Clinical pharmacology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a review.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of often chemically unrelated compounds with some common therapeutic actions and side effects. They have potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity, and are among the most widely used drugs worldwide. It is generally thought that one of their main mechanisms of action is the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase (COX), the enzyme responsible for biosynthesing the prostaglandins and thromboxane.

Comparison of extraction procedures for benzodiazepines determination in hair by LC-MS/MS.

Introduction: The use of a LC-MS/MS system for benzodiazepines detection remarkably increased the analytical sensitivity of these drugs in biological matrices, in particular in non-conventional ones such as hair. Since the amount of hair sample available for the analysis is frequently limited and, moreover, it needs to be checked for many other drugs and compounds of forensic interest, it is important to develop a sample preparation procedure able to detect either benzodiazepines and as many as possible other substances. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of two different hair sample preparation procedures for benzodiazepines detection in hair.

[Grapefruit juice: potential drug interaction].

More than a decade has passed since it was unintentionally discovered that grapefruit juice interacts with certain drugs. The coadministration of these drugs with grapefruit juice can markedly elevate drug bioavailability, and can alter pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of the drug. The predominant mechanism for this interaction is the inhibition of cytochrome P-450 3A4 in the small intestine, resulting in a significant reduction of drug presystemic metabolism.

Effects of maternal exposure to polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) on F1 generation behavior in the rat.

The effect of Fenclor 42 (PCB) exposure of female rats (Fischer 344 strain) was studied through assessment of the behavioral development of their F1 progeny. Female rats were exposed to PCB according to the following treatment schedule: (A) (5 days) 2 weeks prior to mating, (B) during gestation (Days 6-15 of pregnancy), (C) during lactation (Days 1-21 after delivery). Behavioral endpoints of motor reflexes, motor coordination, activity (preweaning behaviors), and learning (postweaning behavior) were evaluated for PCB ip dosages of 5-10 mg/kg/day for 5 days (preconception exposure), and PCB oral dosages of 2-4 mg/kg/day for 10 days (in utero exposure) and of 1-2 mg/kg/day for 20 days (during lactation exposure).