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Biomedical subjects

J Karlix

Publications and source records attributed to J Karlix.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Analgesic and immunomodulatory effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide.

PURPOSE: The antinociceptive and immunosuppressive effects of codeine and codeine 6-glucuronide were determined in rats after intracerebroventricular administration. METHODS: Codeine 6-glucuronide was synthesized using a modification of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. A lipophilic intermediate formed during synthesis, methyl [codein-6-yl-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosid] uronate, was also tested. Morphine was used as a positive control to compare antinociceptive potencies of these compounds. RESULTS: All compounds tested produced significant analgesic responses, as assessed by the tail flick model. Additionally, codeine 6-glucuronide showed significantly less immunosuppressive effects than codeine in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that codeine 6-glucuronide and related compounds may have clinical benefit in the treatment of pain in immune compromised patients.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Detection of cocaine and its metabolites in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord tissue.

The increased use of cocaine by women of child-bearing age has left many health care scientists searching for improved methods of detecting prenatal cocaine exposure. To that end, a study of the determination of cocaine and its metabolites in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord tissue was undertaken. Amniotic fluid (n = 32) and umbilical cord tissue (n = 70) specimens were collected from pregnant subjects admitted to labor and delivery at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL). Subjects were interviewed regarding drug use during each trimester. Subjects reporting cocaine use were designated as target subjects, and those denying use were control subjects. The specimens were subjected to solid-phase extraction and analyzed for cocaine and its metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cocaine analytes (predominantly benzoylecgonine) were detected in 28.1 and 18.5% of the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord tissue specimens, respectively. Other cocaine analytes frequently detected included ecgonine methyl ester and m-hydroxy-benzoylecgonine in amniotic fluid specimens and ecgonine methyl ester, norcocaine, and m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine in umbilical cord tissue specimens. This study has shown that cocaine and its metabolites are readily detected in specimens of maternal and fetal origin.

Adolescent