[Gastrin and gastrointestinal neoplasias].

In this paper the authors focus attention on the role of gastrin as a carcinogenic factor. The aim was to bring together the numerous controversial studies on this subject, adding the authors' own personal clinical experience. Gastrin (G) is responsible for the development of carcinoids, as has been experimentally shown in Mastomys rats, and more recently in man.

Effect of bupropion-SR on REM sleep: relationship to antidepressant response.

Rationale: The effects of antidepressant (AD) drugs on sleep in depressed patients and their relationship to AD response have been investigated previously. However, newer AD agents, which appear to have different effects on sleep, have not been evaluated systematically for their usefulness in predicting treatment response.

Objectives: To examine the effect of bupropion sustained release (SR) (Wellbutrin SR) on sleep macroarchitecture, and to assess whether the observed electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep changes in response to a single dose of bupropion are associated with treatment response to the AD.

Pharmacokinetics of reboxetine in healthy volunteers with different ethnic descents.

Rationale: Ethnicity can affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychopharmacologic drugs.

Objectives: Reboxetine disposition differences among Asians, blacks, and Caucasians were examined.

Methods: Healthy subjects (12 Asians, 12 blacks, 12 Caucasians) received a single oral dose of one 4-mg reboxetine tablet in an open label, parallel study design.

Effect of cigarette smoking on coumarin metabolism in humans.

Extant data, mostly from studies in vitro, suggest that coumarin and nicotine are both metabolized by CYP2A6, a cytochrome P450 isozyme. In order to investigate this issue further, the activity of this enzyme in vivo was measured in 37 non-smokers and 37 smokers using coumarin (2.0 mg, PO) as the metabolic probe.