G6PD deficiency: its role in the high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus represent increasing threats to the health of many populations. For reasons not completely understood, the prevalence of these diseases is higher in some ethnic groups than in others. The key to this puzzle may rest with the interplay of a defect of an enzyme-mediated process and the environment. Oxidative stress and impairment of synthesis or release of nitric oxide (NO) are being regarded as causative factors in the pathogenesis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis, among other conditions. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been overlooked as a cause of both oxidative stress and a decrease in the generation of nitric oxide (NO). G6PD generates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), a co-factor in the synthesis of nitric oxide. There is impairment of the production of nitric oxide superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in G6PD-deficient granulocytes. In the polyol pathway, G6PD deficiency causes hyperglycemia, making more glucose available for the non-enzymatic production of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE's), which also causes an increase in superoxide anions and a quenching of nitric oxide. Currently, there are 200 million people worldwide with red cell x-linked chromosome defects who, with the persistent ingestion of refined carbohydrates, are at greater risk of developing hypertension or diabetes mellitus than those racial groups without the defect.

Pharmacoeconomics of intravenous antibiotic use in serious infection.

A pharmacoeconomic study of 15 antibiotics available in Barbados was performed. The antibiotics studied were amoxycillin/clavulanate, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, cloxacillin, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, imipenem, metronidazole, piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and vancomycin. The costs of use of these compounds were calculated for a five-day course using a formula comprising eight categories: antibiotic purchase cost, maintenance of intravenous access, drug delivery cost, drug monitoring cost, dose readjustment, general monitoring cost, 'sharps' disposal cost and adverse effects. The costs of adverse effects were not included in this study due to lack of accurate data. The total cost of antibiotic use (in U.S. dollars) ranged from $42.52 to $463.73 per five-day course. Generic compounds were less expensive ($45.52 - $98.23) than brand-name compounds ($106.18 - $106.18 - $463.73). Antibiotic purchase costs accounted for proportions of total costs ranging from 7 to 93%. Non-drug costs represented a much greater proportion of total costs of generic compounds. For most compounds the non-drug costs were related to the frequency of dosing, but for gentamicin the non-drug costs were relatively higher because of the need for monitoring of serum gentamicin levels. Efficacy and freedom from side-effects will remain the most important determinants in the choice of antibiotic therapy. However, pharmacoeconomic analyses can provide prescribers with the information required to make cost-effective choices for treatment of their patients.

Pharmacoeconomics of intravenous antibiotic use in serious infection - abstract

A pharmacoeconomic study of 15 antibiotics available in Barbados was performed. The antibiotics studied were amoxycillin/clavulanate, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, cloxacillin, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, irnipenem, metronidazole, piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and vancomycin. The costs of use of these compounds using a formula comprising eight categories: antibiotic purchase cost, maintenance of IV access, drug delivery cost, drug monitoring cost, dose readjustment, general monitoring cost, sharps disposal cost and adverse effects. The costs of adverse effects were not included in this study due to lack of accurate data. The total costs of antibiotic use (in Barbados dollars) ranged from $85.04 to $927.46 per five-day course. Generic compounds were less expensive ($85.04 - $236.02) than brand-name compounds ($212.25 - $927.46). Antibiotic purchase costs accounted for proportions of total costs ranging from 7 per cent to 93 per cent. Non-drug costs represented a much greater proportion of total costs of generic compounds. For most compounds the non-drug costs were related to the frequency of dosing, but for gentamicin the non-drug costs were relatively higher because of the need for monitoring serum gentamicin levels. Efficacy and freedom from side-effects will remain the most important determinants in the choice of antibiotic therapy. However, pharmacoeconomic analyses can provide clinicians with the information required to make cost-effective choices for treatment of their patients (AU)