Stability and tolerability of high concentrations of intrathecal bupivacaine and opioid mixtures in chronic noncancer pain: an open-label pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the stability and tolerability of high concentrations of bupivacaine-opioid solutions when used by intrathecal infusion.

Design: Prospective, open label, pilot cohort study.

Setting: Outpatients at a University medical center.

Transfer of methylamphetamine and amphetamine into breast milk following recreational use of methylamphetamine.

Aims: To investigate the transfer of amphetamines into breast milk following their recreational use and estimate drug exposure for the breastfed infant.

Methods: Two breastfeeding mothers who were occasional recreational users of intravenous amphetamines were studied. A urine sample was collected 4 h after dose, and milk samples were collected over 24 h.

Investigation of target plasma concentration-effect relationships for olanzapine in schizophrenia.

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic effective in the treatment of schizophrenia. The present study has examined the potential use of target concentration monitoring of olanzapine in plasma as a marker of clinical response and an aid in patient management. Fifty-three patients (mean age 32 years; 40 M, 13 F) with a DSM-IVR diagnosis of schizophrenia completed a 6-week trial of oral olanzapine.

Nitazoxanide in treatment of Helicobacter pylori: a clinical and in vitro study.

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an antibiotic with microbiological characteristics similar to those of metronidazole but without an apparent problem of resistance. The aim of this study was the prospective evaluation of NTZ given as a single agent in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Twenty culture-positive patients with dyspepsia who had previously failed at least one course of H.

Optimizing the hydrolysis of codeine and morphine glucuronides in urine.

Quality assurance data show that there is very significant inter-laboratory variation of the quantitation of codeine, especially in patient samples. The authors have examined hydrolysis procedures for codeine glucuronide (C6G) and morphine-3- and -6-glucuronides (M3G, M6G) because these are often present together in urine samples. Comparisons of hydrolysis using two different sources of beta-glucuronidases and various concentrations of hydrochloric acid were made.