ALBERT

Notes: Summary For the sake of metabolic insight into the fate of the sugar substitute Palatinit®, its two components D-glucosyl-α(1→1)-D-mannitol and D-glucosyl-α(1→6)-D-glucitol [D-glucosyl-α-(1→6)-D-sorbitol] were assayed for glucose bioavailability by the procedure of Karimzadegan et al. using ketotic rats. With conversion rates into glucose of 6 and 20 %, respectively, for free mannitol and glucitol (sorbitol), 39 % for glucosylmannitol and 42 % for glucosylglucitol, the metabolic glucose pool of the rat does not receive the full carbohydrate complement of these compounds. The preformed glucose moiety of the glucosylhexitols is bioavailable by 36 and 32 %, respectively, from glucosylmannitol and glucosylglucitol, with 50 % as theoretical maximum. Less than theoretical bioavailability of glucose from Palatinit® is ascribed to microbial attack in the hindgut. The data on rats are held valid also for other species demonstrating carbohydrate fermentation in the caecum and/or colon. Differences between D-glucosyl-α(1→1)-D-mannitol and D-glucosyl-α(1→6)-D-glucitol are caused by a differential delay of glucose absorption in the small intestine, also exerted by D-glucitol. The deep metabolic insight offered by the glucose bioavailability assay into the fate of carbohydrates includes the mammal-microbial symbiosis in the large bowel. Since a rather complete survey of the metabolic consequences after their intake can be obtained, the assay system should be generally applied in assessments of food safety also of other sugar substitutes.

Notes: Summary Plasma concentrations of orphenadrine were measured by a specific gaschromatographic method in 5 healthy male volunteers after a single oral dose of orphenadrine hydrochloride 100mg. The single dose pharmacokinetic profile of orphenadrine was evaluated from these data. The elimination half-life ranged from 13.2–20.1 h after the commercial tablet formulation. Plasma concentrations, determined in volunteers and patients under different conditions of repeated oral administration of the same formulation of orphenadrine hydrochloride exceeded the theoretical values, predicted from the single dose pharmacokinetics, by a factor 2 to 3. The elimination half-lives after discontinuation of treatment showed a 2 to 3-fold increase over the single dose values. This demonstrates a clear discrepancy between the multiple and single dose pharmacokinetics of orphenadrine. Experiments in dogs suggested competition for biotransformation between orphenadrine and its metabolite N-demethylorphenadrine. Product inhibition of this type could explain the observed discrepancy.

Notes: Summary Two formulations of indapamide tablets (2.5 mg) were given as a 5.0 mg dose and the subsequent blood levels were compared to those obtained after administration of a 5.0 mg solution. The study was conducted as a randomized three-way crossover design using healthy male volunteers. The drug was well tolerated by all the subjects involved. The area under the blood concentration versus time curve, extrapolated to infinity was essentially the same for all three formulations (4.2, 4.7, and 4.4 µg-h/ml). Statistical comparison of the blood levels from the two tablets showed that one tablet had a significantly greater maximum blood concentration (263 vs 231 ng/ml) and a significantly shorter time of maximum blood concentration (2.3 vs 3.5 h). Cmax (333 ng/ml) and tmax (0.7 h) values for the solution were significantly higher than either tablet. The average half-life (β-phase) for all three formulations was 15 h, while the average systemic clearance was 20 ml/min. Indapamide has a low clearance rate and there was no evidence that the drug undergoes a first-pass effect.

Notes: Summary 21 healthy women undergoing gynaecological operations received rectal premedication with morphine 0.3 mg/kg body weight. Plasma concentrations of morphine were followed for 4 h by a GC/MS technique. In most patients the peak plasma concentration was reached after 30 min; the mean peak plasma level of morphine was 18 ng/ml (range 8.5–57 ng/ml). The bioavailability of rectal morphine was determined in 6 patients, who received an i.m. injection of morphine at a second operation. The mean bioavailability of rectal morphine was 31% (range 12%–61%). None of the patients showed any clinical sign of respiratory depression, and there was no increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension measured in 5 patients operated under spinal block.

Notes: Summary The kinetics of ergotamine has been investigated in migrainous patients using a new, specific, sensitive HPLC assay (detection limit 100 pg/ml plasma). 10 patients were given ergotamine tartrate 0.5 mg i.v. and 5 of them received the same dose i.m. 2–3 weeks later. Blood samples were collected for up to 54 h following administration and the plasma concentration were analysed. After intravenous administration the plasma ergotamine declined rapidly, with an initial distribution half-life of 3 min followed by a mean terminal half-life of 1.86 h (range 90–155 min). The mean total plasma clearance was 11.0 ml kg−1 min−1, and the volume of distribution (Vdβ ) was 1847.6 ml kg−1. Individual t1/2β showed a positive linear correlation with the individual Vdβ . The intramuscular absorption of ergotamine was rapid and maximum plasma levels were usually obtained 10 min following administration. The biological availability was incomplete and variable at 46.6% (range 28.3–60.8%).

Notes: Summary For a two-way cross-over design, which appears to be the most common experimental design in bioavailability studies, 95%-confidence limits for expected bioavailability can be obtained by classical analysis of variance (ANOVA). If symmetry of the confidence interval is desired about zero (differences) or unity (ratios) rather than about the corresponding point estimator, Westlake's modification can be used. Two nonparametric methods and their adaptations to bioavailability ratios are reviewed, one based on Wilcoxon's signed rank test (Tukey), and the other on Pitman's permutation test. The necessary assumptions and the merits of these procedures are discussed. The methods are illustrated by an example of a comparative bioavailability study. A FORTRAN program facilitating the procedures is available from the authors upon request.

Notes: Summary The relative bioavailability and diuretic effect of 2 commercially available tablet preparations of furosemide 40 mg was examined in 10 healthy male volunteers. A close linear relationship between the urinary excretion rate of furosemide and the rate of sodium ion excretion in urine and/or flow rate of urine was demonstrated. There were no significant differences in the urinary excretion of furosemide, sodium and potassium ions or urinary volume following the oral doses. The difference in drug content affected the urinary recovery of furosemide over 24 h but had no effect on the pharmacological response. The analytical power of ANOVA using the various parameters of the responses to furosemide was no lower than when the parameters of urinary excretion of furosemide were used.

Notes: Summary With a new formulation, which made intravenous infusion of triamterene (TA) possible, plasma levels and urinary excretion rates of TA and its main metabolite (OH-TA-ester) were measured in a randomized, cross-over trial in 6 healthy volunteers given triamterene 10 mg i.v. and 50 mg p.o. TA and OH-TA-ester were determined by densitometric measurement of native fluorescence after thin layer chromatography. Distribution volumes of the central compartment of TA and OH-TA-ester were 1.49 l/kg and 0.11 l/kg, respectively. Terminal half-lives were 255 min for TA and 188 min for OH-TA-ester after i.v. administration. For TA total plasma clearance was 4.5 l/min and renal plasma clearance 0.22 l/kg. The formation of OH-TA-ester was very rapid and the concentration of the metabolite exceeded that of TA at all times. After i.v. administration the urinary recovery of TA and OH-TA-ester was 4.4% and 50.9%, respectively. The bioavailability of TA was 52%, corresponding to absorption of 83%. TA is partly eliminated by a first-pass-effect. The main metabolite of TA is OH-TA-ester, which is pharmacologically active.

Notes: Summary Five healthy male volunteers received canrenoate-K 200 mg (Sincomen® pro injectione) by intravenous injection and one week later spironolactone 200 mg (Sincomen®-100) orally. Plasma levels and urinary excretion of unchanged canrenone were determined up to 24 h by a specific HPLC method. Following intravenous administration, the maximum plasma level of 2066±876 ng/ml was found after 29±15 min and thereafter the concentration declined with a half-life of 3.7±1.2 h. Total clearance was 4.2±1.7 ml/min·kg. After oral ingestion, the maximum concentration of 177±33 ng/ml was observed at 4.4±0.9 h. The absolute bioavailability of canrenone was 25±9%. Within 24 h, respectively 0.4 and 0.6 mg, canrenone were excreted by the kidney after intravenous and oral administration. The half-life of elimination was 4.9±1.8 h (i.v.) and 3.9±1.2 h (p.o.).

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetic parameters of deacetyl metipranolol were determined after i.v. infusion of increasing doses (6–25 mg) in 17 normal volunteers. In a second cross-over trial, deacetyl metipranolol 10 and 20 mg were infused in a further 10 subjects, and in a third trial another 20 volunteers received metipranolol 40 mg orally. Metipranolol is very rapidly and completely deacetylated in man, so all pharmacokinetic data refer to deacetyl metipranolol, which was assayed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using a recently developed model, using a volume of distribution which is variable with time. The following data were obtained after oral administration: (mean values); lag-time 7.3 min; tmax 50 min, invasion half-life 6.3 min; elimination half-life 3 h; urinary excretion of unchanged drug approximately 4% of the dose. The experiments with infusion of increasing doses, as well as the cross-over study with 10 and 20 mg i.v., showed dose-linearity of the kinetics. The respective mean half-lives of elimination were 2.6, 2.9 and 2.8 h. The mean total, renal and extra-renal clearances amounted to 1237 ml/min, 149 ml/min and 1068 ml/min, respectively. The distribution coefficient was 3.5 l/kg, and protein binding amounted to 70% within the range of therapeutic concentrations. Absolute bioavailability was found to be approximately 50% by several different evaluation procedures. Thus, the pharmacokinetic profile of metipranolol shares features of both the lipophilic and the hydrophilic groups of β-blocking agents.

Notes: Summary 16 premature infants suffering from neonatal apnoea received orally an aqueous solution of theophylline 5 mg/kg bodyweight under fasting conditions and immediately before a milk feed. Bioavailability up to 7 h after administration was determined from the serum concentration-time course. The rate of absorption was significantly decreased if the drug was given with food; mean maximum serum concentrations were reached after 4.7 h instead of 1.6 h under fasting conditions. The area under the curve did not differ between the two patient groups which indicates that only the rate but not the amount of absorption was affected by food intake. The influence of feeding on the rate of absorption of theophylline by premature infants, which is more pronounced than in adults, can be related to particular functional factors in the gastrointestinal tract during the neonatal period.

Notes: Summary Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a strong, irreversible inhibitor of platelet aggregation, but loses this activity following first-pass deacetylation to salicylic acid (SA). In order to compare the bioavailability of unchanged ASA from rapid- and slow-release formulations, the single-dose concentration profiles of ASA and SA were studied in healthy volunteers following intake of two different rapid-release (conventional and effervescent tablets) and three different slow-release (microencapsulated ASA in tablets and in capsules, and enteric-coated tablets) formulations of ASA, and of one slow-release formulation of sodium salicylate. Since anti-platelet therapy with ASA is often combined with dipyridamol, the influence of this drug was also examined. The concentrations of ASA and SA were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. While the bioavailability of SA from the 5 ASA formulations was essentially equal and similar to that of the salicylate formulation, the bioavailability and peak concentrations of ASA appeared to be the much greater after rapid-release than after slow-release formulations. Indeed, ASA was only rarely detected in systemic blood following intake of slow-release ASA. Co-administered dipyridamol did not significantly influence the kinetics of ASA or SA. It appears that rapid-release formulations of ASA should be prefered in anti-platelet therapy, either alone or in combination with dipyridamol.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics and oral biovailability of dexamethasone were studied in 6 patients with neurological disease being treated with high dosages of the drug. A specific high performance liquid chromatographic assay was used to measure dexamethasone concentrations. Unlike the previously published mean figure of 0.78 for the oral bioavailability of the drug given in single doses to healthy volunteers, the mean bioavailability of dexamethasone in the patients studied was 0.53±SD 0.40. It appeared more likely that this incomplete bioavailability was due to presystemic elimination than to poor absorption. The intravenous clearance of the drug was relatively high (0.4902±SD 2291 l kg−1, approximately 65% of expected hepatic plasma flow), the oral clearance higher (2.5804±SD 3.2181 l kg−1 h−1) while the absorption rate constant (4.8729±8.4998 h−1), suggested rapid absorption after oral administration. Prior phenytoin and possibly prior dexamethasone therapy is likely to have contributed to the higher clearance values of the drug in these patients than the values reported in healthy volunteers after single dose studies.

Notes: Summary The plasma concentration curves and urinary excretion of oxmetidine after administration of single i.v. (100 mg) and oral (200 mg) doses have been studied in 11 patients with peptic ulcer disease. The mean bioavailability of the drug was 70% (range 53–91%). After intravenous administration, the mean plasmat 1/2β was 3.0 h, the mean apparent volume of distribution 0.7 l/kg, the mean total plasma clearance 12.3 l/h and the mean plasma renal clearance was 0.7 l/h. Following intravenous and oral administration an average of 6% and 3%, respectively, of unchanged drug was found in the urine. The plasma concentration curve after oral administration in most patients exhibited two maxima, with peak concentrations appearing between 45 and 210 min after dosing.

Notes: Summary For drugs with a high hepatic clearance, bioavailability is low due to the so-called “first pass effect”. Prediction of the bioavailability for these drugs has been only lossely tested. It is proposed that by plotting the reciprocal of bioavailability versus the oral clearance, a straight line with intercept of unity and slope of reciprocal of hepatic blood flow should ensue. For lignocaine and verapamil, this relationship was found to be strong and gave good predictability, whereas for propranolol this relationship was weak and gave poor predictability. The proposed method may be of value in determining whether the low bioavailability of a drug is due to hepatic first pass metabolism.

Notes: Summary Methods for estimating the bioavailability of drugs with long elimination half-lives are examined. Provided both absorption and disposition are linear a simple linear regression method is developed which can be used to calculate bioavailability in situations where only an incomplete estimate of the area under the curve (AUC) is available. The regression method and the traditional method of comparing the AUC following an oral dose to the AUC following an i.v. dose were applied to simulated data. It was found that the AUC ratio method works well as long as absorption is complete within the time over which the AUC is computed. The regression method is less precise than the AUC ratio method but is more accurate for drugs with long absorption half-lives. When applied to published data on a beta blocker the two methods produced comparable results. The bioavailability of amiodarone in three human subjects was calculated to be 0.20, 0.44 and 0.98 using the regression method with similar results from the ratio method. It is not possible to estimate the clearance of amiodarone from single dose data.

Notes: Summary Plasma and urinary levels of chlorpheniramine (CPM) and its 2 demethylated metabolites were measured by HPLC after i.v. and oral dosing. In 5 mg (maleate) i.v. bolus studies in 2 subjects, plasma CPM levels were fitted to triexponential equations with terminal half-lives (t 1/2) of 23 and 22 h and area of 3.6 and 3.21/kg, respectively. Intravenous data predicted hepatic blood extraction ratios for the 2 subjects to be 0.06 and 0.07, respectively. Absolute bioavailability from oral solution (10 mg) was 59 and 34%, and from tablets (8 mg) 44 and 25%, respectively, indicating extensive gut first-pass metabolism. Mean t 1/2 from 7 oral fasting studies in 5 subjects was 28 h (19–43 h). Mean absorption lag time was 0.7 h (0.4–1.3 h), and mean peak time was 2.8 h (2–4 h). In 2 subjects, 6 mg solutions were given every 12 h for 9 doses; good correlation between single and multiple dose kinetics was found. Significant accumulation was demonstrated in simulation studies with frequent daily dosing. Estimated accumulation ratios vary from 4.1 to 9.4 (mean 6.5). The t 1/2 from urinary data (collected for 12 days) was consistent with plasma data. The above results suggest the need to reexamine the current practice of frequent daily dosing and the use of sustained or controlled release dosage forms of this drug. The possible cause of reduced plasma clearance of CPM in renal patients is discussed.

Notes: Summary The effect of food on the rate and extent of absorption of tolbutamide in diabetic patients was studied by varying the time of drug administration in relation to the ingestion of a standard meal. Serum levels of tolbutamide, insulin and glucose and related bioavailability parameters were compared following the administration of a single dose of tolbutamide 0.5 g to diabetic patients 30 min prior to and immediately before a standardized meal. A placebo dosage form was also administered to determine baseline glucose and insulin response to the meal. The 700 calorie standard meal was composed of 41% carbohydrate, 18% protein, and 41% fat. Administration of the drug with the meal resulted in a 6% (statistically significant) decrease in the extent of absorption, as determined by measurement of the area under the tolbutamide serum level-time curve from zero to infinity. Serum levels of tolbutamide were also significantly higher 0.5 h after drug administration when the drug was taken with the meal. Except for these two minor effects, no other differences between the drug treatments were observed in any other parameters of tolbutamide absorption or in the postprandial glucose and insulin serum levels. Therefore, the small differences found were judged to be clinically meaningless. These findings demonstrate that administration of tolbutamide 0.5 g tablets 30 min prior to or with a standard meal results in equivalent therapeutic actions.

Notes: Summary The kinetics of phenobarbital (PB) were evaluated in six normal subjects and six epileptic patients treated with phenytoin or carbamazepine. Each normal subject received three single doses of PB: PB-sodium 130 mg i.v. (IV), PB sodium 130 mg i.m. (IM), and PB acid 100 mg orally (PO), in random order at least one month apart. After IV PB distributive half-lives varied from 0.13 to 0.70 h, disposition half-lives were 75 to 126 h, steady state volume of distribution (Vss) was 0.54±0.03 l/kg, and clearance (CL) was 3.8±0.77 ml/h/kg. Absolute bioavailability of IM PB was 101±13%, of PO PB (corrected for dose) 100±11%. Peak serum PB concentrations were achieved from 2 to 8 h after IM administration, and from 0.5 to 4 h after PO administration. Epileptic patients exhibited similar PB kinetics: disposition half-lives were 77 to 128 h, Vss 0.61±0.05 l/kg, and Cl 3.9±0.76 ml/h/kg. Phenobarbital appears to represent an exception among antiepileptic drugs, in that pharmacokinetic data obtained in normals can reasonably be extrapolated to the epileptic population.

Notes: Summary The bioavailability of chloroquine in 7 healthy adult male volunteers was assessed with and without a standard breakfast. Chloroquine (600 mg base) was administered orally and timed blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma concentrations. The results suggest that the AUC and peak plasma levels were significantly higher when chloroquine was administered together with food, although the rate of absorption was not different. It appears, therefore, that food facilitates chloroquine absorption and the extent of absorption is significantly modified. Hence administration of chloroquine together with food appears to be an advisable clinical practice.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics of chlorambucil has been investigated in a cross over study after oral administration of the free drug (10 mg) and its prednisolone ester (prednimustine, 100 mg). The bioavailability of chlorambucil was about five times lower when given as prednimustine as compared to administration of the free drug. The peak plasma concentration was about twice as high and it was obtained more rapidly when the free drug was given. No intact prednimustine could be detected in plasma.

Notes: Summary The kinetics of a controlled release (CR) formulation of indomethacin 75 mg (Indocid-Retard®) given once daily was compared with a conventional 25 mg indomethacin capsule (Indocid®) given 3 times daily for 7 days, to 14 healthy volunteers, using a randomized, cross-over, multiple-dose study design. The following differences in plasma indomethacin profiles after the 2 treatments were observed: average peak concentrations (Cmax) for the CR regimen were higher and the time to peak (Tmax) was significantly delayed. Trough (pre-morning dose) plasma concentrations (Cmin) on Days 2, 5, 6 and 7 were significantly lower after the CR-formulation. No statistically significant differences between preparations for area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC0–24h) or for renal clearance were observed. Average steady-state plasma concentrations (C p ss ) on Day 7 of the multiple dose regimens averaged 0.477 and 0.427 µg/ml for the 75 mg CR once daily and the conventional 25 mg t.i.d. treatments, respectively. These results show that the bioavailability of the CR and conventional indomethacin formulations under these multiple-dose conditions was not significantly different.

Notes: Summary The steady-state kinetics of morphine given as tablets and solution were compared in 7 cancer patients with chronic pain. There was no accumulation of morphine (20–40 mg) when repeatedly administered every 4 to 6 h. The mean steady-state concentration of morphine during the dose interval varied between 5.9 and 68.4 ng/ml (20.7–240 nmol/l), and was linearly related to the daily dose of morphine. There were no significant differences between the tablets and the solution of morphine with regard to relative oral bioavailability or peak concentration. The time-to-maximum plasma concentrations was significantly longer for the tablets. The pain score profile, assessed by a visual analogue scale during a dose interval, showed a similar pattern after the two oral formulations of morphine. No significant linear relationship between the scores and the plasma concentrations of morphine was observed.

Notes: Summary 7-3H-phenylephrine was given to 15 volunteers by a short-infusionn=4) or p.o. (10 volunteers, 1 patient with porto-caval anastomosis). Analysis of serum for free3H-phenylephrine and fractionation of urinary radioactivity was performed by ion-exchange and thin-layer chromatography. As almost the same3H-activity was excreted in urine after i.v. and p.o. administration, 86% and 80% of the dose respectively, complete enteral absorption can be assumed. A considerable difference was seen in the fraction of free phenylephrine, i.v. 16% of the dose versus p.o. 2.6%, which suggested reduced bioavailability. This was confirmed by comparison of the areas under the serum curve, which showed a bioavailability factor of 0.38. The result for the patient with porto-caval anastomosis was comparable to that in the normal volunteers. The biological half-life of 2 to 3h was comparable to that of structurally related amines, as were the total clearance of 2 1/h, and the volume of distribution of 340l. Metabolism to phenolic conjugates mainly after oral ingestion, and tom-hydroxymandelic acid after i.v. injection, again demonstrated thatm-hydroxylated amines are predominantly conjugated during the “first-pass” metabolism.

Notes: Summary The bioavailability of metoprolol was studied in eight healthy young and seven healthy elderly volunteers. Large interindividual differences in the bioavailability of metoprolol were observed in both groups. However, there was no significant difference in AUC, peak plasma concentration or elimination half-life between young and elderly, but time to peak concentration was significantly longer in the elderly. Pretreatment with metoclopramide had no effect on AUC but caused significant increases in peak concentration and decreases in time to peak concentration in both groups. Probanthine pretreatment (only to the young) resulted in a significant decrease in peak concentration of metoprolol and a significant increase in time to peak concentration but had no effect on the AUC. These results suggest that alterations in gastric emptying and gut motility due to ageing or other drugs have no effect on the overall availability of metoprolol to the systemic circulation but may have significant effects on the time to peak plasma concentration and peak concentration achieved after a single oral dose.

Notes: Summary Serum concentrations of dihydrocodeine and its acid metabolites have been determined in seven human volunteers (6 male) who received the drug orally (30 mg and 60 mg) and intravenously (30 mg) on separate occasions, and in twenty-four patients (12 male) receiving 25 mg or 50 mg of the drug intravenously. The concentrations were estimated by radioimmunoassay on reconstituted extracts from serum after an extraction process which effectively separates dihydrocodeine from its polar acidic metabolites. The intravenous data show that dihydrocodeine kinetics followed a two-compartment distribution model. The concentration curves after oral administration indicated relatively rapid absorption with mean peak concentrations at 1.6h–1.8h. The mean half-lives varied between 3.3h–4.5h. From the AUC, the mean bioavailability of orally administered drug was 21% (range 12–34%). The peak levels of the acidic metabolites occurred between 1.8h–2.0h after oral administration and 2.2h–2.5h after i.v. administration, and they were significantly greater after oral administration. The low bioavailability of dihydrocodeine, together with the earlier and higher plasma levels of the acid metabolites after oral administration is suggestive of substantial first-pass metabolism.

Notes: Summary The influence of various disease states, other than hypertension, on the pharmacokinetic behaviour of hydralazine is not completely known. In the present study the pharmacokinetics of oral hydralazine has been evaluated in 7 patients with severe, chronic heart failure, using 8 compensated hypertensives as controls. The pharmacokinetics was evaluated by measuring the plasma concentrations of hydralazine (“apparent” and “real” hydralazine) and hydralazine pyruvate hydrazone, and by assessing acetylator phenotype after a small dose of dapsone. The AUC (area under the plasma concentration curve) following a single, oral 50 mg dose was significantly larger in patients with chronic heart failure NYHA Class III–IV than in patients with essential hypertension without cardiac decompensation. A decreased rate of hepatic elimination of hydralazine is suggested as a major contributory factor to this finding.

Notes: Summary Endralazine (E), a new hydralazine-like antihypertensive was given intravenously (0.05 mg/kg) to 10 normal volunteers (5 slow and 5 fast acetylators). Plasma levels were fitted to a 3 compartment model and pharmacokinetic parameters (area under curve [AUC 0 ∞ ], clearance, volume of distribution, half-lives) obtained in the usual way. Bioavailabilities of 5 and 10 mg oral doses of E were determined from the AUC 0 ∞ generated in a previous study of oral E given to the same subjects. E had high system bioavailability (73.5–99.1%) suggesting that it was almost completely absorbed without undergoing appreciable first-pass metabolism. Furthermore, dose size and acetylator phenotype did not significantly affect the bioavailability of E. This behaviour contrasts with that of hydralazine where systemic bioavailability was 〈40%, and 2 to 3 times higher in slow acetylators than in fast acetylators. It is concluded that the bioavailability of E is high and not influenced by acetylator phenotype; these properties suggest some clinical advantages for the drug.

Notes: Summary The absolute oral bioavailability of a sustained release theophylline tablet (Nuelin-SR250), given 12 hourly was determined in 14 asthmatic children aged 5 to 13 years. In 4 of the patients, mean bioavailability of the fourth dose was 38.9±8.4% and that of the sixth dose was 67.9±25.9% (p〈0.05) in the other ten patients. This suggests steady-state had not been achieved after four doses. In the initial study with 9 patients, a significant diurnal variation in predose plasma theophylline concentrations was observed, as the mean morning predose concentrations were 2.9 fold greater than the mean evening predose concentrations (p〈0.005). Dual peak plasma concentrations occurred in 5 out of the 9 patients. The mechanism of this diurnal variation was investigated in a further 5 asthmatic children (10.8 years ±1.6). Morning and night steady-state plasma theophylline concentrations during a continuous intravenous infusion of aminophylline were not different (14.9±5.3 mg/l vs. 15.6±5.9 mg/l), demonstrating that there was no diurnal variation in the plasma clearance of theophylline. The diurnal variation in predose concentrations with Neulin-SR250 was confirmed with the morning concentrations again being 2.6 fold greater than those in the evening. However, bioavailability was not significantly different for day (09.00–21.00) and night (21.00–09.00) dosing intervals after doses 6 and 7 respectively of Nuelin-SR250. The plasma concentration versus time profiles suggested that the diurnal variation in predose concentrations was due to slower absorption of the evening dose.

Notes: Summary The kinetics of cibenzoline (UP 339.01), a new antiarrhythmic drug, was studied after i.v. and oral administration to 5 healthy subjects. Cibenzoline levels in plasma and urine cibenzoline were measured by a GLC method. After i.v. administration, the total clearance was 826 ml · min−1. The fraction of cibenzoline excreted unchanged in the urine was 0.602 and it was correlated with the creatinine clearance. After i.v. and oral administration, the renal clearances were 499 ml · min−1 and 439 ml · min−1, and the half-lives were 4 h 01 min and 3 h 24 min, respectively. The differences were not significant. Availability by the oral route was 0.92, the maximum plasma concentration being observed at 1 h 36 min. The results were compared with those for other antiarrhythmic drugs.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of 3 oral dyphylline preparations, solution (S), regular (R) and sustained release (SR), were studied in 8 healthy subjects (mean age 25 years). A single dose of each preparation, 20 mg·kg−1, was given at one week intervals and multiple serum samples obtained over 24 h. Drug levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. No adverse effects were found. The dyphylline half-life for the solution was 2.16±0.18 h and for the tablet 2.59±0.56 h. The mean clearance rate for S was 13.6±1.7 h−1 and volume of distribution 43.0±3.91. Peak concentration (Cmax, µg·ml−1), time of peak (Tmax, h), area under the curve (AUC, µg·ml−1·h) and relative bioavailability (RB, %), were determined for three preparations: The data confirm the short half-life of dyphylline, demonstrate a lack of toxicity for the 20 mg·kg−1 dose and establish bioequivalence for the products studied.

Notes: Summary The absolute oral bioavailability of pindolol has been estimated by two analytical methods, fluorimetry and GLC-ECD. The study was carried out in six healthy subjects who received either i.v. or oral pindolol in random order. The results obtained by both methods were similar and confirm the high bioavailability (about 75%) of pindolol. The present findings are compared with previous publications and emphasize the importance of undertaking bioavailability studies in the same subjects.

Notes: Summary The elimination and bioavailability of two beta-blocking agents, propranolol and sotalol, were studied in 10 thyrotoxic patients, both before and after treatment with iodine-131. Each subject received in random order propranolol 160 mg and sotalol 160mg as single oral doses both while hyperthyroid and after euthyroidism had been achieved. The pharmacokinetics of sotalol was not affected by hyperthyroidism, whereas serum propranolol concentrations were significantly lower during hyperthyroidism than in the euthyroid state. During hyperthyroidism, the bioavailability of propranolol was significantly reduced (p〈0.05) and its clearance was increased (p〈0.005), whereas there was no difference in its serum t1/2. This indicates that the bioavailability of propranolol in hyperthyroidism is reduced by a mechanism which may depend on increased first-pass metabolism in the liver, or on an increased distribution volume of the drug. Both propranolol and sotalol caused a slight decrease in serum tri-iodothyronine concentration. As the effects of beta-blocking agents on the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are correlated with the serum concentration of the drugs, sotalol, with its long half-life and unaltered elimination in hyperthyroidism, has certain advantages over propranolol in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

Notes: Summary Two multiple-units controlled-release indomethacin capsule formulations containing enteric-coated pellets were bioequivalent to a standard capsule formulation (taken as the reference) in respect of extent of bioavailability in a crossover study with normal human subjects. However, drug absorption from the enteric-coated pellet formulations was slower, when compared to that from the standard reference capsule. The standard reference capsule released 85% of its drug content in vitro during 10 min at pH 6.5 and 98% during 1 h at pH 7.5. One enteric-coated pellet capsule formulation (I) released 77% during 1 h at pH 6.5 and the other (II) released 10% during 1 h at pH 6.5. Release of drug from each capsule of enteric-coated pellets was complete during 1 h at pH 7.5. Although differences in areas under the plasma indomethacin concentration-time curves were not significantly different, the peak plasma levels and the times of their occurrence indicated that the absorption rates of indomethacin decreased in the order, reference formulation 〉 pellet formulation I 〉 pellet formulation II, which was the same rank order as that of their dissolution rates in vitro. The data indicated that multiple units controlled-release formulations represent a reliable and reproducible source of indomethacin, which by avoiding extremes of local or systemic drug concentrations also should be better tolerated by individuals susceptible to unwanted gastrointestinal and centrally-mediated side-effects.

Notes: Summary Three different pivmecillinam preparations, a conventional 200 mg tablet (P tablet) and two new formulations containing respectively pivmecillinam 200 mg and 400 mg plus Avicel® (microcrystalline cellulose) as a disintegrator (PA tablet), were compared in vitro and in a gastroscopic study in 8 healthy volunteers. Disintegration of the PA tablet was significantly more rapid both in vitro and in the stomach. Following disintegration, the content of the PA tablet was spread over a larger area of the gastric mucosa (1088 mm2) than was observed with the P tablets (408 mm2). Three of the 8 volunteers taking the P tablet developed hyperaemia, interstitial bleeding or erosions of the mucosa of the stomach. No such reactions were seen with the PA tablets. Serum concentrations of mecillinam following ingestion of pivmecillinam tablets were determined in three groups of subjects; fasting volunteers, both supine and ambulant, and in ambulant subjects who took the preparation with a light meal. There was a tendency for the new PA tablets to produce a higher peak serum level as well as greater bioavailability of mecillinam. Administration of the PA tablets with a meal significantly increased the peak serum level and total bioavailability of the drug. On the basis of our observations we recommend adoption of the new PA tablet, because of its quick passage through the oesophagus and its more rapid and complete disintegration in the stomach.

Notes: Summary An high-pressure liquid chromatographic method was used to measure allopurinol and oxipurinol in plasma and urine in 6 healthy volunteers after a single intravenous or oral dose of allopurinol. The influence of coadministrated benzbromarone and hydrochlorothiazide on the pharmacokinetics of allopurinol and oxipurinol was also investigated. After intravenous injection of allopurinol 300 mg the plasma disappearance was biexponential, with a mean distribution half-life of 2.32±1.08 min $$(\bar x \pm SD)$$ and an elimination half-life of 47.8±10.6 min. The total clearance of allopurinol was 11.37±2.70 ml/min/kg, whereas its renal clearance was only 1.73±0.79 ml/min/kg. Oxipurinol disappeared monoexponentially from plasma ith a mean half-life of 12.2±2.6 h. Its renal clearance was 0.42±0.091 ml/min/kg. After oral administration of allopurinol 300 mg the peak plasma concentration of 2.1±0.6 µg/ml (1.5×10−5 M) was reached within 30 to 120 min. The peak level of oxipurinol of 5.8±1.5 µg/ml (3.8×10−5 M) was found within 2 to 5 h after intravenous and oral allopurinol. The bioavailability of oral allopurinol computed from plasma data was 90.4±8.7%. The total recovery from urine was 77% (allopurinol 8%, oxipurinol 69%) after oral and 88% after i.v. administration. It was concluded that about 10% of the oral dose was not absorbed and that 12% was eliminated by an unknown mechanism, presumably as riboside. The pharmacokinetics of allopurinol and oxipurinol were not significantly influenced by coadministration of benzbromarone or hydrochlorothiazide.

Notes: Summary Noscapine was administred to five healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover design, as an intravenous infusion of 66 mg, and as an oral 150 mg dose of either rapidly dissolving tablets or a tablet containing ion exchange resin-bound noscapine. After i.v. administration, the disposition of noscapine was bi-exponential with an elimination half-life of 2.6 h; the total plasma clearance was 22 ml/min/kg and the volume of distribution (Vdarea) was 4.7 l/kg. The absolute oral bioavailability was 30%, with a 3.6-fold interindividual variation. There was no pharmacokinetic evidence to support a prolonged action of the ion exchange resin tablet.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics of bacmecillinam and pivmecillinam were studied in healthy fasting volunteers given tablets in a cross-over, randomized order. The mean (±SD) peak levels of plasma mecillinam were 1.43±0.34, 2.73±0.43, and 4.62±1.41 mg/l after bacmecillinam 100, 200, and 400 mg and 2.38±0.65 mg/l after pivmecillinam 400 mg. The corresponding areas under plasma Vs time curves (AUC) were 2.21±0.19, 3.99±0.63, and 7.74±1.38 mg·h·l−1 for bacmecillinam and 5.35±0.93 mg·h·l−1 for pivmecillinam. The elimination half-lives were 0.8–1.1h for bacmecillinam and 0.7h for pivmecillinam. The 12 h urinary recovery of unchanged mecillinam after the 400 mg doses was 41% for bacmecillinam and 30% for pivmecillinam. The 400 mg dose of bacmecillinam gave a significantly higher plasma peak (p〈0.001), AUC (p〈0.001) and urinary recovery (p〈0.001) than did pivmecillinam 400 mg. The plasma peaks appeared earlier and the rate of absorption was higher after bacmecillinam than after pivmecillinam (p〈0.05). In conclusion, bacmecillinam had a better bioavailability than pivmecillinam in the tablet formulations studied. The AUC increased linearly with increasing doses of bacmecillinam.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics of terodiline HCl was studied in nine healthy volunteers given 12.5 mg i.v. and p.o. or 20 mg i.v. and 25 mg p.o. on two different occasions. The serum concentrations were measured by gas chromatography — mass spectrometry, using deuterated terodiline HCl as the internal standard. After i.v. administration the kinetics could be described by a two-compartment model with a mean distribution half life of 0.3 h and a mean elimination half life of 63 h. The serum clearance and apparent volume of distribution varied about 4-fold with mean values of 4.8 l/h and 417 l, respectively. After oral administration, the mean half life of absorption was 0.7 h and that of elimination 65 h. The absolute bioavailability varied between 64% and 105% with a mean of 92%. The long serum half life of terodiline should permit its once daily administration.

Notes: Summary Using considerably improved analytical methods, the kinetics and effects of clonidine were observed in healthy volunteers over periods of time more than 3 times longer than those previously reported. The high sensitivity and small work load of the newly developed method permitted the performance of low-dose and multipledose trials. 1. The complete bioavailability of clonidine and its elimination half-life (20 to 25.5 h) remained constant after single and multiple doses. 2. Approximately 62% of a given dose was excreted unchanged in the urine, independent of the quantity administered (0.075, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 or 0.3 mg), the drug formulation (solution, tablet, Perlonget) or of the mode of administration (i.v., p.o.; single or multiple doses). 3. As the pharmacokinetics of the drug were affected by entero-hepatic circulation, it cannot be described by a conventional, open one or two compartment model. 4. The time courses of the plasma clonidine concentration and its drug effects ran asynchronously. 5. On cessation of chronic clonidine administration, blood pressure and plasma catecholamine levels increased to pretreatment levels without exhibiting any “overshoot” reaction.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of theophylline following 10 days of multiple doses of a plain uncoated (640 mg, q.i.d.) and a sustained-release tablet formulation (600 mg, b.i.d.) were related to habitual smoking in 11 healthy adult male volunteers, who had previously taken part in a single-dose study of an intravenous preparation of theophylline and of the same oral dosage form. There were significant differences (p〈0.05 to 0.01) in the steady-state mean and minimum theophylline concentration and AUC between the groups (6 smokers versus 5 nonsmokers), but not between other variables. A difference (p〈0.05) in peak time was also found between the dosage forms. The mean elimination t1/2 was significantly (p〈0.05) shorter in smokers than in nonsmokers. The intersubject variability in plasma theophylline concentration observed on the final trial day in the smoking group was larger and diverged more from simulation curves generated from the mean pharmacokinetic parameters of the single-dose study of the same formulations as compared to that of the nonsmoking group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean accumulation ratio and absolute bioavailability of the two dosage forms. The mean morning (7 a.m.) trough theophylline concentrations after both formulations were significantly (p〈0.05 to 0.01) greater than the evening (7 p.m.) values within the same group. The average number of reported side-effects was significantly (p〈0.001) greater during the earlier period (Days 1 to 3) than the later period of the trial. A trend was observed suggesting that the incidence of side-effects was less in smokers than in nonsmokers. The results indicate that smoking is a determinant not only of enhanced elimination of theophylline but that it also produces more variability in the plasma level, irrespective of the dosage form administered or the dosing scheme employed. There may be circadian variation in theophylline kinetics.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics of prednisolone after oral and intravenous administration of 10 and 20 mg have been studied. Serum protein binding of prednisolone was also measured after the i.v. injections. The bioavailability after oral administration was 84.5% after 10 mg and 77.6% after 20 mg (p〉0.05). Dose dependent pharmacokinetics were found, the VDss and Clt being significantly larger (p〈0.01) after 20 mg i.v. than after 10 mg i.v. The protein binding of prednisolone in all subjects was non-linear, and is the most likely cause of the dose dependent pharmacokinetics, as there was no dose dependent variation in elimination half-time.

Notes: Summary The pharmacokinetics of orally administered ranitidine were studied in 17 male patients with chronic duodenal ulceration. The patients were divided into 2 groups, 10 responders and 7 nonresponders, on the basis of their endoscopic response to ranitidine treatment. The 10 responders were studied both after a single 150 mg dose (SD) and after multiple dosing (MD) with ranitidine 150 mg twice daily for 4 weeks. The area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax) were significantly higher (p〈0.01 andp〈0.05, respectively) after MD than after SD, but the half-life (t1/2) and minimum concentration (Cmin) 12 h postdosing did not differ. The non-responders were studied after MD only and their pharmacokinetic characteristics were compared with those of responders. No differences between the 2 groups were found. However, 2 non-responders had particularly low plasma ranitidine levels and high acid output. Such patients may need larger doses of ranitidine for adequate suppression of gastric acid. Five patients (4 responders and 1 non-responder) received ranitidine 20 mg i.v. The drug followed a two-compartment model, with mean values for t1/2β, volume of distribution steady-state and total plasma clearance of 80 min, 701 and 680 ml/min, respectively. The oral bioavailability of ranitidine in these 5 patients showed wide variation (27–76%; mean 51%).

Notes: Summary The bioavailability of theophylline after oral administration of a new sustained release tablet Theograd®-250 mg was studied in 7 healthy volunteers, under fasting and non-fasting conditions. Whilst fasting the bioavailability was moderate at 64±22% (mean±SD), whereas in the non-fasting state the relatively high bioavailability of 90±13% was found. The drug appeared to be significantly more slowly absorbed when a tablet was taken after a meal, than when it was ingested on an empty stomach. In the former case, the peak level was reached after 6.9±1.0 h, whereas in the fasting state the maximum serum concentration occurred 4.0±1.7 h after administration of the drug. Despite the slow absorption, the peak non-fasting level of 4.4±1.4 mg·l−1 was significantly higher than the 3.1±1.0 mg·l−1 observed in the fasting state. The profiles of the serum concentration-time curves showed that the concentration remained above 75% of Cmax for 8.7±1.3 h in the fasting and 9.0±1.1 h in the non-fasting state. It was concluded that to define the optimal dosage regime for sustained release oral dosage forms of theophylline, the influence of food on absorption from these preparations should be taken into account. Based on the present results, Theograd®-250 mg tablets have predictable absorption and a high (90%) bioavailability if taken after a meal.

Notes: Summary In four healthy subjects the intestinal absorption of levodopa (l-dopa) was investigated by measuring the plasma concentration of the amino acid following the administration of l-dopa at three different sites in the small intestine. In order to minimize presystemic clearance of l-dopa, the subjects were pretreated with the peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide 3×50 mg every 8 h on the previous day and 1×50 mg 2 h prior to administration of the l-dopa. L-dopa 100 mg dissolved in 0.05 N HCl and 50 mg benserazide dissolved in 0.05 N HCl were coadministered. Under these conditions no difference in tmax, cmax or AUC of l-dopa was observed between administration of the drug into the proximal or the distal part of duodenum, or into the upper part of jejunum. The results indicate that in healthy subjects, during inhibition of peripheral decarboxylase, the rate and extent of l-dopa absorption does not differ at any site in the upper small intestine.

Notes: Summary Differences in the plasma concentrations of drugs after oral administration are caused by two main factors: variation in absorption ratios and in the distribution processes in the body. A new method for the dissection of both types of factors is discussed. The method uses a reference regression of the AUC-values to the corresponding values after intravenous infusion of graded doses. The reference regression is estimated from an appropriate trial. Deviation of the determined AUC-values from the regression curve afford an estimate of the residual variance due to varying distribution volumes or similar random biological effects. For the estimation of absorption ratios after oral administration the drug is given orally to another sample of subjects and their AUC-values are calculated. The deviation of these AUC values due to the above mentioned random effects are simulated using the residual variance of the reference regression, and are subtracted from the observed AUC-values. Then, the differences in the corresponding absorbed doses are transformed by inverting the reference regression. From these doses the empirical distribution function and statistical parameters (e.g. quantiles) are determined. The method has the advantage that no restrictive assumptions are required, such as first order processes, dose linearity, homogeneity of variance or normal distribution of absorption ratios. Its applicability to substances with qualitative differences in their pharmacokinetics is demonstrated by appropriate examples.

Notes: Summary Etilefrine undergoes considerable first-pass metabolism through conjugation in the gut wall. In six volunteers bioavailability was reduced to 35% for a fast release tablet and to 17% for a sustained release preparation. The addition fo dihydroergotamine (DHE) to the sustained release preparation surprisingly increased bioavailability to 61%. The plasma levels of the main metabolite formed during the passage through the gut wall indicated an increase in the rate of enteric absorption and therefore also in bioavailability by DHE. This might be due to the influence of DHE upon the vascular resistance of the vessels in the gut wall or a change in gastro-intestinal motility with a prolongation of drug contact time within the absorbing gut segment.

Notes: Abstract Plasma concentrations of total and unbound sulfisoxazole were followed after single intravenous and oral doses of 1 g sulfisoxazole and during a 500-mg, four-time-a-day dosing regimen in six healthy males, using a specific high pressure liquid Chromatographic assay method. Saturable plasma protein binding was observed at total concentrations above 80–100 mg/liter. The clearance of sulfisoxazole was 18.7±3.9ml/min for total drug and 232±64ml/min for unbound drug. Renal elimination, on the average, accounted for 49% of the clearance of sulfisoxazole. The apparent volume of distribution for total drug was 10.9±2.0 liters and 136±36 liters for unbound drug, indicating that sulfisoxazole is primarily distributed extracellularly. Accumulation of N4-acetyl-sulfisoxazole during multiple dosing did not affect the disposition of sulfisoxazole. Adjusting for variable renal clearances between oral and intravenous administration and using the unbound plasma concentrations, the bioavailability for an oral dose of sulfisoxazole was found to be 0.95±0.04.

Notes: Abstract The bioavailability of phenytoin from rapid release capsule and oral solution formulations relative to that of a slow release capsule formulation was assessed in five patients who had participated in a three-way crossover study performed at steady state. The subjects then underwent dosage adjustment utilizing the slow release formulation, and estimates of their Michaelis-Menten parameters thus obtained were utilized in calculating the relative bioavailabilities. In addition, expected changes in steady-state plasma phenytoin concentrations were calculated assuming initial levels of 15 mg/liter, with increases and decreases in bioavailability of 10%. The consequences of such alterations in the extent of phenytoin absorption or average content of the dosage form may be clinically significant, particularly where the initial phenytoin level is equal to or greater than the patient's operative Km.

Notes: Abstract Current information on the pharmacokinetics of disopyramide is reviewed with emphasis on the implications for antiarrhythmic therapy. The absolute bioavailability, the disposition half-life, the plasma clearance, and the renal clearance for normal subjects and patients are discussed. Drug-drug interactions are discussed, and a new flexible intravenous dosing schedule is proposed.

Notes: Abstract The literature growth in pharmacokinetics and bioavailability between the years 1964 and 1980 is analyzed. During much of this period, the literature doubled approximately every 1.6 years. However, during the period 1978–1980, little or no growth was observed. During the period 1950–1967, the total chemical literature increased exponentially with a half-life of 8.28 years; between 1968 and 1980, the half-life was 12.4 years. Thus, the pharmacokinetic literature increased at a much more rapid pace than did the total chemical literature in general. The subject of growth is considered in a general context, particularly as influenced by psychological, sociological, political, and economic factors. It is concluded that while mathematical functions may adequately describe past literature trends, they have little if any utility in predicting future trends in specific research areas such as pharmacokinetics.

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

Notes: Abstract The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of nitrazepam following intravenous, oral (tablet), and rectal (solution) administration were studied in seven healthy, young male volunteers. Nitrazepam plasma concentrations were determined by electron-capture GLC; pharmacokinetic evaluations were made by compartmental analysis (NONLIN) and compared with the results obtained by a less stringent modelling of the data. The plasma concentration-time profile was similar for all three routes of administration. Mean kinetic parameters as obtained by compartmental analysis of i.v. nitrazepam were: distribution half-life 17 min; volume of distribution after equilibrium 2.14 liters/kg; total plasma clearance 61.6 ml/min; elimination half-life 29.0 h. The mean protein unbound fraction of nitrazepam in plasma was 12.3% and the clearance of the unbound fraction was 506 ml/min. Absorption of oral nitrazepam started after the elapse of a lag time (mean value 12 min) and occurred as an apparent first-order process in all but one subject, with a mean absorption half-life of 16 min. Distribution and elimination half-lives were comparable with those following i.v. administration. Following rectal administration of the nitrazepam solution, rapid first-order absorption occurred with a mean lag time of 4 min and a mean absorption half-life of 9 min. Peak times (median 18 min) were significantly shorter than following oral administration (median 38 min), but there was little difference in peak concentrations. The distribution half-life was similar to i.v. and oral administration, but the elimination half-lives were longer with a mean value of 33.1 h. Following i.v. administration a good agreement was found between the results obtained by compartmental analysis using NONLIN and those obtained by a less stringent modelling of the data. Following oral and rectal administration, a good agreement between the two procedures was found for the elimination half-life; estimation of bioavailability, however, was higher by compartmental analysis. The mean bioavailability data showed that absorption is complete when nitrazepam is given orally and almost 20% lower when it is given rectally, but considerable interindividual differences were observed.

Notes: Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of route of administration upon the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Fourteen healthy adult male volunteers received 40 mg doses of methylprednisolone as the following treatments after an overnight fast in a 4-way crossover design: (a) as a 1 ml i.v. bolus;(b) as a 1 ml i.m. injection;(c) administered as an oral solution;and (d) as 5×8 mg oral tablets. Both the ester and free methylprednisolone were determined in plasma and urine. Study results indicate that the ester is rapidly and extensively converted to free methylprednisolone after all routes. The extent of methylprednisolone absorption was equivalent after i.v. and i.m. administration. Both orally administered treatments resulted in a lower extent of absorption attributed to a first-pass effect. Although a slightly lower extent of absorption was demonstrated following the oral administration of the methylprednisolone sodium succinate solution relative to the methylprednisolone oral tablets, this average difference of 9% would probably be of minimal therapeutic importance.

Notes: Abstract The limitations of using estimates of extent of bioavailability (F) based on the assumption that either clearance (CL) or Varea remain, constant are discussed in relation to the situation where CL changes between doses. When estimates of F assume CL to remain constant, the entent of the error is the same for all drugs where the percentage change in CL is the same. Assuming Varea to remain constant, the error in F will vary between drugs for similar percentage changes in CL and is related to the extent to which the kinetics of the disposition process deviate from a one compartment body model. A noncompartmental method is described where, provided the reference dose is given intravenously, F can be estimated based on the assumption that Vss remains constant between doses. This method is more accurate than those based on the assumption that either CL or Varea remain, constant when CL changes between doses, but is subject to error when the terminal loglinear slope of Cp vs. time better reflects the process of absorption rather than elimination.

Notes: Abstract The influence of route of administration on the absolute bioavailability and GI tract absorption of nitrofurantoin was investigated in rabbits. The disposition of nitrofurantoin was described by a one-compartment model with simultaneous first-order and Michaelis-Menten type elimination kinetics, and bioavailability was estimated by nonlinear assessment. The plasma levels following oral administration were significantly lower than those after intravenous administration, and absolute Fvalues for oral administration were approximately 0.3. However, Fvalues following intraduodenal administration and portal vein infusion were nearly unity, and it was concluded that the reduction of bioavailability following oral administration could not be attributed to metabolism by intestinal microflora or to the hepatic first-pass effect. Thus, reduction of Fvalues following oral administration is probably due to gastric degradation of the drug. The effects of factors influencing bioavailability, such as water volume taken with the drug, change of gastric emptying rate and effect of particle size, were also investigated. Increase of volume of water administered tended to improve the bioavailability, and a particle size dependency was also observed.

Notes: Abstract Seasonal and regional variations in the speciation, sediment-water partitioning, and dynamics of mercury (Hg) were studied at selected sites along the Hg-polluted Wabigoon River, and at unpolluted headwater and tributary sites, during April–September, 1979. ‘Dissolved’ and ‘particulate’ forms of Hg in the water were separated by continuous-flow centrifugation in the field. The Hg and other pollutants such as wood chips and salt had been discharged from a chlor-alkali plant and paper mill at Dryden, Ontario. Concentrations and loadings of particulate methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) and total particulate Hg (and loadings of total ‘dissolved’ Hg) were greatest during the spring flood (April-May) owing to accelerated resuspension and transport of sediments. Concentrations of ‘dissolved’ CH3Hg+, however, were highest in the summer (July–September), probably reflecting stimulation of microbial methylating activity by elevated temperatures, together with factors such as reduced levels of metal-scavenging particulates and minimal dilution by runoff. Total dissolved Hg concentrations were relatively high in September at polluted sites only, possibly because of desorption from sediments due to elevated concentrations of Cl− ions. Loadings of dissolved CH3Hg+ tended to be high in the summer but were generally depressed (suggesting sorption by suspended particles) during the major spring-flood episode in May. During July–August dissolved CH3Hg+ was a function of total dissolved Hg, suggesting rapid biomethylation of desorbed inorganic Hg; but in general dissolved and suspended CH3Hg+ levels depended on environmental variables and were unrelated to total Hg concentrations. In the summer only, total dissolved Hg was a function of dissolved Cl−. Hg species in particulates were associated with sulfides, hydrated Fe and Mn oxides, organic matter (notably high molecular weight humic and humic-Fe components), and selenium (Se); but CH3Hg+ and total Hg differed in their specific preferences for binding agents, implying that binding sites discriminate between CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions. CH3Hg+ was associated with sulfide and (in the spring only) with Fe oxides, whereas total Hg was associated with organic matter and Se and with DTPA- and NaOH-extractable Fe in the spring but with Mn oxide and NaOH-extractable organics in the summer. Sulfides were most abundant in May, indicating that they were eroded from bottom sediments, but Fe and Mn oxides were most abundant in the summer, probably owing to activities of filamentous iron bacteria and other micro-organisms. Particulate Hg was 98–100% nonextractable by mild solvents such as Ca acetate, CaCl2, dilute acetic acid, and (at polluted sites only) DTPA solutions, suggesting that the particulate Hg mobilized in the spring may not be readily available to organisms; association with Se and high molecular weight humic matter also supports this hypothesis. Hg probably becomes more bio-available in the summer, as suggested by the upsurge in dissolved CH3Hg+ and total dissolved Hg levels, and by increases in the solubility of particulate Hg in acetic acid, DTPA, H2O2, and NaOH solutions, as well as an increase in the relative importance of lower molecular weight fractions of NaOH-extractable Hg (in September). Regional variations in Hg speciation and partitioning reflected a gradient in sediment composition from wood chips near Dryden to silt-clay mud further downstream. Hg in silt-clay mud relatively far (〉 35 km) downstream from the source of pollution or in unpolluted areas appeared to be more readily solubilized by Cl− ions or chelators such as DTPA, more readily methylated (as indicated by downstream increases in dissolved CH3Hg+ levels and CH3Hg+/total Hg ratios), and was to a greater degree organically bound (H2O2-extractable), and thus was probably more bio-available, than Hg in wood-chip deposits. Possible explanations include weaker binding of Hg by the mud, the more finely divided state of the mud, and improved microbial growth at lower concentrations of toxic pollutants. Owing to enrichment in sulfides and Fe oxides, resuspended wood-chip sediments were especially efficient scavengers of CH3Hg+. The results indicate that in any pollution abatement plan aimed at lowering the Hg levels in the biota of lakes fed by the Wabigoon River, immobilization, removal, or detoxification of dissolved as well as particulate forms of Hg in the river would probably have to be considered. Possibly, Hg species could be ‘scrubbed’ from the river water by increasing the suspended load and by sedimentation and treatment with Hg-binding agents in special receiving basins.

Notes: Abstract Seasonal and regional variations in the speciation, sediment-water partitioning, and dynamics of mercury (Hg) were studied at selected sites along the Hg-polluted Wabigoon River, and at unpolluted headwater and tributary sites, during April–September, 1979. ‘Dissolved’ and ‘particulate’ forms of Hg in the water were separated by continuous-flow centrifugation in the field. The Hg and other pollutants such as wood chips and salt had been discharged from a chlor-alkali plant and paper mill at Dryden, Ontario. Concentrations and loadings of particulate methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) and total particulate Hg (and loadings of total ‘dissolved’ Hg) were greatest during the spring flood (April-May) owing to accelerated resuspension and transport of sediments. Concentrations of ‘dissolved’ CH3Hg+, however, were highest in the summer (July–September), probably reflecting stimulation of microbial methylating activity by elevated temperatures, together with factors such as reduced levels of metal-scavenging particulates and minimal dilution by runoff. Total dissolved Hg concentrations were relatively high in September at polluted sites only, possibly because of desorption from sediments due to elevated concentrations of Cl− ions. Loadings of dissolved CH3Hg+ tended to be high in the summer but were generally depressed (suggesting sorption by suspended particles) during the major spring-flood episode in May. During July–August dissolved CH3Hg+ was a function of total dissolved Hg, suggesting rapid biomethylation of desorbed inorganic Hg; but in general dissolved and suspended CH3Hg+ levels depended on environmental variables and were unrelated to total Hg concentrations. In the summer only, total dissolved Hg was a function of dissolved Cl−. Hg species in particulates were associated with sulfides, hydrated Fe and Mn oxides, organic matter (notably high molecular weight humic and humic-Fe components), and selenium (Se); but CH3Hg+ and total Hg differed in their specific preferences for binding agents, implying that binding sites discriminate between CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions. CH3Hg+ was associated with sulfide and (in the spring only) with Fe oxides, whereas total Hg was associated with organic matter and Se and with DTPA- and NaOH-extractable Fe in the spring but with Mn oxide and NaOH-extractable organics in the summer. Sulfides were most abundant in May, indicating that they were eroded from bottom sediments, but Fe and Mn oxides were most abundant in the summer, probably owing to activities of filamentous iron bacteria and other micro-organisms. Particulate Hg was 98–100% nonextractable by mild solvents such as Ca acetate, CaCl2, dilute acetic acid, and (at polluted sites only) DTPA solutions, suggesting that the particulate Hg mobilized in the spring may not be readily available to organisms; association with Se and high molecular weight humic matter also supports this hypothesis. Hg probably becomes more bio-available in the summer, as suggested by the upsurge in dissolved CH3Hg+ and total dissolved Hg levels, and by increases in the solubility of particulate Hg in acetic acid, DTPA, H2O2, and NaOH solutions, as well as an increase in the relative importance of lower molecular weight fractions of NaOH-extractable Hg (in September). Regional variations in Hg speciation and partitioning reflected a gradient in sediment composition from wood chips near Dryden to silt-clay mud further downstream. Hg in silt-clay mud relatively far (〉 35 km) downstream from the source of pollution or in unpolluted areas appeared to be more readily solubilized by Cl− ions or chelators such as DTPA, more readily methylated (as indicated by downstream increases in dissolved CH3Hg+ levels and CH3Hg+/total Hg ratios), and was to a greater degree organically bound (H2O2-extractable), and thus was probably more bio-available, than Hg in wood-chip deposits. Possible explanations include weaker binding of Hg by the mud, the more finely divided state of the mud, and improved microbial growth at lower concentrations of toxic pollutants. Owing to enrichment in sulfides and Fe oxides, resuspended wood-chip sediments were especially efficient scavengers of CH3Hg+. The results indicate that in any pollution abatement plan aimed at lowering the Hg levels in the biota of lakes fed by the Wabigoon River, immobilization, removal, or detoxification of dissolved as well as particulate forms of Hg in the river would probably have to be considered. Possibly, Hg species could be ‘scrubbed’ from the river water by increasing the suspended load and by sedimentation and treatment with Hg-binding agents in special receiving basins.

Notes: Abstract Control of phytoplankton production in the Great Lakes can be achieved most efficiently by limiting inputs of biologically available P. We report the results of studies performed to characterize the chemical forms and availability of particulate P in wastewater and tributaries which enter the lower Lakes, the eroding bluffs which border Lake Erie, and bottom samples from the near-shore of western Lake Erie. Rates of release of available P were estimated from a simple first-order model of the process, as observed during algal bioassays. Available P in wastewater samples, as a fraction of total particulate P, was affected minimally by wastewater treatment, including chemical precipitation and filtration; it correlated well with levels of total particulate P. Available particulate P levels in fluvial suspended sediments showed regional uniformity, but appeared to be strongly dependent on levels of both NaOH-P and CDB-P. Rates of release of available P decreased during wastewater treatment to values which were similar in magnitude to those observed for fluvial sediments. Release rates, however, were not related to any of the particulate P fractions which were measured. Analysis of the bluff and bottom samples indicated that P availability in the former was negligible, but the latter contained levels which approached those of wastewater particulates, though available P was released from the bottom sediments at relatively low rates.

Notes: Abstract Control of phytoplankton production in the Great Lakes can be achieved most efficiently by limiting inputs of biologically available P. We report the results of studies performed to characterize the chemical forms and availability of particulate P in wastewater and tributaries which enter the lower Lakes, the eroding bluffs which border Lake Erie, and bottom samples from the near-shore of western Lake Erie. Rates of release of available P were estimated from a simple first-order model of the process, as observed during algal bioassays. Available P in wastewater samples, as a fraction of total particulate P, was affected minimally by wastewater treatment, including chemical precipitation and filtration; it correlated well with levels of total particulate P. Available particulate P levels in fluvial suspended sediments showed regional uniformity, but appeared to be strongly dependent on levels of both NaOH-P and CDB-P. Rates of release of available P decreased during wastewater treatment to values which were similar in magnitude to those observed for fluvial sediments. Release rates, however, were not related to any of the particulate P fractions which were measured. Analysis of the bluff and bottom samples indicated that P availability in the former was negligible, but the latter contained levels which approached those of wastewater particulates, though available P was released from the bottom sediments at relatively low rates.

Notes: Abstract Seasonal and regional variations in the speciation, sediment-water partitioning, and dynamics of mercury (Hg) were studied at selected sites along the Hg-polluted Wabigoon River, and at unpolluted headwater and tributary sites, during April–September, 1979. ‘Dissolved’ and ‘particulate’ forms of Hg in the water were separated by continuous-flow centrifugation in the field. The Hg and other pollutants such as wood chips and salt had been discharged from a chlor-alkali plant and paper mill at Dryden, Ontario. Concentrations and loadings of particulate methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) and total particulate Hg (and loadings of total ‘dissolved’ Hg) were greatest during the spring flood (April-May) owing to accelerated resuspension and transport of sediments. Concentrations of ‘dissolved’ CH3Hg+, however, were highest in the summer (July–September), probably reflecting stimulation of microbial methylating activity by elevated temperatures, together with factors such as reduced levels of metal-scavenging particulates and minimal dilution by runoff. Total dissolved Hg concentrations were relatively high in September at polluted sites only, possibly because of desorption from sediments due to elevated concentrations of Cl− ions. Loadings of dissolved CH3Hg+ tended to be high in the summer but were generally depressed (suggesting sorption by suspended particles) during the major spring-flood episode in May. During July–August dissolved CH3Hg+ was a function of total dissolved Hg, suggesting rapid biomethylation of desorbed inorganic Hg; but in general dissolved and suspended CH3Hg+ levels depended on environmental variables and were unrelated to total Hg concentrations. In the summer only, total dissolved Hg was a function of dissolved Cl−. Hg species in particulates were associated with sulfides, hydrated Fe and Mn oxides, organic matter (notably high molecular weight humic and humic-Fe components), and selenium (Se); but CH3Hg+ and total Hg differed in their specific preferences for binding agents, implying that binding sites discriminate between CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions. CH3Hg+ was associated with sulfide and (in the spring only) with Fe oxides, whereas total Hg was associated with organic matter and Se and with DTPA- and NaOH-extractable Fe in the spring but with Mn oxide and NaOH-extractable organics in the summer. Sulfides were most abundant in May, indicating that they were eroded from bottom sediments, but Fe and Mn oxides were most abundant in the summer, probably owing to activities of filamentous iron bacteria and other micro-organisms. Particulate Hg was 98–100% nonextractable by mild solvents such as Ca acetate, CaCl2, dilute acetic acid, and (at polluted sites only) DTPA solutions, suggesting that the particulate Hg mobilized in the spring may not be readily available to organisms; association with Se and high molecular weight humic matter also supports this hypothesis. Hg probably becomes more bio-available in the summer, as suggested by the upsurge in dissolved CH3Hg+ and total dissolved Hg levels, and by increases in the solubility of particulate Hg in acetic acid, DTPA, H2O2, and NaOH solutions, as well as an increase in the relative importance of lower molecular weight fractions of NaOH-extractable Hg (in September). Regional variations in Hg speciation and partitioning reflected a gradient in sediment composition from wood chips near Dryden to silt-clay mud further downstream. Hg in silt-clay mud relatively far (〉 35 km) downstream from the source of pollution or in unpolluted areas appeared to be more readily solubilized by Cl− ions or chelators such as DTPA, more readily methylated (as indicated by downstream increases in dissolved CH3Hg+ levels and CH3Hg+/total Hg ratios), and was to a greater degree organically bound (H2O2-extractable), and thus was probably more bio-available, than Hg in wood-chip deposits. Possible explanations include weaker binding of Hg by the mud, the more finely divided state of the mud, and improved microbial growth at lower concentrations of toxic pollutants. Owing to enrichment in sulfides and Fe oxides, resuspended wood-chip sediments were especially efficient scavengers of CH3Hg+. The results indicate that in any pollution abatement plan aimed at lowering the Hg levels in the biota of lakes fed by the Wabigoon River, immobilization, removal, or detoxification of dissolved as well as particulate forms of Hg in the river would probably have to be considered. Possibly, Hg species could be ‘scrubbed’ from the river water by increasing the suspended load and by sedimentation and treatment with Hg-binding agents in special receiving basins.