Drugs online research references









Int J Pharm. 2003 Mar 26;254(2):197-210.
Acyclovir permeation through rat skin: mathematical modelling and in vitro experiments.

Coceani N, Colombo I, Grassi M.

Eurand Trieste, Research Department, via del Follatoio 12, I-34148 Trieste, Italy.

The aim of this work is to characterise the skin permeation properties of a male rat by means of a purely diffusive mathematical model based on Fick's second law. Additionally, in the attempt of proposing a reliable tool allowing the skin permeability (or resistance) determination on the basis of experimental data, the model automatically accounts also for two typical experimental conditions. In particular, drug dissolution in the donor environment and receiver sampling technique (part of the receiver volume is withdrawn and immediately replaced by fresh solvent) are considered. The results of this characterisation are then compared with those coming from a common simplified approach. Acyclovir is chosen as model drug and a thermostatic (37 degrees C) Franz cell apparatus is used to perform permeation experiments. This study suggests that Acyclovir permeation through the rat skin can be well described by the proposed model and that some differences arise in the evaluation of the full-skin resistance performed by means of our model or the usual simpler approach. Copyright 2003 Elsevier Science B.V.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12623196&dopt=Abstract

alles.or.jp

Using a monoclonal antibody to varicella zoster virus (VZV), an immunohistochemical study was performed before and after treatment with acyclovir (750 mg/day intravenously for 5 - 7 days) to investigate the distribution of VZV antigens in the epidermis of four in-patients with herpes zoster, and to correlate their presence with clinical manifestations of the disease. Biopsy specimens were obtained from epidermal lesions on admission to hospital prior to acyclovir administration, and again following treatment. In all cases, VZV antigens were found extensively in the erythematous and vesicular lesions before treatment, but they were not detected 5 - 7 days later in the ulcerative, crusted or pigmented lesions after acyclovir therapy. Further controlled studies will be necessary to compare the distribution of epidermal VZV antigens in acyclovir-treated patients with that in a placebo group to determine whether the loss of VZV antigens was due to acyclovir or to a natural decrease over time.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11471857&dopt=Abstract




Ophthalmology. 2003 Mar;110(3):493-6.
Bilateral herpetic keratoconjunctivitis.

Souza PM, Holland EJ, Huang AJ.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

PURPOSE: To review the clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with bilateral herpetic keratitis. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, observational case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of 544 patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) eye disease treated between January 1996 and September 2001 was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota. Seven patients (1.3%) with bilateral herpetic keratoconjunctivitis were identified. RESULTS: In these seven patients, the age at the initial onset of corneal disease ranged from 7 weeks to 46 years, with a median of 18 years and a mean of 19.3 years. Five patients had systemic atopy, and two patients had severe ocular rosacea. Systemic immune disorders were noted in two patients. Recurrent blepharoconjunctivitis was noted in 8 eyes (57%), epithelial keratitis in 12 eyes (85.7%), stromal keratitis in 9 eyes (64.3%), necrotizing stromal keratitis in 5 eyes (35.7%), and progressive endotheliitis in 2 eyes (14.2%). Corneal complications included opacification, neovascularization, and corneal thinning or perforation. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 1 eye, in which endophthalmitis subsequently developed and which required enucleation. Four patients with continued use of oral antiviral prophylaxis (acyclovir 400 mg twice daily) since September 1999 showed significant decreases in recurrence. The average remission in these four patients was 1.7 years. The visual acuity at the last follow-up was 20/40 or worse in 6 eyes (42.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to unilateral HSV keratitis, our patients with bilateral herpetic corneal infections had underlying atopy or immune deviations and evinced more protracted clinical courses. Long-term prophylactic antiviral treatment has reduced the incidence of recurrence in this group of patients.

online pharmacy ref source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12623810&dopt=Abstract













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