Background: Although systems to collect information about suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were established in many countries and by the WHO in the 1960s, few studies have examined reported ADRs related to national income. Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize ADRs reported to the WHO-ADR database, VigiBase (TM), and to relate data to national income. Methods: We analysed ADR reports submitted to VigiBase (TM) from 2000 to 2009 with respect to reporting rate, age and sex of patient, type, seriousness and medications. Reports were also analysed with respect to national income level, classified in accordance with the World Bank definition: low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high. Results: We analysed 1 359 067 ADR reports including 3 013 074 ADRs. Overall, 16% of reports were serious and 60% were reported for females. High-income countries had the highest ADR reporting rates (range 3-613 reports/million inhabitants/year) and low-income countries the lowest (range 0-21). Distribution of ADRs across income groups with respect to age group, seriousness and sex was non-significant. Overall, the majority of ADRs were reported for nervous system medications, followed by cardiovascular medicines. Low-income countries reported relatively more ADRs for antiinfectives for systemic use than high-income countries, and high-income countries reported more ADRs for antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents than lower-income groups. Conclusion: This study showed that high-income countries had the highest ADR reporting rates and low-income countries the lowest, with large variations across countries in each group. Significant differences in ADR reporting rates were only found for ADRs of the type skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders and for the therapeutic groups antiinfectives for systemic use and antineoplastic and immunomodulation agents. To strengthen ADR reporting rates, especially in low-income countries, more research is needed about the impact of organizational structures and economic resources of national pharmacovigilance centres and ADR reporting practices on the large variations in ADR reporting rates within income groups.

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Objectives

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes are key proteins involved in the maintenance of the normal function of various tissues of the human body including those of the male and female urogenital tract. More recently, PDEs and their main substrates, cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP, have also been assumed to play a crucial role in the control of the human vagina. In order to elucidate the potential significance of phosphodiesterases as marker proteins in female genital organs, it was the aim of the present study to evaluate by means of immunohistochemistry the distribution of cGMP- and cAMP-PDE isoenzymes in specimens of the human vagina.

Methods

Conventional immunohistochemical techniques (double antibody technique, laser fluorescence microscopy) were applied to sections of the human vaginal wall in order to evaluate the presence of the PDE isoenzymes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.

Results

Immunoreactivities (IR) specific for PDE1 (cAMP/cGMP-PDE, Ca²⁺/Calmodulin-dependent), PDE2 (cAMP-PDE, cGMP-dependent) and PDE5 (cGMP-PDE) were exclusively registered in the smooth musculature of vaginal arterial vessels, whereas no signals were detected in non-vascular tissue. IR indicating the expression of the cAMP-degrading PDE4 was mainly observed in the vaginal epithelium. Vaginal epithelial cells also presented immunosignals specific for PDE3 (cAMP-PDE, inhibited by cGMP) and PDE10 (dual substrate PDE), nevertheless, these stainings were less abundant than those related to the PDE4. IR for PDE10 was also registered in inflammatory cells located in the subepithelial region of the vaginal wall.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the presence of IR specific for PDE1, PDE2, PDE4, PDE5 and PDE10 in sections of the human vagina and demonstrated that these enzymes are not evenly distributed in the tissue. Especially, the prominent expression of the cyclic AMP-PDE4A in the vaginal epithelium may give hint to a potential significance of this isoenzyme as a forensic marker protein. The findings give a rationale to investigate further as to whether the immunohistochemical detection of PDE4 may represent a new forensic tool in order to identify human vaginal epithelial cells.

Objective: Evaluation of pure-tone audiometry (PTA) in hearing screening of a population with mild to profound intellectual disability (ID).

Design: PTA was performed at six frequencies at the screening level 20 dB HL. Referral criteria were threshold levels ≥ 25 dB HL at two or more frequencies for one ear or both.

Study sample: 1478 participants aged 7–91 years were included.

Results: 1470 (99.5%) people cooperated in screening of which 1325 (90%) could be tested on both ears at all six frequencies. A majority, 987 (66.8%), performed ordinary PTA, 234 (15.8%) conditioned play audiometry, and 249 (16.9%) behavioural observation audiometry. Six hundred and sixty-nine (45%) passed and 809 (55%) failed according to referral criteria. Of those failing, 441 (54.5%) accepted referral to clinical evaluation.

Conclusions: PTA with slight modifications is applicable for screening of a population with mild to profound intellectual disability. The most challenging and time-consuming activity is to introduce the test procedure in a way that reduces anxiety and establishes trust.

center dot The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily has been shown to be involved in nociception and mechanosensory transduction in various organ systems, and studies of the LUT have indicated that several TRP channels, including TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM8, and TRPA1, are expressed in the bladder, and may act as sensors of stretch and/or chemical irritation. center dot However, the roles of these individual channels for normal LUT function and in LUTS/DO/OAB, have not been established. center dot TRPV1 is the channel best investigated. It is widely distributed in LUT structures, but despite extensive information on morphology and function in animal models, the role of this channel in normal human bladder function is still controversial. Conversely, its role in the pathophysiology and treatment of particularly neurogenic DO is well established. center dot TRPV1 is co-expressed with TRPA1, and TRPA1 is known to be present on capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurones. Activation of this channel can induce DO in animal models. center dot TRPV4 is a Ca2+-permeable stretch-activated cation channel, involved in stretch-induced ATP release, and TRPV4-deficient mice exhibit abnormal frequencies of voiding and non-voiding contractions in cystometric experiments. center dot TRPM8 is a cool receptor expressed in the urothelium and suburothelial sensory fibres. It has been implicated in the bladder-cooling reflex and in idiopathic DO. center dot The occurrence of other members of the TRP superfamily in the LUT has been reported, but information on their effects on LUT functions is scarce. There seem to be several links between activation of different members of the TRP superfamily and LUTS/DO/OAB, and further exploration of the involvement of these channels in LUT function, normally and in dysfunction, may be rewarding.

Lower urinary tract (LUT) smooth muscle can be relaxed by drugs that increase intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Both of these substances are degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which play a central role in the regulation of smooth muscle tone. The distribution and functional significance of PDE enzymes vary in different tissues of the LUT. Targeting specific PDE isoenzymes should thus allow organ selectivity. PDE 4 and 5 appear to predominate in the prostate, PDE 1 and 4 are thought to influence detrusor smooth muscle function, and PDE 5 may be functionally important in the urethra and vasculature. Studies on the use of PDE inhibitors to treat various LUT symptoms (LUTS), have yielded favorable results. Thus, positive effects of the PDE 5 inhibitors sildenafil and tadalafil on symptoms and quality of life in men with LUTS, erectile dysfunction, and BPH have also been demonstrated. These effects may be due to effects on cGMP signaling and/or modification of afferent input from bladder, urethral, and prostate tissue. This review gives an update on the distribution of PDEs in structures relevant for LUT function, and discusses how inhibition of these enzymes can contribute to beneficial effects on LUTS. Information for the review was obtained from searches of the PubMed database, and from the authors' files.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if polymorphism 80G --> A in the Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC) affects uptake of MTX in B- and CD4+ T-cells.

METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy persons. Real-time PCR was used to detect the RFC80 variants. FITC-labelled MTX was added to cells stimulated with Candida albicans or tetanus toxoid, and the uptake of MTX was measured by flow cytometry. A FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibody against RFC was used to detect the cellular RFC expression.

RESULTS: Antigen-stimulated CD4+ T cells and B cells from individuals with the GG variant (n = 9) exhibited lower uptake of MTX than individuals expressing the AA variant (n = 8), or the GA variant (n = 8). No difference could be demonstrated between the three groups with respect to the expression of RFC by CD4+ T cells and B cells, and CD4+ T cells from individuals homozygous for the G allele exhibited lower uptake of MTX per receptor than CD4+ T cells from individuals homozygous for the A allele.

CONCLUSION: MTX is taken up more efficiently via the A allele than via the G allele. This difference between the variant forms of RFC suggests that genotyping could be relevant for determining the relevant dosage of MTX in the treatment of neoplastic and autoimmune disease.

Chronic painful wounds, a major health problem, have a detrimental impact on the quality of life due to associated pain. Some clinical reports have suggested that local administration of morphine could be beneficial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of topically applied morphine on chronic painful leg ulcers. Twenty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive either morphine or placebo in a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study. Each patient was treated four times in total. Pain was measured by the visual analogue score (VAS) before application of gel, directly after and after 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Although an overall, clinically relevant, reduction of pain was observed upon treatment with morphine, the difference was not statistically significant. Morphine reduced pain scores more than placebo on treatment occasions 1 and 2. The difference was statistically significant only 2 hours after dressing on the first treatment occasion. Thus, our study did not demonstrate a consistent and globally significant difference in nociception in patients treated with morphine. However, the relatively small number of patients included in our study and other methodological limitations makes it difficult for us to draw general conclusions regarding efficacy of topically applied morphine as an effective treatment for some painful ulcers. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the value of topically applied morphine in the treatment of patients with chronic painful leg ulcers.

Purpose: There is a significant interindividual variation in the response to tramadol (TRA), which can partly be explained by genetic variation. The main purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between the metabolic ratio of O-desmethyltramadol (ODT) to TRA (MR) and time after drug administration. We also studied the association between genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6, OPRM1 and ABCB1 and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of TRA.

Methods: Nineteen healthy volunteers were randomized into two groups receiving a single dose of either 50 or 100 mg of orally administrated TRA. Blood samples were collected prior to dosing and up to 72 h after drug intake. The subjects were asked to report drug related symptoms (DRS) during the experimental day.

Results: We found a positive correlation between MR and the time after drug intake for both intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and extensive metabolizers (EMs). For the only poor metabolizer (PM) with detectable ODT levels the MR was almost constant. The AUC MR and Cmax MR were associated with CYP2D6 genotype, showing the highest mean values for EMs. Multiple regression analysis showed that 56% of the  variation in AUC MR could be explained by CYP2D6 alone and 78% by investigated SNPs altogether. There was great interindividual variation in DRS, but no associations could be found between DRS and investigated polymorphisms.

Conclusions: MR can be used for estimation of the time of drug intake when the CYP2D6 genotype is known and taken into consideration. The influence of genetic polymorphisms in ABCB1 and OPRM1 requires further study. We propose that pharmacogenetics should be taken into consideration when interpreting clinical pharmacology and forensic toxicology results, more specifically CYP2D6 genotypes when interpreting the pharmacokinetics of TRA.

Most patients with advanced cancer experience severe pain and are often treated with opiates. Cancer patients are especially susceptible to opportunistic infections due to treatment with immunosuppressive and cytostatic drugs. Since opiates have been demonstrated to have immunomodulatory effects, it is of clinical importance to evaluate potential differences between commonly used opiates with regard to their effect on the immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morphine, tramadol, fentanyl and ketobemidone on the functioning of the immune system with special reference to TNF and IL-8 release. Method. U-937 cells were preincubated with different concentrations of opioids followed by stimulation with LPS 100 μg/ml for three hours. The effect of opioids on the levels of cytokine mRNA was studied using RT-PCR. Erk and Akt phosphorylation was also measured by Western blot. Results. All opioids with the exception of fentanyl were capable of inhibiting TNF release from U-937 cells. Morphine had no effect on IL-8 release but the effect of other opiates was almost the same as the effect on TNF. All opioids with the exception of fentanyl were capable of inhibiting production of mRNA for TNF and IL-8. The observed effects of opiates were not always reversible by naloxone, suggesting that the effects might be mediated by other receptors or through a non-receptor mediated direct effect. Although preliminary evidence suggests the involvement of Erk and Akt pathways, further studies are needed to unravel the intracellular pathways involved in mediating the effects of opiates. Our data suggests that the order of potency with regard to inhibition of cytokine release is as follows: tramadol > ketobemidone > morphine > fentanyl. Conclusion. Further studies are needed to understand the clinical implications of the observed immunosuppressive effects of tramadol and ketobemidone and to improve opioid treatment strategies in patients with cancer.

INTRODUCTION: α1-Adrenoceptors are considered critical for the regulation of prostatic smooth muscle tone. However, previous studies suggested further α1-adrenoceptor functions besides contraction. Here, we investigated whether α1-adrenoceptors in the human prostate may activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2).

METHODS: Prostate tissues from patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were stimulated in vitro. Activation of ERK1/2 was assessed by Western blot analysis. Expression of ERK1/2 was studied by immunohistochemistry. The effect of ERK1/2 inhibition by U0126 on phenylephrine-induced contraction was studied in organ-bath experiments.

RESULTS: Stimulation of human prostate tissue with noradrenaline (30 μM) or phenylephrine (10 μM) resulted in ERK activation. This was reflected by increased levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2. Expression of ERK1/2 in the prostate was observed in smooth muscle cells. Incubation of prostate tissue with U0126 (30 μM) resulted in ERK1/2 inhibition. Dose-dependent phenylephrine-induced contraction of prostate tissue was not modulated by U0126.

CONCLUSIONS: α1-Adrenoceptors in the human prostate are coupled to ERK1/2. This may partially explain previous observations suggesting a role of α1-adrenoceptors in the regulation of prostate growth.

Several combined pathogenetic factors such as hyperammonemia, different brain tryptophan metabolic disturbancies and serotonin physiological/pharmacological alterations not yet defined in all details, will often give rise to the clinical neuropsychiatric condition known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Indeed, to this the probable exposure to novel potent CNS-monoamine acting drugs today may put such patients at certain risk for other pharmacodynamic (PD) responses than usually are expected from these "safe" drugs. Moreover, with a compromised liver function in HE, also pharmacokinetic (PK) features for the drugs are likely changed in these patients. Thus, the ultimate clinical outcome by this probable but unknown PD/PK-deviation for such psychoactive drugs when given to HE-patients needs further clarifrcation. Accordingly, delineation of both PD- and PK-effects in experimental HE should shed light on this issue of relevance for monoamine-active drug safety as well as on some further details in the complex tryptophan/monoamine-related pathophysiology that comes into play in HE.

TDM applied in psychiatry dates back several decades. The reason for this is that, after the advent of modem clinical psychopharmacology around the middle of the past century, an insight came to common knowledge about the existence of (1) a large inter-individual pharmacokinetic (PK) variability for virtually all psychoactive drugs and (2) a worse clinical efficacy not only in inadequate drug concentrations but also in excessively high concentrations. From this concept, the definition of a therapeutic concentration "window" was evidenced for a substantial number of, primarily, antidepressant drugs. However, with the further extensive development of the clinically available pharmacopoeia of psychoactive drugs from the later 1980s until today, the concept of less toxic compounds than before has commonly been launched in the marketing strategies for these newer drugs. This concept also led to the idea that TDM was no longer necessary for the newer types of psychoactive drugs, a position backed up by difficulties in unraveling concentration-effect relationships generally for these drugs in clinical trials. The present survey summarizes the background history for TDM in psychiatry and makes a critical appraisal of why a "lack" of definition of concentration-effect relationships for newer psychoactive drugs is now common. This survey also provides the reader with a novel concept challenging ambient TDM strategies (referred to as TDM "traditionelle") in psychiatry by forwarding a theoretical model called TDM "nouveau." In this model both inter- and intraindividual (over time) PK variation is suggested to be used for dose optimization by TDM in a naturalistic clinical setting. The previous concept of a simple, common concentration "window" existing for all such drugs is questioned by promotion of the use of available PK data merely as "guiding principles" rather than as "reference values" when interpreting the TDM outcome in individual cases.

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The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CYP2C8*3 and three genetic ABCB1 variants on the elimination of paclitaxel. We studied 93 Caucasian women with ovarian cancer treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Using sparse sampling and nonlinear mixed effects modeling, the individual clearance of unbound paclitaxel was estimated from total plasma paclitaxel and Cremophor EL. The geometric mean of clearance was 385 l h(-1) (range 176-726 l h(-1)). Carriers of CYP2C8*3 had 11% lower clearance than non-carriers, P = 0.03. This has not been shown before in similar studies; the explanation is probably the advantage of using both unbound paclitaxel clearance and a population of patients of same gender. No significant association was found for the ABCB1 variants C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T. Secondarily, other candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms were explored with possible associations found for CYP2C8*4 (P = 0.04) and ABCC1 g.7356253C andgt; G (P = 0.04).

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The standard treatment for ovarian cancer in advanced stages is post-surgery treatment with taxane-platin chemotherapy. Despite an initial high response rate, most patients eventually relapse. The dose-limiting toxicities of paclitaxel are neutropenia and neuropathy, but the inter-individual variability is large. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the impact of genetic variants in key drug metabolizing/transporter genes on toxicity and compliance. CYP2C8*3 and three ABCB1 polymorphisms were chosen for primary analysis, and a host of other candidate genes was explored in 92 prospectively recruited Scandinavian Caucasian women with primary ovarian cancer who were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. A single investigator assessed the clinical toxicity in 97% of the patients. Patients carrying variant alleles of ABCB1 C3435T experienced more pronounced neutrophil decrease (63%, 72% and 80% for 3435CC, CT and TT, respectively; p-value 0.03). A similar association was found for G2677T /A, p-value 0.02. For C1236T, there was a trend with p-value 0.06. No statistically significant correlations were found for paclitaxel compliance and sensory neuropathy in the primary analysis. Variants in the drug transporter ABCB1 gene are possibly associated with the neutrophil suppressing effect of paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer. This finding has implications for the understanding of bone marrow suppression and future tailored chemotherapy.

Paclitaxel has a broad spectrum of anti-tumor activity and is useful in the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. Paclitaxel is metabolized in the liver by CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 and transported by P-glycoprotein. The dose-limiting toxicities are neuropathy and neutropenia, but the interindividual variability in toxicity and also survival is large. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of genetic variants in CYP2C8 and ABCB1 on toxicity and survival. The 182 patients previously treated for ovarian cancer with carboplatin and paclitaxel in either the AGO-OVAR-9 or the NSGO-OC9804 trial in Denmark or Sweden were eligible for this study. Genotyping was carried out on formalin-fixed tissue. The patients toxicity profiles and survival data were derived from retrospective data. CYP2C8*3, ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T were chosen a priori for primary analysis; a host of other variants were entered into an exploratory analysis. Clinical data and tissue were available from a total of 119 patients. Twenty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes were determined. Toxicity registration was available from 710 treatment cycles. In the primary analysis, no statistically significant correlation was found between CYP2C8*3, ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T and neutropenia, sensoric neuropathy, and overall survival. CYP2C8*3 and the ABCB1 SNPs C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T were not statistically significantly correlated to overall survival, sensoric neuropathy, and neutropenia in 119 patients treated for ovarian cancer with paclitaxel/carboplatin.

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Motexafin gadolinium (MGd) sensitizes malignant cells to ionizing radiation, although the underlying mechanisms for uptake and sensitization are both unclear. Here we show that MGd is endocytosed by the clathrin-dependent pathway with ensuing lysosomal membrane permeabilization, most likely via formation of reactive oxygen species involving redox-active metabolites, such as ascorbate. We propose that subsequent apoptosis is a synergistic effect of irradiation and high MGd concentrations in malignant cells due to their pronounced endocytic activity. The results provide novel insights into the mode of action of this promising anti-cancer drug, which is currently under clinical trials.

Background Polymorphisms in ABCB1 have the ability to affect both the function and the expression of the transporter protein P-glycoprotein and may lead to an altered response for many drugs including some antidepressants and antipsychotics.Objective The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the ABCB1 polymorphisms 1199Gandgt;A, 1236Candgt;T, 2677Gandgt;T/A, and 3435Candgt;T in deaths by suicide.Patients and methods A total of 998 consecutive Swedish forensic autopsies performed in 2008 in individuals 18 years of age or older, where femoral blood was available and a toxicological screening had been performed, were investigated. Genotypes were assessed with pyrosequencing and information on the cause and manner of each death was obtained from the forensic pathology and toxicology databases.Results There was a significantly higher frequency of the T allele at positions 1236, 2677, and 3435 among the suicide cases compared with the nonsuicide cases.Conclusion Our result from forensic cases suggests that ABCB1 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk for completed suicides. The biological mechanisms involved and the clinical implications for these findings are largely unknown and need to be examined further.

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between antiemetic effect and well-being in patients receiving four different antiemetic treatment strategies, representing developments in the field during the past 15 years. A total of 162 women with ovarian cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy and participating in two comparative antiemetic trials were enrolled and studied for up to four cycles. In study I, a combined antiemetic strategy including a nursing intervention program (increased access to support and increased information) and antiemetics based on high-dose metoclopramide and dexamethasone was compared with the standard antiemetic treatment during the 1980s. In study II, ondansetron plus dexamethasone/placebo was evaluated. The assessment methods used were similar for all patients. Questionnaires were used to assess frequency, intensity, and duration of nausea, emesis, anxiety, pain, and well-being at baseline, and for acute (24 hours after chemotherapy) and delayed (up to 2 weeks after chemotherapy) symptoms. The mean intensity of acute nausea during the first cycle was higher in the groups in study I, as compared to the groups in study II. The group receiving a nursing intervention reported better well-being than the other groups. Duration of nausea was an important predictor of well-being, even when nausea intensity was controlled. Apart from nausea intensity, nausea duration and nursing interventions may be important determinants for well-being during chemotherapy. © U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2002.

Within the field of depression the “monoamine hypothesis” has been the leading theory to explain the biological basis of depression. This theory proposes that the biological basis of depression is due to a deficiency in one or more of three key neurotransmitter systems, namely noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin which are thought to mediate the therapeutic actions of virtually every known antidepressant agent.

Citalopram is a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Citalopram is a racemic compound, in other words composed of a 50:50 mixture of two enantiomers (S-(+)-citalopram and R-(-)-citalopram) and with one of the enantiomers (S-(+)-citalopram) accounting for the inhibitory effect. At the time of introduction of citalopram the physician needed a therapeutic drug monitoring service to identify patients with interactions, compliance problems and for handling questions concerning polymorphic enzymes and drug metabolism. An achiral analytical separation method based on solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of citalopram and its two main demethylated metabolites.

As the data available on citalopram were from achiral concentration determinations and to be able to further investigate citalopram enantiomers effects and distribution, a chiral method for separation of the enantiomers of citalopram and its demethylated metabolites was established. The advances within chiral separation techniques have made measurement of the concentrations of the individual enantiomers in biological fluids possible.

The process behind enantioselective separation is however not fully understood and the mechanism behind the separation can be further scrutinized by the use of multivariate methods. A study of the optimization and characterization of the separation of the enantiomers of citalopram, desmethylcitalopram and didesmethylcitalopram on an acetylated ß-cyclodextrin column, by use of two different chemometric programs - response surface modelling and sequential optimization was performed. Sequential optimization can be a quicker mean of optimizing a chromatographic separation; response surface modelling, in addition to enabling optimization of the chromatographic process, also serves as a tool for learning more about the separation mechanism.

Studies of the antidepressant effect and pharmacokinetics of citalopram have been performed in adults, but the effects on children and adolescents have only been studied to a minor extent, despite the increasing use of citalopram in these age groups.

A study was initiated to investigate adolescents treated for depression, with respect to the steady-state plasma concentrations of the enantiomers of citalopram and its demethylated metabolites. The ratios between the S- and R-enantiomers of citalopram and didesmethylcitalopram were in agreement with studies involving older patients. The concentrations of the S-(+)- and R-(-) enantiomers of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram were also in agreement with values from earlier studies. The results indicate that the use of oral contraceptives may have some influence on the metabolism of citalopram. This might be because of an interaction of the contraceptive hormones with the polymorphic CYP2C19 enzyme.

Even though the SSRIs are considered less toxic compared with older monoamine-active drugs like the tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants, the risk of developing serious side effects such as ECG abnormalities and convulsions has been seen for citalopram, when larger doses have been ingested. Furthermore, fatal overdoses have been reported where citalopram alone was the cause of death. Data on the toxicity of each of the enantiomers in humans have not been reported and no data on blood levels of the enantiomers in cases of intoxication have been presented.

An investigation was initiated on forensic autopsy cases where citalopram had been found at the routine screening and these cases were further analysed with enantioselective analysis to determine the blood concentrations of the enantiomers of citalopram and metabolites. Furthermore the genotyping regarding the polymorphic enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 were performed.

In 53 autopsy cases, we found increasing S/R ratios with increasing concentrations of citalopram. We found also that high citalopram S/R ratio were associated with high parent drug to metabolite ratio and may be an indicator of recent intake. Only 3.8 % were found to be poor metabolizers regarding CYP2D6 and for CYP2C19 no poor metabolizer was found.

Enantioselective analysis of citalopram and its metabolites can provide valuable information about the time that has elapsed between intake and death. Genotyping can be of help in specific cases but the possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions is apparently a far greater problem than genetic enzyme deficiency.

Citalopram is marketed as a racemate (50:50) mixture of the S(+)-enantiomer and R(-)-enantiomer and the active S(+)-enantiomer (escitalopram) that possess inhibitory effects. Citalopram was introduced in Sweden in 1992 and is the most frequently used antidepressant to date in Sweden. In 2002, escitalopram was introduced onto the Swedish market for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. The main objective of this study was to investigate S(+)-citalopram [i.e., the racemic drug (citalopram) or the enantiomer (escitalopram)] present in forensic autopsy cases positive for the presence of citalopram in routine screening using a non-enantioselective bioanalytical method. Fifty out of the 270 samples found positive by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection were further analyzed using enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography. The 50 cases were genotyped for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, as these isoenzymes are implicated in the metabolism of citalopram and escitalopram. In samples positive for racemic citalopram using the screening method for forensic autopsy cases, up to 20% would have been misinterpreted in the absence of an enantioselective method. An enantioselective method is thus necessary for correct interpretation of autopsy cases, after the enantiomer has been introduced onto the market. The percentage of poor metabolizers was 6% for CYP2D6 and 8% for CYP2C19.

Response-surface modelling and sequential optimization have been used for optimization and characterization of the separation of the enantiomers of citalopram, desmethylcitalopram, and didesmethylcitalopram on an acetylated ▀-cyclodextrin column. In the model chosen the separation conditions mobile phase methanol content, buffer concentration, column temperature, and pH were varied to investigate their influence on the chromatography. It was found that what is good for selectivity within an enantiomer pair is bad for selectivity between enantiomer pairs. Because within-pair and between-pair selectivity does not reach its optimum at the same conditions, a middle course approach has to be followed. Use of an experimental design for this investigation enabled understanding of the mechanisms of within- and between-pair separation for citalopram, desmethylcitalopram, and didesmethylcitalopram. Sequential optimization can be a quicker means of optimizing a chromatographic separation, response-surface modelling, in addition to enabling optimization of the chromatographic process, also serves as a tool for learning more about the separation mechanism.

An assay based on solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the measurement of citalopram and its main metabolites desmethylcitalopram and didesmethylcitalopram. The best extraction procedure was performed with end-capped C₂ column utilising secondary silanol interactions to obtain clean extract. The HPLC analysis was done on a phenyl column with a mobile phase without any amine additives. Fluorescence detection gave a limit of detection of 0.8 nmol/l plasma for the compounds analysed.

Studies of the antidepressant effect and pharmacokinetics of citalopram have been performed in adults, but the effects on children and adolescents have only been studied to a minor extent despite its increasing use in these age groups. The aim of this study was to investigate a group of adolescents treated for depression, with respect to the steady-state plasma concentrations of the enantiomers of citalopram and its demethylated metabolites desmethylcitalopram and didesmethylcitalopram. Moreover, the authors studied the genotypes for the polymorphic cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 in relation to the different enantiomers. The S/R ratios of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram found in this study of 19 adolescents were similar to studies involving older patients. The concentrations of the R-(-)- and S-(+)-enantiomers of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram were also in agreement with values from earlier studies, the R-(-)-enantiomer (distomer) being the major enantiomer. The results indicate that the use of oral contraceptives may have some influence on the metabolism of citalopram. This might be because of an interaction of the contraceptive hormones with the CYP2C19 enzyme.

Complementary and alternative medicine is used by many cancer patients in most parts of the world, and its use is increasing. The aim of the present study was to examine, over 5 years, the perceived quality of life/life satisfaction in two samples of women with breast cancer who were treated with anthroposophic care or conventional medical treatment only. Data from admission, after 1 year and after 5 years are used for the comparisons. On admission to the study the women in anthroposophic care perceived their quality of life to be lower than that of the women in the conventional treatment group, especially for emotional, cognitive and social functioning and overall quality of life. Sixty women who actively chose treatment with anthroposophic medicine and 60 individually matched women treated with conventional medicine participated. Quality of life was measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire. Twenty-six women within anthroposophic care and 31 women within conventional medicine survived the 5 years. Effect size (ES) estimation favored the anthroposophic group in seven of the subscales mostly measuring emotional functioning. The ES for four of the subscales favored the conventional treatment group, mostly concerning physical functioning. After 5 years there were improvements in overall quality of life and in emotional and social functioning compared to admission for the women in anthroposophic care. The improvements took place between admission and 1 year, but not further on. Only minor improvements were found in the matching group. © 2006 The Author (s).

The aim was to study the perceived quality of life/life satisfaction in a sample of women with breast cancer who were treated in a hospital with alternative/complementary care and the same variables in individually matched patients who received only conventional medical treatment. A non-randomized controlled trial design with repeated measurements was used. Sixty women with breast cancer treated with anthroposophic medicine (ABCW) and 60 with conventional medicine (CBCW) were included and 36 matched pairs took part on all occasions. The quality of life was measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ). The comparisons were calculated as effect sizes (ES). The women in the ABCW group reported small or moderate effects, expressed as ES, on their quality of life/life satisfaction compared to their matched "twins" in the CBCW group at the 1-year follow-up in 15 out of 21 scales/factors. It was concluded that the women who had chosen anthroposophic care increased their perceived quality of life/life satisfaction according to the methodology of the study.

An addendum to the terms of reference for the inquiry on certain issues regarding pricing, accessibility, and market conditions in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sector (Dir. 2011:82) calls for an analysis of the need for special solutions in decisions on subsidising orphan drugs. An orphan drug is a drug that fulfils certain conditions and is thereby covered by special stimulus measures prior to approval by agencies that evaluate medical products. Orphan drugs also have the possibility, but not the right, to hold sole rights in the marketplace for 10 years.

The report includes an analysis of the ethics platform and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act, which serve as the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency’s base for making decisions on subsidies. One conclusion drawn is that the current ethics platform, along with the modification of the cost-effectiveness principle that appears in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act, offers the option to determine that society is prepared to pay more per health benefit for drugs targeted at very rare and severe diseases/conditions.

The human dignity principle indicates that irrelevant group affiliation or group characteristics should not affect equality in a patient group’s opportunities and outcomes regarding health. Whether a patient group is small or large is an irrelevant group characteristic, and the size of the group or the rarity of the condition should not affect the group’s opportunities for treatment, or the possibility to achieve an equitable health outcome compared to other larger groups or groups with more common diseases. However, the consequence of higher costs for intervention that can result from rarity could be grounds for special treatment.

The needs and solidarity principle indicates that all citizens should be given equal opportunities to achieve good health and that we should achieve health outcomes that are as equitable as possible for citizens. If we allow the development costs for orphan drugs to influence the possibility to access these drugs, then the citizens are not given equal opportunities to achieve good health. Hence, we draw the conclusion that people with rare and severe conditions should be given opportunities to achieve good health that are equal to those given to people with common and serious conditions.

The cost-effectiveness principle. When lower cost effectiveness is primarily due to high costs connected with the size of the patient group, i.e. the market size for a drug, and not poor effects from the intervention, there is just cause, on the grounds of equity, to try to influence the cost aspects of the drug and in some cases accept a lower level of cost effectiveness. The cost can be influenced, for example, by pricing based on special agreements with the company marketing the drug.

There is value in knowing that we live in a compassionate society that cares for and attempts to help people that find themselves in life-threatening or other difficult situations. This value stems partly from the assertion that knowledge creates greater security and trust in the community (based on self interest since we are all at risk of contracting a severe condition) and partly from a more altruistic motivation stemming from the assertion that we are affected positively by knowing that we live in a compassionate society. This is a factor that should also be considered in cost-effectiveness analyses. The size of this value is uncertain.

Orphan drugs are a relatively heterogeneous group, and there are other drugs with corresponding characteristics that have not applied for status as orphan drugs. From a standpoint of priority setting, it is more relevant to focus instead on drugs that are used for rare and severe diseases. Drugs for very rare and severe conditions, particularly when no other treatment is available, should therefore be processed in a special manner regardless of whether or not they are classified as an orphan drug. To assure equitable access, transparent decisions, and appropriate care it is preferable to use a model involving national decision- making for such drugs. Three alternative principles for decisions and financing can be discussed: 1) the state as the principal authority, 2) collaboration between the state and the county councils, and 3) collaboration among the county councils.

BACKGROUND:

Information on autonomic neurapraxia in female urogenital surgery is scarce, and a model to study it is not available.

OBJECTIVE:

To develop a model to study the impact of autonomic neurapraxia on bladder function in female rats, as well as to assess the effects of corticosteroid therapy on the recovery of bladder function in this model.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral pelvic nerve crush (PNC) and perioperatively treated with betamethasone or vehicle. Bladder function and morphology of bladder tissue were evaluated and compared with sham-operated rats.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Western blot, immunohistochemistry, organ bath experiments, and cystometry.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS:

Sham-operated rats exhibited regular micturitions without nonvoiding contractions (NVCs). Crush of all nerve branches of the pelvic plexus or PNC resulted in overflow incontinence and/or NVCs. Betamethasone treatment improved recovery of regular micturitions (87.5% compared with 27% for vehicle; p<0.05), reduced lowest bladder pressure (8 ± 2 cm H(2)O compared with 21 ± 5 cm H(2)O for vehicle; p<0.05), and reduced the amplitude of NVCs but had no effect on NVC frequency in PNC rats. Compared with vehicle, betamethasone-treated PNC rats had less CD68 (a macrophage marker) in the pelvic plexus and bladder tissue. Isolated bladder from betamethasone-treated PNC rats exhibited better nerve-induced contractions, contained more cholinergic and sensory nerves, and expressed lower amounts of collagen III than bladder tissue from vehicle-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS:

PNC causes autonomic neurapraxia and functional and morphologic changes of isolated bladder tissue that can be recorded as bladder dysfunction during awake cystometry in female rats. Perioperative systemic betamethasone treatment reduced macrophage contents of the pelvic plexus and bladder, partially counteracted changes in the bladder tissue, and had protective effects on micturition function.

Introduction. Cyclic adenosine 35 monophosphate (cAMP) is produced by adenylate cyclase after activation by, e.g., vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The cAMP-degrading phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is expressed in the vagina and clitoris, but no information is available on the functional role for PDE4-related signals in the female neurovascular genital response. Aim. The aim of this study is to study the effect of inhibition of PDE4 with rolipram on nerve- and PGE1-induced vaginal and clitoral blood flow responses of rat. Methods. Measure of clitoral and vaginal blood flow and blood pressure in anesthetized rats during activation of the dorsal clitoral nerve (DCN) before and after intraperitoneal administration of rolipram or sildenafil (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors [PDE5]) and nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). Effect by topical administration of PGE1 on genital blood flow was also evaluated. Main Outcome Measure. Blood flow was recorded as tissue perfusion units (TPU) by a Laser Doppler Flowmeter. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was recorded (cmH2O) in the carotid artery. Blood flow responses are expressed as TPU/MAP. Unpaired t-test and an analysis of variance were used. Results. Compared with control stimulations, rolipram (0.3mg/kg) caused a twofold increase in peak blood flow (Pandlt;0.05) and fourfold increase of the rate of clitoral blood flow during activation of the DCN (Pandlt;0.05). Simultaneously, a twofold increase in peak blood flow and threefold increase in rate of blood flow were noted in the vagina (Pandlt;0.05). Similar effects were noted for sildenafil (0.2mg/kg) (Pandlt;0.05). Inhibitory effects by L-NNA (60mg/kg) on blood flow responses to DCN activation were significantly lower for rats treated with rolipram than with sildenafil (Pandlt;0.05). PGE1-induced (10g) blood flow responses were significantly higher (Pandlt;0.05) in rats treated with rolipram than with sildenafil. Conclusions. These findings suggest that the cAMP/PDE4 system may be of similar functional importance as the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate/PDE5 pathway for neurovascular genital responses of the female rat. Castiglione F, Bergamini A, Russo A, La Croce G, Castagna G, Colciago G, Salonia A, Rigatti P, Montorsi F, and Hedlund P. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 enhances clitoral and vaginal blood flow responses to dorsal clitoral nerve stimulation or PGE1 in anesthetized female rats. J Sex Med 2013; 10: 939-950.

Background: Peyronies disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder of the tunica albuginea (TA). Currently, no gold standard has been developed for the treatment of the disease in its active phase. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanObjective: To test the effects of a local injection of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in the active phase of a rat model of PD on the subsequent development of fibrosis and elastosis of the TA and underlying erectile tissue. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign, setting, and participants: A total of 27 male 12-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in three equal groups and underwent injection of vehicle (sham), 50-mu g transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 in a 50-mu l vehicle in either a PD or a PD plus ADSC group in the dorsal aspect of the TA. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanIntervention: The sham and PD groups were treated 1 d after TGF-beta 1 injection with intralesional treatment of vehicle, and the PD plus ADSC group received 1 million human-labeled ADSCs in the 50-mu l vehicle. Five weeks after treatment, six rats per group underwent erectile function measurement. Following euthanasia, penises were harvested for histology and Western blot. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanOutcome measurements and statistical analysis: The ratio of intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) upon cavernous nerve stimulation, elastin, and collagen III protein expression and histomorphometric analysis of the penis. Statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance followed by the Tukey-Kramer test for post hoc comparisons or the Mann-Whitney test when applicable. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults and limitations: Erectile function significantly improved after ADSC treatment (ICP/MAP 0.37 in PD vs 0.59 in PD plus ADSC at 5-V stimulation; p = 0.03). PD animals developed areas of fibrosis and elastosis with a significant upregulation of collagen III and elastin protein expression. These fibrotic changes were prevented by ADSC treatment. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: This study is the first to test stem cell therapy in an animal model of PD. Injection of ADSCs into the TA during the active phase of PD prevents the formation of fibrosis and elastosis in the TA and corpus cavernosum.

Background and objectives: Several new psychoactive drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders have been introduced onto the market since the late 1980s. Basic aspects of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (PK) are investigated before approval for general prescription. Thus, a limited number of subjects are exposed to the drug before it is marketed and only sparse measurements of drug concentration are performed during phases II and III of drug development. The objective of this thesis was to provide further descriptive PK and linked patients data in naturalistic clinical settings. The PK of psychoactive drugs was also studied in the elderly and the young, major risk groups that are exposed in normal everyday clinical practice but that are underrepresented in the phases of drug development. The PK-data were to be assessed by samples sent to the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) laboratory service. In a subset of individuals, the genotypes of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes were described.

Results: Serum concentration of the parent compound and its metabolites was provided from TDM-data on antidepressant escitalopram (Paper I) and antipsychotic ziprasidone (Paper II). A large interindividual PK variability was found. The daily dose of the drug was higher than the defined daily dose (DDD) for both escitalopram and ziprasidone (median dose 20 mg and 120 mg, respectively). The median number of drugs per patient, apart from the studied drug, was 4 and 3, respectively (range 1-18). If repeated eligible TDM-data were available, change in treatment strategies could be seen between the first and second sample for the patient, and the metabolite/parent compound (M/P) ratio had lower intraindividual than interindividual variation in the escitalopram study but opposite results were found in the ziprasidone study.

The prescription of antidepressant drugs (ADs) in the nursing homes studied was 38 % (Paper III). The concentration of the ADs was higher, or much higher, than could be expected from the dose administered in 73 %. The majority of the elderly people were treated with citalopram. No clear time schedule for how long the drug treatment should continue was found in the patients’ current medical record. The median number of drugs per patient apart from the AD was 11 (range 4-19), no monotherapy was found in these patients. The genetically impaired metabolic activity of CYP enzymes correlated to higher drug concentration as expected, in patients medicated with an AD that is substrate for the CYP enzyme genotype.

The concentrations of ADs were as expected from the dose administered in 63 % of the children/adolescents evaluated (Paper IV). The majority of TDM samples requested sertraline. PK outcome of sertraline was similar to the results in adult populations. Monotherapy was documented in 49 % (median number of drugs apart from AD was 1 per patient, range 1-7). Changes in treatment strategies were also shown, if repeated TDM-samples were available. The median variation of the M/P ratio for sertraline between the first and the last samples within the same patient was 20 % (the interindividual variation was 37 %). The poor metabolizers (PM) for CYP2D6 medicated with a CYP2D6 substrate had a lower dose than did non-PM for the same drug.

Conclusion: These studies provide reference data for the evaluation of the therapeutic response, i.e. a reference range of what is to be expected in a normal clinical setting, as well as the toxicological information concerning the psychoactive drugs studied. When available, the M/P ratio between two patients’ samples may assess patient compliance, as well as drug-drug interactions. Thus, the use of TDM can be beneficial for individual dose optimisation and drug safety, above all in the studied populations, elderly people and children/adolescents, when the selection of doses requires a consideration of PK parameters. TDM may be a tool for research, increasing knowledge of the psychoactive drug in TDM service, as well as toxicology. A more frequent clinical use of TDM and pharmacogenetic testing in clinical practice would contribute to a better quality when treating with psychoactive drugs.

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of antidepressant agents, in terms of steady-state and trough values, in a heterogeneous cohort of patients and to describe the utilisation of antidepressant drugs (ATDs) in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the south- east of Sweden.

Method: Patients from Child and Adolescent Psychiatry centres in the counties of Östergötland, Jönköping and Kalmar (Sweden) to be prescribed an antidepressant drug, were studied between 2002 and 2004. The blood concentration of ATDs and, in some cases, also CYP2D6 were determined and relevant clinical information provided.

Results: Two hundred and eleven children: 64 % girls and 36 % boys, between the ages of 8 and 20 were evaluated. The concentrations of drugs in the patient evaluated (PE) population were as expected from the dose administered in 63 % of this population, higher than expected in 26 % and lower than expected in 11 %.

Dose-concentration relationships for sertraline (r_s=0.48, p<0.001) and metabolite desmethylsertraline (r_s=0.5, p<0.001) were seen. No relationship was found between dose and ratio desmethylsertraline-to-sertraline. CYP2D6*4 was the most common poor metabolizer (PM) allele. The primary indication for the antidepressant treatment was depression in 69 % of subjects. Suspected adverse drug reactions were spontaneously reported in 31 %. Monotherapy was indicated in 49 % of request forms. The most common drug combinations with the antidepressant drug were oral anticontraceptives and anxiolytics/sedatives/hypnotic drugs.

Conclusion: the most prescribed antidepressant drug in children and adolescents in the present study was sertraline. The pharmacokinetic outcomes of serum concentration of sertraline, as well as daily doses administered were similar to the referenced data for adults. Antidepressant drug monotherapy was most common. No serious adverse side effects were spontaneously reported. TDM may provide support to the prescribing physicians to individual dose optimising and to assess drug compliance, above all when the antidepressant drugs are not well studied in pediatric patients before approval for general prescription. Further clinical trials, as well as naturalistic studies are necessary to ensure that children are not exposed to unnecessary risk and to determine the most appropriate dose in children of different ages.

The aim of the study was to investigate the use of antidepressant drugs among elderly people in nursing homes. Elderly residents who where found to have been prescribed at least one antidepressant drug according to the specific medication dispensing system were identified in 8 nursing homes in the county of Östergötland, Sweden. Data were collected from the medical record forms at the nursing home. Blood samples were drawn for the assessment of drug concentration, blood chemistry parameters and cytochrome P450 expression. At least one antidepressant drug was prescribed to 38% of elderly people in the nursing home studied. A total of 71 patients were evaluated, 80% women and 20% men. The median age was 84 years (range, 71-100 years). Indications for antidepressant drug treatment were found on 96% of medical record forms (depression, 60%); however, information relating to when treatment was initiated could not be found on 34% of medical record forms and a clear time schedule for how long this drug treatment was planned to continue could not be found either. A possible adverse effect of antidepressant drug treatment was retrieved in at least 77% of patients. Polypharmacotherapy was common; median number of drugs per patient was 11. Concentrations of drugs were higher than expected in 73%. Most patients were medicated with citalopram (n = 44). A clear interindividual variability of concentrations at each dose level was found for citalopram and for the metabolites desmethylcitalopram and didesmethylcitalopram. A significant correlation was found between the estimation of creatinine clearance and concentration-dose ratio of citalopram. Poor metabolizers, who had been prescribed an antidepressant drug that are substrate for the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme examined, have higher concentrations of prescribed antidepressant drug than do non-poor metabolizers in relation to dose. An increase in quality contribution to follow-up at antidepressant medications is needed. A more frequent clinical use of therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenetic tests in addition to therapeutic drug monitoring may be one important tool in this process.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of genetic variations in OCT1, OCT2, MATE1, MATE 2, and PMAT on the trough steady-state plasma concentration of metformin and hemoglobin A1c (Hb1Ac). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethod The South Danish Diabetes Study was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study. One hundred and fifty-nine patients received 1 g of metformin, twice daily continuously, and 415 repeated plasma metformin measurements were obtained after 3, 6, and 9 months of treatment. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults The mean trough steady-state metformin plasma concentration was estimated to be 576 ng/ml (range, 54-4133 ng/ml, rho = 0.55) and correlated to the number of reduced function alleles in OCT1 (none, one or two: 642, 542, 397 ng/ml; P = 0.001). The absolute decrease in Hb1Ac both initially and long term was also correlated to the number of reduced function alleles in OCT1 resulting in diminished pharmacodynamic effect of metformin after 6 and 24 months. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion In a large cohort of type 2 diabetics, we either confirm or show for the first time: (a) an enormous 80-fold) variability in trough steady-state metformin plasma concentration, (b) OCT1 activity affects metformin steady-state pharmacokinetics, and (c) OCT1 genotype has a bearing on HbA1c during metformin treatment.

The thiopurines, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG), are used in the treatment of leukemia. Incorporation of deoxythioguanosine nucleotides (dG(s)) into the DNA of thiopurine-treated cells causes cell death, but there is also evidence that thiopurine metabolites, particularly the 6-MP metabolite methylthioinosine monophosphate (MeTIMP), inhibit de novo purine synthesis (DNPS). The toxicity of DNPS inhibitors is influenced by methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), a gene frequently deleted in cancers. Because the growth of MTAP-deleted tumor cells is dependent on DNPS or hypoxanthine salvage, we would predict such cells to show differential sensitivity to 6-MP and 6-TG. To test this hypothesis, sensitivity to 6-MP and 6-TG was compared in relation to MTAP status using cytotoxicity assays in two MTAP-deficient cell lines transfected to express MTAP: the T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemic cell line, Jurkat, transfected with MTAP cDNA under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter, and a lung cancer cell line (A549-MTAP(-)) transfected to express MTAP constitutively (A549-MTAP(+)). Sensitivity to 6-MP or methyl mercaptopurine riboside, which is converted intracellularly to MeTIMP, was markedly higher in both cell lines under MTAP(-) conditions. Measurement of thiopurine metabolites support the hypothesis that DNPS inhibition is a major cause of cell death with 6-MP, whereas dG(s) incorporation is the main cause of cytotoxicity with 6-TG. These data suggest that thiopurines, particularly 6-MP, may be more effective in patients with deleted MTAP.

The thiopurines, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) are used in the treatment of leukaemia. Incorporation of deoxythioguanosine nucleotides (dGs) into the DNA of thiopurine-treated cells causes cell death but there is also evidence that thiopurine metabolites, particularly the 6-MP metabolite methylthioinosine monophosphate (MeTIMP), inhibit de novo purine synthesis (DNPS). The toxicity of DNPS inhibitors is influenced by methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), a gene frequently deleted in cancers. Since the growth of MTAP-deleted tumour cells is dependent on DNPS or hypoxanthine salvage, we would predict such cells to show differential sensitivity to 6-MP and 6-TG. To test this hypothesis, sensitivity to 6-MP and 6-TG was compared in relation to MTAP status using cytotoxicity assays in two MTAP-deficient cell lines transfected to express MTAP: the T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemic cell line, Jurkat, transfected with MTAP cDNA under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter, and a lung cancer cell line (A549-MTAP-ve) transfected to express MTAP constitutively (A549-MTAP+ve). Sensitivity to 6-MP or methyl mercaptopurine riboside, which is converted intra-cellularly to MeTIMP, was markedly higher in both cell lines under MTAP-ve conditions. Measurement of thiopurine metabolites support the hypothesis that DNPS inhibition is a major cause of cell death with 6-MP, whereas dGs incorporation is the main cause of cytotoxicity with 6-TG. These data suggest that thiopurines, particularly 6-MP, may be more effective in patients with deleted MTAP.

Pharmacokinetics of antidepressant drugs (ATDs), in terms of steady-state and trough values, in patients from Child and Adolescent Psychiatry centers in the midsouth-eastern part of Sweden, were evaluated, and the use of ATDs in this population were described. Patients to be prescribed an ATD were studied between 2002 and 2004. Two hundred eleven children, 64% girls and 36% boys (ages 8-20 years) were evaluated. The primary indication for the antidepressant treatment was depression in 69% of subjects. The median body mass index was 20.2 kg/m(2) (range, 12.4-38.6 kg/m(2)). Suspected adverse drug reactions were spontaneously reported in 31% (no serious). Monotherapy was indicated in 49% of request forms. The most common drug combination with the ATD was oral contraceptives. The concentrations of drugs in the patient evaluated population to referenced data for adults from the dose administered were as expected in 63%, higher than expected in 26% and lower than expected in 11%. The most prescribed ATD was sertraline (SERT). Dose-concentration relationships for SERT and metabolite desmethylsertraline (DSERT) were seen, r(s) = 0.48 and r(s) = 0.5, respectively. No relationship was found between dose and ratio DSERT/SERT. The median daily dose was 50 mg (range, 12.5-150 mg), SERT concentration 16 ng/mL (range, 3-88 ng/mL), and DSERT 33 ng/mL (range, 0-253 ng/mL). CYP2D6*4 was the most common poor metabolizer allele. Therapeutic drug monitoring may provide support to prescribing physicians to individual dose optimizing and to assess drug compliance, above all when ATDs are not well studied in pediatric patients before approval for general prescription.

Background: Intravenous and subcutaneous microdialysis was performedto compare the free concentrations and pharmacokinetics of L-3,4-dihyroxyphenylalanine(L-dopa) in blood and tissue in healthy subjects and in patientswith Parkinson disease.

Methods: Nine healthy volunteers and 10 patients with Parkinson disease, stage 1.5–2 according to the Hoehn-Yahr rating scale, took part of the study. In the patient group subcutaneous microdialysis and ordinary blood sampling were performed, whereas in the control group intravenous microdialysis was also performed. Microdialysis samples were collected in fractions of 15 min. The first two fractions were collected for analysis of basal concentrations. A blood sample was also taken. The patients were then given one tablet of Madopar^® (100 mg of L-dopa and 25 mg of benserazide),and the microdialysis was continued for another 210 min. Bloodsamples were obtained at 30-min intervals.

Results: The serum samples gave a significantly higher meanarea under the curve (AUC; 491 ± 139 µmol ·min/L) than that for intravenous dialysates (235 ± 55.3µmol · min/L), suggesting a protein binding of50%. The L-dopa concentrations from the subcutaneous dialysatesmatched those from the intravenous dialysates, indicating rapiddistribution of L-dopa to the tissues.

Conclusions: Parkinsonian patients in early stages of the disease have a pharmacokinetic pattern of free L-dopa similar to that of healthy subjects. Comparison of AUCs from microdialysis with ordinary serum analysis revealed data indicating significant protein binding. Microdialysis is a suitable and easily applied tool in pharmacokinetic studies.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of 5-HT on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and Akt pathways in prostate cancer (PC) cells.

METHODS: PC cell lines PC-3, Du145, and LNCaP stimulated with 5-HT in the presence of MEK or PI3K inhibitors and 5-HT receptor subtype 1A antagonist were analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The proliferation assay BrdU and Boyden chamber were used to determine proliferation and migration, respectively.

RESULTS: 5-HT dose-dependently induced rapid activation of Erk1/2 in PC-3 and Du145 cells, whereas in LNCaP cells, Erk1/2 phosphorylation was slow and sustained for up to 18 h. Similarly, 5-HT induced phosphorylation of Akt within 1 hour of stimulation, however, Akt phosphorylation was more pronounced in Du145 cells compared with PC-3 or LNCaP cells. The action of 5-HT was inhibited to varying degrees by inhibitors of MAPK and PI3K as well as by a 5-HT receptor subtype 1A antagonist. In addition to proliferation, 5-HT induced migration of PC-3 and Du145 cells, which were alleviated by the aforementioned inhibitors. The effects of 5-HT on LNCaP cells appeared to be related to neuroendocrine-phenotype acquisition and chromogranin A and neuron specific enolase expression.

CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses the role of 5-HT in Erk1/2 and Akt activation in PC cells. The data presented here identify 5-HT receptors as a novel target in castration-resistant PC. Furthermore, our observations are in line with previous studies, which point towards neuroendocrine factors facilitating progression and migration of prostatic cancer cells in an androgen-deficient environment. Nonetheless, additional studies are warranted to corroborate the role of 5-HTR antagonists as a potential target for anticancer therapy.

The ErbB receptor family has been suggested to constitute a therapeutic target for tumor-specific treatment of malignant melanoma. Here we investigate the effect of the pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor canertinib on cell growth and survival in human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Canertinib significantly inhibited growth of cultured melanoma cells, RaH3 and RaH5, in a dose-dependent manner as determined by cell counting. Half-maximum growth inhibitory dose (IC(50)) was approximately 0.8 mu M and by 5 mu M both cell lines were completely growth-arrested within 72 h of treatment. Incubation of exponentially growing RaH3 and RaH5 with 1 mu M canertinib accumulated the cells in the G(1)-phase of the cell cycle within 24 h of treatment without induction of apoptosis as determined by flow cytometry. Immunoblot analysis showed that 1 mu M canertinib inhibited ErbB1-3 receptor phosphorylation with a concomitant decrease of Akt-, Erk1/2- and Stat3 activity in both cell lines. In contrast to the cytostatic effect observed at doses less than= 5 mu M canertinib, higher concentrations induced apoptosis as demonstrated by the Annexin V method and Western blot analysis of PARP cleavage. Furthermore, canertinib significantly inhibited growth of RaH3 and RaH5 melanoma xenografts in nude mice. Pharmacological targeting of the ErbB receptors may prove successful in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma.

There is limited information on the pharmacokinetics of ziprasidone (ZIP) in naturalistic clinical settings. The objective of this study was to investigate the concentrations of ZIP and its active metabolite S-methyl-dihydroziprasidone (SMDZ), and the dose-normalized concentrations, using routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determining serum concentrations of these substances for routine clinical use was established at the TDM Laboratory in Linkoping, Sweden. This analytical service was available to all physicians in Sweden. Between January 2001 and December 2004, 545 analyses, representing samples from 370 patients, were performed. The median daily ZIP dose was 120 mg (range 20-320 mg). In all, 121 steady-state trough specimens with essential clinical information were included in the pharmacokinetic evaluation. The median (25th to 75th percentile) serum concentration of ZIP was 125 nmol/L (82-188 nmol/L). The SMDZ:ZIP ratio decreased with increasing serum concentration of ZIP. The median (25th to 75th percentile) dose-normalized concentrations (nmol L-1 mg(-1) d(-1)) for ZIP and SMDZ were 1.13 (0.74-1.77) and 0.62 (0.45-0.86), respectively, with SMDZ:ZIP ratio of 0.57 (0.42-0.79). The overall coefficients of variation for close-normalized scruin concentrations of ZIP, SMDZ, and SMDZ:ZIP ratio were 62%, 56%, and 57%, respectively (n = 121). Smoking women had lower normalized ZIP concentrations than nonsmoking women. Twenty-eight patients with repeated eligible TDM analyses were studied for intraindividual variance over time. In summary, great interindividual and intraindividual differences in ZIP concentrations were observed. TDM of ZIP maybe used for individual dose adjustments and monitoring medication adherence.

1 Hypotheses as to the pathophysiological basis of bladder detrusor muscle overactivity (DO) have identified both central nervous and peripheral mechanisms as likely contributory factors. In this paper, we describe peripheral autonomous bladder activity in two animal models of DO and discuss how the differences observed between the two models support the likelihood that clinical DO has a multifactorial basis. 2 A total of 12 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent obstruction or sham operation for 1 or 4 weeks. Six adult female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared with normal Wistar controls. Bladders were microsurgically removed and mounted in whole organ tissue baths. Recordings of intravesical pressure in response to the muscarinic receptor agonist arecaidine were performed under standardized conditions. 3 In the partially obstructed rat bladder, the amplitude of pressure fluctuations elicited by the muscarinic agonist arecaidine was significantly increased compared with sham-operated animals. The tonic component of the response was no different for the two groups. No difference from controls was apparent in the SHR. 4 We conclude that alterations in autonomous bladder activity in the obstructed rat model suggest that peripheral functional changes contribute to the pathophysiological abnormality. In contrast, the fundamental abnormality in the SHR appears to be at a more central level. The observations support the supposition that lesions at widely separate sites can give rise to apparently similar abnormalities of lower urinary tract function.