Patient age does not affect mefloquine concentrations in erythrocytes and plasma during the acute phase of falciparum malaria

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether patient age has a significant impact on mefloquine concentrations in the plasma and erythrocytes over the course of treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Methods A total of 20 children aged between 8 and 11 years and 20 adult males aged between 22 and 41 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were enrolled in the study. Mefloquine was administered to patients in both age groups at a dose of 20 mg kg−1. The steady-state drug concentrations were measured by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Results All patients had an undetectable mefloquine concentration on day 0. In adults, the plasma mefloquine concentrations ranged from 770 to 2930 ng mL−1 and the erythrocyte concentrations ranged from 2000 to 6030 ng mL−1. In children, plasma mefloquine concentrations ranged from 881 to 3300 ng mL−1 and erythrocyte concentrations ranged from 3000 to 4920 ng mL−1. There was no significant correlation between mefloquine concentrations in the plasma and erythrocytes in either adults or children. Conclusion In the present study, we observed no effect of patient age on the steady-state concentrations of mefloquine in the plasma and erythrocytes. We found that the mefloquine concentration in the erythrocytes was approximately 2.8-times higher than in the plasma. There were no significant correlations between mefloquine concentrations in the erythrocytes and plasma for either age group.

Estudo comparativo da veiculação do diclofenaco sódico pela fonoforese de alta e baixa frequência em ratos / Comparative study of sodic diclofenaco veiculation by fonoforesis using high and low frequency in rats

Objetivo: estudar a aplicação do ultrassom terapêutico com alta frequência-3MH em estudo comparativo com aplicação do ultrassom terapêutico de baixa frequência-1MHz, na indução do aumento na absorção transcutânea do diclofenaco de sódio pela pele de ratos. Método: estudo experimental utilizando 15 ratos machos, adultos, da linhagem Wistar, com peso entre 250 a 350 gramas, distribuídos em três grupos: Alta, Baixa Frequência e Controle de 5 ratos cada. Foram coletadas 4 amostras de sangue de cada animal, nos tempos de 0? antes da aplicação do ultrassom, 30?, 60? e 90? minutos após a realização da técnica específica para cada grupo. Na leitura das amostras, foi utilizado o equipamento de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência-CLAE. Resultado: a análise foi obtida através do método não paramétrico, ANOVA de Kruskal-Wallis, não comprovando diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos analisados no que diz respeito a maior absorção do fármaco. Conclusão: os resultados obtidos sugerem novos estudos, que busquem aperfeiçoar o método aplicado e possa agregar maiores conhecimentos ao assunto pesquisado o que possibilitará resultados cada vez mais precisos.

Objective: to study the application of therapeutic ultrasound with high frequency-3MH in a comparative study with application of therapeutic ultrasound, low-frequency 1MHz-induced increase in transcutaneous absorption of diclofenac sodium by the skin of mice. Method: an experimental study using 15 male rats, adult male rats, weighing 250 to 350 grams were divided into three groups: High, Low Frequency Control and 5 mice each. We collected 4 blood samples from each animal at 0 'prior to the application of ultrasound, 30', 60 'and 90' minutes after the completion of specific techniques for each group. In reading the samples, we used the equipment Chromatography High Performance Liquid-HPLC. Result: the analysis was performed using the method nonparametricANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test does not confirm a statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the greater absorption of the drug. Conclusion: the results suggest further studies that seek to improve the methodology used, and may add more knowledge to the subject researched the results will enable more precise.

Quinine levels in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the Amazon region of Brazil

We examined the plasmatic concentrations of quinine in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in an endemic area of the Amazon region in Brazil in a prospective clinical trial, in which a standard three-day course of oral quinine plus doxycycline was used. We measured the quinine in the plasma samples on days 0 and 3by high performance liquid chromatography. The mean concentration of quinine was 6.04 ±2.21 µg/mL in male patients and 5.98 ±1.95 µg/mL in female patients. No significant differences in quinine concentration were observed between these two groups. All samples collected before starting treatment were negative for quinine. This information could help in the development of strategies for the rational use of antimalarial drugs in Brazil.