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Biomedical subjects

W H Barr

Publications and source records attributed to W H Barr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The site of gastrointestinal absorption of gepirone in humans.

This study was conducted in seven healthy male subjects and was performed over four sessions with a 1-week washout between sessions. It was designed to compare the bioavailability of an oral 20-mg gepirone dose (treatment 1) with that obtained after application of the same dose by gastric intubation to the distal (treatment 2) and proximal (treatment 3) regions of the small intestine, and after 4 consecutive 5-mg gepirone doses given orally at hourly intervals (treatment 4). Serial blood samples were taken over 24 hours after dose after each treatment. Plasma concentrations of gepirone and 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (1-PP), a metabolite of gepirone, were quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mean gepirone time to reach peak concentration (tmax) after treatments 1, 2, and 3 ranged between 0.57 and 1.07 hours. There were no significant differences between sites and treatments for gepirone t1/2, which ranged between 2.8 and 3.3 hours. The mean gepirone maximum peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was significantly higher (P less than .05) after treatment 2 (12.92 +/- 7.24 ng/mL) compared with treatment 1 (6.79 +/- 3.54 ng/mL) or treatment 3 (6.33 +/- 2.26 ng/mL). Gepirone area under the curve (AUCinf) was also significantly higher (P less than .05) after treatment 2 (29.83 +/- 17.42 ng.h/mL) compared with treatment 1 (18.07 +/- 6.10 ng.h/mL) or treatment 3 (17.74 +/- 7.69 ng.h/mL). There were no significant differences in gepirone AUCinf between treatments 1 and 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

A correlation between digoxin plasma concentrations and systolic time intervals in hospitalized congestive heart failure patients.

Plasma digoxin level is at best an indirect measure of pharmacological response to digoxin in patients being treated for congestive heart failure. Systolic time interval (STI) measurement reflecting left ventricular function at the physiological site of action of digoxin, is both more direct and non-invasive. With a portable instrument to measure systolic time intervals, the measurement can also be convenient for hospital staff. A portable electrocardiogram (ECG) machine was modified to mimic the capabilities of a large, multichannel model. Upon satisfactory evaluation, it was employed in the collection of systolic time interval data from five hospitalized patients undergoing digoxin treatment. An attempt was made to show a relationship between STI indices and digoxin plasma concentrations. Additionally, a statistical comparison was made of change in STI (delta STI) and plasma digoxin concentration both before and after drug administrations. The change in pre-ejection period (delta PEP) values show a significant difference over the changes in total electromechanical systole (delta QS2) and the changes in left ventricular ejection time (delta LVET). In three congestive heart failure patients, the time course of the change in plasma concentration showed good correspondence with delta PEP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cocaine inhalation in the rat: pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular response.

Despite the great attention given to the pharmacological actions of cocaine in recent years, the mechanisms leading to acute intoxication and related deaths after cocaine smoking have not been fully elucidated. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects of cocaine by the inhalation route. Cannulated, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a constant concentration of cocaine vapor (13.6 +/- 0.4 micrograms cocaine per ml mainstream air), during which time their biodispositional profile and cardiovascular responses were evaluated. The bioavailable doses of cocaine were 0.26 +/- 0.05 and 1.54 +/- 0.46 mg/kg, after 1.5- and 5.0-min exposures, respectively. Peak cocaine plasma concentrations of 95 +/- 26 and 205 +/- 58 ng/ml, for the 1.5- and 5.0-min exposures, respectively, occurred 1 min after the start of exposure. Increasing the duration of exposure significantly increased the bioavailability from 0.29 to 1.03 (P less than .05). Transient changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure were generally dose-dependent and correlated temporally with peak cocaine plasma concentrations. During exposure, 70% of the animals demonstrated electrophysiological aberrations consistent with atrial arrhythmia and incomplete heart block. These findings suggest that a direct cardiotoxic effect resulted from inhalation of cocaine.

Absorption↗
PubMed1989

Pharmacodynamic modeling of digoxin-induced bradycardia.

Digoxin-induced bradycardia in dogs was used to evaluate several pharmacodynamic models. Digoxin plasma concentrations and response were monitored in beagle dogs administered either 0.05 or 0.025 mg/kg of digoxin iv as an infusion over 5 min. The models investigated were the linking model, the linear model, the effect compartment model, and the inhibitory model. Regression procedures for investigating the effect compartment model were conducted with Emax (the maximal response, where response was the percentage decrease in heart rate) as a variable with an upper bound of 100%, with a constant value of 100%, or alternately with a constant value equal to the maximal observed response. Based on statistical criteria the effect model using Emax as a variable was found to be the best model for describing digoxin-induced bradycardia. For the effect compartment model, CPss(50) (concentration at steady state that will produce 50% of the maximal response) ranged from 3.8-9.8 ng/ml; delta (exponent describing the steepness of the concentration-response relationship) ranged from 0.6-7.1. The implication of these models in understanding concentration-effect relationships are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of ibuprofen on lithium plasma and red blood cell concentrations.

The effect of ibuprofen on steady-state lithium plasma and red blood cell concentrations was studied in 11 normal volunteers. During the seven-day control phase, sustained-release lithium carbonate 450 mg was administered every 12 hours. Lithium plasma and red blood cell concentrations were determined on days 5, 6, and 7. During the treatment phase (days 7-15), ibuprofen 400 mg was administered four times a day concurrently with lithium. Lithium plasma and red blood cell concentrations were obtained on days 14, 15, and 16. Multiple blood samples were obtained over a 12-hour period on days 6 and 15. Urine samples were collected from six subjects. The mean minimum lithium concentration increased 15% when ibuprofen was added. Mean maximum lithium concentration, area under the curve, red blood cell concentrations, and the lithium red blood cell to plasma ratio were significantly higher during the treatment phase. Mean lithium total body and renal clearance values were significantly lower during the treatment with ibuprofen. The administration of ibuprofen can increase steady-state plasma lithium concentrations and decrease lithium clearance.

Adult↗