Comparative bioavailability of two cetirizine tablet formulations in Indonesian healthy volunteers.

AIM: To compare the bioavailability of two cetirizine tablet (10 mg) formulations (ZyrtecA from UCB Pharma, Spain as a reference formulation and RyvelA from Novell Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Indonesia as a test formulation). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted according to an open, randomized, two-period crossover design with a 1-week washout period. Eighteen volunteers participated and all completed the study successfully. Blood samples were obtained prior to dosing and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 24 and 30 hours after drug administration. Plasma concentrations of cetirizine were monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography over a period of 30 hours after administration. The pharmacokinetics parameter AUC(0-30h), AUC(0-infinity) and C(max) were tested for bioequivalence after log-transformation of data and ratios of t(max) were evaluated non-parametrically. RESULT: The point estimates and 90% confidence intervals for AUC(0-30h), AUC(0-infinity) and C(max) were 108.23% (101.90 â 114.95%), 108.11% (101.91 â 114.68%) and 99.71% (90.18 â 110.25%), respectively, satisfying the bioequivalence criteria of the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products an the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that two medications of cetirizine are bioequivalent and, thus, may be prescribed interchangeably.

Bioequivalence of ciprofloxacin tablet formulations assessed in Indonesian volunteers.

AIM: Determination of the bioequivalence of two ciprofloxacin tablet formulations (test formulation manufactured by Novell Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Indonesia, reference formulation from Quimica Farmaceutica Bayer, Spain). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 24 healthy volunteers received each of the two ciprofloxacin formulations at a dose of 500 mg in a 2-way crossover design. Blood samples were obtained prior to dosing and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and24h after drug administration. Plasma concentrations of ciprofloxacin were monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography over a period of 24 h after administration. The pharmacokinetics parameter AUC0-24h, AUC0-infinity and Cmax were tested for bioequivalence after log-transformation of data and ratios of tmax were evaluated non-parametrically. RESULTS: The point estimates and 90% confidence intervals for AUC0-24h, AUC0-infinity and Cmax were 97.55% (92.71 - 102.6%), 97.63% (92.90 - 102.59%) and 95.84% (89.95 - 102.10%), respectively, satisfying the bioequivalence criteria of the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products and the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that two medications of ciprofloxacin are bioequivalent and, thus, may be prescribed interchangeably.

Pygmoid Australomelanesian Homo sapiens skeletal remains from Liang Bua, Flores: population affinities and pathological abnormalities.

Liang Bua 1 (LB1) exhibits marked craniofacial and postcranial asymmetries and other indicators of abnormal growth and development. Anomalies aside, 140 cranial features place LB1 within modern human ranges of variation, resembling Australomelanesian populations. Mandibular and dental features of LB1 and LB6/1 either show no substantial deviation from modern Homo sapiens or share features (receding chins and rotated premolars) with Rampasasa pygmies now living near Liang Bua Cave. We propose that LB1 is drawn from an earlier pygmy H. sapiens population but individually shows signs of a developmental abnormality, including microcephaly. Additional mandibular and postcranial remains from the site share small body size but not microcephaly.

Coca chewing in prehistoric coastal Peru: dental evidence.

In this study, we describe the dental health of four prehistoric human populations from the southern coast of Peru, an area in which independent archaeological evidence suggests that the practice of coca-leaf chewing was relatively common. A repeated pattern of cervical-root caries accompanying root exposure was found on the buccal surfaces of the posterior dentition, coinciding with the typical placement of coca quids during mastication. To further examine the association between caries patterning and coca chewing, caries site characteristics of molar teeth were utilized as indicators for estimating the likelihood of coca chewing for adults within each of the study samples. Likelihood estimates were then compared with results of a test for coca use derived from hair samples from the same individuals. The hair and dental studies exhibited an 85.7% agreement. Thus, we have demonstrated the validity of a hard-tissue technique for identifying the presence of habitual coca-leaf chewing in ancient human remains, which is useful in archaeological contexts where hair is not preserved. These data can be used to explore the distribution of coca chewing in prehistoric times. Simultaneously, we document the dental health associated with this traditional Andean cultural practice.