Treatment Approaches for Alcohol and Drug Dependence. An Introductory Guide. By Tracey J. Jarvis, Jenny Tebbutt, Richard P. Mattick and Fiona Shand, 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester, 2005. {pound}29.95. 324pgs. ISBN 0 470 09039 1

This is the second edition of a successful book that has receivedacclaim not only in Australia but also around the world. Theedition has expanded on the original one by adding new materialand bringing the rest up to date by incorporating best currentpractice. The book is divided into five parts to aid workers, who aredesignated as ‘therapist’,     

Omeprazole and Helicobacter Pylori: temporary suppression rather than true eradication

Twenty-four Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients were treated for 28 days with either 20 mg omeprazole o.m. (n = 12) or 40 mg omeprazole o.m. (n = 12). Clearance (absence of H. pylori at the end of or shortly after treatment) and eradication (absence of H. pylori 1 month after cessation of treatment) were assessed using the 14C-urea breath test. Observed clearance and eradication were: 20 mg omeprazole 3/12 and 0/12; 40 mg omeprazole 6/12 and 1/12 respectively. The effect on H. pylori is probably due to the change in gastric pH from acid to neutral, however it is insufficient to recommend the inclusion of omeprazole in regimens aimed at eradicating H. pylori.     

Locomotor characteristics of obese children

The gait patterns of 10 obese and four normal-weight, prepubertal children were used to evaluate characteristics of varying weight groups. Analyses of temporal and distance parameters were conducted on representative gait cycles at slow, normal and fast speeds of walking. Obese subjects showed longer cycle duration (P less than 0.001), lower cadence (P less than 0.001), lower relative velocity (statures/sec) (P less than 0.001) and a longer stance period (P less than 0.001) than normal-weight subjects. Differences were also found in gait symmetry measures, with the obese displaying asymmetry in step length and step factor. In all cases, the right limb was favoured. Obese subjects displayed greatest instability at the slow speed of walking.     

Release of peptides from sustained delivery systems (microcapsules and microparticles) in vivo

Sustained delivery systems (microcapsules, microparticles, or implants) developed for once a month administration of peptides are efficacious and convenient. Long acting formulations of several bioactive peptides are based on microcapsules of a biodegradable polymer poly(dl -lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG), but a better understanding is required of the mechanism of the peptide release from the microcapsules, which is assumed to be primarily by diffusion through pores. In order to clarify this mechanism, microcapsules and microparticles of the agonist [d -Trp⁶]-LHRH and microcapsules of the LHRH antagonist SB-75 were given i.m. to rats 2 h and 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days before histological and immunohistochemical investigation. Signs of biodegradation of the PLG matrix could be seen the first day after the injection, in a form of vacuole development in the interior of the particles and connected with the presence of macrophages within the matrix. The microcapsules showed excellent tissue-compatibility, and no significant foreign body reaction was detected. Immunohistochemical study on the microcapsules revealed no visible decrease in peptide concentration in the remnants of the matrix even 2 weeks after the injection. Evaluation of serum [d -TrP⁶]-LHRH showed that after an initial burst, both microcapsules and microparticles maintained elevated serum [d -Trp⁶]-LHRH levels for more than 3 weeks. Our results suggest that the previously proposed mechanisms do not reflect the experimental findings, particularly for the insoluble peptides. The peptide release from the PLG microcapsules or microparticles appears to be controlled mostly by the speed of the biodegradation of the polymer matrix and the diffusion of the peptides from the PGL is negligible.     

PHARMACOKINETICS OF PROPOFOL IN CHILDREN

The pharmacokinetics of propofol were studied in 12 healthyChinese children, aged 4–12 yr, undergoing circumcisionunder inhalation an-aesthesia. All patients received a singlei.v. bolus dose of propofol 2.5 mg kg^–1 and blood concentrationsof propofol over the subsequent 24 h were measured using highpressure liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.Data were consistent with a three-compartment model with a mean(SEM) elimination half-life of 209 (29) min and total body clearanceof 40.4 (3.6) ml min^–1 kg^–1. The mean (SEM) apparentvolume of distribution at steady state was 5.0 (2.7) litre kg^–1and volume of the central compartment was 0.6 (0.1) litre kg^–1.The mean (SEM) ratio of k₁₂: k₂₁ was 1.4 (0.2), suggesting that,after injection of a single bolus dose in children, propofolis distributed rapidly to the shallow compartment. The meanratio of k₃₁: k₁₀ suggests that lipophilicity constrains returnof the drug to the central compartment.