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Drug mixtures and ethanol as compound internal stimuli.

Drug discrimination methods that entail training with mixtures of drugs may shed light on polydrug abuse and on the actions of single drugs that interact with more than one receptor. In AND-discrimination procedures (drug A + drug B vs. vehicle), mixtures are discriminated primarily on the basis of their component drugs: these discriminations may be useful for testing interactions between component drugs in mixtures. The role of training dose, overshadowing and associative blocking in AND-discriminations have been investigated. For example, after prior training with midazolam, it was possible to demonstrate associative blocking of the nicotine element of the mixture stimulus, and vice versa. Using the AND-OR discriminations (drug A + drug B vs. drug A or drug B) increased pharmacological specificity considerably, and these procedures may be valuable for determining whether the effects of a novel mixture are similar to the combined effects of the training drugs. Ethanol is an example of a single drug that may produce a compound cue; rats trained to discriminate ethanol from water generalize (asymmetrically) to GABA(A) enhancers such as chlordiazepoxide (CDP) or pentobarbitone, to NMDA antagonists such as dizocilpine (MK-801), and to some serotonin agonists, such as trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (5-HT(1B/2C)). In addition, rats trained to discriminate mixtures of either CDP or pentobarbitone plus MK-801 generalize to ethanol. A previous history of training with MK-801 or CDP (prior to ethanol discrimination training) enhanced the MK-801-like and CDP-like effects of ethanol respectively, but associative blocking of proposed elements in the ethanol stimulus was not seen. These studies provide some support for the multielement concept of ethanol discrimination but also suggest that rules governing three-component stimuli (such as those putatively produced by ethanol) may differ from those for the two-component mixtures of drugs studied previously.

Animals↗

Application of solid-phase microextraction in the determination of diazepam binding to human serum albumin.

In this paper, protein-drug interactions were studied by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) using diazepam binding to human serum albumin as a model system. Since drug compounds are normally polar and nonvolatile by nature, direct SPME is used in this work. The SPME extraction is an equilibrium process among the concentrations of the analyte partitioned onto the SPME fiber, free and bound drug in the solution. A calibration curve was first constructed by employing the amount of the analytes partitioned on the fiber versus the free analyte concentration in the solution in the absence of protein. In method I, the extraction was performed in the protein solution with known diazepam concentration. In method II, diazepam was first loaded onto the fiber by extracting in solution with known diazepam concentration. This fiber was subsequently transferred into the protein solution for desorption. The amount of the analyte left on the fiber was analyzed after the system reached equilibrium. The free drug concentration was then obtained from the calibration curve for both methods. The Scatchard plot was finally employed to obtain the number of binding sites and the equilibrium binding constants. Since only a very small amount of the protein solution is required (150 microL for each extraction), method II is very useful for circumstances where the protein amount is very limited. The direct measurement method proposed in this paper does not need a GC response factor, which significantly decreases the experimental error. The only measurement needed is the area count change (ratio) of the fiber injections before and after the protein was introduced into the solution. The difference between the direct measurement method for method I and method II is discussed. The result illustrated that the SPME direct measurement method provided both theoretical accuracy and simplicity in such applications.

Calibration↗

Standard free energy of releasing a localized water molecule from the binding pockets of proteins: double-decoupling method.

Localized water molecules in the binding pockets of proteins play an important role in noncovalent association of proteins and small drug compounds. At times, the dominant contribution to the binding free energy comes from the release of localized water molecules in the binding pockets of biomolecules. Therefore, to quantify the energetic importance of these water molecules for drug design purposes, we have used the double-decoupling approach to calculate the standard free energy of tying up a water molecule in the binding pockets of two protein complexes. The double-decoupling approach is based on the underlying principle of statistical thermodynamics. We have calculated the standard free energies of tying up the water molecule in the binding pockets of these complexes to be favorable. These water molecules stabilize the protein-drug complexes by interacting with the ligands and binding pockets. Our results offer ideas that could be used in optimizing protein-drug interactions, by designing ligands that are capable of targeting localized water molecules in protein binding sites. The resulting free energy of ligand binding could benefit from the potential free energy gain accompanying the release of these water molecules. Furthermore, we have examined the theoretical background of the double-decoupling method and its connection to the molecular dynamics thermodynamic integration techniques.

Binding Sites↗

Drug molecules as probes for studying the compatibility between gels and mucous tissue with dielectric spectroscopy.

In this interdisciplinary study low-frequency dielectric spectroscopy is used to assess the possibilities of intimate surface contact between a polymer gel and mucous tissue, which is generally considered to be the first step in the mucoadhesion process. The dielectric responses of six different gels, made from Carbopol 934 or Pluronic F-127 and containing 15 mM of a drug compound, either atenolol, alprenolol, or naproxen, were measured together with the responses of freshly excised porcine nasal mucosa and of systems made by combining the two. An analytical procedure is presented, which enables the dielectric response arising from the drug ions to be extracted. The drug ions are used as probes for measuring the ease, in terms of conductivity, with which they can pass the interface between the gel and the mucus layer. The results can be described by a compatibility factor that provides us with an assessment of the likelihood of intimate surface contact. The compatibility factors found in this study were generally higher for the Carbopol 934 gels than for the Pluronic F-127 gels, which is in agreement with the results of a previous study where sodium and chloride ions were used as probes for measuring the compatibility. Naproxen exhibited the largest difference in compatibility factor between the two gels; the highest compatibility factor of all systems was found for the Carbopol 934 gel whereas the gel based on Pluronic F-127 gave a value of approximately zero. This may partly be explained by interactions between the drug ions and the polymers.

Acrylates↗

Evaluating suspected co-proxamol overdose.

In three instances of suicidal poisoning by co-proxamol (paracetamol and dextropropoxyphene) blood samples were obtained from 11 sites together with eight tissue samples, bile, urine, gastric contents and duodenal contents. Site-dependent differences in blood propoxyphene concentration varied between the three cases but concentrations were consistently lowest in peripheral blood and highest in central sites: 3.9-5.5 (pulmonary vein) mg/l; 4.6-25 (pulmonary vein) mg/l; 3.2-40 (aorta) mg/l. There was a less than twofold variation in corresponding blood paracetamol concentrations. Reference data on fatal propoxyphene blood concentrations do not specify the blood sampling site and can be misleading. The intra-individual variability of propoxyphene concentrations in blood in these three cases underscores this problem. Tissue concentrations of propoxyphene showed considerable inter-individual variability in degree and pattern. Tissue concentrations of paracetamol showed a less than twofold intra-individual variation. Body drug loads were calculated by two methods: from organ weights and tissue concentrations; from published volume of distribution data (Vd). For paracetamol the body drug load is underestimated by the organ weight calculation but the Vd calculation approximates the suspected dose based on anamnestic information. For propoxyphene the body drug load is seriously underestimated by the organ weight calculation and overestimated up to 2.5 times by the Vd calculation. Since the two drugs have a fixed ratio in co-proxamol then the dose of propoxyphene (the effective lethal agent) can be inferred from the paracetamol dose calculated by Vd. This approach may be applicable to cases of overdose with other compounded drug preparations.

Acetaminophen↗

Warfarin and other coumarin derivatives: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug interactions.

Warfarin, a racemic mixture of R- and S-enantiomers, exerts its anticoagulant effect by interfering with the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X and proteins C and S. Warfarin displays stereospecific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and the isomers are differentially metabolized by cytochrome p450 isozymes. Among patients treated with warfarin, there is little correlation among dose, serum concentration, and therapeutic effect, necessitating individualized dosing guided by therapeutic monitoring of the prothrombin time. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of warfarin as well as its narrow therapeutic index make it particularly susceptible to interactions with other prescription and nonprescription drugs, including dietary supplements. Numerous drug compounds are reported to interact with warfarin, necessitating increased prothrombin time monitoring and warfarin dosing adjustments to maintain safe and effective anticoagulation.

Anticoagulants↗

[Enterocolitis due to a saponin-containing drug. Apropos of a case].

The case of a 60-year-old female patient with watery diarrhea is reported. The history was characterized by prolonged diagnostic vagaries, due in part to histological features of ileal, rectal and duodenal biopsies which were suggestive of celiac disease. This was clinically excluded. After halting the intake of a compound drug containing saponins, administered for venous insufficiency, the diarrhea ceased immediately but could be provoked by rechallenge with the same drug. The patient thus had drug induced chronic diarrhea mimicking celiac disease, a condition which is less rare than is thought and easily diagnosed by a thorough enquiry on drug intake.

Biopsy↗

Drug resistance to schistosomicides and other anthelmintics of medical significance.

It is usual for people to be infected for some period in life with parasitic worms, which may cause morbidity or even kill. Anthelmintics are used for the treatment and control of the human helminthiases, since no vaccines are yet available. Despite the widespread use of these compounds, drug resistance has become apparent only with antischistosomal chemotherapy, in contrast to the situation with other anti-infective agents in human medicine and with veterinary anthelmintics, where resistance is widespread. This paper reviews research on drug resistance in human helminthiasis with emphasis on schistosomicidal drugs.

Animals↗

Novel dehydroepiandrosterone analogues with enhanced biological activity and reduced side effects in mice and rats.

Treatment of laboratory mice and rats with the adrenal steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), produces antiobesity and broad spectrum tumor chemopreventive activity. Certain side effects are associated with DHEA administration which could limit its usefulness as a drug. DHEA can be metabolized into both testosterone and estrone and also increases liver weight and liver catalase activity. We have developed two synthetic steroids, 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androstan-17-one and 16 alpha-fluoro-5 alpha-androstan-17-one, which, unlike DHEA, do not stimulate uterine weight in sexually immature female rats or seminal vesicle weight in castrated male rats, nor stimulate liver weight and liver catalase activity in mice. 16 alpha-Fluoro-5-androsten-17-one is also about three times as potent as DHEA as an antiobesity agent and is more active when administered p.o. in inhibiting [3H]-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene binding to skin DNA and tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate stimulation of epidermal [3H]thymidine incorporation in the mouse, two effects believed to be important in the tumor preventive action of DHEA. 16 alpha-Fluoro-5 alpha-androstan-17-one is as active as 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one in inhibiting [3H]-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene binding to skin DNA and tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate stimulation in epidermal [3H]thymidine incorporation but, on the contrary, is not more active than DHEA as an antiobesity drug. Compounds such as 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one and 16 alpha-fluoro-5 alpha-androstan-17-one, which lack specific side-effects of DHEA treatment and demonstrate greater potency, may have therapeutic application as drugs for humans.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Molecular descriptors that influence the amount of drugs transfer into human breast milk.

Most drugs are excreted into breast milk to some extent and are bioavailable to the infant. The ability to predict the approximate amount of drug that might be present in milk from the drug structure would be very useful in the clinical setting. The aim of this research was to simplify and upgrade the previously developed model for prediction of the milk to plasma (M/P) concentration ratio, given only the molecular structure of the drug. The set of 123 drug compounds, with experimentally derived M/P values taken from the literature, was used to develop, test and validate a predictive model. Each compound was encoded with 71 calculated molecular structure descriptors, including constitutional descriptors, topological descriptors, molecular connectivity, geometrical descriptors, quantum chemical descriptors, physicochemical descriptors and liquid properties. Genetic algorithm was used to select a subset of the descriptors that best describe the drug transfer into breast milk and artificial neural network (ANN) to correlate selected descriptors with the M/P ratio and develop a QSAR. The averaged literature M/P values were used as the ANN's output and calculated molecular descriptors as the inputs. A nine-descriptor nonlinear computational neural network model has been developed for the estimation of M/P ratio values for a data set of 123 drugs. The model included the percent of oxygen, parachor, density, highest occupied molecular orbital energy (HOMO), topological indices (chiV2, chi2 and chi1) and shape indices (kappa3, kappa2), as the inputs had four hidden neurons and one output neuron. The QSPR that was developed indicates that molecular size (parachor, density) shape (topological shape indices, molecular connectivity indices) and electronic properties (HOMO) are the most important for drug transfer into breast milk. Unlike previously reported models, the QSPR model described here does not require experimentally derived parameters and could potentially provide a useful prediction of M/P ratio of new drugs only from a sketch of their structure and this approach might also be useful for drug information service. Regardless of the model or method used to estimate drug transfer into breast milk, these predictions should only be used to assist in the evaluation of risk, in conjunction with assessment of the infant's response.

Animals↗

[Current therapeutic problems in the treatment of infectious diarrheal diseases in children].

82 children, not older than 2 years, with enteritis are divided in two groups. Fluid- and electrolyte therapy is the same in both groups. In one group the usual antibiotic treatment was given, the other group get a combination drug: metabolic substances of physiologic enteric bacteria and a sulfonamide with very low absorption rate. The efficiency is nearly the same in both groups. In regard to the side effects of antibiotic therapy, it seems necessary to give preference to this compound drug.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary GC-MS for profiling and target component analysis of pharmaceutical drugs in urine.

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in combination with thermal desorption (TD) on-line coupled to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CGC-MS) was applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical drug compounds and metabolites in urine. SBSE implies stirring of the aqueous sample (urine, blood, etc.) with a glass stir bar coated with a thick layer (24 microl) of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for sorptive enrichment of the analytes of interest. In combination with quantitative TD, on-line coupled with CGC-MS, the technique showed to be very versatile and sensitive for the analysis of a wide range of drug substances. Moreover, the relative high enrichment efficiencies of SBSE allow to use mass spectrometric detection (MSD) in the full scan mode. In situ derivatization of polar compounds before SBSE is demonstrated for the analysis of paracetamol and this resulted in both improved chromatographic behavior and higher sensitivity. The quantitative performance of SBSE-TD-CGC-MS is illustrated with the analysis of some barbiturates in urine.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

International price comparisons for pharmaceuticals. Measurement and policy issues.

Cross-national price comparisons for pharmaceuticals are commonly used for two purposes. Comparisons based on a sample of products are used to draw conclusions about differences in average price levels. Cross-national comparisons applied to individual products are also used by governments to set domestic prices. This paper examines the major methodological issues raised by international price comparisons, focusing on measurement of differences in average price levels and the validity of policy conclusions drawn from such price comparison studies. It argues that valid measures of average price levels can only be obtained from comparisons based on a comprehensive or representative sample of products, appropriately weighted, following standard index number methods. Comparisons of individual product prices should take into account the manufacturer's entire product portfolio over time rather than focus narrowly on a single product at a point in time. Because of the great variation across countries in both the range of drug compounds available and the dosage forms, strengths and pack sizes for each compound, obtaining a broadly comprehensive or representative sample is problematical. If products are required to match on all dimensions, including molecule, manufacturer, strength and pack, as is common in most international price comparisons, then only a very small and unrepresentative sample of the drugs available in each country can be included in the analysis. A trade-off between the desire to compare only identical products and the need to compare a truly representative sample of a country's pharmaceutical market is therefore necessary. A valid comparison of average drug prices should include generics and over-the-counter products that are good substitutes for branded prescription drugs, with all forms, strengths and packs. To achieve this broad representation, however, the requirements of same manufacturer, same brand, dosage form, strength and pack size must be dropped. When such an approach is taken to the comparison of international drug prices, quite different results from those obtained from less comprehensive comparisons may be obtained. Indeed, a major conclusion of this analysis is that international drug price comparisons are extremely sensitive to choices made about certain key methodological issues, such as sample selection, unit of measurement for price and volume, the relative weight given to consumption patterns in the countries being compared, and the use of exchange rates or purchasing power parities for currency conversion. In particular, the results of this analysis indicate that recent reports suggesting that manufacturer prices in the US are 32% higher than in Canada and 60% higher than in the UK are in fact overstatements which arise from limitations of the sample and methods used to calculate these price differentials.

Dosage Forms↗

CREB and the discovery of cognitive enhancers.

In the past few years, a series of molecular-genetic, biochemical, cellular and behavioral studies in fruit flies, sea slugs and mice have confirmed a long-standing notion that long-term memory formation depends on the synthesis of new proteins. Experiments focused on the cAMP-responsive transcription factor, CREB, have established that neural activity-induced regulation of gene transcription promotes a synaptic growth process that strengthens the connections among active neurons. This process constitutes a physical basis for the engram--and CREB is a "molecular switch" to produce the engram. Helicon Therapeutics has been formed to identify drug compounds that enhance memory formation via augmentation of CREB biochemistry. Candidate compounds have been identified from a high throughput cell-based screen and are being evaluated in animal models of memory formation. A gene discovery program also seeks to identify new genes, which function downstream of CREB during memory formation, as a source for new drug discoveries in the future. Together, these drug and gene discovery efforts promise new class of pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment of various forms of cognitive dysfunction.

Animals↗

Recent advances in drug design methods: where will they lead?

Drug design methods have made significant new advances over the last ten years, mainly in the areas of molecular modelling. In more recent times important developments in theory have led to a different type of modelling becoming possible, the so-called de novo or automated design algorithms. In this new method the programs perform much of the chemist's thinking, in finding appropriately sized chemical groups to fit into a target site. However this is a combinatoric problem which has no general analytical solution; it is ripe for optimization. Other advances, such as combinatorial chemical synthesis and screening, will dramatically influence the search for new lead structures for target sites, which at present are poorly understood. Already these methods are being applied to peptide libraries. Peptides do not make good drug compounds because of their poor bioavailability; further, their flexibility reduces their affinity. In some cases peptide backbones can be removed and replaced with rigid non-peptide scaffolds.

Drug Design↗

Current trends in lead discovery: are we looking for the appropriate properties?

The new drug discovery paradigm is based on high-throughput technologies, both with respect to synthesis and screening. The progression HTS hits --> lead series --> candidate drug --> marketed drug appears to indicate that the probability of reaching launched status is one in a million. This has shifted the focus from good quality candidate drugs to good quality leads. We examined the current trends in lead discovery by comparing MW (molecular weight), LogP (octanol/water partition coefficient, estimated by Kowwin) and LogSw (intrinsic water solubility, estimated by Wskowwin) for the following categories: 62 leads and 75 drugs; compounds in the development phase (I, II, III and launched), as indexed in MDDR; and compounds indexed in medicinal chemistry journals, categorized according to their biological activity. Comparing the distribution of the above properties, the 62 lead structures show the lowest median with respect to MW (smaller) and LogP (less hydrophobic), and the highest median with respect to LogSw (more soluble). By contrast, over 50% of the medicinal chemistry compounds with activities above 1 nanomolar have MW > 425, LogP > 4.25 and LogSw < -4.75, indicating that the reported active compounds are larger, more hydrophobic and lesssoluble when compared to time-tested quality leads. In the MDDR set, a progressive constraint to reduce MW and LogP, and to increase LogSw, can be observed when examining trends in the developmental sequence: phase I, II, III and launched drugs. These trends indicate that other properties besides binding affinity, e.g., solubility and hydrophobicity, need to be considered when choosing the appropriate leads.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

Current trends in lead discovery: are we looking for the appropriate properties?

The new drug discovery paradigm is based on high-throughput technologies, both with respect to synthesis and screening. The progression HTS hits --> lead series --> candidate drug --> marketed drug appears to indicate that the probability of reaching launched status is one in a million. This has shifted the focus from good quality candidate drugs to good quality leads. We examined the current trends in lead discovery by comparing MW (molecular weight), LogP (octanol/water partition coefficient, estimated by Kowwin) and LogSw (intrinsic water solubility, estimated by Wskowwin) for the following categories: 62 leads and 75 drugs; compounds in the development phase (I, II, III and launched), as indexed in MDDR; and compounds indexed in medicinal chemistry journals, categorized according to their biological activity. Comparing the distribution of the above properties, the 62 lead structures show the lowest median with respect to MW (smaller) and LogP (less hydrophobic), and the highest median with respect to LogSw (more soluble). By contrast, over 50% of the medicinal chemistry compounds with activities above 1 nanomolar have MW > 425, LogP > 4.25 and LogSw < -4.75, indicating that the reported active compounds are larger, more hydrophobic and less soluble when compared to time-tested quality leads. In the MDDR set, a progressive constraint to reduce MW and LogP, and to increase LogSw, can be observed when examining trends in the developmental sequence: phase I, II, III and launched drugs. These trends indicate that other properties besides binding affinity, e.g., solubility and hydrophobicity, need to be considered when choosing the appropriate leads.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

Treatment of anemia with microencapsulated ferrous fumarate plus ascorbic acid supplied as sprinkles to complementary (weaning) foods.

BACKGROUND: Standard therapy for anemia in infants is ferrous sulfate drops administered 3 times/d. Adherence to treatment, however, is often poor. One likely reason for poor adherence is the unpleasant side effects associated with drops. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the use of a new form of iron and a delivery system to treat anemia in infants that is likely to produce better adherence to treatment. DESIGN: Using a prospective, randomized, controlled design, we studied 557 anemic children aged 6-18 mo (hemoglobin: 70-99 g/L) in rural Ghana. One group received a daily sachet of microencapsulated ferrous fumarate (80 mg elemental Fe) in powder form plus ascorbic acid to be sprinkled onto any complementary food eaten (sprinkles group); a control group received ferrous sulfate drops 3 times/d for 2 mo (total dose: 40 mg elemental Fe). Hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of treatment. RESULTS: Successful treatment of anemia (hemoglobin > 100 g/L) occurred in 58% of the sprinkles group and in 56% of the drops group, with minimal side effects in both groups. Geometric mean ferritin concentrations increased significantly in each group from baseline to the end of treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Use of ferrous sulfate drops or a single daily dose of microencapsulated ferrous fumarate sprinkles plus ascorbic acid resulted in a similar rate of successful treatment of anemia without side effects. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the use of microencapsulated iron sprinkles to treat anemia. Improved ease of use may favor the use of sprinkles to deliver iron.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗