British journal of clinical pharmacology
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Sep 2005
Oral opioid administration and hyperalgesia in patients with cancer or chronic nonmalignant pain.
Previous research has reported on reduced paw withdrawal latencies to heat and mechanical stimuli after parenteral administration of opioids in animals and on increased pain sensitivity in humans subsequent to postoperative infusions of short-acting opioids or in drug addicts. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility that oral opioid treated patients with cancer-related or chronic nonmalignant pain differ in their pain sensitivity from patients treated with non-opioid analgesics. ⋯ These results suggest that the administration of 'commonly used' dosages of oral opioids does not result in abnormal pain sensitivity beyond that of patients receiving non-opioid analgesia.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Aug 2005
Kidneys contribute to the extrahepatic clearance of propofol in humans, but not lungs and brain.
The principal site for the metabolism of propofol is the liver. However, the total body clearance of propofol is greater than the generally accepted hepatic blood flow. In this study, we determined the elimination of propofol in the liver, lungs, brain and kidneys by measuring the arterial-venous blood concentration at steady state in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ We have demonstrated substantial renal extraction of propofol in human. Metabolic clearance of propofol by the kidneys accounts for almost one-third of total body clearance and may be the major contributor to the extrahepatic elimination of this drug.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jul 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialClinical pharmacology of DP-b99 in healthy volunteers: first administration to humans.
To investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of DP-b99 in healthy volunteers. DP-b99 is a newly developed lipophilic, cell permeable derivative of BAPTA (1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid), which selectively modulates the distribution of metal ions in hydrophobic milieu, and is in clinical development as a neuroprotectant for cerebral ischaemic stroke. To our knowledge no BAPTA derivative has ever been administered to man. Here we report the first human administration of DP-b99 in a phase I, two-part, double-blind, randomized placebo controlled study, with single IV doses of 0.003-1.0 mg kg(-1) day(-1) DP-b99 (part 1) or multiple ascending doses of 0.03-1.0 mg kg(-1) day(-1) DP-b99 over 4 days (part 2). ⋯ This study suggests that DP-b99 is well tolerated in healthy young and elderly volunteers within the dose range evaluated. Studies to investigate further the efficacy of the compound are in progress.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2005
Changes in availability of paediatric medicines in Australia between 1998 and 2002.
To determine changes in the availability of medicines for children in Australia and to determine the status of newly introduced chemical entities by age category. ⋯ There have been some improvements in medicines licensing for older children, but not for children under the age of two years.
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Br J Clin Pharmacol · Jun 2005
Multicenter StudyPaediatric homoeopathy in general practice: where, when and why?
To investigate the extent of homoeopathic prescribing in primary care for childhood diseases and assess GP attitudes towards the use of homoeopathy in children. ⋯ In primary care paediatric prescribing of homoeopathic medicines most commonly occurs for self-limiting conditions in infants less than 1 year of age. Although the current level of homoeopathic prescribing is low, the widespread use in the community suggests that at least some knowledge of the main indications for homoeopathy and the preparations used would be of benefit to registered medical practitioners.