Summary and Perspectives: Sustained-Release Theophylline and Nocturnal Asthma,Once-Daily and Unequal Dosing Schedules

Many asthmatic patients experience aggravation of symptoms overnight resulting in disruption of their sleep. Sustained-release theophylline represents at this time a major bronchodilator medication which possesses a sufficient duration of activity to avert the nocturnal breathing distress of asthma. Circadian rhythm-adapted theophylline schedules consisting of unequal dosing—more or all the drug taken in the evening—have proven efficacious in clinical investigations for certain patients. Although the kinetic behavior of some formulations is affected by food, the circadian rhythm-adapted schedules represent a significant step forward toward the goal of optimizating sustained-release theophyllines for patients who experience nighttime symptoms.     

Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal sustained release device--a new addition to the armamentarium of uveitic management

Uveitis is a potentially sight-threatening inflammatory eye disease caused by multiple infectious and non-infectious etiologies for which the standard of care involves corticosteroids or various immunomodulary therapy (IMT) drugs. These available treatments, although effective, may cause significant morbidity and sometimes mortality in uveitis patients due to their toxic side-effects and the necessity of long-term therapy to prevent recurrences. In order to avoid the systemic toxicity ofcorticosteroids and IMT or the repeated injections of local steroids necessary to control ocular inflammation, and to prevent development of cumulative damage resulting from recurrent episodes of inflammation, researchers have developed a number of local corticosteroid sustained-release devices that can be implanted directly into the vitreous of the eye, at the site of the inflammatory disease. Preliminary studies of such a device, the fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert) implant, have shown significant reductions in the number of inflammatory episodes and decreased reliance on systemic corticosteroids or other IMT. This review explores the current research evaluating the fluocinolone sustained-release intravitreal implant in the treatment of posterior uveitis and the implications for its future use on a wider scale.     

槲皮素在介孔分子筛孔道中的组装与缓释研究

采用后组装法将非水溶性的治疗冠心病药物槲皮素组装进入MCM-41介孔分子筛的孔道中,药物组装率达37%[m(药物)/m(药物总量)],用XRD,扫描电镜和IR对药物组装体进行了表征;通过测定组装体在体外模拟人工小肠液中的溶出速率,表明制得了槲皮素/MCM-41缓释体系。     

非洛地平缓释片对轻中度原发性高血压患者的降压疗效和对脉搏波速度的影响，

目的：探讨非洛地平缓释片对轻中度原发性高血压患者的降压疗效和对脉搏波速度的影响。方法：根据纳入标准选取我院260例原发性高血压患者,按计划方案给予非洛地平缓释片口服治疗。观察患者入院后、治疗2周末、14周末降压疗效及脉搏波传导速度的改变情况,并进行对比分析。结果：本组研究中接受治疗研究者共260例,其所有受检者在治疗2、6、10、14周后血压水平均有不同程度改善,与基线比较差异明显,有统计学意义（P〈0,01）。脉搏波变化分析所有受试者脉搏波速度变化分析,基线脉搏波速度为（10．9±2．4）m／s,经过治疗后2周、14周基线脉搏波速度为（10．3±2．1）m／s,差异明显具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;心率变化分析表明非洛地平缓释片在降压同时对心率影响不大,安全性评价表示,接受治疗期间曾有68例发生不良事件,占总数26．2％。笔者认为与药物无关,且均为轻度,经过适当处理后均缓解,对本研究无影响。结论：非洛地平缓释片降压效果良好,可同时降低颈动脉．股动脉脉搏波传导速度,改善大动脉僵硬度。     

Bupropion for Weight Loss: An Investigation of Efficacy and Tolerability in Overweight and Obese Women

Objective: On the basis of the clinical observations that bupropion facilitated weight loss, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of this drug in overweight and obese adult women. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 50 overweight and obese (body mass index: 28.0 to 52.6 kg/m²) women were included. The core component of the study was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled comparison for 8 weeks. Bupropion or placebo was started at 100 mg/d with gradual dose increase to a maximum of 200 mg twice daily. All subjects were prescribed a 1600 kcal/d balanced diet and compliance was monitored with food diaries. Responders continued the same treatment in a double‐blind manner for an additional 16 weeks to a total of 24 weeks. There was additional single‐blind follow‐up treatment for a total of 2 years. Results: Subjects receiving bupropion achieved greater mean weight loss (last‐observation‐carried‐forward analysis) over the first 8 weeks of the study (p = 0.0001): 4.9% ± 3.4% (n = 25) for bupropion treatment compared with 1.3% ± 2.4% (n = 25) for placebo treatment. For those who completed the 8 weeks, the comparison was 6.2% ± 3.1% (n = 18) vs. 1.6% ± 2.9% (n = 13), respectively(p = 0.0002), with 12 of 18 of the bupropion subjects (67%) losing over 5% of baseline body weight compared with 2 of 13 in the placebo group (15%; p = 0.0094). In the continuation phase, 14 bupropion responders who completed 24 weeks achieved weight loss of 12.9% ± 5.6% with fat accounting for 73.5% ± 3.7% of the weight lost and no change in bone mineral density as assessed by DXA. Bupropion was generally well‐tolerated in this sample. Discussion: Bupropion was more effective than placebo in achieving weight loss at 8 weeks in overweight and obese adult women in this preliminary study. Initial responders to bupropion benefited further in the continuation phase.     

Metabolism of Some “Second”– and “Fourth”–Generation Antidepressants: Iprindole, Viloxazine, Bupropion, Mianserin, Maprotiline, Trazodone, Nefazodone, and Venlafaxine

1. This review summarizes the major known aspects of the metabolism of second-generation (iprindole, viloxazine, bupropion, mianserin, maprotiline, and trazodone) and fourth-generation (nefazodone and venlafaxine) antidepressants.2. Discussions about specific enzymes involved and about possible pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions, particularly as they relate to cytochrome P450 enzymes, are provided.     

Use of hydrophilic natural gums in formulation of sustained-release matrix tablets of tramadol hydrochloride

The objective of this work was to develop matrix sustained-release tablets of highly water-soluble tramadol HCl using natural gums (xanthan [X gum] and guar [G gum]) as cost-effective, nontoxic, easily available, and suitable hydrophilic matrix systems compared with the extensively investigated hydrophilic matrices (ie, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [HPMC]/carboxymethyl cellulose [CMC] with respect to in vitro drug release rate) and hydration rate of the polymers. Matrix tablets of tramadol (dose 100 mg) were produced by direct compression method. Different ratios, of 100∶0, 80∶20, 60∶40, 20∶80, 0∶100 of G gum (or X):HPMC, X gum:G gum, and triple mixture of these polymers (G gum, X gum, HPMC) were applied. After evaluation of physical characteristics of tablets, the dissolution test was, performed in the phosphate buffer media (pH 7.4) up to 8 hours. Tablets with only X had the highest mean dissolution time (MDT), the least dissolution efficiency (DE₈%), and released the drug following a zero-order model via swelling, diffusion, and erosion mechanisms. Guar gum alone could not efficiently control the drug release, while X and all combinations of natural gums with HPMC could retard tramadol HCl release. However, according to the similarity factor (f ₂), pure HPMC and H₈G₂ were the most similar formulations to Topalgic-LP as the reference standard. Published: March 17, 2006     

Studies in formulation and pharmacotechnical evaluation of controlled release transdermal delivery system of bupropion

The objective of the present study was to design and evaluate unilaminate transdermal adhesive matrix systems capable of diffusing bupropion base at a constant rate over an extended period of time as an alternative route of administration. Unilaminate transdermal adhesive matrices have been fabricated with different concentrations of Eudragit E as the adhesive and rate-controlling polymer. The in vitro release and epidermal flux through human cadaver skin were studied. The release of drug from the matrices obeyed zero order release kinetics (r ²=0.9810 to 0.9960). The delivery rate of bupropion ranged from 10.5 mg to 31.4 mg per day from a 3.14 cm² area of matrix. The relation between concentration of bupropion base in matrix and epidermal flux, concentration of drug in matrix, and epidermal adsorption of bupropion during diffusion follow hyperbolic fashion. Triethylcitrate (TEC) and dibutylphthalate (DBP) have no influence on the diffusion of bupropion through human cadaver skin when used as plasticizers. Incorporation of succinic acid in the adhesive matrix retarded diffusion due to the formation of rigid cross linking of the polymer, while propylene glycol and myristic acid, alone or in combination, significantly enhanced the flux of bupropion through human cadaver skin.     

制备复合生长因子的缓释微球并考察其对细胞的影响

目的:制备复合碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的可降解缓释微球,考察其生物活性保存情况,以及其对上皮细胞的作用。方法:采用改良的乳化冷凝法交联制备明胶缓释微球,将其加入上皮细胞的培养液中,用细胞计数法、四甲基偶氮唑盐微量反应比色法(MTT法)测定细胞增殖情况。结果:缓释微球平均粒径12.36±3.56μm;培养1 d后各组细胞计数、吸光度(D)值差异均无显著性意义;5d后,缓释微球组细胞计数、吸光度(D)值明显高于对照组;7 d后,缓释微球组值仍高于其它组,但差异无显著性意义。结论:复合生长因子的缓释微球制备工艺简便,成球性好;能较长时间持续释放活性生长因子,明显促进细胞增殖。