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Biomedical subjects

M J Mattila

Publications and source records attributed to M J Mattila.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Lack of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions of the antihistamine ebastine with ethanol in healthy subjects.

We have given 12 healthy subjects the H1-antihistamine ebastine (20 mg) or placebo in a double-blind, crossover study for one week each. The subjects were tested for drug effects on Day 6 of each period, and for interactions of ebastine with ethanol (0.8 g.kg-1) on Day 7. On both days, the testing runs were done at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 h after the drug. Performance was evaluated both objectively (digit symbol substitution, flicker fusion, Madox wing, nystagmus, simulated driving, body balance) and subjectively (visual analogue scales) and with questionnaires. Venous blood samples were taken daily during maintenance and during each test run for assay of plasma carebastine. Blood ethanol concentrations were assayed with an Alcolmeter in the breath and directly in the blood. Plasma carebastine concentration reached a steady-state from Day 3 on; the mean concentrations in the morning were 92 micrograms.l-1 on Day 6 and 104 micrograms.l-1 on Day 7. The rise in plasma carebastine after an extra 20 mg of ebastine was accelerated but not increased by ethanol. Ebastine did not impair performance objectively or subjectively. It slightly improved body balance and reduced errors during simple tracking at 4 h. Blood ethanol concentrations peaked (mean 0.76 g.l-1) at 1.5 h after ethanol intake. Ethanol impaired performance in most objective tests and produced clumsiness, muzziness, and mental slowness, but little drowsiness. Ebastine neither modified the blood ethanol concentrations nor increased the effects of ethanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Caffeine moderately antagonizes the effects of triazolam and zopiclone on the psychomotor performance of healthy subjects.

To determine whether caffeine antagonizes the decremental effects of triazolam and zopiclone on human performance, oral single doses of 0.250 mg triazolam, 7.5 mg zopiclone, or respective placebos, with and without 300 mg caffeine, were given to parallel groups of student volunteers in two double-blind studies. Objective tests and subjective visual analogue ratings were done at baseline and 30 min. and 90 min. after the intake. In Study I, triazolam produced drowsiness at 30 min. but did not differ from the placebo in other tests. Caffeine induced alerting effects in various tests and differed from triazolam in some (digit substitution, drowsiness, calmness, mental slowness) but not all variables measured. Caffeine and triazolam were interpreted as being antagonists. In Study II, zopiclone impaired digit substitution and flicker fusion, produced exophoria and lowered systolic blood pressure. Caffeine differed from zopiclone in several test functions, but it also differed from caffeine + zopiclone whereas zopiclone differed from caffeine + zopiclone only in two tests (Maddox wing, systolic blood pressure). Thus, zopiclone counteracted the effects of caffeine more easily than caffeine counteracted the decremental effects of zopiclone. We conclude that triazolam may not differ importantly from diazepam as regards their antagonism towards caffeine, whereas further research on the antagonism between zopiclone and caffeine needs to be done.

Anti-Anxiety Agents

Steady state pharmacokinetics of piroxicam in children with rheumatic diseases.

Ten children with rheumatoid arthritis, aged 7-16 y and weighing 20-63 kg, were treated with piroxicam mean dose 0.4 mg.kg-1 once daily for 2 weeks. On Day 15, blood was sampled from 2-120 h after the last dose. The Cmax for piroxicam ranged from 3.6 to 9.8 (mean 6.6) mg.l-1 and its half-life by log linear computation was 22 to 40 (mean 32.6) h. The volumes of distribution and the total body clearance were estimated as the ratio of actual volumes of distribution and actual clearances to availability. The volumes of distribution (V/F) were 0.12 to 0.25 (mean 0.16) l.kg-1, and the total body clearances (CL/F) were 2.1 to 5.0 (mean 3.4) ml.kg-1.h-1. Thus, piroxicam clearance in these patients was higher and its half-life was shorter than those previously reported in young adults, yet V appeared similar.

Adolescent

Effect of dexmedetomidine and midazolam on human performance and mood.

The effects of dexmedetomidine (DXM), a novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on human performance and mood were studied in a double-blind randomized crossover study in 12 healthy student volunteers. Single IM doses of dexmedetomidine, 0.6 microgram/kg (DXM1) and 1.2 micrograms/kg (DXM2), 80 micrograms/kg midazolam (MID) and saline placebo, were given at one-week intervals. Performance was measured objectively and mood was assessed subjectively with visual analogue scales (VAS) at baseline and 40 min, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after each injection. Blood pressure and heart rate in the sitting position were measured and venous blood was sampled during each testing round. DXM1 did not significantly impair cognitive (digit symbol substitution), coordinative (tracking) or reactive skills, and at 6 h it shortened reaction time and reduced errors in complex tracking. It produced exophoria, increased body sway with the eyes open and impaired subjective performance on VAS. The higher dose dexmedetomidine also caused impaired cognitive, coordinative and reactive skills (although a trend towards improved coordination was found at 6 h), reduced attention, produced exophoria, increased body sway with the eyes open and caused drowsiness, clumsiness, passiveness and mental slowness on the appropriate VAS scales. MID resembled DXM2 in impaired objective and subjective measures of skilled performance, although the objective effects of MID were of speedier onset and shorter duration. In contrast to MID, DXM caused a significant and dose-dependent decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure still detectable 6 h after injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Efficacy and side-effects of prazosin as a symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic obstruction.

This randomized double-blind crossover trial was conducted to assess the effects of prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking drug, on the voiding of 35 patients with benign prostatic obstruction. Maximum and mean flow rates, residual urine, blood pressure and heart rate were measured at baseline and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after starting the treatment with placebo or prazosin. At 4 weeks the treatments were switched over. The patients filled micturition charts at home and scored their voiding associated feelings. The maximum and mean flow rates increased significantly during prazosin treatment, as also did the maximum and mean voided volumes. Residual urine decreased and voiding improved subjectively but these changes were not statistically significant. Blood pressure was lowered and heart rate increased. Prazosin caused postural dizziness more often than placebo. Prazosin seems to offer an alternative to improve voiding in some patients with prostatic obstruction.

Aged

Actions of zopiclone and carbamazepine, alone and in combination, on human skilled performance in laboratory and clinical tests.

1. Possible interactions of zopiclone and carbamazepine on human skilled performance were studied in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with 12 healthy young subjects. 2. Psychomotor performance (coordination, reactions, attention, cognition) and subjective effects (VAS) were measured and venous blood sampled before and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 h after single oral doses of placebo, 7.5 mg of zopiclone and 600 mg of carbamazepine, which were given alone or combined. Clinical test for drunkenness (CTD) was done 2 and 5 h after drug intake. 3. Both zopiclone and carbamazepine, when administered alone, impaired performance on laboratory tests, the decrements being recorded 1.5 to 6 h after intake. In line with the plasma concentrations, the zopiclone effects peaked earlier (at 1.5 h) and lasted for a shorter time than those of carbamazepine. Zopiclone had a more pronounced effect on perceptual and cognitive functions (digit substitution) and it affected extraocular muscle tone (Maddox wing), whereas carbamazepine had stronger effects on attention. Additive pharmacodynamic actions were found in most tests after the combined treatment with zopiclone and carbamazepine. 4. CTD proved to be less sensitive than the laboratory tests in revealing drug-induced decrement of performance after administration of one agent alone. However, it revealed the combined decremental effects of zopiclone and carbamazepine. 5. When the drugs were given together, the absorption of drugs was retarded. Carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide levels were lower after intake of the drug combination than those measured after intake of carbamazepine alone. 6. The results suggest that the clinical tests developed to detect alcohol effects do not necessarily reveal drug-induced impairment of performance.

Adult

Effects of remoxipride on psychomotor performance, alone and in combination with ethanol and diazepam.

The effects of remoxipride, alone and in combination with ethanol and diazepam, on sensory, cognitive, and neuromotor performance were studied in 12 healthy volunteers (7 men, 5 women). The study was of double-blind randomized, crossover design with each subject receiving six different single-dose experimental treatments at six sessions. Tests of sensory, cognitive, and neuromotor functions were carried out, together with subjective assessments. Remoxipride alone seemed to have no effect on the sensory functions measured, but it affected cognitive and neuromotor functions to a limited extent. In general the effects of ethanol and diazepam alone were more pronounced than those of remoxipride. When remoxipride was combined with either ethanol or diazepam, there was a tendency for the effect to be additive.

Administration, Oral

Morphine and oxycodone in the management of cancer pain: plasma levels determined by chemical and radioreceptor assays.

Morphine and oxycodone were administered to ten patients suffering from severe cancer pain in a double-blind cross-over study. The patients titrated themselves pain-free, first intravenously, using a patient-controlled analgesia device, and then orally. Each titration phase lasted for 48 hours. Blood samples were drawn after 36 hr of each administration phase. The plasma levels of morphine, morphine-6- and morphine-3 glucoronides were determined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), whereas the oxycodone samples were assayed with gas chromatography (GC). Twin samples were analyzed for plasma opioid activity with a radioreceptor assay (RRA) using 3H-dihydromorphine and 3H-naloxone as radioligands. Adequate analgesia was achieved with both morphine and oxycodone. About 30% more oxycodone was needed intravenously, whereas 25% less oxycodone than morphine was consumed orally. There was a good linear correlation between the morphine concentrations measured with HPLC and RRA. The mean morphine-6-glucuronide to morphine concentration ratio was 2.3 after intravenous and 4.6 after oral administration. Results from RRA indicate that oxycodone in vivo is a potent mu-agonist and that at least part of its analgesic action is mediated by active metabolites. In vitro morphine glucuronides enhanced morphine in displacing radioligands from the opioid receptors, thus suggesting their complex interactions in vivo.

Administration, Oral

Alcohol and drug interactions.

Interactions of ethyl alcohol with various drugs are common. Their consequences vary depending on the effects of the drugs concerned, the doses of drugs and alcohol given and their mode of administration. Pharmacokinetic interactions refer to altered tissue concentrations of alcohol or drugs or both and their metabolites which sometimes lead to serious toxic reactions. The kinetic interactions take place in the absorption or metabolism of alcohol or the drug, whereas significant interactions in their distribution phase are rare. Pharmacodynamic interactions refer to the combined actions, even serious ones, which primarily take place at the tissue (receptor?) level, with or without an important pharmacokinetic component of interaction. Acute substantial doses of alcohol given quickly tend to inhibit microsomal drug metabolism and thus enhance the effects of drugs. Chronic administration of alcohol usually induces the synthesis of cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme P-450 II E1, thus accelerating the metabolism of its own and, depending on the circumstances, of various drugs as well. Reduced actions of the agents may then ensue. If the (toxic) effect of a drug (e.g., paracetamol) depends on the formation of active metabolites acute intake of alcohol may, paradoxically, reduce the drug effect, while chronic alcohol intake enhances it. Induction of hepatic enzymes by alcohol may affect the turnover of endogenous vitamins and hormones, or even produce carcinogenic substances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Anxiety Agents

Actions and interactions of hypnotics on human performance: single doses of zopiclone, triazolam and alcohol.

Actions and interactions with ethanol (0.8 g/kg) of triazolam (TRZ, 0.25 mg) and zopiclone (ZOP, 7.5 mg) on performance and memory were studied with 12 healthy young subjects. The randomized double-blind and crossover test sessions were carried out at 1-week intervals. Each time a set of performance tests and self-assessments on visual analogue scales were done before the treatment and 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6 and 8 h after it. The clinical test for drunkenness (CTD) was done 2 and 5 h after drug intake. Venous blood was sampled after each set of tests. Both TRZ and ZOP impaired coordinative and reactive skills, but not peripheral attention or body balance. They also impaired cognitive test performance (digit substitution, symbol copying), and lowered flicker fusion threshold. The psychomotor effects of the two hypnotics and measures of subjective sedation peaked at 1.5 and 3 h. Spatial memory was impaired by TRZ at 4.5 h. Cognitive tests and tracking were most sensitive to alcohol. Furthermore alcohol impaired both motor and vestibular aspects of the CTD while both ZOP and TRZ alone had only minor effects. Alcohol enhanced and prolonged the effects of both hypnotics without modifying their plasma concentrations. Drug-alcohol interactions were mainly additive though more obvious with TRZ. Interactions were evident also on the CTD. The hypnotics were free from residual psychomotor and cognitive effects at 8 h even after the coadministration of alcohol. It is concluded that ZOP and TRZ have a mainly additive interaction with alcohol but pharmacokinetic mechanisms do not seem to contribute essentially to this.

Adult

Actions and interactions of psychotropic drugs on human performance and mood: single doses of ORG 3770, amitriptyline, and diazepam.

Actions and interactions of two antidepressants and diazepam on human skilled performance and mood were studied in a randomized double-blind cross-over trial with single oral doses of 50 mg amitriptyline (AMI), 15 mg Org 3770 (ORG) and placebo, given alone and in combination with 15 mg diazepam (DZ) to 12 young healthy subjects at one-week intervals. Objective tests (digit substitution, tapping, flicker fusion, Maddox wing, tracking, choice reactions, body sway, memory) and subjective assessments (visual analogue scale) were performed at baseline and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 hours after drug administration. Side-effects were reported, blood pressure and heart rate measured and blood samples taken after each testing run. Placebo was nearly inert on performance and mood. DZ impaired some objective skills and showed sedative effects in the subjective tests. AMI produced sedation and impaired coordination as well as cognitive performance (digit substitution), most clearly at 3 to 4.5 hr. ORG resembled AMI in impairing objective and subjective performance, however, not necessarily in the same tests. Their combined effects with DZ were additive in objective tests but less additive in subjective tests. The drug combinations, but not any single drug, impaired learning acquisition. Plasma concentrations of the drugs given alone were about as expected, without important interactions. We conclude that the combinations of benzodiazepines with the antidepressants used impair skilled performance but may not cause major hazards.

Adult

Psychomotor, respiratory and neuroendocrinological effects of a mu-opioid receptor agonist (oxycodone) in healthy volunteers.

Psychomotor performance related to driving and occupational skills was measured double-blind and cross-over in 9 healthy volunteers before and 1.5, 3 and 4.5 hr after intramuscular injection of oxycodone (0.13 mg/kg), oral diphenhydramine (100 mg) and placebo. The effects of oxycodone on performance peaked at 1.5 hr when it prolonged reaction time and impaired vigilance, attention, body balance and coordination of extraocular muscles. The subjects assessed themselves mentally slow, muzzy and impaired by performance on visual analogue scales still 3 hr after injection. Critical flicker discrimination was impaired and some respiratory depression still present at 4.5 hr after administration. Oxycodone elevated plasma prolactin at 1.5 and 3 hr while growth hormone levels remained unaffected. We conclude that the profile of psychomotor decrement produced by this mu-opioid agonist closely resembles that of agonist-antagonist analgesics.

Adult

Objective and subjective assessments of the effects of flupentixol and benzodiazepines on human psychomotor performance.

The aim of this double-blind crossover trial was to compare the objective and subjective effects of flupentixol and lorazepam on human performance, and to reveal possible interactions between flupentixol and diazepam. Twelve healthy students received at 1-week intervals oral single doses of flupentixol 1 mg, flupentixol 2 mg, lorazepam 2.5 mg, placebo, and diazepam 15 mg alone and with flupentixol 1 mg. After the baseline measurements, the drugs were given in capsule form, and the tests were repeated 1.5, 3 and 4.5 h later. Diazepam was given at 1.5 h, to time its peak effect to coincide with that of lorazepam. Drug effects were measured objectively (two tracking tests, digit substitution, letter cancellation, flicker fusion, Maddox wing, tapping, memory) and subjectively (visual analogue scales, questionnaire). Blood samples were taken after each test time. Flupentixol 1 mg did not differ from placebo objectively or subjectively. Flupentixol 2 mg proved nearly inert objectively and on visual analogue scales. Lorazepam impaired objectively measured test performance, the clearest effects occurring at 3 and 4.5 h. It also impaired subjectively assessed performance. Diazepam impaired objective performance less than lorazepam, its effects peaking at 1.5 h after intake. Diazepam caused subjective drowsiness, clumsiness, mental slowness etc. as much as or more than lorazepam. The combination of 1 mg flupentixol and diazepam modified performance as much as diazepam alone. After the administration of 1 mg flupentixol, plasma concentrations were undetectable and levels after 2 mg were hardly detectable. Concentrations of lorazepam exceeded those of diazepam in direct bioassay, but they were much lower when bioassayed after solvent extraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Parenteral pentazocine: effects on psychomotor skills and respiration, and interactions with amitriptyline.

The combined effects on performance and respiration of pentazocine (PZ) and amitriptyline (AMI) were evaluated in a double-blind cross-over study in 11 healthy students. After pretreatment for 1 week with AMI or placebo, on Day 8 the subjects received placebo or 50 mg p.o. AMI and 30 mg PZ or saline i.m. so that the final treatments were 1) placebo, 2) acute AMI 50 mg, 3) acute PZ, 4) subchronic AMI + acute PZ and 5) subchronic AMI. The subacute treatments were started at two-week intervals. Objective and subjective performance tests and respiratory function (minute volume, ETCO2) were measured. Parenteral PZ impaired sensory processing (digit symbol substitution, choice reactions) and extraocular muscle balance (Maddox wing) but left motor skills (tracking, tapping speed) unaffected. A single oral dose of AMI 50 mg affected both sensory and motor performance. The psychomotor effects of PZ were clearest at 1.5 h, and those of AMI at 3.5 h. Both drugs rendered the subjects drowsy, clumsy, and muzzy on visual analogue scales, but PZ also induced positive feelings, like contentedness and friendliness. PZ depressed respiration in terms of lowered minute volume and elevated ETCO2, and subchronic AMI increased this depression. The chemically assayed plasma concentrations of AMI and PZ were as expected; radioreceptor assay revealed low or negligible mu-opiate activity in plasma after PZ. The results suggest that AMI does not enhance the moderate psychomotor decrement produced by PZ. However, respiratory depression may be increased by their concomitant use.

Adult

Anxiogenic effect of yohimbine in healthy subjects: comparison with caffeine and antagonism by clonidine and diazepam.

Three placebo-controlled double-blind and crossover trials were carried out to analyze the effects of oral yohimbine (YOH) 0.8 mg/kg on mood and performance in 16 healthy students. Subjective assessments (visual analogue scales, side-effects on questionnaire) and objective measurements (digit symbols, flicker fusion, tapping, heterophoria) were done at baseline, and post treatment. YOH shifted the healthy subjects' mood towards feeling panicked, elevated systolic blood pressure and plasma prolactin concentrations, reduced digit symbol substitution, and induced drowsiness and passiveness. Caffeine (CAF) 10 mg/kg raised plasma cortisol and rendered the subjects slightly panicked. Muzziness, clumsiness, tremor, chills and nausea were common after both YOH and CAF. Diazepam (DZ) 0.3 mg/kg given at 60 min antagonized some effects of CAF but failed to antagonize YOH. Clonidine (CLO) 100 micrograms counteracted YOH effects on blood pressure but less the subjective and hormonal effects. CLO 200 micrograms partly antagonized the pressor, sedative but not the hormonal responses of YOH. DZ counteracted YOH effects on plasma cortisol on panic but not on other subjective measures or plasma prolactin. Since CLO did not abolish YOH-induced prolactin increase, it is suggested that these effects of YOH are mediated not only via adrenergic alpha 2-receptors; other mechanisms made important contributions.

Adult

Psychomotor performance of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: cross-over comparison of dextropropoxyphene, dextropropoxyphene plus amitriptyline, indomethacin, and placebo.

Actions on performance of dextropropoxyphene (DXP) alone and in combination with amitriptyline (AMI), indomethacin (IN), and placebo were compared in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were on their prescribed maintenance regimen excluding analgesics. In four randomized test sessions at two-week intervals, they received double blind and crossover single oral doses of DXP 130 mg, IN 50 mg, DXP 65 mg + AMI 25 mg or placebo, each after two days' pretreatment with the same drug. Objective and subjective effects were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 hours after drug administration. DXP impaired critical flicker discrimination, symbol copying and body balance without modifying tracking, choice reactions or attention. It rendered the subjects elated, muzzy, mentally slow and calm. Actions of AMI + DXP were about the same. IN impaired body balance and critical flicker recognition. Plasma concentrations of DXP were moderate to high whilst those of IN and AMI were fairly low. We conclude that therapeutic doses of DXP and IN are relatively safe in regard to driving skills. Small doses of AMI may not enhance the mild psychomotor effects of DXP. Earlier single dose studies carried out with healthy volunteers might have overestimated the decremental effects of analgesics on psychomotor performance.

Adult

Acute effects of sertraline, amitriptyline, and placebo on the psychomotor performance of healthy subjects over 50 years of age.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 12 subjects (greater than or equal to 50 years) compared the effects of single oral doses of sertraline (100 mg) and amitriptyline (50 mg) with placebo as assessed by psychomotor function testing. Unlike sertraline and placebo, amitriptyline increased tracking error severity and impaired digit/symbol substitution. Sertraline slightly improved flicker frequency recognition. Both active drugs caused subjective drowsiness, although amitriptyline's effect was greater and of longer duration. Both drugs impaired subjectively assessed performance. Sertraline caused nausea, and amitriptyline, dry mouth; sertraline tended to increase supine systolic blood pressure. The authors conclude that sertraline has a considerably less detrimental effect on psychomotor performance and may have a slight activating effect not found with amitriptyline.

1-Naphthylamine