Serum time course of naltrexone and 6 beta-naltrexol levels during long-term treatment in drug addicts.

The pharmacokinetics of naltrexone have been scarcely explored in patients during chronic treatment despite the observation that the pharmacological effect of the drug is related to its plasma concentrations. In this study we investigated the time course of serum levels of naltrexone and its active metabolite, 6 beta-naltrexol, in 13 heroin addicts (3 F, 10 M; age 22-32 years) in the 24 h after 100 mg of naltrexone orally. Six patients were studied once, at different times during chronic treatment, whereas in seven patients the study was done at the beginning and after 1 month of naltrexone treatment.

Cocaine misuse in selected areas: Rome.

Dramatic increases in seizures of cocaine and, perhaps, in its use, are recording in Italy and in many European Countries. This should mean that heavy health problems have to be expected in a middle time (3-4 years), as already in USA where there is spreading of clinically relevant in-patients. The most cocaine users form the unseen part of the iceberg, so it is difficult to contact with it and to verify in extent.

A multi-city study of drug misuse in Europe.

This paper presents a report of the results of a comparative epidemiological study of indicators of drug misuse in seven European cities. The study was carried out between 1982 and 1986 under the auspices of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. The members of the expert group summarize the drug situation in the seven cities and critically examine a range of indicators that are sometimes assumed to reflect trends in the prevalence of drug misuse.

Influence of antacids on the bioavailability of glibenclamide.

A single oral dose of glibenclamide (2.5 mg) was given to eight healthy volunteers in a randomized cross-over study after a standardized fasting and breakfast (374 kcal), with or without a concomitant intake of 10 ml of antacid suspension. Serum glibenclamide levels were determined by means of a specific radioimmunoassay method.

Methadone vs morphine: comparison of their effect on phagocytic functions.

A comparison of the effects of methadone and morphine on phagocytic physiology was carried out in mice, using a number of tests, to estimate the risk of using methadone in maintenance protocols for opiates addicts. Results indicate that methadone, like morphine, reduces (a) R.E.

Physical parameters and biological activity of sulfonamides.

The activity coefficients "gamma" aqueous solution and the diffusion rate constants (Kd) from artificial gastric and intestinal juices were measured for eleven sulfonamides; the corresponding absorption rate constants (Ki) were then calculated. The activity coefficient was correlated with various parameters, such as the n-octanol/water and isoamyl acetate/water partition coefficients, and the absorption constant. The activity coefficient "gamma" plays an important role on the global biological activity, even if partly depending upon chemical interactions.

Variations of tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis plants to distinguish the fibre-type from drug-type plants.

There are many different species of cannabis plants, but their psychoactive properties mainly depend on the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which may vary according to genetic factors and environmental influences. On the basis of the THC content all cannabis plants are divided into fibre-type and drug-type plants. The fibre-type plant does not exceed 0.

Morphine and methadone impact on human phagocytic physiology.

Human subjects submitted to treatment with morphine show a severe depression of phagocytosis, killing properties and superoxide production both of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte adherence, chemotaxis, random migration, myeloperoxidase content, lysozyme content and lymphocyte Rosette E formation were poorly influenced. Methadone-treated subjects show a similar effect at phagocytic level but far less evident.

Prevalence of opiate use among young men in Italy, 1980 and 1982.

An epidemiological study on opiate use among young men undergoing examination for army draft was carried out in 1980 and 1982. The following six cities and surrounding provinces were selected for the study: Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Rome and Turin. There were 15,266 respondents in 1980 and 15,874 in 1982.

Activity coefficients and partition coefficients as parameters for the evaluation of biological activity. A linear relationship between log "gamma" and log P.

The activity coefficient (gamma) and the partition coefficient n-octanol/water (P) of various groups of substances of pharmaceutical and biological interest (anaesthetic gases, primary n-alcohols and barbiturates) were compared in order to obtain a linear relationship. Considering n-octanol as an ideal solvent, the curve of the behaviour of any real substance with the system n-octanol/water has an inclination of 45 degrees (delta log "gamma"/delta log P = 1). By means of the n-octanol/water partition coefficient the activity coefficient can be calculated in order to evaluate the biological activity of the groups of substance examined.

[Evaluation of biological activity of organic substances by measuring the physico-chemical parameters (author's transl)].

For a particular form (amorphous phase) of physical acting substances the water solubility, in conditions very close to the in vivo ones, has been compared with corresponding biological activities. The reciprocal of the above parameter shows a good correlation with various physico-chemical, biochemical and pharmacological parameters of xanthinic compounds, analgesic alkaloids, barbiturates, sulphonamides. The solubility of the crystalline phase cannot be correlated with the biological activity: the ratio between these two solubilities shows this inability.