Forelimb postischaemic reactive hyperaemia is impaired by hypotensive low body negative pressure in healthy subjects

Local metabolic conditions adapt blood supply to metabolic requirement by a direct effect on vascular smooth muscles and indirectly by modulating sympathetic vasoconstrictor effectiveness. During exercise, sympathetic nervous activity could in turn interfere on local metabolic control of vascular tone and restrain blood flow to active muscles. In order to investigate that interaction non-invasively, we measured postischaemic reactive hyperaemia (RH) in the forelimb of eight healthy young men (22.7 +/- 2.1 years) at rest and during two levels of sympathetic stimulation using low body negative pressure (LBNP -15 and -30 mmHg). During every stages, RH was measured after 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of arterial occlusion, respectively. In control conditions, RH rose with duration of ischaemia (18.9, 24.2, 30.4, 33.1 ml min(-1) per 100 ml(-1) for 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia, respectively). During non-hypotensive LBNP (-15 mmHg) sympathetic activation was associated with decreased forelimb blood flow (6.4 +/- 0.9 versus 3.9 +/- 0.6 ml min(-1) per 100 ml(-1), P<0.01), but RH were not significantly different from control conditions. During hypotensive tachycardia LBNP (-30 mmHg), RH were significantly lower than under the previous LBNP stage. This fall in RH was greater after the shortest gap of ischaemia and tapered off as arterial occlusion gap increased (-22.3, -13.1, -10.5 and -8.7% for 40, 60, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia, respectively). These results suggested that vascular tone adaptation to local metabolic conditions was modified by sympathetic nervous activation. This was particularly marked when an hypotensive-mediated sympathetic stimulation was opposed to short gaps of ischaemia.     

Effects of inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on metabolic vasodilation in the human forearm

Experimental data suggest that vascular ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels may be an important determinant of functional hyperaemia, but the contribution of K(ATP) channels to exercise-induced hyperaemia in humans is unknown. Forearm blood flow was assessed in 39 healthy subjects (23 males/16 females; age 22+/-4 years) using the technique of venous occlusion plethysmography. Resting forearm blood flow and functional hyperaemic blood flow (FHBF) were measured before and after brachial artery infusion of the K(ATP) channel inhibitors glibenclamide (at two different doses: 15 and 100 microg/min) and gliclazide (at 300 microg/min). FHBF was induced by 2 min of non-ischaemic wrist flexion-extension exercise at 45 cycles/min. Compared with vehicle (isotonic saline), glibenclamide at either 15 microg/min or 100 microg/min did not significantly alter resting forearm blood flow or peak FHBF. The blood volume repaid at 1 and 5 min after exercise was not diminished by glibenclamide. Serum glucose was unchanged after glibenclamide, but plasma insulin rose by 36% (from 7.2+/-0.8 to 9.8+/-1.3 m-units/l; P =0.02) and 150% (from 9.1+/-1.3 to 22.9+/-3.5 m-units/l; P =0.002) after the 15 and 100 microg/min infusions respectively. Gliclazide also did not affect resting forearm blood flow, peak FHBF, or the blood volume repaid at 1 and 5 min after exercise, compared with vehicle (isotonic glucose). Gliclazide induced a 12% fall in serum glucose (P =0.009) and a 38% increase in plasma insulin (P =0.001). Thus inhibition of vascular K(ATP) channels with glibenclamide or gliclazide does not appear to affect resting forearm blood flow or FHBF in healthy humans. These findings suggest that vascular K(ATP) channels may not play an important role in regulating basal vascular tone or skeletal muscle metabolic vasodilation in the forearm of healthy human subjects.     

Effects of hydralazine, nitroglycerin, and food on estimated hepatic blood flow

Several recent studies have shown that hydralazine and nitroglycerin may increase the apparent oral bioavailability of high-clearance drugs. It has been postulated that the mechanism responsible may be a vasodilator-induced transient increase in hepatic blood flow with an associated reduction in first-pass metabolism. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of hydralazine (25 mg) and sublingual nitroglycerin (2 doses of 0.6 mg separated by 30 minutes) on indocyanine green (ICG) blood clearance (ClB). Forty minutes after the start of nitroglycerin therapy, ICG ClB fell from a baseline of 648 +/- 98 to 607 +/- 151 ml/min, and was further decreased to 578 +/- 98 ml/min 80 minutes after dosing. Hydralazine induced no consistent effect on ICG ClB. ICG ClB was 744 +/- 376, 721 +/- 218, and 763 +/- 195 ml/min at baseline, 40 minutes, and 80 minutes after dosing. As a positive control, ICG ClB was assessed after a high-protein meal. After this meal, ICG ClB increased from 656 +/- 107 to 811 +/- 141 and 801 +/- 132 ml/min at 40 and 80 minutes after dosing. These data suggest that one or more mechanism(s) other than changes in hepatic blood flow are involved in the vasodilator-induced increase in the apparent oral bioavailability of high-clearance drugs.     

Free radical scavenging activity of sulfonylureas: a clinical assessment of the effectiveness of gliclazide

In long-term clinical studies the beneficial effects of gliclazide on platelets have been related to a reduction in oxidative stress. This property is because of gliclazide's free radical scavenging ability that relates to the unique amino azabicyclo-octane ring, which is grafted on to the sulfonylurea. During a blinded clinical trial, the possible effects of gliclazide were assessed in 30 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. All patients had been treated for diabetes for more than 2 years (mean 8 years) and had been established on glibenclamide for over 2 years with or without adjunctive metformin therapy. Patients were studied for 6 months and randomized to continue either their present dose of glibenclamide or to be converted to an equipotent dose of gliclazide. Measurements were taken of hemostatic variables, the oxidative status of the plasma, and the redox status, both extracellularly as plasma albuminthiols (PSH) and lipid peroxides, and intracellularly as red blood cell superoxide dismutase activity (SOD). At 3 months, diabetic control was unaltered, but there were significant improvements in the oxidative status of the gliclazide-treated patients. Lipid peroxides decreased (8.3 +/- 1.1 to 7.0 +/- 0.06 mumol/l, P < 0.01) and red blood cell SOD increased (135 +/- 21 to 152 +/- 36 micrograms/ml, P < 0.05). PSH levels were unaltered at 453 +/- 38 mumol/l, whereas they had decreased significantly in the glibenclamide patients (414 +/- 34 mumol/l, P < 0.05), resulting in a significant difference between the 2 treatment groups (P < 0.004). Platelet reactivity to collagen also improved in the gliclazide-treated patients, decreasing from 65.1% +/- 14% to 50.8 +/- 24% (p < 0.01). The reactivity of the platelets remained unaltered in the glibenclamide patients. At 6 months, the significant differences between the 2 treatment groups remained. Hence, gliclazide was shown in a clinical study to have free radical scavenging activity independent of glycemic control.     

Interaction of the sulfonylthiourea HMR 1833 with sulfonylurea receptors and recombinant ATP-sensitive K(+) channels: comparison with glibenclamide.

The novel sulfonylthiourea 1-[[5-[2-(5-chloro-o-anisamido)ethyl]-2-methoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-3-methylthiourea (HMR 1883), a blocker of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels), has potential against ischemia-induced arrhythmias. Here, the interaction of HMR 1883 with sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) subtypes and recombinant K(ATP) channels is compared with that of the standard sulfonylurea, glibenclamide, in radioligand receptor binding and electrophysiological experiments. HMR 1883 and glibenclamide inhibited [(3)H]glibenclamide binding to SUR1 with K(i) values of 63 microM and 1.5 nM, and [(3)H]opener binding to SUR2A/2B with K(i) values of 14/44 microM and 0.5/2.8 microM, respectively (values at 1 mM MgATP). The interaction of HMR 1883 with the SUR2 subtypes was more sensitive to inhibition by MgATP and MgADP than that of glibenclamide. In inside-out patches and in the absence of nucleotides, HMR 1883 inhibited the recombinant K(ATP) channels from heart (Kir6.2/SUR2A) and nonvascular smooth muscle (Kir6.2/SUR2B) with IC(50) values of 0.38 and 1.2 microM, respectively; glibenclamide did not discriminate between these channels (IC(50) approximately 0.026 microM). In whole cells, the recombinant vascular K(ATP) channel, Kir6.1/SUR2B, was inhibited by HMR 1883 and glibenclamide with IC(50) values of 5.3 and 0.043 microM, respectively. The data show that the sulfonylthiourea exhibits a selectivity profile quite different from that of glibenclamide with a major loss of affinity toward SUR1 and slight preference for SUR2A. The stronger inhibition by nucleotides of HMR 1883 binding to SUR2 (as compared with glibenclamide) makes the sulfonylthiourea an interesting tool for further investigation.     

Kinetics of fenoximone, a new cardiotonic, in healthy subjects

Fenoximone, a new cardiotonic, was given to six healthy men as a single intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg and a single oral dose of 3 mg/kg as solution in a crossover study. Plasma concentrations were monitored for 8 hr and urine was collected for 24 hr. Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were reached 30 min after the oral dose. Decay of plasma concentrations was fitted to a mean (+/- SD) elimination t1/2 (t1/2 beta) of 60 +/- 14 min after intravenous injection and 78 +/- 26 min after oral dosing. Mean total body clearance for intravenous dosing was 2062 +/- 846 ml/min, renal clearance (ClR) was 5.3 +/- 2.4 ml/min, and extrapolated volume of distribution was 0.37 +/- 0.26 l/kg. The sulfoxide derivative was detected as the main metabolite. Cmax of the sulfoxide metabolite occurred 10 min after the end of the intravenous infusion and 20 to 60 min after oral dosing. From the decay of the plasma concentrations of the sulfoxide, the t1/2 beta s were calculated as 132 +/- 15 min after intravenous injection and 140 +/- 27 min after oral dosing of fenoximone. ClR of the sulfoxide was 499 +/- 106 ml/min after intravenous injection; 24-hr urinary recovery of the sulfoxide was 75.7% +/- 5.7% after intravenous injection and 64.3% +/- 10.4% after oral dosing. Mean oral bioavailability of fenoximone was 53% (range 44% to 69%).     

Effect of graded leg cycling on postischaemic forearm blood flow in healthy subjects

This study assessed in healthy subjects, the effect of leg cycling on the forearm vascular responses to ischaemia to confirm previous results showing that exercise-induced sympathetic activation during leg cycling reduced postischaemic forearm hyperaemia. Seven young healthy subjects performed two bouts of cycling exercises at 50% and 80% of their maximal aerobic capacity (Ex(50), Ex(80) respectively) during which forearm arterial blood flow was successively occluded for 40, 90 and 180 s. Control forearm blood flow (FBF) and postischaemic forearm blood flow (pi-FBF) measured at the release of arterial occlusions were assessed using plethysmography. Digital arterial pressure was continuously monitored allowing calculation of control and postischaemic forearm conductance (FC and pi-FC respectively). At rest, pi-FBF increased with the duration of ischaemia (5 +/- 1, 19 +/- 3, 29 +/- 3, 31 +/- 4 ml min(-1) 100 ml(-1) after 0, 40, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia respectively). During Ex(50), FBF and pi-FBF did not change significantly although pi-FC was significantly reduced (Deltapi-FC = -39%, -33%, -27% for 40, 90, 180 s of ischaemia respectively). During Ex(80), there was a further dramatic decrease in pi-FC (-53%, -66%, -62% from rest) and pi-FBF were largely blunted (13 +/- 4 versus 19 +/- 3, 14 +/- 4 versus 29 +/- 3, 17 +/- 5 versus 31 +/- 4 ml min(-1) 100 ml(-1)). These results demonstrated that forearm responses to ischaemia depended on leg activities. It was suggested that exercise-induced sympathetic activation may have interfered on local vasodilatation because of ischaemia.     

Trimipramine kinetics and absolute bioavailability: use of gas-liquid chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection

Kinetic parameters were derived from trimipramine and desmethyltrimipramine plasma concentrations after administration of intravenous (12.5 mg) and oral (50 mg) trimipramine in nine subjects. Elimination t1/2 after intravenous dosing was (mean +/- SE) 23 +/- 1.9 hr. Volume of distribution by the area method was 30.9 +/- 3.5 l/kg and total metabolic clearance was 15.9 +/- 1.5 ml/min/kg. Plasma protein binding of trimipramine, as determined by equilibrium dialysis, averaged 94.9%, with a range of 93.8% to 96.4%. Peak plasma level attained was 28.2 +/- 4.4 ng/ml at 3.1 +/- 0.6 hr after oral dosing. Absolute bioavailability was 41.4% +/- 4.4% (range of 17.8% to 62.7%). These data indicate that trimipramine has incomplete and variable systemic availability, that it is more highly protein bound than other tricyclic antidepressants, and, on the basis of its elimination t1/2, that it could be administered on a twice-daily basis without marked interdose fluctuations in plasma levels.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime in plasma and skin blister fluid following oral dosing of cefpodoxime proxetil.

The single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime were assessed in plasma and skin blister fluid (SBF) after oral dosing of 200 mg (n = 8) and 400 mg (n = 8) of cefpodoxime proxetil (doses are expressed as cefpodoxime equivalents) in healthy subjects in an open-label, parallel-design study. Skin blisters were formed by air suction on the midvolar forearm by a previously validated method. After single-dose administration, serial plasma and SBF samples were collected over 24 h for measurement of cefpodoxime by microbiological assays. After a 1-week washout, subjects received the same doses of antibiotic every 12 h for 5 days, with plasma and SBF sampling on day 5. After 200 mg of cefpodoxime proxetil, average peak concentrations (Cmax) in plasma and SBF were 2.18 +/- 0.52 and 1.55 +/- 0.59 micrograms/ml, respectively, after a single dose and 2.33 +/- 0.74 and 1.56 +/- 0.55 micrograms/ml, respectively, at steady state. After 400 mg of cefpodoxime proxetil, Cmax in plasma and SBF averaged 4.16 +/- 1.04 and 2.94 +/- 0.71 micrograms/ml, respectively, following a single dose and 4.10 +/- 0.95 and 2.84 +/- 0.88 micrograms/ml, respectively, at steady state. Cmax occurred 1.1 to 1.6 h later in SBF than in plasma. There was no accumulation of cefpodoxime in plasma or SBF when dosing was done every 12 h. Cefpodoxime blister fluid penetration was estimated to be 67 to 101%, consistent with the relatively low serum protein binding of the drug. Cefpodoxime levels exceeding the MIC for 90% of many skin pathogens, such as Streptococcus species (<1 microgram/ml) or Staphylococcus species (2 to 4 micrograms/ml), were achieved in plasma and SBF following the 200- and/or 400-mg dosing regimens.     

beta-2 Adrenergic blockade evaluated with epinephrine after placebo, atenolol, and nadolol

Vascular beta 2-adrenergic blocking effects of the water-soluble drugs atenolol (beta 1-selective) and nadolol (nonselective) were evaluated. Twenty-four healthy young men were studied in three dosing groups (eight subjects per group) before and after 1 wk on placebo, atenolol (50 mg twice a day), or nadolol (40 mg twice a day). Maximal treadmill exercise heart rates were reduced to a similar degree by atenolol (-48 +/- 3 bpm) and nadolol (-48 +/- 4 bpm) but were not affected by placebo. Trough blood levels were 226 +/- 9 ng/ml for atenolol and 43 +/- 9 ng/ml for nadolol. Calf blood flow was measured with a plethysmograph and calf vascular resistance was calculated from blood pressure and flow. beta 2-Adrenergic blockade was determined at rest with epinephrine infused intravenously in graded doses from 0.001 to 0.032 micrograms/kg/min. Mean arterial pressure and calf vascular resistance rose markedly after nadolol but not after atenolol or placebo. Marked bradycardia developed after nadolol, probably by baroreceptor stimulation. Thus at an equivalent, substantial degree of beta 1-adrenergic blockade, nadolol blocks vascular beta 2-adrenergic receptors and atenolol does not. Measurement of the peripheral vascular response to epinephrine infusion is an effective means of assessing the impact of beta-adrenergic blockers on vascular beta 2-adrenergic receptors.     

Single- and multiple-dose metronidazole kinetics

Kinetics of metronidazole and its metabolites were examined after single oral and intravenous doses and multiple oral doses in seven subjects by a sensitive HPLC assay. After 400 mg metronidazole IV, mean Vd beta was 1.05 l/kg. Mean plasma t1/2 was 8.3 hr with a ClTBC of 1.31 ml/min/kg. Clearance to the major metabolites, 2-hydroxy-metronidazole and 1-acetic acid metronidazole, accounted for over 90% of the ClTBC. After a single oral 400-mg metronidazole dose, the development of peak metronidazole plasma concentrations of 6.9 micrograms/ml averaged 2.3 hr after dosing. Systemic oral bioavailability was complete (98.9%). During twice-daily multiple metronidazole dosing, 400 mg, metronidazole kinetics were the same. Elimination t1/2 was 8.3 hr and average predicted steady-state metronidazole concentrations during one dosing interval (6.3 +/- 0.5 micrograms/ml; mean +/- SE) were equal to the observed concentrations (6.9 +/- 1 micrograms/ml). Urinary excretion of unchanged metronidazole was below 10% of the total dose. Seventy-five percent of the dose was 2-hydroxy-metronidazole and 1-acetic acid metronidazole, and 15% was conjugates of metronidazole and 2-hydroxy-metronidazole.     

Pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of fleroxacin after single and multiple 400- and 800-mg-dosage regimens.

The pharmacokinetics and suction-induced blister fluid penetration of fleroxacin following single and multiple (every 24 h for 5 days) oral administration of 400- and 800-mg-dosage regimens were studied in 12 young male volunteers. Plasma and urine samples up to 72 h were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The peak levels of fleroxacin in plasma were significantly higher after multiple dosing of 800 mg (14.3 versus 8.2 micrograms/ml; P less than 0.01) but not after the last 400-mg dose (6.7 versus 5.0 micrograms/ml). Increased elimination half-life occurred after multiple dosing of 800 mg, from 13.45 +/- 2.94 to 15.60 +/- 3.16 h (P less than 0.05). Mean peak concentrations in blister fluid were significantly different when the first (3.7 +/- 0.8 and 7.7 +/- 1.8 micrograms/ml for 400 and 800 mg, respectively) and last (5.7 +/- 0.9 and 12.3 +/- 2.1 micrograms/ml for 400 and 800 mg, respectively) doses were compared (P less than 0.01). The percentage of blister fluid (BF) penetration (AUCBF/AUCplasma, where AUC is area under the concentration-time curve) yielded values greater than 100% (range, 113.7 to 132.6%). After multiple administration of 800 mg, fleroxacin was cleared from the body more slowly: from 98.80 ml/min after a single dose to 77.72 ml/min following 800 mg every 24 h (P less than 0.01). Saturation of apparent nonrenal clearance is suggested to explain this difference. Fleroxacin was well tolerated by the volunteers.     

Lack of interaction between verapamil and cimetidine

Nine healthy normal subjects received verapamil, 10 mg iv, before (control) and during cimetidine dosing (300 mg every 6 hours), and verapamil, 120 mg po, twice in the same manner. After intravenous doses, the t1/2 (means +/- SE: control, 3.60 +/- 0.40 hours; cimetidine trial, 4.30 +/- 0.60 hours), volume of distribution (5.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 6.6 +/- 0.9 L/kg), and total clearance (19.2 +/- 1.5 vs. 18.4 +/- 1.6 ml/min/kg) did not change during cimetidine dosing. After oral doses, the t1/2 (4.25 +/- 0.57 vs. 4.60 +/- 0.70 hours), plasma AUC (585 +/- 113 vs. 506 +/- 82 ng/ml X hr) and absolute bioavailability (35% +/- 7% vs. 30% +/- 5%) did not differ between control and cimetidine trials, respectively. Five of the subjects also received lidocaine, 25 mg iv, once in the control state and once during the cimetidine regimen described above. Lidocaine clearance fell (665 +/- 216 vs. 527 +/- 134 ml/min; P less than 0.05) during cimetidine therapy, resulting in a trend toward a longer t1/2 (1.81 +/- 0.41 vs. 2.44 +/- 0.42 hours; 0.1 greater than P greater than 0.05) with no change in volume of distribution (1.77 +/- 0.66 vs. 1.99 +/- 0.81 L/kg). Verapamil pharmacodynamics (ECG PR interval, blood pressure, and heart rate) were evaluated after intravenous doses. A decrease in mean arterial pressure (8 +/- 1 vs. 9 +/- 2 mm Hg) and a reflex increase in heart rate (14 +/- 3 vs. 17 +/- 2 bpm) were no different in the control and cimetidine trials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Combined action of chloramphenicol and ampicillin on chloramphenicol-resistant Haemophilus influenzae.

Previous studies have demonstrated high, concentration-dependent serum protein binding of cefonicid. To determine the in vivo pharmacokinetic significance of these observations, the pharmacokinetics of both total and unbound (non-protein-bound) cefonicid was studied in six volunteers after a single intravenous dose of 30 mg/kg. Saturable serum protein binding was observed in vivo; the mean +/- standard deviation free fraction of cefonicid was 17.6 +/- 6.1% immediately after administration and declined to a constant value of approximately 2% as total serum concentrations fell below 100 micrograms/ml. This nonlinear binding was associated with a pronounced decline in unbound serum cefonicid concentrations during the first 3 h after administration, with low or undetectable unbound drug concentrations by 12 h. Renal clearance of total cefonicid averaged 21.1 ml/min per kg and did not vary with time; in contrast, the mean +/- standard deviation unbound cefonicid renal clearance increased from 5.7 +/- 2.1 to 10.8 +/- 1.6 ml/min per kg with time (P less than 0.02). This study may partially explain the poor results obtained with single daily dosing of cefonicid in endocarditis. Dosage regimens of certain antimicrobial agents with high, saturable serum protein binding and extensive renal tubular secretion may be most appropriately designed based on unbound drug pharmacokinetics.     

The disposition and dynamics of labetalol in patients on dialysis

The disposition of labetalol was assessed in 16 patients on dialysis after intravenous dosing with 0.7 to 1.0 mg/kg during an interdialytic period and just before hemodialysis (n = 8) and during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (n = 8). The plasma concentration time data exhibited triexponential decay in all patients. The terminal t 1/2 of labetalol was 12.90 +/- 4.68 hours, the total body clearance was 1198.2 +/- 249.4 ml/min, and the AUC was 921.4 +/- 175.2 ng hr/ml during the interdialytic period. No significant changes were observed in these parameters after dosing with labetalol just before dialysis. The hemodialysis clearance of labetalol was 30.67 +/- 5.49 ml/min, and only 0.189 +/- 0.042 mg of labetalol was removed by hemodialysis. The terminal t 1/2 averaged 13.05 +/- 6.32 hours during CAPD. Steady-state volume of distribution, total body clearance (Clp), and CAPD clearance were 10.39 +/- 2.77 L/kg, 1397.2 +/- 372.3 ml/min, and 1.94 +/- 0.65 ml/min, respectively. The fraction of the dose recovered in the CAPD dialysate during the 72-hour study period was 0.14% +/- 0.09%. The decay of the antihypertensive effect of labetalol was gradual and paralleled the decline in the log plasma concentration. There was a significant correlation between labetalol plasma concentration and the fall in supine diastolic and mean blood pressure after the interdialytic dose and during CAPD. Although labetalol is removed by dialysis, dialysis does not significantly enhance Clp.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous cefetamet and oral cefetamet pivoxil in patients with renal insufficiency.

The pharmacokinetics of cefetamet after a short intravenous infusion of cefetamet (515 mg) and oral administration of 1,000 mg of cefetamet pivoxil were studied in 9 healthy subjects and in 38 patients with various degrees of renal impairment. The results showed that cefetamet elimination was dependent on renal function. After intravenous dosing, total body (CLS), renal (CLR), and nonrenal (CLNR) clearances were linearly related to creatinine clearance (CLCR; r = 0.95, 0.92, and 0.59, respectively). Elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was prolonged from 2.46 +/- 0.33 h in normal subjects to 29.1 +/- 13.9 h in patients with CLCR of less than 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Correspondingly, CLS and CLR decreased from 1.77 +/- 0.27 and 1.42 +/- 0.25 ml/min per kg to 0.14 +/- 0.04 and 0.04 +/- 0.03 ml/min per kg, respectively. The volume of distribution at steady state (0.298 +/- 0.049 liter/kg) for cefetamet was not altered by renal insufficiency (P greater than 0.05). After oral administration, the elimination parameters, t1/2 beta and CLR, were insignificantly different from the intravenous data (P greater than 0.05). Furthermore, the bioavailability (F) of cefetamet pivoxil (45 +/- 13%) was not altered by renal failure (P greater than 0.05). However, maximum concentration in plasma and the time to achieve this value were significantly increased (5.86 +/- 0.74 versus 14.8 +/- 6.14 micrograms/ml and 3.9 +/- 1.1 versus 8.4 +/- 1.7 h, respectively; P less than 0.05). Based on these observations, it is recommended that patients with CLcr of <10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and between 10 and 39 ml/min per 1.73 m2 be given one-quarter of the normal daily dose either once or twice daily. Patients with CLcr between 40 and 80 ml/min per 1.73 m2 should receive one-half of the normal dose twice daily. For patients with CLcr of <10 ml/min per 1.73 m2, it would be recommended that they receive a normal standard dose as a loading dose on day 1 of treatment.     

Kinetics of intravenous and oral pentoxifylline in healthy subjects

The kinetics of a sustained-release formulation of pentoxifylline were compared with those of a capsule and an intravenous infusion. Ten healthy subjects received each of the oral pentoxifylline formulations (400 mg) three times a day for 9 days in a random crossover fashion. Pentoxifylline (200 mg) was also given intravenously on a separate day. After intravenous pentoxifylline, plasma levels declined in a biphasic manner, with a terminal t1/2 of 1.63 +/- 0.8 hr. Plasma clearance was 1333 +/- 481 ml/min and the volume of distribution was 168 +/- 82.3 l. Cumulation of pentoxifylline in plasma after repeated dosing was minimal. Plasma levels of the active 5-hydroxylated metabolite were generally higher than those of the parent drug after both routes of administration. Urinary excretion of two acid metabolites after oral and intravenous dosing indicated almost complete absorption of drug-related substances from both of the oral formulations, although bioavailability averaged 20% to 30%.     

Pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were studied in four patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. After a single intravenous infusion of 10 mg/kg of total body weight, multiple blood, urine, and dialysate samples were collected during a 72-h evaluation period. The steady-state volume of distribution was 0.73 +/- 0.07 (mean +/- standard deviation) liters/kg with a beta half-life of 90.2 +/- 24.2 h. The continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis clearance of vancomycin was 1.35 +/- 0.35 ml/min, and the serum clearance was 6.4 +/- 1.1 ml/min. Peritoneal dialysate concentrations of vancomycin were rapidly attained after the intravenous infusion and averaged 2.2 +/- 0.7 mg/liter throughout the 72-h observation period. A loading dose of 23 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 17 mg/kg every 7 days should attain and maintain therapeutic serum and dialysate concentrations. More frequent dosing may be necessary for less susceptible organisms.     

Elucidating the effect of final-day dosing of rifampin in induction studies on hepatic drug disposition and metabolism

Because rifampin (RIF) induces hepatic enzymes and inhibits uptake transporters, dosing a drug that is a dual substrate of enzymes and uptake transporters on the final day of an inducing regimen should exhibit less inductive effect than dosing on the following day in the absence of RIF, since RIF decreases drug uptake into liver. In vitro and in vivo rat studies were conducted using digoxin as a model substrate. Digoxin was administered to an uninduced control group to obtain baseline values. The second group (induced with dexamethasone) received digoxin alone, mimicking administration of a test drug 1 day following completion of an induction regimen, whereas the third group (induced) received digoxin with RIF mimicking the concomitant dosing on the final day of an induction regimen. Results from hepatocyte concentration-time course studies showed that compared with uninduced control (26.9 +/- 1.3 microM . min/mg), digoxin area under the time-concentration curve (AUC) in induced cells when no RIF is present decreased significantly (13.7 +/- 0.9 microM . min/mg; p < 0.01), suggesting induction of Cyp3a. However, digoxin AUC for induced cells in the presence of RIF (27.3 +/- 0.9 microM . min/mg) matched the control. Rat pharmacokinetic studies showed that compared with digoxin clearance in uninduced controls (7.08 +/- 1.57 ml/min/kg), digoxin clearance in induced rats increased 2-fold (15.6 +/- 3.7 ml/min/kg; p < 0.001), but when RIF was coadministered in the induced rats, digoxin clearance (7.14 +/- 1.24 ml/min/kg) overlapped with control. That is, concomitant dosing of RIF and digoxin masked the inductive effect. To observe full inductive effects, test drugs should be administered 1 day after final dosing of RIF to minimize potential organic anion transporting polypeptide inhibition effects.     

Indoramin in heart failure: possible adverse effects on hemodynamics and exercise capacity

Indoramin is an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist vasodilator of potential value in heart failure. We measured hemodynamics and exercise capacity in 12 patients with heart failure, before and after 1 week of indoramin dosing, 75 mg b.i.d. Maximal hemodynamic effects 2 hours after the first dose of indoramin consisted of reduced mean systemic arterial pressure from 96.0 +/- 15.3 to 87.9 +/- 15.3 mm Hg (P less than 0.05) and pulmonary wedge pressure from 23.6 +/- 7.8 to 16.9 +/- 6.6 mm Hg (P less than 0.001). Heart rate, cardiac index, and total systemic resistance did not change acutely after indoramin, but after 1 week mean systemic arterial pressure was still reduced whereas cardiac index fell from 2.69 +/- 0.38 to 2.32 +/- 0.44 L/min/m2 (P less than 0.05) and total systemic resistance rose from 20.4 +/- 2.8 to 21.9 +/- 4.0 U (P less than 0.1). After 1 week maximal exercise oxygen uptake fell from 16.8 +/- 5.6 to 12.5 +/- 3.5 ml/min/kg (P less than 0.02). This limited observation suggests that indoramin is a predominant venodilator acutely in patients with heart failure but that despite this effect it may worsen functional capacity and hemodynamics during continuous dosing in these patients.