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Biomedical subjects

L J Dusci

Publications and source records attributed to L J Dusci.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Excretion of indomethacin in breast milk.

1. The excretion of indomethacin into breast milk and subsequent exposure of infants was studied in 16 women and seven of their infants. The median milk:plasma ratio in seven patients where there were measurable drug concentrations in both milk and plasma was 0.37. 2. Total infant dose, assuming a daily milk intake of 150 ml kg-1 and 100% absorption, ranged from 0.07% to 0.98% (median = 0.18%) of the weight adjusted maternal dose. 3. Plasma samples were obtained in seven infants. In six of these, indomethacin concentrations were below the sensitivity of the assay (less than 20 micrograms l-1), while one infant had a plasma indomethacin concentration of 47 micrograms l-1. 4. No adverse effects due to indomethacin were reported in the infants.

Adult↗

Excretion of diazepam and its metabolites in human milk during withdrawal from combination high dose diazepam and oxazepam.

The excretion of diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam, temazepam and oxazepam in breast milk was studied during withdrawal of a 22-year-old patient from combined high dose diazepam and oxazepam therapy. Concentrations of these benzodiazepines in plasma from both the woman and her nursing infant (1 year old) were also documented. Diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam, temazepam and oxazepam were found in the maternal plasma and milk with mean milk: plasma ratios of 0.2, 0.13, 0.14 and 0.10 respectively. It was calculated on a mg kg-1 basis that the infant received some 4.7% of the maternal dose. Diazepam could not be detected in the infant's plasma, but low levels of N-desmethyldiazepam (20 and 21 micrograms l-1), temazepam (7 micrograms l-1) and oxazepam (7.5 and 9.6 micrograms l-1) were present. The infant showed no overt physical or mental symptoms of benzodiazepine intoxication.

Adult↗

Simultaneous determination of clobazam, N-desmethyl clobazam and clonazepam in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography.

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of clobazam, its active metabolite N-desmethylclobazam, and clonazepam in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography. The drugs are extracted with diethyl ether from 1.0 ml plasma adjusted to pH 9.0 and separated on a C18 reverse phase column using a mobile phase of 40% acetonitrile in phosphate buffer pH 3.0. The ultraviolet absorbance is monitored at a wavelength of 313 nm. The method has a coefficient of variation of less than 5% and an overall recovery of greater than 85% and is sufficiently sensitive for the therapeutic monitoring of these drugs.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for measurement of pentamidine in plasma and its application in an immunosuppressed patient with renal dysfunction.

A rapid method for the quantitation of pentamidine in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Pentamidine was extracted from plasma using a mixed solvent of 40% acetonitrile in chloroform. Reversed-phase chromatography was then performed on a mu Bondapak C-18 column, using a mobile phase of acetonitrile containing 0.1% H3PO4 and 0.1% NaCl (20:80) and the eluting peaks detected by their UV absorbance at 262 nm. The assay had a within-day coefficient of variation of less than 3.8%, an absolute recovery of 92%, and a limit of detection of 15 nmol/L. The method was applied during pentamidine mesylate treatment (4 mg/kg/day) for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in an immunosuppressed patient with impaired renal function. Plasma levels rose slowly to a plateau (range 530-880 nmol/L) after 7 days of treatment, suggesting a half-life of around 1.5-2 days.

Amidines↗

Buprenorphine: a new maintenance opiate?

Heroin-dependent out-patients who had been prescribed buprenorphine by general practitioners took part in a controlled study in which 2 mg or 4 mg of buprenorphine were administered by the sublingual route to assess its acceptability as a maintenance opiate and to determine the effects of its abrupt withdrawal and reintroduction a week later. Subjects who received 4 mg of buprenorphine reported being more intoxicated and having fewer symptoms of opiate withdrawal than did the subjects who received the 2-mg dose. Subjects who received the higher dose also abused opiate and benzodiazepine drugs less frequently. When buprenorphine was ceased abruptly, the subjects reported mild withdrawal discomfort for which many requested symptomatic treatment. The reintroduction of buprenorphine caused their condition to restabilize. The subjects' use of opiate drugs, as shown by urine assay, rose from a prevalence of around 15% of specimens at the beginning to about 50% of specimens at the end of the five-week study period. Sublingual buprenorphine was acceptable to opiate-addicted outpatients as a maintenance treatment. However, daily doses of greater than 4 mg will probably be required to suppress concurrent opiate abuse, and detoxification will need to be undertaken gradually.

Administration, Oral↗

Lack of dose dependent kinetics of theophylline.

Oral theophylline was given to 6 adults with airways obstruction. The initial dose was 125 mg daily and this was increased by 125 mg each week. The final total daily dose reached was determined by side effects and ranged from 500 mg to 1125 mg. At the end of each week and before the next dosage increment steady state, trough plasma theophylline concentrations were measured. For each individual and for the group as a whole there was a highly significant linear correlation between theophylline dose and trough plasma concentration. This indicates that for oral theophylline, in adults, dose-dependent kinetics do not play a significant role and dose may be adjusted without fear of a disproportionate rise in plasma concentration.

Adult↗