European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Heuberger, W.; Berardi, S.; Jacky, E.; Pey, P.; Krähenbühl, S.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050504pmid: 9832290

Objective: To study the effect of cisplatin on plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of carnitine in ten patients with different malignancies treated with chemotherapy.

Jonsson, E.; Fridborg, H.; Nygren, P.; Larsson, R.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050505pmid: 9832291

Objective: Combination therapies are important in the treatment of many tumor types. This study was undertaken to find candidates for combination therapy with the novel topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan.

Miadonna, A.; Milazzo, N.; Salmaso, C.; Cottini, M.; Lorini, M.; Tedeschi, A.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050506pmid: 9832292

Objective: N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamic acid (NAAGA) was effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, with an action on early allergen-induced nasal symptoms and mediator release. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical activity of NAAGA and its effects on the late antigen-induced reaction in the nose.

Hummel, T.; Rothbauer, C.; Pauli, E.; Kobal, G.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050507pmid: 9832293

Objective: The placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study was performed to investigate dose-related effects of oxymetazoline on olfactory function during the course of the spontaneously occurring cold.

Stover, J. F.; Stocker, R.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050508pmid: 9832294

Objectives: Barbiturate coma is employed in brain-injured patients whenever increases in intracranial pressure remain unresponsive to less aggressive therapeutic regimens. Barbiturate-mediated neuroprotection, however, is weakened by an increased infection rate related to barbiturate-induced immunosuppression. Co-administration of barbiturates with antibiotics known to induce bone marrow suppression could, in turn, potentiate barbiturate-mediated immunosuppression. Adverse drug reactions and interactions of thiopental with antibiotics in terms of leukopenia, infection rate, and bone marrow suppression were investigated.

Lange, S.; Freitag, G.; Trampisch, H. J.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050509pmid: 9832295

Objective: While there is a lot of experience with the design, conduct and interpretation of bioequivalence studies, the methodology of trials concerning therapeutic equivalence is still at an early stage of development. Two-armed equivalence studies involve special problems of interpretation, which can be partly solved by the introduction of a third (placebo) arm. We describe a trial in which the therapeutic equivalence of horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE) and compression treatment was to be demonstrated in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Compression is regarded as the standard therapy in this field. However, the efficacy of compression in terms of the variable of primary interest, namely oedema reduction, has never been demonstrated according to current methodological rules. Thus, the `standard' had to be established in the trial itself. This can be achieved by demonstration of relevant superiority in comparison with placebo.

Sengupta, S.; Velpandian, T.; Kabir, S. R.; Gupta, S. K.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050510pmid: 9832296

Objective: The present study was conducted to compare the analgesic efficacy of a new topical gel formulation of nimesulide (10 mg of pure drug) with that of placebo, diclofenac and piroxicam gels (10 mg of pure drug) in three parallel groups in a double-blinded, randomized fashion with vehicle placebo. The analgesic activity of nimesulide was subsequently correlated with its pharmacokinetic profile.

Cohen, O.; Zylber-Katz, E.; Caraco, Y.; Granit, L.; Levy, M.

doi: 10.1007/s002280050511pmid: 9832297

Objective: Dipyrone is a veteran analgesic and antipyretic drug. After oral administration it is rapidly converted by hydrolysis to 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), which is further metabolized to 4-formylaminoantipyrine (FAA), 4-aminoantipyrine (AA) and 4-acetylaminoantipyrine (AAA). It is still debated whether the site of dipyrone action is in the central nervous system or in the periphery. The purpose of this study was to assess whether dipyrone metabolites cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) when administered systemically.