedness, agreeability, and energy, whereas 300 mg/day improved only attention. In contrast, methylphenidate improved only energy. These data provide no evidence that bupropion acts as an inhibitor of NE or 5-HT reuptake in healthy humans. Presumably it enhances synaptic availability of NE by increasing release. Yet, because its behavioral profile is different from that of methylphenidate, it may not share all the biochemical properties of psychostimulants.     

The anticoagulant and antithrombotic mechanisms of heparin

The molecular basis for the anticoagulant action of heparin lies in its ability to bind to and enhance the inhibitory activity of the plasma protein antithrombin against several serine proteases of the coagulation system, most importantly factors IIa (thrombin), Xa and IXa. Two major mechanisms underlie heparin's potentiation of antithrombin. The conformational changes induced by heparin binding cause both expulsion of the reactive loop and exposure of exosites of the surface of antithrombin, which bind directly to the enzyme target; and a template mechanism exists in which both inhibitor and enzyme bind to the same heparin molecule. The relative importance of these two modes of action varies between enzymes. In addition, heparin can act through other serine protease inhibitors such as heparin co-factor II, protein C inhibitor and tissue factor plasminogen inhibitor. The antithrombotic action of heparin in vivo, though dominated by anticoagulant mechanisms, is more complex, and interactions with other plasma proteins and cells play significant roles in the living vasculature.     

Pharmacokinetic interactions and safety evaluations of coadministered tafenoquine and chloroquine in healthy subjects

Aims

The long-acting 8-aminoquinoline tafenoquine (TQ) coadministered with chloroquine (CQ) may radically cure Plasmodium vivax malaria. Coadministration therapy was evaluated for a pharmacokinetic interaction and for pharmacodynamic, safety and tolerability characteristics.

Methods

Healthy subjects, 18–55 years old, without documented glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, received CQ alone (days 1–2, 600 mg; and day 3, 300 mg), TQ alone (days 2 and 3, 450 mg) or coadministration therapy (day 1, CQ 600 mg; day 2, CQ 600 mg + TQ 450 mg; and day 3, CQ 300 mg + TQ 450 mg) in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses and safety data, including electrocardiograms, were collected for 56 days.

Results

The coadministration of CQ + TQ had no effect on TQ AUC_0–t, AUC_0–∞, T_max or t_1/2. The 90% confidence intervals of CQ + TQ vs. TQ for AUC_0–t, AUC_0–∞ and t_1/2 indicated no drug interaction. On day 2 of CQ + TQ coadministration, TQ C_max and AUC_0–24 increased by 38% (90% confidence interval 1.27, 1.64) and 24% (90% confidence interval 1.04, 1.46), respectively. The pharmacokinetics of CQ and its primary metabolite desethylchloroquine were not affected by TQ. Coadministration had no clinically significant effect on QT intervals and was well tolerated.

Conclusions

No clinically significant safety or pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions were observed with coadministered CQ and TQ in healthy subjects.     

Pharmacokinetics and safety of galantamine in subjects with hepatic impairment and healthy volunteers

The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and safety of galantamine in subjects with hepatic impairment with those in healthy subjects. This was an open-label study in which a single oral 4-mg dose of galantamine was administered to volunteers with mild (Child-Pugh score of 5-6, n = 8), moderate (Child-Pugh score of 7-9, n = 8), or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score of 10-15, n = 1) and to healthy, matched control subjects (n = 8). Galantamine pharmacokinetics and safety (adverse events, laboratory test results, electrocardiograms, vital signs, and cardiac events) were assessed over 6 days after administration of galantamine. The pharmacokinetic parameters of galantamine were similar in subjects with mild hepatic impairment compared with healthy controls. Compared with the healthy control group, subjects with moderate hepatic impairment showed relative increases in the area under the plasma-concentration curve from zero to infinity (AUC0-infinity) (+33%) and terminal half-life (t1/2) (+30%) (p = 0.051 and p = 0.003, respectively), a 23% relative decrease in total plasma clearance (p = 0.061), and a small but significant relative increase in the fraction of free plasma galantamine (p = 0.009). Galantamine was well tolerated by all subjects. There were no serious adverse events (AEs) or premature withdrawals from the study because of AEs. Reported AEs were headache (three cases), nausea (one case), and paresthesia (one case). There were no clinically relevant changes in clinical laboratory findings, vital signs, and electrocardiograms. Low patient recruitment (n = 1) precluded statistical analysis of galantamine pharmacokinetics and safety in severe hepatic impairment. It was concluded that the pharmacokinetics of galantamine in subjects with mild hepatic impairment was similarto those in healthy subjects. In subjects with moderate hepatic impairment, galantamine clearance was decreased by approximately 23% compared with normal volunteers. Galantamine was also well tolerated and appeared to be safe in subjects with mild ormoderate hepatic impairment. Based on the study results, it appears that it would not be necessary to adjust doses of galantamine during administration to subjects with mild hepatic impairment. In subjects with moderately impaired hepatic function, dose titration should proceed cautiously. Unfortunately, difficulties with patient recruitment did not allow adequate assessment of the safety of galantamine in subjects with severe hepatic impairment in this study. Therefore, the use of galantamine in subjects with severe hepatic impairment is not recommended.     

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and pharmacologic effects of fosinopril sodium, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in healthy subjects.

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of fosinopril sodium (SQ 28,555), a new orally active angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was evaluated in 73 healthy men in two separate studies. In study I, doses ranging from 10 to 640 mg were administered once daily for 3 days to seven groups of five subjects each. Serum aldosterone levels, ACE activity, and sitting blood pressure were determined, as were pharmacokinetic parameters of fosinoprilat, the active diacid of fosinopril. In a dose-tolerance study (study II), 80 and 160 mg of the drug were administered in doses of 40 mg bid and 80 mg bid for 2 weeks. Pharmacokinetics were determined on days 1 and 14, and blood pressure and ACE activity were measured daily. One hour after all doses of fosinopril, serum ACE activity was undetectable. Peak blood levels of fosinoprilat occurred at about 3 hours after dosing, and linear kinetics of the diacid were observed. ACE activity remained undetectable for more than 24 hours after the treatment was stopped in study II. Serum aldosterone levels were decreased by 50% of baseline values in both studies. In study I, maximal reductions in mean blood pressure occurred approximately 6 hours postdose; once-daily doses of 20 mg or greater achieved reductions of 11.3 to 21.6% (P less than or equal to .05, compared with placebo reductions). Fosinopril was well tolerated. Subjects reported only mild gastrointestinal complications at doses of 80 mg/day or higher. These data show that fosinopril is a safe and effective inhibitor of ACE with a long duration of action on serum ACE activity.     

Auditory and electroencephalographic effects of midazolam and alpha-hydroxy-midazolam in healthy subjects

AIMS: Whereas cortical EEG effects of benzodiazepines are well characterized, information about benzodiazepine effects in other areas of the central nervous system is sparse. This study investigated the action of midazolam and its active metabolite alpha-hydroxy-midazolam on different parts of the auditory pathway in six healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blind, three-way cross-over study. METHODS: Acoustically evoked short (SLP) and middle (MLP) latency potentials, transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), and EEG power spectra were analysed after short i. v. injections of placebo, or 0.15 mg kg-1 midazolam, or alpha-hydroxy-midazolam, respectively. RESULTS: All subjects fell asleep during the 4 min infusion of active drug. SLP showed a significant transient increase of Jewett wave V 10 min after injection for midazolam and alpha-hydroxy-midazolam while the latency of wave I was unchanged. Both benzodiazepines induced a marked and long-lasting MLP amplitude decrease for 240 min with slow recovery over the following 360 min. No changes of TEOAE were observed. In agreement with earlier reports, increases in EEG beta activity and decreases in alpha activity were observed after administration of either drug. CONCLUSIONS: Systemically administered benzodiazepines modulate the auditory pathway above the level of the cochlea. While SLP changes were closely associated with sedation and high plasma benzodiazepine concentrations, MLP effects persisted for hours after sedation even at low benzodiazepine plasma levels. Evoked potentials may therefore be more sensitive than EEG as a tool to monitor benzodiazepine effects.     

Pharmacokinetics and safety of l-carnitine infused i. v. in healthy subjects

Summary The pharmacokinetics and safety of a brief i. v. infusion of l-carnitine 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg have been investigated in 10 healthy subjects.The diurnal intraindividual variability of plasma carnitine was small (C. V.=3.0, 3.9 and 3.9%, respectively), and the total 24 h excretion in urine was also small and relatively constant: 4.6, 21.5 and 13.0 mg/day in the controls vs 4.6, 20.2 and 6.0 mg/day during treatment in the three subjects to whom saline alone was administered according to a single-blind design. Therefore, the pre-dose level of carnitine was subtracted from the level after dosing for the pharmacokinetic analysis. Plasma carnitine fitted well to a three-compartment open model, with Vc of 0.11–0.20 l/kg and a t_1/2 of 10–23 h. The urine recovery in 24 h was 77.2–95.4%.There were no objective or subjective side-effects attributable to carnitine, so its i. v. infusion is considered to be safe.     

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of microencapsulated octreotide acetate in healthy subjects

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of the marketed formulation of microencapsulated octreotide acetate were evaluated in an open-label study in 22 healthy cholecystectomized subjects. Each subject received a single 30 mg dose of microencapsulated octreotide acetate intramuscularly (i.m.). Concentrations of octreotide, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as well as clinical safety were evaluated over a period of 112 days (16 weeks). After the injection, mean serum octreotide concentration initially increased rapidly, reached the maximum (Cmax, day 1 = 0.96 +/- 0.25 ng/ml) approximately 1.5 hours after dosing, and declined thereafter until 24 hours postdose (Cmin, 24 h = 0.088 +/- 0.093 ng/ml). The octreotide concentration then increased and started a sustained release from day 7 onward. Plateau concentrations were maintained through day 70 and gradually declined to below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) by day 112. The plateau height (Cplateau (2-112d, 60%)) was 1.68 +/- 0.88 ng/ml, and the duration (delta plateau, 60%) was 30.2 +/- 15.7 days. The integrated concentration-time curve, AUC0-112d, was 2819 +/- 782 (ng.h/ml), and the apparent half-life (t1/2) was 169 hours. To assess the variability, the drug concentrations were determined hourly for 8 hours on day 28, and the mean octreotide concentration, Cavg, day 28' was 1.55 +/- 1.26 ng/ml. The suppression of IGF-1 was statistically significant compared to the baseline (p < 0.05) through day 63; however, there were no appreciable changes in GH and IGFBP-3 concentrations after a single injection of microencapsulated octreotide acetate. Simulation of a 28-day dose schedule suggested that steady-state octreotide concentrations would be reached by the third injection with steady-state concentrations about twofold greater than the first injection. There were no serious adverse events or clinically meaningful changes in vital signs, ECGs, or laboratory evaluations observed in this study, indicating that the 30 mg i.m. dose of microencapsulated octreotide acetate was well tolerated in this population.     

阿加曲班和低分子肝素治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症合并血栓的疗效比较

目的比较阿加曲班和低分子肝素治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症合并血栓的临床疗效。方法选取2017年1月—2017年9月在中国医科大学附属第一医院治疗的下肢动脉硬化闭塞症合并血栓患者60例,随机分为对照组(30例)和治疗组(30例)。两组患者给予基础溶栓治疗,经溶栓导管泵入注射用尿激酶,20~40万U加入到生理盐水中配成100 m L溶液,50 m L/h,2次/d。对照组患者在基础溶栓的基础上皮下注射低分子肝素钙4 100 AXa IU,2次/d;治疗组患者在基础溶栓的基础上经溶栓导管泵入阿加曲班注射液,40 mg加入到生理盐水320 m L中,20 m L/h,1次/d。两组患者均连续治疗7 d。评价两组患者临床疗效,同时比较治疗前后两组患者踝肱指数(ABI)、跛行距离和D-二聚体水平以及并发症和不良反应。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为73.33%、93.33%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者的ABI和跛行距离均显著升高,同组治疗前后差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);且治疗组的跛行距离显著高于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗第7天,两组患者的D-二聚体水平均显著降低,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗第3天,治疗组的D-二聚体水平较治疗前显著降低,且显著低于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。对照组和治疗组的并发症发生率分别为6.67%、3.33%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。对照组和治疗组的不良反应发生率分别为13.33%、0,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论阿加曲班联合尿激酶经导管溶栓治疗下肢动脉粥样硬化闭塞症合并血栓疗效显著,能明显改善相应症状,同时具有更好的安全性。