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Biomedical subjects

M R Blum

Publications and source records attributed to M R Blum.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex with a regimen of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (azidothymidine or zidovudine) and acyclovir. A pilot study.

On the basis of observation that acyclovir potentiates the in-vitro antiviral activity of 3-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (also known as azidothymidine or zidovudine) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we administered a regimen of azidothymidine and acyclovir to eight patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex. An oral regimen of 100 mg of azidothymidine and 800 mg of acyclovir every 4 hours was in general well tolerated, with the principal toxicity being megaloblastic erythroid changes. The pharmacokinetics of the two drugs were independent of each other. Six patients received the drug combination for at least 10 weeks; all had increased numbers of T4+ lymphocytes (P = 0.028), and two of three assessable patients had reversal of anergy. Two patients tested positive for serum HIV p24 antigen at entry, but became negative with treatment. Data for this small group suggest that this drug combination can be tolerated in patients with severe HIV infections; this study can be used as a basis for larger studies of this drug combination.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of uric acid in dogs and the effect of allopurinol.

Uric acid (UA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in 15 dogs and the entrance and effect of allopurinol, a specific inhibitor of enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO), in brain were measured by sampling CSF in dogs. Allopurinol was administered intravenously 25 mg/kg every 6 h for 48 h. Drug level as well as UA level in plasma and CSF was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. A significant concentration of allopurinol was achieved in CSF and a remarkable suppression of CSF UA level was observed at all time points measured. Decrease of UA in CSF level was more pronounced than in plasma, and was not considered secondary to suppression of systemic XO activity. Therefore the regimen employed was proven to be sufficient to suppress XO activity in the subarachnoid space, and drug concentration observed in CSF during this period (5 micrograms/ml) is considered to be in the therapeutic range.

Allopurinol↗

Pharmacokinetics of acyclovir suspension in infants and children.

Eighteen children from 3 weeks to 6.9 years of age were given an oral acyclovir suspension for herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus infections. Thirteen patients who were 6 months to 6.9 years old received 600 mg/m2 per dose, and three infants and two children less than 2 years old were given 300 mg/m2 per dose. The drug was given four times a day, except to one infant who was treated with three doses a day. Among the 13 children who received the 600-mg/m2 dose, the maximum concentration in plasma (Cmax) was 0.99 +/- 0.38 microgram/ml (mean +/- standard deviation), the time to maximum concentration (Tmax) was 3.0 +/- 0.86 h, the area under the curve (AUC) was 5.56 +/- 2.17 micrograms.h/ml, and the elimination half-life (t1/2) was 2.59 +/- 0.78 h. The three infants less than 2 months of age who received the 300-mg/m2 dose had a Cmax of 1.88 +/- 1.11 micrograms/ml, a Tmax of 4.10 +/- 0.48 h, an AUC of 6.54 +/- 4.32 micrograms.h/ml, and a t1/2 of 3.26 +/- 0.33 h. The acyclovir suspension was well tolerated by young children. No adverse effects requiring discontinuation of the drug occurred.

Acyclovir↗

Preclinical biochemical pharmacology and toxicology of piritrexim, a lipophilic inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase.

Piritrexim (PTX), 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin e, formerly called BW 301U, is a potent small-molecule inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) that enters cells rapidly by passive diffusion and thus does not depend upon the transport-mediated uptake that can limit cell entry of methotrexate (MTX). PTX is as active as MTX in inhibiting DHFR and mammalian cell growth. In vivo, PTX is active against Walker 256, L1210, P388, Sarcoma 180, and Ehrlich ascites tumors. After iv administration of [14C]PTX to rats, the elimination profile of intact drug from plasma was first order with a half-life (t1/2) of 38 minutes. PTX penetrates extensively into tissues and its tissue:plasma concentration ratios are generally 10-fold higher than those reported for MTX. When administered systemically, PTX inhibits the DHFR-dependent conversion of sepiapterin or 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (BH2) to tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), demonstrating that PTX enters brain at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Pharmacokinetic studies in the dog indicated a mean plasma t1/2 (after iv dose) of 2.15 hours, total body clearance of 0.625 liters/hr/kg and steady-state volume of distribution of 1.82 liters/kg; the absolute bioavailability was 0.64. Toxicologic studies were conducted in rats and dogs that received daily doses for 1, 5, or 90 days. In dogs, oral doses of 480 (single dose), 25 (5 daily doses), and 2.5 mg/kg (90 daily doses) were lethal, whereas 240 (single dose), 2.5 (5 daily doses), and 0.5 mg/kg (90 daily doses) produced reversible alterations in clinical toxicity and histopathologic parameters. The lethal toxicity of PTX in dogs given 25 mg/kg/day for 5 days is prevented by oral calcium leucovorin rescue with either 0.75 or 3.0 mg/kg every hour for 4 hours on any of the 5 treatment days. The general pharmacologic profile indicates that PTX should be free of CNS, cardiovascular, and respiratory side effects at clinically useful doses.

Animals↗

Bioavailability of high-dose oral leucovorin.

Fifteen adult subjects comprised the study group; 2 were colon cancer patients. Total leucovorin (citrovorum factor; CF) doses of 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg were equally subdivided and administered at 0, 1, 2, and 3 hours. Three of the subjects were fasting and the other 12 were not. Quantitation of serum L-CF by Pediococcus cerevisiae and total reduced folates (TRF) by radio-assay were performed in 10 samples from each subject drawn over a 12-hour period after initiation of CF dosing. The mean serum levels of L-CF remained greater than 0.1 microM at 3 hours and the TRF 3.5 microM at 5 hours, respectively, after termination of CF dosing in all subjects treated at the 800- and 1600-mg dose schedule. At all CF dosage schedules employed, peak serum concentrations were reached within 4 and 6 hours after initiation of oral CF. Peak TRF concentrations at the 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1600-mg doses were 3.42 +/- 0.65, 4.05 +/- 1.04, 4.81 +/- 0.14, and 5.11 +/- 1.81 microM, respectively. Peak L-CF levels at 200, 400, 800, and 1600 were 0.15 +/- 0.11, 0.21 +/- 0.14, 0.23 +/- 0.11, and 0.34 +/- 0.16 microM. Based upon these observations, the following conclusions were reached: 1) no significant differences were observed in serum concentrations of folates between the 800- and 1600-mg dose schedules; 2) at these doses serum concentrations of L-CF and TRF were achieved that warrant a phase I investigation of high-dose oral CF with standard dose FUra in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Administration, Oral↗

Pharmacokinetics of acyclovir after intravenous and oral administration.

Acyclovir pharmacokinetics has been extensively investigated during the various phases of clinical development. Most of the administered drug is eliminated from the body unchanged, via the kidneys by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. After intravenous dosing of patients with normal renal function, 8 to 14% of the dose is recovered in the urine as the metabolite 9-carboxymethoxymethylguanine. Adequate distribution of acyclovir has been demonstrated in the cerebrospinal fluid, vesicular fluid, vaginal secretions and tissues. The low plasma protein binding of acyclovir precludes drug interactions involving binding displacement. When intravenous doses in the range of 2.5 to 15 mg/kg were given every 8 h to adult patients, dose-independent kinetics was observed. Continuous infusions of acyclovir over an equivalent daily dose range have achieved predictable plasma levels. Acyclovir half-life (T1/2 beta) and total body clearance (Cltot) are influenced significantly by renal function, and dosage adjustments should be made for patients with impaired renal function. For patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance (Clcr) greater than 80 ml/min/1.73m2) mean T1/2 beta and Cltot were 2.5 h and 327 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. In children 1-year-old or older, Cltot normalized by body surface area was essentially the same as in adults with normal renal function, whereas Cltot for neonates was approximately one-third the adult value. In the adult population, age-related decreases in acyclovir Cltot reflect age-related changes in renal function; therefore dosage adjustments based on Clcr will compensate for age effects on acyclovir pharmacokinetics. After oral administration, the bioavailability of acyclovir was approximately 20%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acyclovir↗

Pharmacokinetics of acyclovir in humans following intravenous administration. A model for the development of parenteral antivirals.

Data are reported from three step-wise pharmacokinetic studies in 43 patients who received acyclovir. Dosage regimens began at 0.5 mg/kg administered as a single dose intravenously and were increased to 15 mg/kg per dose given three times daily for five days. All patients evaluated were immunocompromised by underlying disease or received cytolytic and/or cytotoxic therapy. Patients with virologically confirmed herpes simplex or zoster infections were assessed in the multiday, multidose pharmacokinetic trial. Postinfusion plasma concentrations of acyclovir declined in a biphasic manner such that the plasma-concentration time data were fitted by a two-compartment, open-model with zero-order input. The drug's half-life showed little variation with a mean of 3.16 +/- 0.20 hours. In both single-dose and multiple-dose studies there was dose proportionality with peak plasma levels and area under the plasma concentration-time curve indicating dose-independent pharmacokinetics. The kidney was the principal route of drug clearance with a mean recovery of 60 +/- 12 percent. Renal clearance exceeded creatinine clearance indicating renal tubular secretion of drug. No significant clinical or laboratory evidence of toxicity appeared. These studies provide a foundation for the evaluation of acyclovir in controlled trials.

Acyclovir↗

Overview of acyclovir pharmacokinetic disposition in adults and children.

The metabolic disposition and pharmacokinetics of acyclovir have been studied as part of the clinical evaluation of the drug in humans. Data from 10 studies have been summarized and, when appropriate, pooled across studies for further analysis. The principal findings are as follows: Renal excretion is the major route of elimination of acyclovir and is dependent, in part, on active tubular secretion. Total body clearance (Cltot) and half-life are dependent on renal function as evaluated by estimated creatinine clearance (Clcr). Cltot is markedly reduced in the anuric patient. Plasma protein binding is low and drug interactions involving binding displacement are not anticipated. Acyclovir levels in cerebrospinal fluid are approximately 50 percent of corresponding plasma levels. Dose-independent pharmacokinetics is observed in the range of 0.5 to 15 mg/kg. Proportionality between dose and plasma levels is seen after single doses or at steady state after multiple dosing. Similar plasma levels are achieved in adults and pediatric patients (greater than 1 year) when equivalent doses are given based on body surface area. Intrasubject variability of acyclovir disposition is low. Much but not all intersubject variability in Cltot can be explained by differences in renal function. Dosage adjustment for various stages of renal impairment are proposed based on the observed relationship between Cltot and Clcr.

Acyclovir↗

Neonatal acyclovir pharmacokinetics in patients with herpes virus infections.

A preliminary analysis is presented of the pharmacokinetics of acyclovir in neonatal patients with herpes simplex virus infections. Mean peak acyclovir levels (microM +/- SD) at 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg per dose were 30.0 +/- 9.9, 61.2 +/- 18.3, and 86.1 +/- 23.5, with corresponding mean trough levels (microM +/- SD) of 5.3 +/- 3.4, 10.1 +/- 8.4, and 13.8 +/- 11.1, respectively. The mean half-life (t 1/2 beta) of acyclovir was 3.78 +/- 1.21 hours. The mean percent urinary recovery of acyclovir (+/- SD) at each dosage level was similar, with an overall mean recovery of 65 percent. The mean acyclovir concentration in urine did not exceed the solubility of acyclovir in bladder urine (1,300 micrograms/ml). Generally, neonatal acyclovir pharmacokinetics was consistent with previous reports from studies of adults.

Acyclovir↗

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous chloramphenicol sodium succinate in adult patients with normal renal and hepatic function.

The pharmacokinetics of chloramphenicol (CAP) and total chloramphenicol succinate (CAPS) were studied in eight hospitalized adult patients with normal renal and hepatic function receiving intravenous chloramphenicol sodium succinate therapy. The steady-state peak concentrations of CAP (8.4-26.0 micrograms/ml) occurred at an average of 18.0 min (range 5.4-40.2) after cessation of the chloramphenicol sodium succinate infusion. Unhydrolyzed CAPS prodrug, representing 26.0 +/- 7.0% of the dose, was recovered unchanged in the urine indicating that the bioavailability of CAP from a dose of intravenous chloramphenicol succinate is not complete. A pharmacokinetic model was developed for simultaneous fitting of CAP and CAPS plasma concentration data. Pharmacokinetic parameters determined by simultaneous fitting were: V, 0.81 +/- 0.18 liters/kg; t1/2, 3.20 +/- 1.02 hr; CLB, 3.21 +/- 1.27 ml/min/kg for chloramphenicol; and V, 0.38 +/- 0.13 liters/kg; t1/2, 0.57 +/- 0.12 hr; CLB, 7.72 +/- 1.87 ml/min/kg for total chloramphenicol succinate.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of bupropion, a novel antidepressant agent, following oral administration to healthy subjects.

The pharmacokinetics of bupropion hydrochloride, a structurally novel antidepressant agent, have been studied in healthy male and female subjects following administration of single oral doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg. Plasma drug concentrations were determined directly by a specific radioimmunoassay (r.i.a.), while urinary measurements required a prior solvent extraction to remove substances interfering in the assay. Bupropion appeared rapidly in the plasma, suggesting good absorption. Drug plasma concentration-time data were fitted well to a two-compartment open model of drug disposition by use of the computer program NONLIN. By comparison of AUC, Cmax and tmax values, the pharmacokinetics of bupropion were found to be linear across the 50-200 mg dose range in both sexes. When the data were normalized for subjects' body weights, no differences between pharmacokinetic parameters for male and female subjects were found. Mean disposition half-lives across treatments were 1.2-1.4 h for t1/2 alpha and 10.7-13.8 h for the t1/2 beta. Bupropion was extensively bound (85%) to human plasma proteins over a wide drug concentration range. Less than 1% of a 200 mg oral dose of bupropion hydrochloride appeared in the urine of 16 subjects as unchanged drug, indicating extensive metabolism of the parent compound.

Administration, Oral↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of acyclovir.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered acyclovir were studied in 10 patients with advanced malignancies. After doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, the slow disposition half-life values (t1/2beta) ranged from 2.2 to 3.1 h for the 1-h infusions and from 1.8 to 3.7 h for the 6-h infusions. Plasma levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, reached a maximum at the end of the 1-h infusions and approached steady state at 3 to 4 h into the 6-h infusions. Mean peak plasma concentrations obtained at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg administered over 1 h were 3.03 and 5.99 microM, respectively. Mean peak levels for the 6-h infusions were 1.07 microM at 0.5 mg/kg and 2.58 microM at 1.0 mg/kg. The mean urinary elimination of acyclovir was 44.7% of the administered doses. No clinical or laboratory abnormalities were noted in the 10 patients studied.

Acyclovir↗

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of acyclovir in the dog.

Acyclovir [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine, ZoviraxTM] is a selective antiviral agent with indications for the treatment of the herpes virus group of injections. In a cross-over design study, three male beagle dogs were given acyclovir i.v. and p.o. (capsule) at 5, 20 and 50 mg/kg doses. Additionally, dogs received acyclovir by gavage at these three doses. After i.v. injection, the acyclovir plasma concentration-time profile, determined by radioimmunoassay, exhibited a biexponential decay with a terminal t1/2 of 2.2 to 3.6 hr. Plasma clearance (3.48-5.83 ml/min/kg) approximated the normal glomerular filtration rate in dogs and the Vd beta (0.97-1.17 liters/kg) indicated distribution of the drug into tissues. Similar kinetic findings were obtained after i.v. administration of [8-14C]acyclovir to dogs. The radioactivity recovered in the urine was 95% of the dose and 92% of the urinary 14C was identified as acyclovir. The remainder of 14C corresponded to minor urinary metabolites. The plasma acyclovir concentration-time curves generated from oral (capsule and gavage) data were fit to a one-compartment open pharmacokinetic model. The half-life and Vd parameters were similar to those calculated for the i.v. route. Peak plasma drug concentrations were reached within 2 hr of dosing. Good oral bioavailability (91 and 80%) was observed after the administration of a capsule at the lower doses (5 and 20 mg/kg, respectively) but bioavailability declined (52%) at the 50 mg/kg dose, indicating the possibility that the gastrointestinal absorption of acyclovir is a saturable process.

Acyclovir↗

High-pressure liquid chromatographic assay for chloramphenicol, chloramphenicol-3-monosuccinate, and chloramphenicol-1-monosuccinate.

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the sensitive and rapid determination of chloramphenicol, chloramphenicol-3-monosuccinate, and chloramphenicol-1-monosuccinate is presented. The procedure utilizes a reversed-phase chromatographic column with UV absorption detection. The assay is useful for monitoring patients receiving chloramphenicol, determining the pharmacokinetics of parenteral chloramphenicol sodium succinate, and certifying sterile chloramphenicol sodium succinate.

Blood Proteins↗

Acyclovir kinetics after intravenous infusion.

The disposition and safety of the antiviral drug acyclovir were studied in 14 subjects with advanced malignancies. Acyclovir was administered by a 1-hr intravenous infusion at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg. At the end of infusion, mean peak plasma levels (+/- SEM), determined by radioimmunoassay, were 6.4 +/- 0.7, 12.1 +/- 2.3, 14.9 +/- 2.7, and 33.7 +/- 7.1 microM. The plasma concentration-time profiles could be described by a biexponential equation. The half-life of acyclovir in the slow disposition phase ranged from 2.2 to 5 hr and the drug was detected in the plasma for at least 18 hr after infusion. The total body clearance ranged from 117 to 396 ml/min/1.73 m2. A proportionality between area under the curve and dose suggests that acyclovir exhibits dose-independent kinetics in the dose range studied. There was wide variation in cumulative urinary excretion of unchanged drug, ranging from 30 to 69% of the dose. From renal clearances of acyclovir, which were higher than creatinine clearances, it appears that both glomerular filtration and tubular secretion contribute to its renal excretion. Analysis of the urine by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of the metabolite 9-carboxymethoxymethylguanine. There was no indication of toxicity either clinically or from laboratory findings in any of the study subjects. This study demonstrates that in addition to selectivity and low toxicity, the kinetic profile and metabolic disposition of acyclovir make it an attractive candidate for therapy in a variety of herpes infections.

Aged↗

Evidence for a trimodal pattern of acetylation of isoniazid in uremic subjects.

Isoniazid metabolic clearance values were calculated retrospectively and plotted on a frequency distribution histogram. A trimodal distribution pattern was observed. According to a two-allele codominant model, the mean clearance values of the slow and rapid acetylators closely predicted the mean clearance value for the intermediate acetylators. The potential clinical implications of identifying intermediate and rapid acetylators of isoniazid and its use in renal failure are discussed.

Acetylation↗

Acetylation phenotype, platelet monoamine oxidase inhibition, and the effectiveness of phenelzine in depression.

The authors treated 16 depressed patients with up to 90 mg/day of phenelzine. After acetylation phenotype was determined and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity measured, no significant relationship was observed between clinical improvement and acetylation phenotype or between MAO inhibition and acetylation. Discrepant findings regarding acetylation phenotype and the effects of phenelzine are discussed. The authors do not recommend a sulfamethazine phenotype test as a predictor of outcome for phenelzine.

Acetylation↗