Population pharmacokinetics of steady-state carbamazepine in Egyptian epilepsy patients.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Individualization of carbamazepine (CBZ) dosage regimen in patients with epilepsy based on based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) followed by estimation of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters can help in better control of epilepsy. Our objective was to establish a population (POP) PK model of CBZ for Egyptian adult and pediatric patients with epilepsy. METHOD: Single steady-state (SS) trough plasma concentrations of CBZ were available for 302 patients with epilepsy (55·6% men and 44·4% women) who were categorized as children (n = 118) and adults (n = 184) with mean age (years) ± SD of 10·6 ± 4·8 and 29·4 ± 9·9, respectively. Carbamazepine was given as an oral suspension (n = 19) or controlled release tablet (n = 283) with average dose of 15·0 ± 7·8 mg/kg per day. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination for SS conditions (ADVAN2, SS2, TRANS2) was applied using NONMEM 6.2. Separate absorption rate constants were modelled for the two formulations. The mean POP CL, its intersubject variability (ISV), as well as residual error of CBZ concentration were estimated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The POP estimate for CL was 3·5 L/h with coefficient of variation value of 2·6%, which was consistent with literature data. The ISV on CL was 44·5%. The POP PK model was validated by bootstrap re-sampling, and the individual estimates were within the 95% CI of the bootstrap results. Different covariates that might affect CBZ CL have been evaluated but the limited number of samples per individual prevented precise covariate analysis. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The POP PK model we have developed for CBZ shows good predictive performance in Egyptian adult and pediatric patients with epilepsy. Another PK study to better define the effect of different covariates would improve on the model for dosage individualization.

Pharmacokinetic study of the novel, synthetic trioxane antimalarial compound 97-78 in rats using an LC-MS/MS method for quantification.

The present study has been designed to investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of the novel trioxane antimalarial 97-78 (US Patent 6316493 B1, 2001) in male and female rats after single oral and intravenous administration. The pharmacokinetic profile of 97-78 was investigated in the form of its completely converted metabolite 97-63 after dose administration. Quantification of metabolite 97-63 in rat plasma was achieved using a simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method. The LC-MS/MS method has been validated in terms of accuracy, precision, sensitivity and recovery for metabolite 97-63 in rat plasma. The intra- and interday accuracy (% bias) and precision (% RSD) values of the assay were less than 10% for metabolite 97-63. The chromatographic run time was 4.0 min and the weighted (1/x2) calibration curves were linear over the range 1.56-200 ng/ml. This method was successfully applied for analysis of pharmacokinetic study samples. Maximum plasma concentrations of 97-63 at 47 mg/kg oral administration in male and female rats were 1986.6 ng/ml and 4086.7 ng/ml at time (Tmax) 0.92 h and 0.58 h, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC(0-infinity)), elimination half-life (t(1/2) beta) and mean residence time (MRT) were 4669.98 ng x h/ml, 2.8 h and 4.2 h in male and 11786.0 ng x h/ml, 4.52 h and 4.32 h in female rats respectively. After single oral and intravenous administration of 97-78 to male and female rats significant differences were observed in pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC and t (1/2) beta) for metabolite 97-63.

Liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric assay for quantification of 97/78 and its metabolite 97/63: a promising trioxane antimalarial in monkey plasma.

The present manuscript describes development and validation of LC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous quantitation of 97/78 and its active in-vivo metabolite 97/63 in monkey plasma using alpha-arteether as internal standard (IS). The method involves a single step protein precipitation using acetonitrile as extraction method. The analytes were separated on a Columbus C(18) (50 mm x 2 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size) column by isocratic elution with acetonitrile:ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4, 10 mM) (80:20 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min, and analyzed by mass spectrometry in multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) positive ion mode. The chromatographic run time was 4.0 min and the weighted (1/x(2)) calibration curves were linear over a range of 1.56-200 ng/mL. The method was linear for both the analytes with correlation coefficients >0.995. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy (% bias) and precisions (% RSD) of the assay were less than 6.27%. Both analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles (% deviation <8.2) and also for 30 days in plasma (% deviation <6.7). The absolute recoveries of 97/78, 97/63 and internal standard (IS), from spiked plasma samples were >90%. The validated assay method, described here, was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of 97/78 and its active in-vivo metabolite 97/63 in Rhesus monkeys.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric assay for simultaneous quantification of novel trioxane antimalarials in different biomatrices using sample-pooling approach for high throughput pharmacokinetic studies.

In the present studies, to give momentum to traditionally low throughput pharmacokinetic screening, a bioanalytical method based on the concept of sample pooling for simultaneous bioanalysis of multiple compounds is discussed. A sensitive, selective, specific and rapid HPLC/ESI-MS/MS assay method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of three novel trioxane antimalarials (99-357, 99-408 and 99-411) in rat plasma using trioxane analogue as internal standard. The suitably validated bioanalytical method was then further extrapolated to rabbit and monkey plasma by performing partial validation. Extraction from the plasma involves a simple two-step liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane. The analytes were chromatographed on a cyano column by isocratic elution with acetonitrile:ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6) (85:15, v/v) and analyzed by mass spectrometry in multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode. The chromatographic run time was 5.5 min and the weighted (1/x(2)) calibration curves were linear over a range of 1.56-200 ng/ml. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in rat plasma, rabbit plasma and monkey plasma were 0.78 and 1.56 ng/ml, respectively, for all three analytes. The intra- and inter-batch accuracy and precision in terms of % bias and % relative standard deviation were found to be well within the acceptable limits (< 15%). The average absolute recoveries of 99-357, 99-408 and 99-411 from spiked plasma samples were > 90%, > 70% and > 60%, respectively. The assay method described here could be applied to study the pharmacokinetics of 99-357, 99-408 and 99-411 using sample-pooling technique.

Simultaneous quantification of alpha-/beta-diastereomers of arteether, sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine: a promising anti-relapse antimalarial therapeutic combination, by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid, sensitive, selective and specific HPLC/ESI-MS/MS assay method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of alpha-/beta-diastereomers of arteether (AE), sulphadoxine (SDX) and pyrimethamine (PYR) in rat blood plasma using propyl ether analogue of beta-arteether as internal standard. The method involved a single-step, liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and the analytes were chromatographed on a C18 chromatographic column by isocratic elution with methanol:ammonium acetate buffer (10 mM, pH 4) (90:10%, v/v) and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The run time was 4.5 min and the weighted (1/x2) calibration curves were linear over a range of 0.78-400 ng ml-1. The method was validated fully and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in plasma was 0.78 ng ml-1 for all the analytes. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were found to be well within the acceptable limits (<15%) and the analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw (f-t) cycles. The absolute recoveries were consistent and reproducible. The assay method was applied to pre-clinical pharmacokinetic interaction studies of alpha-/beta-AE, SDX and PYR in rats.

Pharmacokinetics of the diastereomers of arteether, a potent antimalarial drug, in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of alpha- and beta- diastereomers of arteether, a potent erythrocytic schizontocidal agent, and their active metabolite dihydroartemisinin were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats after oral, intramuscular and intravenous administrations. Oral and intramuscular studies were carried out at three dose levels at 9, 17.5 and 30 mg kg(-1). The ratio of alpha- and beta-isomers was maintained at 30:70% w/w in the formulations used for the study. The average oral bioavailabilities of alpha-and beta-isomers, relative to intramuscular administration, were 9.6% and 3.8%, respectively, and the average in vivo alpha- to beta- ratio was 2.5. Following intravenous and intramuscular administrations the in vivo alpha- to beta- ratios were 0.7 and 0.9, respectively. The beta-isomer of arteether was characterized by a longer elimination half-life and a relatively larger volume of distribution than the alpha-isomer, suggesting that beta-arteether may be responsible for the prolonged in vivo schizontocidal activity. The alpha-isomer was absorbed rapidly after oral and intramuscular administrations and showed higher peak plasma concentrations but possessed a relatively shorter half-life. There was an apparent lack of linearity observed in terms of dose and AUCs for both alpha- and beta-arteether after oral and intramuscular administrations, suggesting nonlinear dose dependent pharmacokinetics at the dose levels studied. The rate and extent of conversion of arteether isomers to dihydroartemisinin was highest with oral and intravenous administration and least with intramuscular indicating that the intramuscular route of administration of the isomeric mixture may be more beneficial for malarial chemotherapy.

Heat-stable chloroplastic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in Chenopodium murale.

Chenopodium murale is a weed species having wide adaptation to different climatic regimes and experiences a temperature range of 5-45 degrees C during its life span. Higher temperatures may result in heat stress, which induces higher ROS production leading to oxidative stress in the plant. Superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD, EC.1.15.1.1) is ubiquitous, being widely distributed among O(2)(-) consuming organisms and is the first line of defense against oxidative stress. In this study, we have characterized the thermostability of the SOD isozymes from C. murale in vitro. The leaf protein extracts, thylakoidal and stromal fractions were subjected to elevated temperatures ranging from 50 degrees C to boiling and analyzed for activity and isoform pattern of SOD. Out of six SOD isoforms, SOD V showed stability even after boiling the extract for 10min. Under high temperature treatment (>60 degrees C) there was an appearance of a new SOD band with higher electrophoretic mobility. The inhibitor studies and subcellular analysis revealed that the SOD V isoform was a chloroplastic Cu/Zn SOD. The stromal Cu/Zn SOD (SOD V) was more stable than the co-migrating thylakoidal isozyme at 80 degrees C and boiling for 10min. Hence, we report an unusual, constitutive thermostable chloroplastic Cu/Zn SOD from C. murale, which may contribute towards its heat tolerance.

HPLC-UV method development and validation for 16-dehydropregnenolone, a novel oral hypolipidaemic agent, in rat biological matrices for application to pharmacokinetic studies.

An accurate and precise HPLC assay has been developed and validated for determination of dehydropregnenolone (DHP) in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces. Separation was achieved using a C-18 reversed phase column with a mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile and deionized water (55:45% v/v) using a UV detector, set at a wavelength of 248 nm. The method, applicable to 200-microl plasma, bile and urine, involved double extraction of the samples with n-hexane. The sample clean up for feces involved single extraction of 50 mg of sample with 3 ml of acetonitrile. The method was sensitive with a limit of quantitation of 20 ng/ml in all the matrices and absolute recovery >92%. Precision and accuracy were within the acceptable limits, as indicated by relative standard deviation varying from 4.7 to 11.2% and bias values ranging from 1.8 to 8.8%. Moreover, DHP was stable in plasma, bile and urine up to 90 days of storage at -60 degrees C and after being subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles. The method was applied to generate the pharmacokinetics of DHP in rats after oral and intravenous administration.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay for the simultaneous quantification of alpha-,beta-arteether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin in plasma, useful for pharmacokinetic studies.

A sensitive, selective, specific and rapid liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of alpha-,beta-arteether (alpha-,beta-AE) and its metabolite alpha-dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in monkey plasma using the propyl ether analogue of beta-arteether (PE) as an internal standard. The method involves a simple two-step liquid-liquid extraction with hexane. The analytes were chromatographed on a C(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column by isocratic elution with methanol-ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4) (92 : 8, v/v) and analysed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The chromatographic run time was 7 min and the weighted (1/x(2)) calibration curves were linear over the range 0.78-200 ng ml(-1). The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, absolute recovery, freeze-thaw stability, bench-top stability and re-injection reproducibility. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification in monkey plasma were 0.39 and 0.78 ng ml(-1) respectively for all the analytes. The intra- and inter-batch precision and accuracy were found to be well within acceptable limits (<15%). All three analytes were stable even after three freeze-thaw cycles (deviation < 15%). The average absolute recoveries of alpha-,beta-AE, DHA and PE, used as an internal standard, from spiked plasma samples were 85.85 +/- 6.56, 70.10 +/- 7.06, 54.37 +/- 3.39 and 93.90 +/- 6.9%, respectively. The assay method described here could be applied to study the pharmacokinetics of alpha-,beta-AE and DHA in rhesus monkeys.