Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Suter.
The Industry Commission has carried out Australia's largest inquiry into charities. It was, from the point of view of charities, an unsatisfactory operation, all the more so since it was not clear why the task had been given to the commission. This article examines the commission's work in three ways: the overall relationship between government and charities; the commission's proposed major reforms; and the minor reforms.
Steady-state pharmacokinetics of carumonam were investigated in twelve healthy adult male volunteers after 20 min intravenous infusions of three consecutive carumonam dosage regimens: 1 g every 8 h (3 g/day) from 0-72 h, 2 g every 8 h (6 g/day) from 88-120 h and 2 g every 6 h (8 g/day) from 132-216 h. Serial plasma samples were collected after the first dose of the first regimen and the last dose of all three regimens and were analysed for carumonam by a specific HPLC method. The overall mean maximal plasma concentrations were 108 and 211 mg/l at the end of infusion of 1 and 2 g, respectively. The steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters and plasma concentration-time profiles of carumonam when adjusted for dose were similar for the three regimens. The overall terminal elimination half-life was 1.4 h (range 1.1-1.8 h), the apparent volume of distribution at steady state reached 11.5 l (range 8.7-15.5 l) and the total systemic clearance amounted to 118 ml/min (range 83-158 ml/min). Considering the frequency of dosing relative to the elimination half-life, accumulation of the drug in plasma was not expected and none was found from any of the three regimens. Carumonam was well tolerated up to 8 g/day and exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics which were not altered upon multiple dosing.
Fleroxacin (Ro 23-6240; AM-833) is a new trifluorinated quinolone exhibiting high activity against a broad spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Healthy male volunteers received, according to a randomized scheme, oral doses of 200, 400, or 800 mg of fleroxacin in tablet form, an intravenous infusion of 100 mg, or 400 mg of fleroxacin orally together with 1,000 mg of probenecid. Fleroxacin is characterized pharmacokinetically by a long elimination half-life (9 to 10 h) and high concentrations in plasma (e.g., maximum concentration of 2.3 micrograms/ml after an oral dose of 200 mg). The volume of distribution clearly exceeds 1 liter/kg and suggests a good tissue penetration. Within 60 h, the cumulative urinary recovery of unchanged drug amounted to 50 to 60% of the dose. The renal clearance of unbound drug was 137 ml/min, and probenecid had no significant effect on renal elimination. A good linear correlation (r = 0.999) was found between doses from 100 to 800 mg and the resulting values of area under the concentration-time curve. The absolute bioavailability of the administered tablet was practically 100%. During oral multiple dosing of 800 or 1,200 mg of fleroxacin once a day over 10 consecutive days, the accumulation of the drug in plasma was close to the theoretically predicted value of 1.3 and reflected the persistence of linear pharmacokinetics.
30 mg/kg/day 20-438, an Indenopyridine, induced a complete inhibition of spermatogenesis in male dogs within a few days. The dogs did not develop signs of general toxicity. Erection capability and ejaculation were not inhibited, although the sperm number fell to zero. Histologically the seminiferous tubuli were emptied of spermatides and spermatocytes. After drug withdrawal sperm number and histological appearance returned to normal within 8-11 weeks. In rats, single doses of 50 mg/kg or more induced also an arrest of spermatogenesis. The effect was easily detected by the decrease of testes weights. The weight of seminal vesicles remained unchanged. In chronically treated rats, serum-LH and FSH were slightly increased. The compound has similar effects as other substances acting on spermatocytes (AF 1312/TS, Silvestrini et al., 1975; Boris et al., 1974 or WIN 18446, Coulston et al., 1960). The exact mechanism of action (vascular?) has to be elucidated.
The United Kingdom and Australia have reached agreement on the British payment for cleaning up the Maralinga (South Australia) site at which the UK tested some of its atomic weapons in the 1960s. The tests were conducted amid great secrecy and only in recent years has the truth about the health hazards fully emerged. The peace movement opposed the tests and its stand has been vindicated. Also vindicated have been the claims by Aborigines that more damage was done by the tests than was earlier admitted.