Venlafaxine in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: The objectives of this pilot study were to explore the changes in symptom severity, tolerability, and the pharmacodynamics of venlafaxine treatment in youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: This was a 2-week, open-label, outpatient trial of venlafaxine in children and adolescents, ages 5-17 years, with ADHD. Three dosing strata, 0.

How low is too low? Use of cluster analysis to define low levels of mercaptopurine metabolites.

Background: To group patients receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) according to their oral mercaptopurine (6-MP) metabolite levels and to establish cut-off points to screen for potential poor clinical outcome.

Procedure: Methodological study using 6-MP metabolite levels from 48 adolescent ALL patients enrolled in a multicenter adherence study. Cluster analysis was the primary analytical technique.

In vitro evaluation of the potential role of sulfite radical in morphine-associated histamine release.

Background: Intravenous morphine use is associated with elevated histamine release leading to bronchoconstriction, edema and hemodynamic instability in some patients. This study evaluated the possibility that sulfite, which is present as a preservative in many morphine preparations, might contribute to histamine release in vitro.

Results: The human mast cell line, HMC-1, was exposed to various morphine concentrations, in the absence of sulfite, under cell culture conditions.

Effect of chloroquine on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vertical transmission.

Introduction: Over 2 million children globally are HIV positive. More than 90% are infected in utero from their mothers. Current pharmacological methods to reduce the rate of vertical transmission are too expensive for the developing world.