Patient Satisfaction with a Dedicated Infusion Pump for Subcutaneous Treprostinil to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

: Parenteral prostacyclins are crucial in the pharmacological treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Indeed, subcutaneous administration of treprostinil has been associated with considerable clinical and hemodynamic improvement, right-sided heart reverse remodeling, and long-term survival benefit. However, evidence on patient perceptions about handling a subcutaneous infusion pump for self-treatment administration and nurse views about training the patients are lacking.

Human pharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) after repeated doses taken 4 h apart Human pharmacology of MDMA after repeated doses taken 4 h apart.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a popular psychostimulant, frequently associated with multiple administrations over a short period of time. Repeated administration of MDMA in experimental settings induces tolerance and metabolic inhibition. The aim is to determine the acute pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics resulting from two consecutive 100mg doses of MDMA separated by 4h.

Human pharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) after repeated doses taken 2 h apart.

Background: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is one of the most abused recreational drugs. Its usual pattern of misuse includes repeated doses taken over a short time period that could influence MDMA pharmacology and toxicity.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacologically induced effects of two MDMA consecutive doses separated by 2 h.

Reliability of two measurement indices for gingival enlargement.

Background And Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the concordance of the vertical gingival overgrowth index (GOi) and the horizontal Miranda & Brunet index (MBi) and to compare their reliability and reproducibility for an early diagnosis of gingival enlargement. A wide range of methods has been employed to determine the severity of drug-induced gingival enlargement (DIGE) that has resulted in uncertainty with regard to the prevalence of this side effect. In recent studies, different indices have been used to grade DIGE.

Rationale and conditions for the requirement of chiral bioanalytical methods in bioequivalence studies.

Purpose: The aim of the present work was to assess the need for chiral bioanalytical methods in bioequivalence studies.

Methods: The samples from a bioequivalence study of two ibuprofen 2% oral suspensions that had shown bioequivalence for AUC and C(max), but not for t(max) (medians of 2.0 and 0.

Study of paracetamol 1-g oral solution bioavailability.

The aim of this work was to assess paracetamol bioavailability after administering 1 g in oral solution. Eighteen healthy volunteers were selected for this open-label study. A total of 15.

Pharmacological interaction between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and paroxetine: pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is increasingly used by young people for its euphoric and empathic effects. MDMA can be used in combination with other drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A clinical trial was designed where subjects pretreated with paroxetine, one of the most potent inhibitors of both 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake and CYP2D6 activity, were challenged with a single dose of MDMA.

[Analysis of trends in myocardial infarction case-fatality, incidence and mortality rates in Girona, Spain, 1990-1999].

Introduction And Objectives: The incidence of myocardial infarction in Spain is low, and mortality has been decreasing over the last few decades. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in myocardial infarction mortality, incidence, attack rates, and 28-day case-fatality attack rates between 1990 and 1999 in the general population aged 35-74 years in Girona, Spain.

Methods: The study included all myocardial infarction cases in Girona classified according to the MONICA algorithm.

[Study of the extent and rate of bioavailability of ibuprofen tablets].

The extent and rate of bioavailability of ibuprofen tablets were determined in a crossover clinical trial in 18 healthy subjects of both sexes. The study was approved by the local ethical committee and was authorized by the Spanish Medicines Agency. Volunteers signed an informed consent form and were included in accordance with the standard procedures for this type of study.

Contribution of cytochrome P450 2D6 to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine disposition in humans: use of paroxetine as a metabolic inhibitor probe.

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic amphetamine derivative typically used for recreational purposes. The participation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 in the oxidative metabolism of MDMA may suggest an increased risk of acute toxicity in CYP2D6 poor metabolisers. This study was aimed at assessing the contribution of CYP2D6 to MDMA disposition in vivo using paroxetine as a metabolic probe inhibitor.

Prevalence and risk of gingival overgrowth in patients treated with diltiazem or verapamil.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for gingival enlargement in patients treated with diltiazem or verapamil.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and data from 46 patients actually taking diltiazem or verapamil were compared with 49 cardiovascular controls that never received any of these drugs. All patients were examined for the presence of gingival enlargement using two different indices, the vertical gingival overgrowth (GO) index, and horizontal Miranda & Brunet (MB) index in the inter-dental area.

Stereochemical analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its main metabolites in human samples including the catechol-type metabolite (3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine).

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") is a designer drug commonly misused in large segments of young populations. MDMA is usually formulated in tablets of its racemate (1:1 mixture of its enantiomers) in doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg. MDMA has an enantioselective metabolism, the (S)-enantiomer being metabolized faster than the (R)-enantiomer.

Human pharmacology of MDMA: pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and disposition.

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) is a widely misused psychostimulant drug abused among large segments of the young population. Pharmacologically it displays effects related to amphetamine-type drugs and a set of distinctive effects (closeness to others, facilitation to interpersonal relationship, and empathy) that have been named by some authors "entactogen" properties. MDMA is a potent releaser and/or reuptake inhibitor of presynaptic serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE).

Repeated doses administration of MDMA in humans: pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics.

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is increasingly used by young people for its euphoric and empathic effects. MDMA presents non-linear pharmacokinetics, probably by inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoform 2D6. Users are known to often take more than one dose per session.

Paroxetine inhibits acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on the immune system in humans.

The effect of pretreatment with paroxetine on cell-mediated immune response and release of cytokines after the administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") was investigated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled clinical trial in which 12 healthy male recreational users of MDMA participated. Subjects received 20 mg/day paroxetine (or placebo) for the 3 days before MDMA challenge (100 mg). Acute MDMA administration produced a time-dependent decrease in CD4 T-helper cells, a decrease in the functional responsiveness of lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation, a simultaneous increase in natural killer (NK) cells as well as cortisol and prolactin stimulation kinetics.

Putting clinical pharmacology in context: the use of popular movies.

The usefulness of movies to illustrate the psychological and sociological conflicts of medical practice is widely recognized. However, the use of popular movies to teach less oriented medical sciences, such as pharmacology is not so common. In the present review, we report the use of three films (Awakenings, Lorenzo's Oil, and Miss Evers' Boys) as a teaching tool to allow students to better understand some conflicts which appear in the domain of clinical pharmacology.

Usefulness of sweat testing for the detection of MDMA after a single-dose administration.

Nine healthy male subjects and recreational users of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) participated in a study aimed to assess the usefulness of sweat testing for the detection of MDMA after a single 100-mg dose. Sweat was collected for up to 24 h with the PharmChek sweat patches from which drugs were eluted and then analyzed by immunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using deuterated internal standards. The usefulness of a rapid onsite test, the Drugwipe immunochemical strip test, was also assessed.

Hydroxytyrosol disposition in humans.

Background: Animal and in vitro studies suggest that phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil are effective antioxidants. In animal and in vitro studies, hydroxytyrosol and its metabolites have been shown to be strong antioxidants. One of the prerequisites to assess their in vivo physiologic significance is to determine their presence in human plasma.

Cell-mediated immune response in MDMA users after repeated dose administration: studies in controlled versus noncontrolled settings.

Acute administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") produces time-dependent immune dysfunction in humans. Recreational use of MDMA generally includes repeated drug consumption, often in association with other drugs, such as alcohol and cannabis. In the laboratory setting, repeated MDMA administration to healthy MDMA consumers produced a time-dependent immune dysfunction similar to that observed with the ingestion of a single dose, and the first of the two administrations paralleled the time-course of MDMA-induced cortisol stimulation kinetics and MDMA plasma concentrations.

Determination of MDMA and its metabolites in blood and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and analysis of enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis.

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used for the simultaneous quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and the 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) metabolites in plasma and urine samples after the administration of 100 mg MDMA to healthy volunteers. Samples were hydrolyzed prior to a solid-phase extraction with Bond Elut Certify columns. Analytes were eluted with ethyl acetate (2% ammonium hydroxide) and analyzed as their trifluoroacyl derivatives.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and alcohol interactions in humans: psychomotor performance, subjective effects, and pharmacokinetics.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is frequently consumed in association with alcohol. The effect of this combination in humans has not been previously investigated. Nine male healthy volunteers received single oral doses of 100 mg of MDMA plus 0.