Pharmacogenetics and the print media: what is the public told?

Background: Pharmacogenetics is a rapidly growing field that aims to identify the genes that influence drug response. This science can be used as a powerful tool to tailor drug treatment to the genetic makeup of individuals. The present study explores the coverage of the topic of pharmacogenetics and its potential benefit in personalised medicine by the UK newsprint media.

Potassium canrenoate treatment in paediatric patients: a population pharmacokinetic study using novel dried blood spot sampling.

Objective: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics of canrenone following administration of potassium canrenoate (K-canrenoate) in paediatric patients.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 37 paediatric patients (median weight 2.9 kg, age range 2 days-0.

Can certain genotypes predispose to poor asthma control in children? A pharmacogenetic study of 9 candidate genes in children with difficult asthma.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that patients with difficult asthma have an increased frequency of certain genotypes that predispose them to asthma exacerbations and poor asthma control.

Methods: A total of 180 Caucasian children with confirmed asthma diagnosis were selected from two phenotypic groups; difficult (n = 112) versus mild/moderate asthma (n = 68) groups. All patients were screened for 19 polymorphisms in 9 candidate genes to evaluate their association with difficult asthma.

Prophylactic ranitidine treatment in critically ill children--a population pharmacokinetic study.

Aims: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in critically ill children and to determine the influence of various clinical and demographic factors on its disposition.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 78 paediatric patients (n = 248 plasma samples) who received oral or intravenous ranitidine for prophylaxis against stress ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Plasma samples were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the data were subjected to population pharmacokinetic analysis using nonlinear mixed-effects modelling.

Population pharmacokinetic model of canrenone after intravenous administration of potassium canrenoate to paediatric patients.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of potassium canrenoate/canrenone in paediatric patients

What This Study Adds: A population pharmacokinetic model has been developed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of canrenone in paediatric patients who received potassium canrenoate as part of their therapy in the intensive care unit. AIMS To characterize the population pharmacokinetics of canrenone following administration of potassium canrenoate to paediatric patients.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 23 paediatric patients (2 days to 10 years of age; median weight 4 kg, range 2.

Metronidazole population pharmacokinetics in preterm neonates using dried blood-spot sampling.

Objectives: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics of metronidazole in preterm neonates.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 32 preterm neonates who received intravenous metronidazole for the treatment of or prophylaxis against necrotizing enterocolitis. Dried blood spots (n = 203) on filter paper were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the data were subjected to pharmacokinetic analysis performed by using nonlinear mixed-effect modeling.

A novel application of ratio spectra derivative spectroscopy for the determination of amphotericin in highly icteric plasma.

Derivative spectroscopy has been utilised for the determination of amphotericin in various biological matrices including plasma, serum, urine and brain tissue. Whilst these methods have all been shown to be suitable for the determination of the drug in these matrices it has been reported that the application fails in the case of highly icteric plasma, this being due to the presence of high concentrations (>50microM) of bilirubin. This paper details the application of ratio spectra derivative spectroscopy to overcome the interference of bilirubin with amphotericin in such situations.