Drugs populations

Device/Drug Population Optimal technique Therapeutic issues... 

There have unfortunately been very few systematic examinations of treatment of benzodiazepine misuse or dependence in the illicit drug population, and knowledge on the subject has been rather static over the last decade or so. When special programmes are tried the difficulties which seem inherent in this area are still apparent, such as in the randomized controlled study of reducing benzodiazepine dosing and cognitive behavioural therapy versus standard treatment by Vorma et al. (2002). The subjects were outpatients in clinics... 

One of the simplest diversity measurements is to take the established properties of a molecular set (LogP or molecular weight for example), subdivide that property, and then to attempt to populate that space with molecules from the total collection. Partitioning approaches have recently been reviewed by Mason and Pickett [20], Populations can be equal in density across the property space, or, perhaps more realistically, weighted to reflect known drug population. Where a particular effect is desired, it is also possible to design to incorporate a particular preferment. Such a diversity approach, (looking solely at the properties of molecules) may be independent of any structural information about the molecules, but in a more powerful... 

Nielsen GL, Sorensen HT, Larsen H, Pedersen L. Risk of adverse birth outcome and miscarriage in pregnant users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs population based observational study and case-control study. BMJ 2001 322(7281) 266-70. 

Hippisley-Cox J, Coupland C, Hippisley-Cox J, Coupland C. Risk of myocardial infarction in patients taking cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitorsor conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs population based nested case-control analysis.. BMJ 2005 330 1366. 

M. Hudson, H. Richard and L. Pilote, Differences in outcomes of patients with congestive heart failure prescribed celecoxib, rofecoxib, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs population based study, Br. Med. J.,... 

Ingested plant metabolites, drugs and other compounds are processed both by the animal and by the microbial flora of the gut. The composition and activities of the gut microflora vary greatly from one animal species to another and have been very extensively reviewed." In true ruminants (sheep, cattle and deer) and in functional ruminants, such as camels and llamas, a mixed population of bacteria,... 

Infectious patients present a difficult challenge when trying to protect health care workers. These patients must be isolated from the health care workers as well as from the other patients in the hospital. Special isolation rooms are used for this purpose. These rooms are generally used for isolation of infectious tuberculosis (TB) patients, but could be used for patients with other airborne-transmitted diseases. In the United States, there were 22 812 new cases of tuberculosis in 1993, equal to 8.7 per 100 000 population. This represents a 2.8% increase since 1985, following a 6-7% annual decline from 1981-1984.Several studies have documented higher than expected tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion rates in hospital personnel.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health " reports that multiple-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of TB have been reported in 40 states and have caused outbreaks in at least 21 hospitals, with 18-35% of exposed workers having documented TST conversions. 

Experiments yield samples of data that can be likened to the tip of the iceberg (i.e., showing a little of what a given system or drug can do). The general aim of experimental pharmacology is to extend this to reveal the complete iceberg and define the model for the complete behavior of the system. Thus, the sample is used to fuel models and the verisimilitude of the result assessed to determine whether or not the complete population has been described. Once this is the case, predictions of other behaviors of the system are made and tested in other experiments. 

In the course of pharmacological experiments, a frequent question is Does the experimental system return expected (standard) values for drugs With the obvious caveat that standard values are only a sample of the population that have been repeatedly attained under a variety of circumstances (different systems, different laboratories, different investigators), there is a useful statistical test that can provide a value of probability that a set of values agree or do not agree with an accepted standard value. Assume that four replicate estimates of an antagonist affinity are made (pKb values) to yield a mean value (see Table 11.14). A value of t can be calculated that can give the estimate probability that the mean value differs from a known value with the formula... 

Moreover, there exist polymorphic MOP variants. An Asn40Asp polymorphism has been found with a high abundance in the Caucasian and Asian population. This receptor variant is less expressed in the brain and carrier of this polymorphism appears to need more opioids for analgesic treatment. There are many additional MOP polymorphisms with unknown functional significance. In spite of many studies there appears to exist no significant association of polymorphisms in the MOP gene and drug addiction [5]. 

Glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase Low or absent enzyme activity in about 10% of African populations. Hemolysis following intake of a number of drugs which have electrophilic reactive metabolites, but also, carriers of this enzyme deficiency have a partial protection from malaria. 

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