Cubic phase gels as drug delivery systems.

Lipids have been used extensively for drug delivery in various forms such as liposomes, and solid-matrices. The focus of this review is evaluation of liquid crystalline cubic phases, spontaneously formed when amphiphilic lipids are placed in aqueous environment, for drug delivery. Cubic phases have an interesting thermodynamically stable structure consisting of curved bicontinuous lipid bilayer in three dimensions, separating two congruent networks of water channels. The unique structure of cubic phase has been extensively studied using various spectroscopic techniques and their resemblance to biomembranes has prompted many scientists to study behavior of proteins in cubic phases. The ability of cubic phase to incorporate and control release of drugs of varying size and polar characteristics, and biodegradability of lipids make it an interesting drug delivery system for various routes of administration. Cubic phases have been shown to deliver small molecule drugs and large proteins by oral and parenteral routes in addition to local delivery in vaginal and periodontal cavity. A number of different proteins in cubic phase appear to retain their native conformation and bioactivity, and are protected from chemical and physical inactivation perhaps due to the reduced activity of water and biomembrane-like structure of cubic phase. Release of drugs from cubic phase typically show diffusion controlled release from a matrix as indicated by Higuchi's square root of time release kinetics. Incorporation of drug in cubic phase can cause phase transformation to lamellar or reversed hexagonal phase depending on the polarity and concentration of the drug, which may affect the release profile. Biodegradability, phase behavior, ability to deliver drugs of varying sizes and polarity and the ability to enhance the chemical and/or physical stability of incorporated drugs and proteins make the cubic phase gel an excellent candidate for use as a drug delivery matrix. However, shorter release duration and the extremely high viscosity may limit its use to specific applications such as periodontal, mucosal, vaginal and short acting oral and parenteral drug delivery.

Reduction in skin permeation of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) by altering the skin/vehicle partition coefficient.

Reported adverse side effects after using N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)-containing mosquito repellent products appear to be the result of significant absorption of DEET through human skin. The overall objective was to develop formulations of DEET with significantly reduced permeation using the basic principles and model of skin permeation based on Fick's laws of diffusion at steady state. Ternary phase diagrams of DEET with water and semipolar solvents, ethanol, PG and PEG 400, showed an increase in the aqueous solubility of DEET. This resulted in a linear decline in octanol/water PC with an increase in the concentration of the solvent. Permeation of DEET across human skin was studied from vehicles containing various amounts of PG and PEG 400 using an infinite dose technique and Franz diffusion cell. DEET's flux reduced with increasing PG concentration and the flux from 90% PG was 9.9+/-2.1 microg/cm(2) h, 6-fold lower than flux of pure DEET control, 63.2+/-24.5 microg/cm(2) h. Flux was reduced 6-fold from 60% PEG 400 solution, and permeation of DEET was totally prevented from 90% PEG 400 which was very viscous. However, a combination of 60% PEG 400 with 30% PG not only reduced permeation 9-fold but was suitable as a vehicle for formulation. The decrease in flux and permeability of DEET with increasing concentration of solvent appeared to be a direct result of decrease in skin/vehicle PC and octanol/water PC. This study clearly demonstrates that alternative formulations can be developed for DEET aimed at reduced permeation and toxicity unlike the current formulations some of which contain ethanol which has been shown to enhance permeation of DEET. A similar approach can be used for developing formulations of other industrial and occupational agents to prevent their skin permeation when a user may be exposed to them.

Stabilization of insulin against agitation-induced aggregation by the GMO cubic phase gel.

The main objective of the study was to evaluate if the liquid crystalline cubic phase gel of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) protects insulin from agitation induced aggregation. The aggregation of Humulin(R), Regular Iletin I(R) and Regular Iletin II(R), in cubic phase GMO gels at 30 U/g of gel was compared with that in PBS at 100 oscillations/min at 37 degrees C using optical density at 600 nm. The effect of agitation on the secondary structure of insulin in solution and in the gels was determined with circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and the time course of aggregation was also followed by HPLC. A sigmoidal increase in optical density of solution with time indicated formation of increasing amounts of insoluble insulin aggregates. However, in the gels, optical density values stayed at, or around, the initial optical density value, comparable with that of a blank gel suggesting that insulin had not aggregated in the gel. CD spectroscopy of the soluble insulin showed a total loss of native conformation upon aggregation of insulin in solution. In contrast, CD spectra of insulin in the gel were unaltered suggesting protection from aggregation during agitation. Furthermore, agitation of insulin in gels for a duration as long as 2 months at 37 degrees C, had very little adverse effect on the native conformation of insulin, as indicated by the lack of a significant change in its CD spectrum. Therefore, the cubic phase gel was indeed able to protect insulin from agitation-induced aggregation and subsequent precipitation. Although the majority of insulin in solution appeared to have aggregated and precipitated after 8 days by UV and CD spectroscopy, RP-HPLC results indicated the presence of some soluble aggregates of insulin. In summary, the liquid crystalline cubic phase gel of GMO protects peptides, like insulin, from agitation-induced aggregation.

Biological activity of insulin in GMO gels and the effect of agitation.

Glyceryl monooleate (GMO)-water cubic phase gel was previously shown to protect insulin from agitation induced aggregation. However, it is not known if insulin is biologically active in the gel and what effect agitation has on insulin in the gel. Therefore, the objective was to determine the stability of insulin in cubic phase gel in terms of its biological activity in a suitable animal model such as Sprague-Dawley rats. Effect of agitation on biological activity of insulin in cubic phase GMO gel was determined by subcutaneous injections of the agitated and non-agitated gels to two groups of previously fasted rats and measuring the effect on their blood glucose levels. Two groups of rats administered with agitated insulin solution and normal saline were used as controls. The biological activity of insulin was evaluated by comparing AAC (area above the blood glucose level-time curve, in %-h), C(max) (maximum % decrease in blood glucose levels) and t(max) (time required to attain C(max), in h) values for the four groups of rats. Since cubic phase gel is highly viscous, therapeutic equivalency of insulin in the lamellar phase gel, which converts in situ into cubic phase gel, was compared to insulin solution with normal saline as the control, using AAC, C(max) and t(max) of the blood glucose profile. Insulin was biologically active in both agitated and non-agitated gels; however, upon agitation, insulin in solution totally lost its hypoglycemic activity. Agitation of insulin in the cubic phase gel was seen to have very little deleterious effect on its biological activity. Insulin in the lamellar phase gel was not only biologically active but also therapeutically equivalent to insulin solution based on AAC (327.9+/-100.8 and 431.7+/-113.3), C(max) (57. 1+/-7.0 and 70.2+/-6.5) and t(max) (2.8+/-0.7 and 4.0+/-1.7) for the lamellar phase gel and insulin solution, respectively (no significant difference, P0.05). In summary, GMO cubic phase gel protected insulin from agitation induced aggregation, and insulin was biologically active in the gel.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization of OROS and immediate-release amitriptyline.

AIMS: To characterize the pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline and its metabolite nortriptyline following OROS and IR treatments, and to correlate them with anticholinergic side-effects. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics and safety of amitriptyline following administration of an osmotic controlled release tablet (OROS and an immediate release (IR) tablet were evaluated in 14 healthy subjects. In this randomized, open label, three-way crossover feasibility study, the subjects received a single 75 mg OROS tablet, three 25 mg IR tablets administered every 8 h, or 3x25 mg IR tablets administered at nighttime. In each treatment arm serial blood samples were collected for a period of 84 h after dosing. The plasma samples were analysed by gas chromatography for amitriptyline and its metabolite nortriptyline. Anticholinergic effects such as saliva output, visual acuity, and subject-rated drowsiness and dry mouth were measured on a continuous scale during each treatment period. RESULTS: Following dosing with OROS (amitriptyline hydrochloride), the mean maximal plasma amitriptyline concentration Cmax (15.3 ng ml-1 ) was lower and the mean tmax (25.7 h) was longer than that associated with the equivalent IR dose administered at nighttime (26.8 ng ml-1 and 6.3 h, respectively). The bioavailability of amitriptyline following OROS dosing was 95% relative to IR every 8 h dosing, and 89% relative to IR nighttime dosing. The metabolite-to-drug ratios after the three treatment periods were similar, suggesting no change in metabolism between treatments. The relationships between plasma amitriptyline concentration and anticholinergic effects (e.g. reduced saliva weight, dry mouth, and drowsiness) were similar with all three treatments. Of the anticholinergic effects, only decreased saliva weight and dry mouth correlated well with plasma amitriptyline concentrations; drowsiness did not. There was no apparent correlation between anticholinergic effects and the plasma nortriptyline concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The bioavailability of OROS (amitriptyline hydrochloride) was similar to that of the IR treatments and the pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline after OROS dosing may decrease the incidence of anticholinergic effects compared with that seen with nighttime dosing of the IR formulation. Therefore, this controlled-release formulation of amitriptyline may be appropriate for single daily administration.

pKa of 4MP and chemical equivalence in formulations of free base and salts of 4MP.

Fomepizole (4-Methylpyrazole, 4MP) is used as an antidote for ethylene glycol and methanol poisoning. In France it is administered intravenously as the sulfate or hydrochloride salt formulation and in the United States, as the free base formulation. Since its pKa was unknown, it was unknown if the free base, hydrochloride and sulfate salt formulations of 4MP are chemically equivalent, and if 4MP is in chemically equivalent forms in blood when these base and salt formulations are administered intravenously. Using UV spectrophotometry, the pKa of 4MP was determined to be 2.91 +/- 0.05 (n = 7) at a low concentration of 0.006 M in formate buffers of various pH, and 3.00 +/- 0.16 (n = 7) when high concentration of 4MP (0.06 M) was titrated with HCl at 25 degrees C. The hydrochloride salt formulation (pH 6.64) was ionically and hence chemically equivalent to the free base formulation (pH 7.02), while the sulfate salt formulation, due to its lower pH of 2.33, showed presence of some ionized 4MP indicating chemical inequivalence. In order to determine chemical equivalence upon intravenous administration, these formulations were diluted with phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) with identical ionic strength and buffer capacity as blood. In spite of chemical inequivalence of the sulfate salt formulation, 4MP free base was observed from all three formulations when diluted with physiological buffer suggesting chemical equivalence under physiological conditions due to the strong buffering action of blood.

Metastable polymorph of etoposide with higher dissolution rate.

Etoposide, an anticancer drug, has low oral bioavailability because of low aqueous solubility, slow dissolution rate, and instability in acidic pH. Our objective was to enhance the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of etoposide by polymorph formation. Preparation of various polymorphs of etoposide was attempted by crystallizing etoposide from organic solvents. Physicochemical properties of the crystals, namely, crystal habit, thermal behavior with hot-stage microscopy, thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry, IR spectrum, and solubility and dissolution rates, were examined. Based on the physicochemical characteristics, a metastable polymorph of etoposide was identified when it was crystallized from isopropanol. The metastable polymorph had an equilibrium solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate of 221 micrograms/ml and 16.3 micrograms/min/cm2, respectively; 1.9 and 1.7 times that of etoposide powder at 25 degrees C, respectively.

Glyceryl monooleate cubic phase gel as chemical stability enhancer of cefazolin and cefuroxime.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the ability of the glyceryl monooleate (GMO) cubic phase gel to protect drugs from chemical instability reactions such as hydrolysis and oxidation. Stability was assessed on cefazolin incorporated in cubic phase gel and in solution at two different concentrations (200 and 50 micrograms/g), at 22, 37, and 50 degrees C. Degradation profiles, plotting percent cefazolin remaining on a logarithmic scale versus time, were constructed and the degradation rate constants calculated from the slopes. At both concentrations, degradation of cefazolin was found to be slower in the cubic phase gel than in solution at 22 and 37 degrees C, but not at 50 degrees C. The degradation rate constants were 3- to 18-fold lower in the gel than in solution at low concentration of cefazolin. At 22 and 37 degrees C, the kinetics of degradation at high concentration of cefazolin was not first-order but showed a lag phase followed by an exponential loss of cefazolin, typical of oxidation. The potential oxidation of the thioether moiety of cefazolin was confirmed by its 18-fold higher stability in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and nitrogen in solution. Cefuroxime, a cephalosporin which degrades solely via beta-lactam hydrolysis, degraded twice as fast in solution as it did in the gel. The enhanced stability of cefazolin and cefuroxime in the GMO cubic phase gel shows its potential as a chemical stability enhancer and this is the first report to demonstrate oxidation, in addition to beta-lactam hydrolysis, as a mechanism for degradation of cefazolin.

Biodegradable polyanhydride devices of cefazolin sodium, bupivacaine, and taxol for local drug delivery: preparation, and kinetics and mechanism of in vitro release.

The overall objective was to design and evaluate biodegradable implants for local drug delivery in clinical conditions and/or diseases described below, which are currently treated with systemic administration of drugs. Local delivery of cefazolin is desired in conditions such as osteomyelitis, soft-tissue infection and for prevention of post-surgical infections. Similarly, implanting a biodegradable device loaded with taxol in the cavity created by tumor resection will provide high local concentrations of taxol killing the malignant cells which may have survived the surgery, thus preventing metastasis and regrowth of the tumor and also prevent the systemic side effects of taxol. Prolonged reversible nerve blockade required in a number of clinical situations involving acute or chronic pain such as post-surgical pain following herniorrhaphy and thoracotomy can be achieved with local delivery of bupivacaine. Therefore, disk-shaped implants of polyanhydride, P(FAD-SA, 50:50 w/w), loaded with 10% w/w of cefazolin sodium, taxol and bupivacaine were prepared and evaluated for content uniformity and in vitro release characteristics for the above mentioned local drug delivery applications. All of cefazolin sodium was released in 14 days while 90% bupivacaine was released in 35 days. In striking contrast, taxol was released very slowly, and only 15% taxol was released in 77 days. The overall release appeared to be following first order kinetics, and the initial linear profile was fitted to zero order kinetics to obtain release parameters. Since cefazolin is highly water soluble and bupivacaine is moderately water soluble, compared to taxol which is extremely lipophilic, the aqueous solubility of the incorporated drug appeared to influence in release characteristics. Very good correlation was observed between release parameters (Ao, ko) and the solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of drugs suggesting that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the drug influences its release from polyanhydride devices. Since polyanhydrides are believed to undergo pure surface erosion, release of the incorporated drug should be independent of its physicochemical properties, however the results presented in this study suggest otherwise. Therefore, P(FAD-SA, 50:50 w/w) may not be undergoing surface erosion, and the diffusion and dissolution properties of the drug in addition to erosion characteristics of the polyanhydride appear to play a role in drug release. Implants prepared and evaluated in this study released cefazolin, bupivacaine and taxol for a prolonged duration of time; however, depending upon the desired duration of release, an appropriate polyanhydride will have to be selected. For example, taxol was released so slowly that a more hydrophilic polyanhydride may have to be selected to release all the drug in a shorter period of time to be of any therapeutic use. Cefazolin implants released the drug for a sufficient duration for osteomyelitis and soft-tissue infection but the release was more prolonged than required for prevention of post-surgical wound infection.

Kinetics and mechanism of release from glyceryl monostearate-based implants: evaluation of release in a gel simulating in vivo implantation.

The overall objective of the study was to design an implantable delivery system based on glyceryl monostearate (GMS) for the site-specific delivery of antibiotics for the prevention of surgical wound infection. To design the implant, a release method had to be developed that simulate the in vivo implantation conditions to be able to predict the release characteristics from the implants when they are actually used in vivo. Also, identifying the release kinetics and mechanism and evaluating the factors that influence the release of drugs from the GMS-based matrix were necessary to allow further design of implants that could yield a desired release rate. The release of cefazolin was monitored from GMS matrixes implanted into agar gel, simulating subcutaneous tissues with respect to viscosity and water content. The gel method resulted in observation of spatial and temporal concentration profiles in the immediate vicinity of the implants, indicating the benefits of local drug delivery; however, there was no significant difference between the cumulative release profiles by the gel method or the vial release method. The release of cefazolin from the GMS-based matrix with the vial method followed Higuchi's square root of time kinetics. The release rate was found to be directly proportional to cefazolin load (A) and the surface area (SA) of the matrix as expressed by the following equation: = 0.24ASA. On the basis of this equation, one can design a variety of GMS matrixes that would result in a desired release rate or release duration. This also indicated that cefazolin release followed the release kinetics of a freely soluble drug from an insoluble matrix and hence it is a diffusion-controlled process. The effect of drug solubility on the release kinetics was determined by comparing the release kinetics of the poorly water soluble ciprofloxacin (0.16 mg/mL) to that of the highly water soluble cefazolin (325 mg/mL). The release duration of ciprofloxacin (80 h) was longer than that of cefazolin (25 h) from identical GMS matrixes. Although ciprofloxacin release was initially controlled by the matrix, agitation accelerated disintegration of the matrix and release due to its poor solubility, and ciprofloxacin release appeared to be a dissolution-controlled process following zero-order release kinetics.

Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of site-specific cefazolin delivery using biodegradable implants in the prevention of post-operative wound infections.

PURPOSE: The study objective was to evaluate the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of cefazolin delivered locally as a glyceryl monostearate (GMS) based biocompatible implant for prevention of post-operative wound infection in Sprague Dawley rats subcutaneously inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: For the efficacy and pharmacokinetic studies, 18 rats were subcutaneously inoculated with 4.5 x 10(7) CFU of S. aureus on the dorsum (6 per rat), and randomly assigned into three group of 6 rats each: (1) the control group, in which rats did not receive antibiotics, (2) the intermittent i.m. treatment group, in which rats received i.m. injections of 10 mg/kg cefazolin every 4 hr (total of 180 mg/kg in 3 days), and (3) the implant treatment group, in which rats were implanted subcutaneously with four Cefazolin-GMS implants in the vicinity of the inoculations. The implants were designed to deliver 180 mg/kg cefazolin over a 3 day period. For efficacy evaluation, the rats were euthanized one week post-inoculation and abscess count, weight and size were determined. RESULTS: Rats in the control group had developed 21 abscesses out of the 36 inoculations, indicating validity of the infection model. The local delivery of cefazolin resulted in complete eradication of the infection, since no abscesses formed in the rats in the implant group. In the IM treatment group, only one abscess was formed and no significant difference in efficacy between the two treatment groups was observed. The GMS implants sustained the release of cefazolin for a period of three days with only 3-fold fluctuations in plasma concentration (5.5-17.5 micrograms/ml). However, plasma concentrations after the intermittent IM administration of cefazolin fluctuated 110-fold between 44-0.4 micrograms/ml every 4 hr. The release rate of cefazolin from the implants was nearly zero order for the entire duration. Bioerosion of the implants was determined by examining the condition of the implants six weeks post-implantation. Two of the 12 implants had completely disappeared and the remaining implants were in a pasty form and had lost 20-80% of their weight. Absence of irritation or inflammation around the implants indicated biocompatibility of the GMS implants. CONCLUSIONS: Implantable system that provided a prolonged delivery of cefazolin was found to be effective against S. aureus infection, and demonstrated suitable pharmacokinetics and biocompatibility with significant bioerosion.

IME4, a gene that mediates MAT and nutritional control of meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sporulation occurs in response to nutritional and genetic signals. The process is initiated when nutrient availability limits mitotic growth, but only in MATa/MAT alpha diploid cells. Under these conditions, the cells express an activator of meiosis (IME1), which is required for the expression of early sporulation-specific genes. We describe a new gene, IME4, whose activity is essential for IME1 transcript accumulation and sporulation. The IME4 transcript was induced in starved MATa/MAT alpha diploids but not in other cell types. In addition, excess IME4 promoted sporulation in mat-insufficient cells. Thus, IME4 appears to activate IME1 in response to cell type and nutritional signals. We have also explored the interactions between IME4 and two genes that are known to regulate IME1 expression. Normally, cells that lack complete MAT information cannot sporulate; when such strains lack RME1 activity or contain the semidominant RES1-1 mutation, however, they can express IME1 and sporulate to low levels. Our results show that mat-insufficient strains containing rme1::LEU2 or RES1-1 bypass mutations still retain MAT control of IME4 expression. Even though IME4 levels remained low, the rme1::LEU2 and RES1-1 mutations allowed IME1 accumulation, implying that these mutations do not require IME4 to exert their effects. In accord with this interpretation, the RES1-1 mutation allowed IME1 accumulation in MATa/MAT alpha strains that contain ime4::LEU2 alleles. These strains still sporulated poorly, suggesting that IME4 plays a role in sporulation in addition to promoting IME1 transcript accumulation. IME4 is located between ADE5 and LYS5 on chromosome VII.

Clinical evaluation of five therapeutic drugs using dry film multilayer technology on the OPUS immunoassay system.

Five therapeutic drug assays, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, theophylline, and valproic acid, were evaluated using an automated random access system for performing thin dry film multilayer competitive immunoassays, the OPUS analyzer. All reagents for the therapeutic drug assays are contained in a coated multilayer film chip encased within a plastic bar-coded test module and require no external or supplementary reagents. A serum or plasma sample is applied to the test module by the instrument and the fluorescence intensity from the module is measured after 6 minutes. We found the OPUS assays acceptable for clinical use. Within-run coefficient of variations were 2.3-6.7%, between-run, 2.9-7.6%. These methods correlated well with the Abbott TDx, having correlation coefficients of 0.92-0.97. Because of the instrument design and the stability of the reagents, weekly calibration is not needed and samples can be run immediately upon receipt in a random access fashion or can be batched together.

An RME1-independent pathway for sporulation control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae acts through IME1 transcript accumulation.

The RES1-1 mutation was isolated on the basis of its ability to allow MATa/MAT alpha diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to express a late sporulation-regulated gene, SPR3, in the presence of excess copies of RME1. RME1 is a repressor of meiosis that is normally expressed in cells that lack the a1/alpha 2 repressor encoded by MAT. The RES1-1 mutation also supports sporulation in mat-insufficient diploids. This phenotype does not result from a failure to express RME1 and is not due to activation of the silent copies of mating type information. RES1-1 activates sporulation by allowing IME1 accumulation in all cell types, irrespective of the presence of the MAT products. IME1 is still responsive to RME1 in RES1-1 cells, since double mutants (rme1 RES1-1) that are deficient at MAT can sporulate better than either single mutant. RES1-1 is not an allele of IME1.

Plasma codeine and morphine concentrations after a single oral dose of codeine phosphate.

Plasma concentrations of codeine and its O-demethylated metabolite morphine were determined, by a sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, following a single oral dose of 60 mg codeine phosphate. Ten healthy volunteers received a single dose of 60 mg codeine phosphate. The plasma concentrations were analyzed for codeine and morphine at the 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 hours postdosing. The mean peak codeine plasma concentrations and tmax (time to reach maximum plasma codeine concentrations) were 88.1 ng/mL and 1.2 hours. Mean maximum concentrations of metabolically produced morphine was 2.7 +/- 0.6 ng/mL. The mean ratio of areas under the plasma concentration-time curves for morphine and codeine was 0.027. Thus, free morphine represented only about 2.7 +/- 1.8% of the free codeine area in each case.

Preformulation study of etoposide: identification of physicochemical characteristics responsible for the low and erratic oral bioavailability of etoposide.

Preformulation studies of etoposide, including pH-solubility profile, partition coefficient, pH-stability profile, and in vitro dissolution kinetics, were conducted to identify the responsible factor(s) for the low and erratic oral bioavailability of etoposide. A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was used for drug monitoring. The equilibrium aqueous solubility of etoposide at 37 degrees C was low, 148.5-167.25 micrograms/ml, and did not vary over the pH range of 2 to 6. The pH-stability profile indicated rapid degradation of etoposide at pH 1.3 and 10, with degradation half-lives of 2.88 and 3.83 hr, respectively, at 25 degrees C. The half-life at pH 7.30 was 27.72 days. Maximum stability at 25 degrees C was reached at pH 5 to 6.15, with half-lives of 63 and 49.5 days, respectively. The intrinsic dissolution rate, determined on a Wood's apparatus, was slow, 0.0094 mg/min/cm2, while the etoposide partition coefficient between n-octanol and water was 9.94. Therefore, etoposide absorption appears to be dissolution rate limited rather than permeation rate limited. The low equilibrium aqueous solubility, slow intrinsic dissolution rate, and chemical instability at pH 1.3 could account for the low oral bioavailability.

Characterization and localization of the sporulation glucoamylase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Glucoamylase (SGA) was purified approximately 250-fold from sporulating Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The partially purified enzyme was active against glycogen, starch, maltotriose and maltose. It exhibited maximum catalytic activity against glycogen at pH 5.5. The enzyme appears to be glycosylated, because it bound to lentil-lectin Sepharose. SGA was expressed in vegetatively growing cells under the control of the GAL1 promoter, and the cellular location of the enzymatic activity determined by fractionation techniques. SGA was preferentially recovered in fractions which were enriched for the vacuolar hydrolases, carboxypeptidase Y and alpha-mannosidase.

Neuropathy in tetanus.

Thirty-four cases of severe tetanus were studied. On clinical examination weakness and sensory loss compatible with peripheral neuropathy was found in 27. The pattern was usually asymmetrical, the commonest nerves affected being ulnar, median and lateral popliteal, although occasionally circumflex, musculocutaneous, femoral and facial nerves were also involved. Electrophysiological studies showed spontaneous activity resembling denervation potentials, diphasic and positive sharp waves. In some muscles there was also activity resembling spontaneous firing of motor units. Motor and sensory conduction velocities in the affected nerves were moderately reduced and the amplitude of sensory potentials was also reduced. No conduction was found in 11 nerves in 8 patients on initial studies, but 4 out of 7 nerves that could be studied showed rapid recovery. Although most of the nerves in the rest of the patients showed clinical recovery, conduction velocities showed improvement most often when examined about 10 weeks after the onset of trismus. The clinical and electrophysiological evidence suggests the involvement of peripheral nerves in severe tetanus. Serum neuritis, hypersensitivity reaction to tetanus toxoid or drug-induced neuropathy have been ruled out.