Comparative Bioavailability Of Two Quetiapine Formulations In Healthy Volunteers After A Single Dose Administration

The study was performed to compare the bioavailability of two quetiapine 25 mg tablet formulations: the test formulation was quetiapine fumarate (kitapen®) manufactured by Cobalt Pharmaceuticals, Canada/ Arrow Farmacêutica Ltda* (Erowlabs). Seroquel® (quetiapine) from Astrazeneca Brazil was used as reference formulation. The study was conducted open with randomized two period crossover design and one week wash out period in 64 volunteers of both sexes. Plasma samples were obtained over a 48 hour interval. Quetiapine was analyzed by LC-MS-MS in the presence of quetiapine-D8 as internal standard. Plasma samples were obtained over a 48 hour interval. Quetiapine was analyzed by LC-MS-MS in the presence of quetiapine-D8 as internal standard. The mean ratio of parameters Cmax and AUC 0-t and 90% confidence intervals of correspondents were calculated to determine the bioequivalence. The means AUC 0-t for test and reference formulation were 432.41 ng.h/mL and 412.20 ng.h/mL, for AUC 0-∞ were 440.06 ng.h/mL and 418.90 ng.h/mL and, for Cmax 126.94 ng/mL and 108.71 ng/mL, respectively. Geometric mean of quetiapine (kitapen®)/Seroquel® 25 mg individual percent ratio was 97.68% AUC 0-t, 97.47% for AUC 0-∞ and 90.68% for C max. The 90% confidence intervals were 92.67 - 102.96%, 92.53 - 102.67%, 83.37 - 98.64%, respectively. Since the 90% confidence intervals for C max, AUC 0-t and AUC 0-∞ were within the 80 - 125% interval proposed by Food and Drug Administration, it was concluded that quetiapine (kitapen®) 25 mg tablet was bioequivalent to Seroquel® 25 mg tablet according to both the rate and extent of absorption. © 2011 Junior EA, et al.38178181Barrett, B., Capek, H.M., Huclova, J., Borek-Dohalsky, V., Fejt, P., Validated HPLC-MS/MS method for determination of quetiapine in human plasma (2007) Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 44, pp. 498-505DeVane, C.L., Nemeroff, C.B., Clinical Pharmacokinetics of quetiapine: An Atypical Antipsychotic (2001) Clinical Pharmacokinet, 40, pp. 509-522Kasper, S., Müller-Spahn, F., Review of quetiapine and its clinical applications in schizophrenia (2000) Expert Opin Pharmacother, 1, pp. 783-801Tilden, D., Aristides, M., Meddis, D., Burns, T., An economic assessment of quetiapine and haloperidol in patients with schizophrenia only partially responsive to conventional antipsychotics (2002) Clin Ther., 24, pp. 1648-1667Mario, A., Michael, E., The Role of Quetiapine Extended Release in the Treatment of Bipolar Depression (2010) Adv Ther, 27, pp. 1-11Keck, P., McIntyre, R., Shelton, R., Bipolar depression: Best practices for the outpatient (2007) CNS Spectr., 12, pp. 1-16Judd, L., Akishal, H., Schettler, P., The long-term natural history of the weekly symptomatic status of bipolar I disorder (2002) Arch Gen Psychiatry., 59, pp. 530-537Goldstein, J.M., Atypical antipsychotic drugs: Beyond acute psychosis, new directions (1999) Emerging Drugs, 4, pp. 127-151Abi-Dargham, A., Laruelle, M., Aghajanian, G.K., Charney, D., Krystal, J., The role of serotonin in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia (1997) J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 9, pp. 1-17Kapur, S., Remington, G., Serotonin-dopamine interaction and its relevance to schizophrenia (1996) Am J Psychiatry, 153, pp. 466-476Calabrese, J.R., Keck Jr., P.E., McFadden, W., Minkwitz, M., Ketter, T.A., Weisler, R.H., Cutler, A.J., Mullen, J., A randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial of quetiapine in the treatment of bipolar I or II depression (2005) Am J Psychiatry, 162, pp. 1351-1360Copolov, D.L., Kowalcyk, B., A multicentre, double-blind, randomized comparison of quetiapine and haloperidol in schizophrenia (2000) Psychol Med, 30, pp. 95-105Figueroa, C., Brecher, M., Hamer-Maansson, J., Pharmacokinetic profiles of extended release quetiapine fumarate compared with quetiapine immediate release (2009) Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 33, pp. 199-204Goldstein, J.M., Litwin, L.C., Sutton, E.B., Malick, J.B., Seroquel: Electrophysiological profile of a potential atypical antipsychotic (1993) Psychopharmacology, 112, pp. 293-298Kasper, S., Tauscher, J., Küfferle, B., Barnas, C., Pezawas, L., Dopamine and serotonin-receptors in schizophrenia: Results of imaging-studies and implications for pharmacology in schizophrenia (1999) Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci., 249, pp. 83-89Peuskens, J., A comparison of quetiapine and chlorpromazine in the treatment of schizophrenia (1997) Acta Psychiatr Scand, 96, pp. 265-273Saller, F., Salama, A.I., Seroquel: Biochemical profile of a potential atypical antipsychotic (1993) Psychopharmacology, 112, pp. 285-292Thase, M.E., McFadden, W., Weisler, R., Efficacy of quetiapine monotherapy in bipolar I and II depression: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study (2006) J Clin Psychopharmacol, 26, pp. 600-609Vieta, E., Mullen, J., Brecher, M., Paulsson, B., Jones, M., Quetiapine monotherapy for mania associated with bipolar disorder: Combined analysis of two international, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies (2005) Curr Med Res Opin, 21, pp. 923-93

Characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of lambs fed diets containing silages of forages adapted to the semi-arid environment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to the semi-arid environment on the characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components of 32 mixed-breed lambs at approximately six months old, with an average live weight of 17.61 ± 2.63 kg. Lambs were assigned to four treatments (diets containing silages of Atriplex nummularia Lind, Cenchrus ciliaris, Gliricidia sepium and Manihot sp.) in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Animals fed the diet containing old man saltbush showed higher values for the intakes of dry matter (1.080 g/day), crude protein (190 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (740 g/day), body condition score (2.81 points), fatness (2.87 points), carcass conformation (3.19 points), live weight (29.1 kg), empty bodyweight (23.41 kg), weights of the commercial cuts neck, shoulder and ribs (0.46, 0.82 and 1.12 kg, respectively), and skin weight (1.972 kg). No differences were found between the diets for carcass dressing percentage, external and internal carcass lengths, leg length and circumference, rump circumference and width, chest width and depth, full bodyweight, empty bodyweight, cooling losses, pH before and after cooling, loin, and leg. Silages of old man saltbush, buffelgrass, gliricidia and pornunça are recommended for inclusion in lamb diets. Diets with old man saltbush silage provide the best results for characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components besides weight gain, which can reach up to 200 g/day depending on the formulation.Keywords: Carcass composition, feedlot, saltbush, shee

Analysis of access to hypertensive and diabetic drugs in the Family Health Strategy, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the access to drugs for hypertension and diabetes and the direct cost of buying them among users of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional study of a systematic random sample of 785 patients with hypertension and 823 patients with diabetes mellitus who were registered in 208 randomly selected FHS teams in 35 municipalities of the state of Pernambuco. The selected municipalities were classified into three levels with probability proportional to municipality size (LS, large-sized; MS, medium-sized; SS, small-sized). To verify differences between the cities, we used the χ2 test. RESULTS: Pharmacological treatment was used by 91.2% patients with hypertension whereas 85.6% patients with diabetes mellitus used oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and 15.4% used insulin. The FHS team itself provided antihypertensive medications to 69.0% patients with hypertension, OADs to 75.0% patients with diabetes mellitus, and insulin treatment to 65.4%. The 36.9% patients with hypertension and 29.8% with diabetes mellitus that had to buy all or part of their medications reported median monthly cost of R$18.30, R$ 14.00, and R$ 27.61 for antihypertensive drugs, OADs, and insulin, respectively

Geração de indicadores para periódicos científicos: um estudo na AtoZ

It presents the results from a proposal funded by an Institucional Notice. The funds received from the Federal University of Paraná were used to create a database that could generate some indicators for the academic online journal "AtoZ: new practices in information and knowledge". Based on a BibTeX set and the metadata extracted from the Open Journal System plataform, the results allowed an earnest data analysis that can support the decision-making process, as well as the potential use of the methodological procedures proposed for other journals

Geração de indicadores para periódicos científicos: um estudo na AtoZ

It presents the results from a proposal funded by an Institucional Notice. The funds received from the Federal University of Paraná were used to create a database that could generate some indicators for the academic online journal "AtoZ: new practices in information and knowledge". Based on a BibTeX set and the metadata extracted from the Open Journal System plataform, the results allowed an earnest data analysis that can support the decision-making process, as well as the potential use of the methodological procedures proposed for other journals

Fermentation characteristics and chemical composition of elephant grass silage with ground maize and fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria

This study aimed to evaluate the microbial populations, fermentation profile, dry matter recovery and chemical composition of elephant grass silage with ground maize (GM) and the fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB). A factorial design was used with four levels of GM (0 g/kg, 50 g/kg, 100 g/kg and 200 g/kg), untreated or treated with FJLB, in a completely randomized design with five replicates. A pre-experiment was undertaken to determine the optimum level of sucrose to be added to fermented juice for the development of epiphytic microflora. In this pre-experiment, a completely randomized design with three replications was used. The treatments were represented by the levels of sucrose (0 g/kg, 5 g/kg, 10 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 40 g/kg, 60 g/kg and 80 g/kg, fresh matter basis). The microbial populations, dry matter recovery, and effluent losses were affected by the interaction between GM and FJLB. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents increased linearly with the inclusion of GM. The addition of GM enhanced the fermentation process via a reduction in losses, and improvements were identified in the nutritional value of elephant grass silages. The use of fermented juice increased dry matter recovery, and its effect was more pronounced when ground maize was added.Keywords: dry matter recovery, lactic acid, microbiology, Pennisetum purpureu

Influence Of Saccharose On The Development Of Cercariae From Schistosoma Mansoni Strains Bh And Sj.

The development of cercariae from Schistosoma mansoni strains BH and SJ in Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria tenagophila treated with saccharose was studied. The molluscs were maintained in dechlorinated tap water containing 0.01% saccharose. After one week of treatment with saccharose, B. glabrata and B. tenagophila were exposed to ten S. mansoni miracidia, from BH and SJ strains respectively. Control snails of both species were maintained in dechlorinated tap water without saccharose and exposed to the same number of miracidia. There was no significant difference between the infection rates of snails treated or not with saccharose. However, the two groups of B. glabrata had significantly greater infection rates than the corresponding B. tenagophila groups. Molluscs treated with saccharose had a lower survival rate, with the greatest mortality occurring immediately before and at the beginning of cercariae release. Treatment with saccharose did not result in the release of more cercariae, but larvae from molluscs so treated showed a greater capacity to penetrate mouse skin, which was attributed to the greater energy supply during larval development in the mollusc.651434

Metabolic profile and histopathology of kidneys and liver of lambs fed silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment

Thirty-two mixed-breed ram lambs (average age, 5.6 ± 0.4 months, and average live weight, 17.61 ± 2.63 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of diets containing silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment on the metabolic profile in serum and the histopathological assessment of liver and kidney tissues of the lambs. Lambs were allocated, in a completely randomised design, to four treatments (silage of old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and ‘pornunça’ (Manihot sp.). The feedlot period was 49 days, and animals were slaughtered at an average weight of 27 ± 4.6 kg. On the last day of the experiment, blood was collected from the jugular vein of all animals to measure the protein, metabolic and energy profiles of the lambs. At slaughter, kidney and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination. The consuming of the diet containing buffelgrass silage resulted in a significantly higher activity of alanine-aminotransferase (30.14 IU/L) and the concentrations of urea (44.25 mg/dL), creatinine (0.94 mg/dL) and albumin (4.48 g/dL) in serum. Diets containing gliricidia silage resulted in significantly higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (92.0 IU/L), while the diets with pornunça silage resulted in higher serum levels of triglycerides (37.85 mg/dL). The diets had no effect on aspartate-aminotransferase enzyme activity and total protein, cholesterol and globulin concentrations, or the albumin : globulin ratio in serum. Mild congestion, necrosis and foci of mineralisation were observed in the kidneys of animals fed diets containing old man saltbush (50%) and pornunça (25%) silages, and mild fatty degeneration and mild mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in their livers. In conclusion, diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to semi-arid environments may be used for feeding lambs, given the absence of dysfunctioning plasmatic levels of liver enzymes and energy and protein profiles. Additionally, kidney failure was not observed in lambs fed these diets during the feedlot period.Keywords: blood parameters, buffelgrass, gliricidia, old man saltbush, pornunç

The MIDAS experiment: A prototype for the microwave emission of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

Recent measurements suggest that extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) emit signals in the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum caused by the collisions of the free-electrons with the atmospheric neutral molecules in the plasma produced by the passage of the shower. Such emission is isotropic and could allow the detection of air showers with 100% duty cycle and a calorimetric-like energy measurement, a significant improvement over current detection techniques. We have built MIDAS (MIcrowave Detection of Air Showers), a prototype of microwave detector, which consists of a 4.5 m diameter antenna with a cluster of 53 feed-horns in the 4 GHz range. The details of the prototype and first results will be presented.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of 12th Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors (IPRD10), Siena, Italy, 7 - 10 June 201