Determination of postmortem fluoxetine concentration in blood, liver, hair and in different regions of brain of albino rats

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]. Measurements of postmortem levels of the drug are helpful to demonstrate its usefulness in. forensic toxicology. For this reason, a rapid and sensitive high- pressure liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determination of the antidepressant fluoxetine in postmortem samples for 50 rats given intraperitoneal fluoxetine hydrochloride at the therapeutic levels. The postmortem samples were including blood, hair, liver, and discrete brain regions [raphenucleus, hypothalamus, and brain striatum].Fifty rats weighing from 200-250 gm. Rats were divided into 5 groups 10 rats per each group: group [1] was given ordinary rat diet, group [2] received 1ml/kg distilled water, group [3] was given fluoxetine hydrochloride once at a dose of 20mg/kg 30 minutes before killing and collection of samples, group [4] was given 10mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride once daily for 15 days and killed 30 minutes after the last dose, group [5] was given 10mg/kg. fluoxetine hydrochloride once daily for 9 days then killed on the 10th day after 30 minutes of 20mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation and samples were collected immediately after death. In group III, the highest postmortem levels were observed in the raphenucleus followed by brain striatum, then the blood. In group IV, the highest postmortem levels were in hair followed by raphenucleus, then striatum followed by the liver. Meanwhile, in Group V, hair showed the highest postmortem levels followed by brain striatum then raphenucleus and lastly the liver. In conclusion, while blood is still the preferred matrix to link concentration and effect, analysis of hair, liver, and brain tissue can provide additional valuable information, not only in pure overdose cases

Predictors of re-admission of schizophrenic patients

Psychiatric re-admission is frequently used as a measure of adverse outcome, as it occurs when the relapse to illness is so severe that less restrictive treatment is insufficient. Investigating factors that may cause readmission of schizophrenic patients. The study composed of two parts; Part I: collecting data from data base about re-hospitalization of psychiatric patients during the year 2004, their diagnosis, socio-demographics and mean of hospital stay. Part II: prospective study throughout year 2005 for schizophrenic patients with repeated hospitalization for two times or more through this particular year. A total number of 1094 patients were re-hospitalized during the year 2004. Schizophrenic patients represented [n=373, 34%] of them. Significant correlation had been found with advanced age, being single, lower education level, increased duration of illness and with positive family history of psychiatric illness. Using the multivariate logistic regression, it had and en found that patients above 36 years of age, sex, family history, patient's compliance and stigma were independently associated with frequent hospitalization. Patients with negative family history of psychosis were less prone to have frequent hospitalization. Positive family history of psychosis and the progress of age [>36 years] were the main significant predictors for frequent hospitalization