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Biomedical subjects

D G Shand

Publications and source records attributed to D G Shand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Altered drug binding due to the use of indwelling heparinized cannulas (heparin lock) for sampling.

The effect of the use of the so-called heparin lock for blood sampling on the binding of propranolol has been studied and a cumulative dose-response curve to heparin constructed. The use of this method of blood sampling introduced considerable artifactual changes into the measurement of propranolol's plasma binding. The free fraction rose from 9.9% to 13.4% after only 50 U of heparin was used to flush the cannula. The increase in the free fraction of propranolol showed excellent correlation with the increase in free fatty acid levels (p less than 0.001, r = 0.996). The importance of ensuring that sampling techniques do not introduce artifactual changes in pharmacokinetic studies is emphasized.

Adult

Effect of aging and cigarette smoking on antipyrine and indocyanine green elimination.

The plasma clearances of antipyrine (AP) and indocyanine green (ICG) have been measured after intravenous administration in each of 20 normal male subjects aged 22 to 72 yr. An additional 4 subjects aged 65 to 73 yr received only ICG. AP clearance fell with age in the group as a whole (r = 0.56; p less than 0.01), but when cigarette smoking habits were considered the relationship was apparent only in smokers (r = 0.68; p less than 0.02). In the under 40 yr group. AP clearance was higher in smokers than nonsmokers (p less than 0.02). There was no such difference in men over 40 yr of age. These observations suggest that the enzyme-inducing effect of smoking diminishes with advancing years. In contrast, and consistent with a reduction in liver blood flow, the clearance of the highly extracted ICG fell with age, irrespective of smoking habits (r = 0.57; p less than 0.004). These findings suggest that while hepatic drug clearance may be impaired in elderly people, the outcome depends not only on the effects of the aging process on the physiologic determinants of hepatic clearance (liver blood flow and the activity of the drug-metabolizing enzymes) but also on the effects of environmental factors, such as smoking.

Adult

Reduced beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity in the elderly.

The effect of age on sensitivity to both isoproterenol and propranolol has been investigated in 27 male volunteers aged 21 to 73 yr. The dose of isoproterenol (given as a rapid intravenous injection) required to increase the resting heart rate by 25 bpm (I25) increased with age. The I25 was repeated during an intravenous infusion of propranolol and the dose ratio (I25 after propranolol divided by the control I25) determined. This was related to the concentration of free propranolol in plasma. It was found that the effectiveness of any given free concentration diminished progressively with age. These data are consistent with a diminished responsiveness of the beta-adrenoceptor to both agonist and antagonist drugs with advancing years.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists

Estimation of kinetic parameters from a two-point determination of the drug cumulation factor.

A method is described which allows the calculation of kinetic parameters of drugs from two data points, involving a set of simple algebraic equations. This method is based on cumulation characteristics of drugs during multiple dosing. The necessary two blood samples are collected at the end of the first dosing interval and before a succeeding dose after steady state has been reached. The method is applicable for drugs which exhibit linear kinetic characteristics not subject to concentration or time-dependent phenomena. The estimates of the kinetic parameters are associated with different ranges of possible errors, with total clearance being the most reliable estimate. The potential clinical utility of this method is discussed.

Humans

Interaction of topical and oral timolol in glaucoma.

The interaction of oral and topical timolol maleate was studied in patients with open-angle glaucoma. The oral and topical preparations given separately produced a significant and comparable reduction of the intraocular pressure, but no additive effect was observed when both preparations were given together. Pulse- and blood pressure-lowering effects of oral timolol were not enhanced by the application of topical timolol. These systemic effects were not found in those patients using topical timolol alone.

Administration, Oral

Propranolol binding in plasma during cardiopulmonary bypass.

The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on the plasma binding of propranolol was examined in seven patients. The fraction of propranolol free in plasma doubled, increasing from 6.6 to 13.5 per cent (P less than 0.001) following the administration of heparin, 400 IU/kg. Once cardiopulmonary bypass was concluded and protamine, 8 mg/kg, given, the free fraction decreased from 13.4 to 8.7 per cent (P less than 0.005). There was a further significant decrease to 6.5 per cent over the next 3.1 hours (SE +/- 0.3). Those alterations in the free fraction, which would result in more drug being available for binding to receptor sites and for exerting its pharmacologic effect, were due principally to the changes in free fatty acid levels produced by heparin and protamine, but also to the hemodilution produced by the pump prime.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Presystemic drug elimination.

The presystemic elimination of a large number of compounds is clearly established and represents a common and unavoidable cause of reduced bioavailability. The liver, intestine, and lungs have been identified as potential organs contributing to this effect but only in the case of the liver are sufficient data available for comprehensive analysis. More information on intestinal and pulmonary metabolism is clearly needed. Simple methods of kinetic analysis already exist, however, to assess the relative importance of these organs in presystemic elimination, especially in relation to the pre- and postabsorptive types of elimination that may occur.

Animals

Comparative assessment of stimuli that release neuronal and adrenomedullary catecholamines in man.

We assessed the release of neuronal and adrenomedullary catecholamines in response to various stimuli of the sympathetic nervous system in normal subjects. Plasma catecholamines and their urinary metabolites, normetanephrine and metanephrine, were measured. Sodium restriction increased supine plasma norepinephrine by 37% and ambulatory plasma norepinephrine by 22%, with urinary normetanephrine excretion increased 29%. The sodium restriction did not elevate plasma epinephrine or urinary metanephrine. The most potent stimuli of norepinephrine were treadmill exercise, orthostasis, caffeine, the cold pressor test, sodium restriction and handgrip exercise, in descending order. Plasma epinephrine was increased by caffeine, treadmill exercise, the cold pressor test, handgrip exercise and the Valsalva maneuver, in that order. Syncope resulted in profound changes in plasma epinephrine but only modest changes in plasma norepinephrine. We conclude that in man, there is frequent dissociation between the effects of different stimuli on neuronal and adrenomedullary catecholamine release.

Adolescent

Suppression of chronic ventricular arrhythmias with propranolol.

The antiarrhythmic efficacy of propranolol was evaluated in 32 patients with chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias in a placebo-controlled protocol. After a placebo control period, propranolol was begun and the dosage increased sequentially until arrhythmia suppression was achieved, side effects appeared, or a maximum dosage of 960 mg/day was reached. Computerized analysis of ambulatory recordings was used to quantify the arrhythmias. Twenty-four patients had 70--100% arrhythmia suppression at plasma levels ranging from 12--1100 ng/ml (end of dosing interval). Eight patients in this group had frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia that were totally suppressed at or below the dosage that produced greater than or equal to 70% suppression of ventricular ectopic depolarizations (VEDs). A biphasic dose-response curve was seen in five patients who responded with a decrease in arrhythmia frequency in the lower ranges of dosages but had increased frequency of ectopic rhythms as the dosage was increased above the optimal level. Only one-third of patients responded at doses less than or equal to 160 mg/day. However, with dosages of 200--640 mg/day, an additional 40% responded. Propranolol appears to control ventricular arrhythmias safely and effectively in many patients. The finding that the antiarrhythmic effect in many patients required plasma concentrations greater than those that produce substantial beta-adrenergic blockage raises a question whether blockade of cardiac beta receptors can directly account for all of the antiarrhythmic actions of propranolol.

Adult

Reduction of plasma renin activity by inhibition of the fatty acid cyclooxygenase in human subjects: independence of sodium retention.

We carried out the present studies to determine whether the suppression of plasma renin activity (PRA) that follows inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis can be dissociated from the sodium-retaining effects of these drugs. In an initial investigation we studied the effect of indomethacin on PRA in normal subjects in balance on a 10 mM Na+ diet to prevent Na+ retention. Under these experimental conditions indomethacin did not lower PRA even though the fatty acid cyclooxygenase was inhibited, as indicated by a greater than 70% reduction in the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E (PGE-M). Sodium depletion leads to enhanced sympathetic activity. We therefore studied the effect of indomethacin on a group of subjects in 10 mM Na+ balance in whom the effect of increased beta-sympathetic activity was blocked by the administration of propranolol. In this group, indomethacin caused 65% suppression of PGE-M and had no effect on Na+ balance, but reversibly reduced PRA in the supine and upright positions by 84% and 70%, respectively. In normal subjects in 10 mM Na+ balance, the isoproterenol-induced increase in PRA also was unaffected by indomethacin. These data establish that inhibition of the cyclooxygenase can result in a reduction of PRA that is independent of changes in Na+ balance or beta-sympathetic tone.

Adult

Importance of blood-collection tubes in plasma lidocaine determinations.

In 25 clinical samples serum lidocaine concentrations fell from a mean of 6.5 +/- 2.1 mg/L (mean +/- SD) to 4.9 +/- 1.8 mg/L (p less than 0.001) when the blood sample was allowed to make contact with the stopper of the Vacutainer collection tube. In vitro experiments showed that this effect of the stopper occurred only with whole blood and was dependent on sample concentration. The plasma binding of lidocaine decreased from a normal value of 56% +/- 2.2 (mean +/- SD) to 28% +/- 2.2 (p less than 0.001) when exposed to the Vacutainer stopper. We conclude that a chemical leached from such stoppers displaces lidocaine from its plasma-binding sites and that the drug is then redistributed into the erythrocytes, producing spuriously low lidocaine concentrations in plasma or serum. Such artifacts are important in therapeutic drug monitoring and can lead to erroneous clinical decisions.

Disposable Equipment

Intact hepatocyte theory of impaired drug metabolism in experimental cirrhosis in the rat.

The elimination of propranolol by perfused livers of rats made cirrhotic by chronic carbon tetrachloride inhalation during phenobarbital treatment has been compared with control animals receiving only phenobarbital. Cirrhosis reduced propranolol clearance at a constant flow of 20 ml/min from 1.43 +/- 0.08 to 1.12 +/- 0.08 ml/min/g liver (P less than 0.025). In addition, an increase in intrahepatic shunting of 15-micron microspheres from 0.41 +/- 0.01 to 9.4 +/- 4.1% was found in cirrhotic livers (P less than 0.05). Finally, in cirrhotic livers, reducing blood flow did not produce the normal rise in hepatic extraction ratio, which actually fell from 0.873 +/- 0.021 at 20 ml/min to 0.836 +/- 0.025 at 15 ml/min and 0.823 +/- 0.026 at 10 ml/min. At each flow the observed extraction was significantly lower than that predicted to result from a reduced enzyme activity alone, consistent with the development of functionally significant intrahepatic shunts. An operational model is proposed that explains impaired drug metabolism in cirrhosis on the basis of the development of intrahepatic shunts which perfuse nonfunctioning tissue, while the remaining blood flow is exposed to a reduced mass of hepatocytes with an apparently normal amount of drug metabolizing enzyme (the intact hepatocyte theory).

Animals