Saliva and plasma desipramine levels in Asian and Caucasian volunteers.

Thirty-seven healthy volunteers (18 Asian, 19 Caucasian) ingested a single desipramine (DMI) dose of 1.0 mg/kg of body weight. Saliva and plasma samples were obtained at 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs after dosing. A nested repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) design was used to determine if the plasma/saliva DMI ratio varied between Asians and Caucasians over time. Regression analysis was used to assess the ability of saliva DMI to predict plasma DMI at any time point. The ANOVA results indicated no significant differences in DMI plasma/saliva ratios between Asians and Caucasians. There was a major effect of sampling time on the DMI plasma/saliva ratio (p = 0.0001), with the ratio falling from 1.78 at 1 hr to 0.15 at 96 hrs. At any given time at least 24 hrs after the dose, there was a significant relationship between saliva and plasma levels across individuals. However, across subjects, the 95 percent confidence limits for predicting plasma DMI from saliva DMI levels were relatively large. The potential roles and limitations of saliva DMI in pharmacokinetic studies and clinical drug monitoring are discussed.     

Nonmedical Use of Sedative-Hypnotics and Opiates Among Rural and Urban Women with Protective Orders

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors for lifetime nonmedical use of sedative-hypnotics and opiates among a sample of rural and urban women with recent partner violence victimization (n = 756). Nearly one third of the sample (32.8%) reported ever using illicit sedative-hypnotics or opiates. Nonmedical use of sedative-hypnotics and opiates was significantly associated with lifetime cumulative exposure to interpersonal victimization, rural Appalachian residency, past-year use of other substances and other substance-related problems, and lifetime unmet health care needs. Findings have implications for substance abuse prevention and treatment and victim advocacy programs.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf extacts of Gendarussa vulgaris Nees

Objective

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of the leaf exacts of Gendarussa vulgaris (G. vulgaris) Nees.

Methods

G. vulgaris Nees of the family Apocynaceae is a medium sized tree grown in semishade or no shade and is common in the Ernad and Nilambur taluks of Kerala.Various parts of this plant have been used in the treatment of ulcers, sores, inflammation, dyspepsia, healing of wounds, etc. The present study aimed at the evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves by both in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro method was estimated by human red blood cell membrane stabilisation (HRBC) method and in vivo method was estimated on the carrageenan induced paw oedima.

Results

Both the methods showed significant anti-inflammatory property of the different extracts tested.

Conclusions

The alcoholic extract at a concentration of 300 mg/mL showed potent activity on comparing with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.