PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J W Steele

Publications and source records attributed to J W Steele.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Generic competition in Canada.

This study was designed to assess the potential impact of generic drug competition on prescription prices in Ontario, Canada, and the costs and benefits of the passage of Bill C-22 by the Canadian federal government. Bill C-22, passed in 1987, extended the period during which a patented drug is exempt from compulsory licensing by a generic drug manufacturer, and created the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB). The purpose of the PMPRB is to 'ensure that the prices of patented medicines charged by patentees are not excessive' and to 'report annually on the ratios of research-and-development expenditures to sales for individual patentees and for the patented pharmaceutical industry as a whole'. Lexchin analysed prices in the 1991 Drug Benefit Formulary of Ontario for interchangeable products which were manufactured by more than one company. He also noted the best available price for the highest and lowest priced versions, and the number of manufacturers of that product. Products were then grouped according to the number of manufacturers, and the price of the least expensive version of each product was expressed as a percentage of that of the most expensive version (i.e. the proportional cost). For products marketed by 2 to 6 companies, the data were further subdivided into 4 categories representing 0%, non-maximal, maximal and 100% generic competition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Canada↗
PubMed1991

Collection and management of fecal wastes for space missions.

An improved type of human waste collection subsystem has been developed for Space Station Freedom which is designed to meet the challenges of zero gravity collection and system performance. Fecal collection is followed by passive storage for relatively short duration missions. The benefits of utilizing components in solid wastes as part of a partial or completely closed Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) become more apparent as the duration of the mission increases. The purpose of this review is to summarize the development issues associated with the current waste management subsystem for Space Station Freedom. Also reviewed are current ideas associated with the evolutionary development of this waste management subsystem for longer duration missions.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1987

The Medication Information Line for the Elderly. A consumer/health care professional-oriented drug information service.

The experiences of a drug information telephone service aimed at older adults, their care providers, and health care professionals are presented. The Medication Information Line for the Elderly received 1,561 telephone calls over the 12 months since its opening. The majority of callers (73%) were female and 723 (46%) of the 1,561 calls came from people in the 65 to 79 age group. Nearly one-third of all enquiries were about suspected drug-related adverse drug reactions. The drugs most commonly causing concern (as classified by the American Hospital Formulary Service) were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiac drugs, and benzodiazepines; a list comparable to the most frequently prescribed drugs in older adults. The pharmacist was able to respond to 853 (27%) of the 3,172 enquiries without reference material. The most frequently used sources of information were the USP Drug information, Volumes I & II, and the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties. Follow-up calls on certain consumer enquiries indicated that 89% of the recommendations were adhered to, suggesting a beneficial influence of this type of drug information service on medication use.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Anabolic steroids. Part 2: the disposition of ethylestrenol in the rat.

1. The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of [3H]ethylestrenol were studied in the rat. 2. Approximately one third of an intragastric dose was absorbed; 17% of the dose was excreted in urine and 83% in faeces within 10 days. 3. The dose is distributed throughout the rat, and kidney and liver were found to contain respectively 2.5-3 and 5-7 times the average specific activity of all other tissues. 4. Unchanged ethylestrenol was the only component detected in urine. Ethylestrenol was also found in faeces, along with two different dihydroxylated dihydro derivatives and one trihydroxylated dihydro derivative.

Absorption↗
PubMed1981

The metabolism and excretion of styrene oxide-glutathione conjugates in the rat and by isolated perfused liver, lung and kidney preparations.

The metabolism and excretion of styrene oxide-glutathione conjugates were studied in the intact rat and by isolated perfusion techniques in rat lung, liver and kidney. The intact animals converted the styrene oxide-glutathione conjugates almost entirely to styrene oxide-n-acetylcysteine derivatives mercapturic acids), with much smaller amounts of cysteine, cysteinylglycine and (unchanged) glutathione conjugates. Only small amounts of biliary excretion (approximately 5%) and less than 1% of fecal excretion of radioactivity were found. The isolated perfused kidney retains the capacity to transform virtually all of the glutathione conjugates at the dose level studied (25-30 mumol/kidney) and the principal component in urine from the isolated kidney was the cysteine conjugate. Isolated perfused lung experiments demonstrated that this organ has a minor role in styrene oxide-thioether conjugate. Isolated perfused lung experiments demonstrated that this organ has a minor role in styrene oxide-thioether conjugate metabolism. The isolated perfused liver experiments showed that phenobarbital pretreatment has little effect on biliary excretion but barbital pretreatment has little effect on biliary excretion but that it causes profound qualitative and quantitative effects on metabolism of styrene oxide-glutathione conjugates in the perfusion medium. The high level of styrene oxide-cysteine conjugates in the perfusion medium of an isolated perfused liver, especially after phenobarbital treatment, is consistent with the theory that gamma-glutamyltransferase activity is extracellular. The high-pressure liquid chromatography system of analysis described offers the ability to simultaneously separate and quantitate the major thioether conjugates of styrene oxide and other electrophilic epoxides.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methandrostenolone: metabolism in the rabbit.

Methandrostenolone and the fully reduced metabolites 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol and 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, the partially reduced and hydroxylated metabolites 16 alpha, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one and 16 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one, the monohydroxylated metabolites 6 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one and 16 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one, and the dihydroxylated metabolite 6 beta, 16 beta, 17 beta-trihydroxy-17 beta-trihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one have been isolated and identified in the urine of rabbits orally dosed with methandrostenolone. C-16 Hydroxylated and dihydroxylated metabolites have not been previously reported from methandrostenolone. No evidence for epimerization at the C-17 position was observed in the rabbit.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The medication information line for the elderly: an 8-year cumulative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To present an 8-year (1985-1992) cumulative analysis of the 12,743 calls received by the Medication Information Line for the Elderly (MILE), a consumer-oriented drug information service. DESIGN: Data on all calls received by MILE were documented using a standard format. Certain calls were selected by the pharmacist for follow-up based on the nature and predicted severity of the inquiry. SETTING: MILE is located within the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Manitoba and staffed by experienced, practicing pharmacists. Calls were received from the elderly and their care providers. Calls were initially taken on a local Winnipeg line, although in 1987 a toll-free number was made available to rural Manitoba residents. RESULTS: The majority of the calls received by MILE were from women aged 65 years or older who accessed MILE on their own initiative. Ninety-one percent of the calls were rated as not serious. Only 6% of calls were from outside Winnipeg. Although 94% of the older consumers reported having a regular pharmacist, they commonly never thought of using their pharmacist for inquiries. The drugs cited most often by consumers, nurses, physicians, and dentists were the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, cardiac drugs, diuretics, antihypertensives, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. The type of inquiries most frequently involved adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and therapeutic use. The drugs cited and inquiries made by pharmacist callers were more diverse than those of consumers and other healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Many older drug consumers have medication information needs that are not being met. Since a large proportion of the callers appeared to be self-motivated women, MILE may not be accessing all older consumers in need of information. This analysis also suggests that many older consumers are not aware that the pharmacist is available and capable of providing drug information.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tiapride. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic potential in geriatric agitation.

Tiapride is a substituted benzamide derivative with selective dopamine D2-receptor antagonist properties which appears to have preferential affinity for extrastriatal dopamine receptors. Animal and clinical studies show that tiapride has anxiolytic properties but the mechanism of action is uncertain. Results from limited studies indicate that the clinical efficacy of tiapride in the treatment of agitation, aggressiveness, anxiety and sleep disorders in the elderly appears superior to that of placebo, chlorpromazine, lorazepam and meprobamate. Tiapride also exerts a beneficial effect on vigilance and alertness in elderly patients and causes less sedation than chlorpromazine. Tiapride is well tolerated at the dosages recommended for elderly patients. Further well designed comparative studies with newer drugs are needed to determine the relative place of tiapride in the treatment of geriatric agitation, and such studies should also address the quality-of-life benefits for the patient. Additional clinical experience to determine the efficacy of tiapride in elderly patients with more than one disease condition, receiving concomitant medications, and/or with renal impairment is also required. However, despite these current limitations, tiapride may have potentially important applications in this difficult area of clinical medicine.

Aged↗