The compatibility and stability of octreotide acetate in the presence of diamorphine hydrochloride in polypropylene syringes.

Varying concentrations of octreotide acetate (Sandostatin) and diamorphine hydrochloride were prepared and stored in polypropylene syringes at 37 degrees C in the dark. The solutions were analysed for octreotide acetate content using a validated HPLC method at regular intervals over a 48-h period. The results indicate that octreotide acetate remains stable in the presence of diamorphine hydrochloride at 37 degrees C for 24 h. In addition, the solutions prepared maintained their clarity, with no signs of precipitation upon visual examination under normal light conditions.

LC determination of octreotide acetate in compound formulations of Sandostatin and diamorphine hydrochloride.

The determination of octreotide acetate in compound formulations of Sandostatin and diamorphine hydrochloride by RP-LC is described. Octreotide acetate, diamorphine hydrochloride and their respective degradants, [des-Thr-ol8]-octreotide and 6-O-acetylmorphine, were baseline resolved using a Lichrospher-60 RP-select B column with a mobile phase composition of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 20 mM) (35:65 v/v) with UV detection at 210 nm. The method is simple, selective, precise and suitable for the determination of octreotide acetate in admixture.

Influence of droperidol on nausea and vomiting during patient-controlled analgesia.

We have studied the addition of droperidol to morphine during patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in 57 patients using PCA after abdominal hysterectomy. Patients in group 1 (control group) received placebo at induction of anaesthesia and a PCA containing morphine; those in group 2 received droperidol 1.25 mg and a PCA containing morphine and those in group 3 droperidol and a PCA containing droperidol 0.05 mg mg-1 of morphine. Patients in the control group suffered 51 episodes of nausea compared with 35 in the droperidol bolus group and 18 in the droperidol PCA group (P < 0.01). In the droperidol PCA group, only 10 doses of additional antiemetic therapy were required compared with 24 in the droperidol bolus group and 28 in the control group (P < 0.05). We did not observe side effects attributable to droperidol. We conclude that droperidol added to morphine in PCA reduces nausea and antiemetic requirements after abdominal hysterectomy.

The costs of carboplatin treatment.

Safety and efficacy trials comparing carboplatin and cisplatin, especially in ovarian cancer, have shown that the two drugs have a similar efficacy profile. Carboplatin, however, is significantly less toxic than cisplatin. The total costs of carboplatin and cisplatin therapy, which include not only drug costs but all health care costs incurred in preventing and managing toxicity, therefore differ considerably. Thus, despite carboplatin's considerably more expensive cost per dose, when the total costs of treatment are considered, carboplatin treatment is certainly no more expensive, and in many countries may be less expensive, than cisplatin therapy.

Anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of goats.

Cases of anthelmintic resistance on 3 goat farms in Gippsland were investigated. On the first farm Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) circumcincta were found to be resistant to fenbendazole, but the first 2 species were fully susceptible to levamisole. On the second farm a population of T. colubriformis, resistant to concurrent full doses of levamisole and a benzimidazole, was found to retain this resistance when transferred to sheep. On the third farm, heavy mortality due to Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp burdens was arrested only by the use of concurrent full doses of levamisole and oxfendazole; no single anthelmintic was found to be effective. A disturbing rise in the incidence of clinical helminthiosis, often accompanied by anthelmintic resistance, occurred on goat farms in Gippsland early in 1984.