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Biomedical subjects

P Dayer

Publications and source records attributed to P Dayer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): pharmacological management].

BPSD affect all demented patients during their illness. They are part of the process of the disease and can be correlated to neurotransmitter dysfunctions as well as to the coping difficulties due to the patient's cognitive decline. The major consequences of BPSD are a decreased quality of life of both patient and caregivers and an increased need of professional care. Physicians should exclude precipitating factors such as intercurrent somatic, psychiatric or drug-related problems first and then proceed with behavioural or environment therapy. Introduction of a pharmacological treatment should be the last resort. This systematic review discusses the causes and consequences of BPSD and focuses on the evidence-based pharmacological approach. Only three drugs can be recommended at the present time: risperidone, olanzapine and donepezil.

Aged, 80 and over↗

[A link between sodium sensitivity and pharmacogenomics of antihypertensive drugs].

Pharmacogenomics studies the links between polymorphisms (genetic variants) and the variability of the response to some treatments in a given individual. Pharmacogenomics thus allows to explore polymorphisms that could potentially explain heterogeneous efficacy of diuretics, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers among populations of varied ethnical origin. There have been many studies on the relation between the efficacy of these treatments and the specific polymorphisms involved in the regulation of blood pressure. So far, no unique mutation is by itself predictive of the therapeutic response to these drugs; more elaborated polygenetic models are required so that pharmacogenomics can one day offer an individualized prescription for a complicated disease such as high blood pressure.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Development and validation of a new reversed-phase ion pairing liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for penciclovir analysis in plasma and aqueous humor.

A simple, sensitive and reliable HPLC ion-pairing method with fluorescence detection, was developed for penciclovir determination in plasma and aqueous humor, with a Zorbax SB-aq C18 (100 mmx2.1 mm) column. Plasma samples were treated by solid-phase extraction with Oasis MCX (30 mg) cartridges. Ganciclovir, an antiviral drug structurally related to penciclovir, was used as internal standard (I.S.). Aqueous humor samples were directly injected into the chromatographic system. Separation was performed by a gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer 50mM containing 5mM of sodium octanesulfonate, pH 2.0, at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The method was validated and showed good performances in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision and trueness. Quantification limit was obtained at 0.05 microg/ml for aqueous humor and at 0.1 microg/ml for plasma. Finally, the proposed analytical method was used to measure penciclovir in clinical samples for a pharmacokinetic study, after oral administration of famciclovir.

Acyclovir↗

[Treating hypertension: a challenge for the general practitioner].

Hypertension is associated with a greater risk of developing a stroke or a coronary heart disease, but remains, for the meanwhile, undertreated in a vast majority of patients. Non pharmacological interventions can reduce blood pressure and should be recommended to every patient suffering from hypertension. Nevertheless, a drug therapy must often be introduced. The threshold at which a treatment should be started depends mostly on the cardiovascular risk of each patient and the benefit of antihypertensive drug therapy depends primarily on the reduction of the blood pressure itself.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

[The selection of a drug in a defined therapeutic class: the case of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors].

The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have similar therapeutic targets and indications. However, their potential pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction profile may play a significant role in their safety profile in polymedicated and polymorbid patients and can serve as a selection criterion. If their utility is clearly demonstrated in selected conditions, their safety profile remains of concern. Beside dose-related hepatic and muscular injury, other rare and important adverse drug reactions have been reported after prolonged administration such as polyneuropathy, fibrotic interstitial pulmonary disease and lupus-like syndrome. Teratogenicity has also been associated with statin therapy.

Humans↗

Systemic allergic reaction and diffuse bone pain after exposure to a preparation of betamethasone.

Allergic reactions to corticosteroids are unexpected as they seem to contradict their pharmacodynamic action. Nevertheless, they are not infrequent, with an estimated incidence of up to 4% for cutaneous reactions. Systemic reactions are rarely reported, but their incidence might be underestimated. We report here an unusual allergic reaction to betamethasone presenting with diffuse bone pain, erythema, and bronchoconstriction, which was confirmed by a positive rechallenge in a double-blind procedure. This is the first case report of a systemic reaction to betamethasone confirmed by a positive rechallenge. An impurity in betamethasone diproprionate cannot be excluded. As this substance is frequently used in rheumatologic soft-tissue injections, it is important to recognize this potentially life-threatening side effect.

Journal Article↗

Neurophysiologic evidence for a central sensitization in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether abnormalities of peripheral and central nociceptive sensory input processing exist outside areas of spontaneous pain in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) as compared with controls, by using quantitative sensory testing (QST) and a neurophysiologic paradigm independent from subjective reports. METHODS: A total of 164 outpatients with FM who were attending a self-management program were invited to participate in the study. Data for 85 patients were available and were compared with those for 40 non-FM controls matched for age and sex. QST was performed using thermal, mechanical, and electrical stimuli at locations of nonspontaneous pain. Pain assessment was 2-fold and included use of subjective scales and the spinal nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR), a specific physiologic correlate for the objective evaluation of central nociceptive pathways. Questionnaires regarding quality of life and the impact of FM were available. RESULTS: Participants were mainly middle-aged women, with a mean disease duration of 8 years. Between-group differences were significant for neurophysiologic, clinical, and quality of life measures. In patients with FM, peripheral QST showed significantly altered cold and heat pain thresholds, and tolerance to cold pain was radically reduced. The median NFR threshold in patients with FM (22.7 mA [range 17.5-31.7]) was significantly decreased compared with that in controls (33 mA [range 28.1-41]). A cutoff value of <27.6 mA for NFR provided sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 80% for detecting central allodynia in the setting of FM. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly, although indirectly, point to a state of central hyperexcitability of the nociceptive system in patients with FM. The NFR can be used to assess central allodynia in FM. It may also help discriminate patients who may benefit from use of centrally acting analgesics.

Female↗

Clinical pharmacology and rationale of analgesic combinations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oral fixed drug combination analgesics have potential advantages over monotherapy, but these can only be attained through careful design. RESULTS: The main reasons for developing combination analgesics are to gain efficacy and to reduce toxicity. Analgesic combinations interact pharmacokinetically, or pharmacodynamically, or both, in positive or negative terms. The t(max) value for both enantiomers of tramadol occur two hours following administration, and that for the active, (+)-M1 metabolite occurs after three hours. Thus, pairing tramadol with acetaminophen, a rapid-onset analgesic, represents a pharmacokinetically rational combination. Analgesic combinations should satisfy two important pharmacodynamic criteria: the components of the combination should display additive or synergistic analgesia; and this interaction should allow lower doses of each substance to be used in combination, resulting in an improved safety profile. Clinical studies of the pharmacodynamic between oral tramadol and acetaminophen in third molar extraction and cold pressor models have provided evidence that this combination provides better efficacy than either individual component of the combination. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, combination analgesics can play a valuable role in pain management. However, dubious combinations (directed against the same targets or with unwanted interactions) and 'old fashioned' fixed-dose multiple analgesic agent combinations should be avoided. Fixed-dose combination analgesics are of value only when they have been developed according to rational pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic criteria, and when claims for their benefits have been supported by evidence-based data and well-designed clinical studies.

Analgesics↗

Metabolic genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to lung cancer.

Activity of some enzymes implicated in the metabolism of tobacco carcinogens presents a great variability between individuals due to the existence of a polymorphism in gene coding for these enzymes. Individual susceptibility to develop lung cancer could therefore depend not only on exposure to tobacco smoking, but also on genetic capacity to activate or inactivate tobacco carcinogens. This article summarizes the state of knowledge on metabolic polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility, and opens the discussion on the future direction of this promising way of research.

Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase↗

Quantitative drug interactions prediction system (Q-DIPS): a dynamic computer-based method to assist in the choice of clinically relevant in vivo studies.

Metabolic drug interactions are a major source of clinical problems, but their investigation during drug development is often incomplete and poorly specific. In vitro studies give very accurate data on the interactions of drugs with selective cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes, but their interpretation in the clinical context is difficult. On the other hand, the design of in vivo studies is sometimes poor (choice of prototype substrate, doses, schedule of administration, number of volunteers), with the risk of minimising the real potential for interaction. To link in vitro and in vivo studies, several authors have suggested using extrapolation techniques, based on the comparison of in vitro inhibition data with the active in vivo concentrations of the inhibitor. However, the lack of knowledge of one or several important parameters (role of metabolites, intrahepatocyte accumulation) often limits the possibility for safe and accurate predictions. In consequence, these methods are useful to complement in vitro studies and help design clinically relevant in vivo studies, but they will not totally replace in vivo investigation in the future. We have developed a computerised application, the quantitative drug interactions prediction system (Q-DIPS), to make both qualitative deductions and quantitative predictions on the basis of a database containing updated information on CYP substrates, inhibitors and inducers, as well as pharmacokinetic parameters. We also propose a global approach to drug interactions problems--'good interactions practice--to help design rational drug interaction investigations, sequentially associating in vitro studies, in vitrolin vivo extrapolation and finally well-designed in vivo clinical studies.

Computers↗

Role of alcohol dehydrogenase 3 and cytochrome P-4502E1 genotypes in susceptibility to cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Alcohol is a recognized risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) cancers, but the mechanism by which alcohol causes cancer remains obscure. Ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde (the suspected carcinogenic agent in alcohol) by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) and cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1), both of which exhibit great inter-individual variability in activity. The hypothesis that these polymorphisms influence susceptibility to alcohol-related cancers remains poorly documented. We investigated whether ADH(3) and CYP2E1 DraI and RsaI genotypes modified the risk of UAT cancers among 121 oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer patients, 129 laryngeal cancer patients, and 172 controls, all French Caucasians. Cancer risks and gene-alcohol interactions were analyzed by unconditional logistic regression, accounting for potential confounders. ADH(3) genotype was not associated with UAT cancer. In contrast, a 2-fold risk of oral cavity/pharyngeal (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.9) and laryngeal (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.5) cancers was observed for carriers of the CYP2E1 DraI C variant allele compared with other individuals. The risk associated with the CYP2E1 RsaI c2 variant allele also increased for oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6. 6). The effects of ADH(3) or CYP2E1 genotype and alcohol or tobacco were independent. The highest risk of oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer was observed among the heaviest drinkers (>80 g/day) with the CYP2E1 DraI C allele (OR = 5.8, 95% CI 1.9-18.2) or the CYP2E1 RsaI c2 allele (OR = 7.2, 95% CI 1.4-38.2) compared with lighter drinkers with other genotypes. Our study suggests that CYP2E1 genotype modifies the risk of UAT cancers, but due to the low frequency of CYP2E1 variant alleles, large-scale studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Simultaneous stereoselective analysis of tramadol and its main phase I metabolites by on-line capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

On-line combination of partial filling capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was demonstrated for the simultaneous enantioseparation of tramadol and its main phase I metabolites. The partial filling technique was efficient at avoiding MS contamination by the chiral selector. Different experimental factors were investigated, including the chiral selector nature and concentration, plug length as well as the separation temperature. The best enantioseparation of the investigated compounds was achieved with a coated polyvinyl alcohol capillary and a 40 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.0, adding sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin (2.5 mg/ml) as the chiral selector. The charged cyclodextrin not only allowed enantioseparation of tramadol and its metabolites, but also improved the selectivity of compounds with the same molecular mass. Finally, CE-electrospray ionisation-MS was successfully applied to the stereoselective analysis of tramadol and its main metabolites in plasma after a simple liquid-liquid extraction.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

High-activity microsomal epoxide hydrolase genotypes and the risk of oral, pharynx, and larynx cancers.

Human microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH), encoded by the EPHX1 gene, is involved in the metabolism of tobacco carcinogens. We investigated the effect of exon 3 and 4 polymorphisms of the EPHX1 gene in 121 patients with cancers of the oral cavity/pharynx, 129 patients with cancer of the larynx, and 172 non-cancer controls, all Caucasian regular smokers. The potential modifying role of previously analyzed GSTM1, GSTM3, and GSTP1 genotypes was also examined. Compared with the putative low-activity genotypes, odds ratios (ORs) associated with predicted intermediate and high mEH activity genotypes were significantly increased for oropharyngeal cancers [OR = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-3.3; and OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.0-4.5, respectively; P(trend) = 0.03] and laryngeal cancers (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.0-3.1; and OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.1-5.1, respectively; P(trend) = 0.02). Moreover, a positive interaction was found between mEH activity and GSTM3 genotype for laryngeal cancer. The combined EPHX1 high activity-associated genotype and GSTM3 (AB or BB) genotype conferred a 13.1-fold risk (95% CI = 3.5-48.4) compared with the concurrent presence of the EPHX1 low activity-associated genotype and the GSTM3 AA genotype. Thus, EPHX1 polymorphisms may be one of the factors of importance in susceptibility to smoking-related cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Adult↗

CYP2D6 gene polymorphism in caucasian smokers: lung cancer susceptibility and phenotype-genotype relationships.

Individual susceptibility to smoking-related cancers is proposed to partly depend on a genetically determined ability to metabolise tobacco carcinogens. We previously reported on the association between the activity of the xenobiotic-metabolising enzyme CYP2D6 and lung cancer risk in a hospital-based case-control study among French Caucasian smokers. Here we extended the study to address the effect of four gene-inactivating mutations (CYP2D6(*)3, (*)4, (*)5 and (*)16) and the gene duplication of the CYP2D6 gene (CYP2D6(*)2x2 or CYP2D6(*)1x2) on lung cancer risk in the same population (150 patients with primary lung carcinoma of squamous cell or small cell histology and 172 controls). The risk of lung cancer associated with the CYP2D6 poor metaboliser genotype (odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 0.5-4.3) did not differ from that in the reference category of extensive metaboliser and ultra-rapid metaboliser genotypes combined. Lung cancer risks for the CYP2D6 PM genotype amongst light smokers (tobacco consumption </=20 g/day) or heavy smokers (>20 g/day) were not significantly different. The present findings agree with the discrepancy between the phenotype-based and genotype-based studies indicated by the recent meta-analyses.

Adult↗

Glutathione S-transferase GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genotypes and the risk of smoking-related oral and pharyngeal cancers.

Several polymorphic glutathione S-transferase enzymes are involved in the detoxification of active metabolites of many potential carcinogens from tobacco smoke and may therefore be important in modulating susceptibility to smoking-related cancers. As part of a hospital-based case-control study performed in France among Caucasian smokers, we studied GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms in 121 patients with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers and 172 hospital controls using peripheral blood DNA. An increase in risk was found among carriers of the GSTP1 (AG or GG) genotype (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.8, p = 0.07) or the GSTT1 null genotype (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-4.0, p = 0.05). The effect of these at-risk genotypes was most marked in subjects with a history of more than 30 years of smoking, among whom the respective ORs were 2.0 (95% CI 1.0-3.9) and 3.3 (95% CI 1.3-8.1), though the interaction tests between these genotypes and duration of smoking were not significant. In contrast, neither the GSTM1 null genotype nor the GSTM3 AA genotype was associated with oropharyngeal cancer risk (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.5 and OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.3, respectively). Our results thus suggest that GSTP1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms modulate susceptibility to smoking-related cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx.

Adult↗

Quantitative drug interactions prediction system (Q-DIPS): a computer-based prediction and management support system for drug metabolism interactions.

OBJECTIVE: Drug biotransformation and interactions are a major source of variability in the response to drugs. The superfamily of cytochromes P450 plays a key role in this phenomenon but, because of the complexity of interactions between drugs and isozymes, it becomes more and more difficult for clinicians to master the knowledge required to predict the occurrence of such drug interactions. To predict and help manage the occurrence of cytochrome P450-dependent interactions, we developed an original computer application: Q-DIPS (quantitative drug interactions prediction system). METHODS: A multidisciplinary work team was created, associating clinical pharmacologists, pharmacists and a computer scientist. Major steps of investigation were: (1) the creation of a database to collect qualitative and quantitative data describing substrates, inhibitors and inducers of specific cytochrome P450 isozymes, with quality assessments; (2) the development of multi-access to these data and (3) their incorporation into extrapolation systems allowing the prediction of in vivo drug interactions on the basis of in vitro data. As an example, prediction and validation studies of CYP3A4 inhibition by ketoconazole and fluconazole will be discussed. RESULTS: Q-DIPS gives up-to-date information, in dynamic tables, describing which specific P450 isozymes metabolise a given drug, as well as which drugs may inhibit or induce a given isozyme. To better answer common clinical questions and help to rapidly evaluate the risk of interactions, it is possible to obtain an overview of substances causing interactions with a specific drug or to focus on drugs taken by a patient ("clinical case"). For each question, key references, relevant quantitative data and quality indices are easily accessible. Two modules allowing input with commercial names and the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification were also included. On the basis of enzymatic and pharmacokinetic data generated in vitro or collected in vivo, the extrapolation module integrates quantitative models to predict the impact of a treatment on enzymatic activities. The simplest model predicted a strong but fluctuating inhibition of CYP3A4 by ketoconazole, whereas the impact of fluconazole was lower. Validations with published in vivo data suggested an appropriate prediction of the risk. CONCLUSION: The current Q-DIPS prototype shows promising potential for helping to improve the management of drug interactions involving metabolism. Validation of extrapolation techniques need to be completed, in view of including important factors such as intrahepatocyte drug accumulation, contribution of metabolites to inhibition as well as in vitro non-specific binding to microsomal proteins. The final goal will be to help select the most judicious clinical studies to be performed so as to avoid useless, expensive and unethical investigations in man.

Antifungal Agents↗

Drug-drug interactions of new active substances: mibefradil example.

INTRODUCTION: Mibefradil was approved as a novel calcium antagonist in Switzerland in 1996. Following its launch as an antihypertensive and anti-anginal agent, there were reports about serious pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions occurring with other drugs frequently administered to patients with cardiovascular diseases. Despite appropriate modifications of the prescribing information, such interactions continued to occur. The drug was finally withdrawn after a study in patients with congestive heart failure showed a trend to higher mortality with mibefradil. This increase in mortality could again be due to multiple interactions between mibefradil and other drugs. In retrospect, it can be concluded that several of the interactions, including the theoretical risk of severe toxicity in some patients, could have been and in fact were predicted on the basis of the data available before introduction to the market. Depending on the benefits, these problems would however not necessarily represent an unacceptable risk for a new active compound. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The most important points revealed by this analysis were: (1) when interpreting the results of interaction studies, it is important to consider not only the mean of the interaction effect but also the observed and the theoretically conceivable extreme effects in individual subjects and (2) a drug with a high interaction potential may represent a high risk even if an adequate warning is included in the product information. The need for specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction studies with new drugs and the limitations of the pivotal clinical efficacy and safety studies during phase III in order to reveal such interactions are discussed.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗

Glutathione S-transferase GSTM3 and GSTP1 genotypes and larynx cancer risk.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in detoxification of reactive metabolites of carcinogens and, therefore, could be potentially important in susceptibility to cancer. The associations between larynx cancer risk and GSTM3 and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms, either separately or in combination with GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms, were evaluated using peripheral blood DNA from 129 cancer patients and 172 controls, all regular smokers. The frequencies of GSTM3 AA, AB, and BB genotypes were 60.5%, 36.4%, and 3.1% in cases and 72.7%, 24.4%, and 2.9% in controls, respectively. The frequencies of GSTP1 AA, AG, and GG genotypes were 48.1%, 40.3%, and 11.6% in cases and 50.0%, 37.2%, and 12.8% in controls, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses did not reveal any association between the GSTP1 (AG or GG) genotype and larynx cancer [odds ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.7-2.0]. In contrast, a significant increase in risk was related to the GSTM3 (AB or BB) genotype (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4). The combined GSTM3 (AB or BB) and GSTM1-null genotype conferred a 4-fold risk (95% CI, 1.6-10.1) of larynx cancer as compared with the combined GSTM3 AA and GSTM1-positive genotype. However, the effect of GSTM3 (AB or BB) genotype was similar among individuals with GSTM1-positive or GSTM1-null genotypes.

Carcinogens↗