No description available.

No description available.

Background: Negative outcomes from fetal exposure to maternal dug use include Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and altered development, the unpredictability of which suggests a biological element as yet not accounted for. The manner in which the human placenta protects the fetus from xenobiotics such as drugs of misuse is not completely characterised. However, Adenosine Triphosphate Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters in placentae have demonstrated their ability to efflux xenobiotics away from the fetal vascular compartment leading to lower concentrations than in the maternal compartment and some commonly used drugs have been shown to be substrates for these proteins, e.g. methadone. It is suggested that polymorphisms in the genes that encode these transporter proteins may alter their expression and/or function. Hypothesis- Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ABC transporters ABCB1, ABCG2, ABCC1 and ABCC2 change protein expression and/or function leading to increased fetal exposure demonstrated by increased signs of NAS and/or altered development. Objectives: To determine if genotype alters protein expression and whether there is a relationship between the level of placental multidrug resistance protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp), Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP), Multidrug Resistance Associated Proteins (MRP1 and MRP2) expression and neonatal and/or developmental outcomes. Methods: Drug using women were recruited. In the immediate postnatal period placental tissue, cord blood and maternal hair samples were taken. Hair was analysed to determine drug use in the preceding 3 months, immunoblotting determined the level of P-gp, BCRP, MRP1 and MRP2 protein expression. Sequenom MassExtend Array produced genotypes from DNA obtained from cord blood. Infants were assessed for NAS at birth, 3 days and 3 weeks. At 8 months and 1 year development was assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales. Plink was used to determine statistically significant associations between genotype and outcome phenotypes. Results- The level of fetal drug exposure did not predict the need for pharmacological treatment for NAS. 32 polymorphisms with significant associations to outcome measures were identified: 4 SNPs significantly altered protein expression, (3 for P-gp and 1 for MRP1). 41 SNPs were associated with changes across 4 of the 5 GMDS subscales. Discussion: No clear relationship between MDRP protein expression and neonatal outcome was noted. However, fetal genotype did influence the expression of P-gp and MRP1 and genotype across all four proteins was associated with significant changes in the measures of infant development. This was a small study and as such generation of susceptible haplotypes was not possible. However the data generated do support the concept. Further larger and longer term prospective studies, building on the experience reported in this thesis, are necessary to generate more data in order to identify haplotypes leading to increased fetal susceptibility to drug exposure.

Morphine-6-glucuronide is a minor metabolite. representing 5% of an administered dose of morphine. The metabolite has analgesic activity exceeding that of morphine and may contribute to analgesia following morphine administration. The aims of the study were to attempt to identify the reasons behind the improved activity of morphine-6-glucuronide over the parent compound and to examine a series of 6-substituted compounds, based on 6-substituted benzoate esters, as potential mimics of morphine-6-glucuronide. Morphine-6-glucuronide was seen to have similar affinity to morphine at l1-opioid receptors as assessed by ligand-binding assays in mouse brain homogenates. However a three-fold improved affinity at S-opioid receptor binding sites was observed and a ten-fold reduction in affinity at K-opioid sites. Using in vitro bioassay systems the glucuronide showed a two-fold improved potency over morphine in both the guinea-pig ileum and the mouse vas deferens preparations. Following in vivo (s.c.) administration in the mouse the glucuronide was seen to be equipotent with morphine in the tail-flick test, but was of much longer duration, lasting up to 9 hours. Exvivo binding assays confirmed that morphine-like material was still present in the central nervous system six hours after administration of the glucuronide, but was not observed at a similar time after morphine administration. Activity was retained if the hydroxyl groups of the sugar moiety of the glucuronide were protected as esters. In contrast the more prevalent morphine metabolite morphine-3-glucuronide was inactive in all in vitro and in vivo tests used and did not antagonise morphine in vitro or in vivo. A group of 3-substituted derivatives containing saturated and unsaturated substituents did show affinity for opioid receptors but no agonist activity of the compounds could be demonstrated in vitro. A series of synthetic 6-substituted compounds showed a variety of affinities for, and agonist potencies at, opioid receptors, though low affinity at Kopioid receptors was a general finding. For example, morphine-6- nitrobenzoate was l1-opioid receptor preferring, while morphine-6- phthalate had improved O-opioid receptor affinity and acted via Il-opioid receptors in the mouse vas deferens and in vivo. However the compounds were weaker than morphine and the duration of action in vivo was shorter than morphine-6-glucuronide. The conclusions from these studies are that morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine have similar in vitro affinities at the l1-receptor, although morphine-6-glucuronide has somewhat improved binding affinity for Il receptor sites, it has less affinity for K receptor sites. Pharmacokinetic reasons are probably responsible for the improved activity and duration of action of morphine-6-glucuronide over morphine. None of the synthetic compounds examined are potentially useful as direct mimics of the glucuronide because morphine-6-glucuronide is more potent and has a longer duration of action than the synthetic derivatives, though alteration at the 6-position of the morphine nucleus can lead to dramatic changes in selectivity and potency of ligands for the differing opioid receptors.

Cette thèse cherche à optimiser l’utilisation du génotypage et des scores de gravité dans la drépanocytose. L’aspect diagnostic génétique ne nous semblait pas poser problème jusqu’à ce que nous rencontrions un cas très atypique d’hétérozygotie A/S avec délétion en mosaïque du gène β-globine qui nous a conduits à réfléchir sur une nouvelle forme génétique potentielle de syndrome drépanocytaire majeur. Pour ce qui est des gènes modificateurs de drépanocytose, nous avons voulu faciliter leur l’accès en proposant, pour deux d’entre eux (haplotypes β-globine et G6PD), une méthode de génotypage rapide par HRM et/ou FRET. Notre travail a consisté ensuite en la validation d’un score de sévérité pédiatrique décrit initialement par Van den Tweel. De façon inattendue, les résultats nous ont amenés à nous interroger sur le rôle exact du génotype α-globine dans la drépanocytose avec un possible effet âge-dépendant. Enfin, nous avons étudié les fréquences alléliques des principaux polymorphismes influant sur l’activité des opiacés: une résistance pharmacologique (gènes OPRM1 et COMT) est apparue peu probable mais une proportion non négligeable de drépanocytaires pourrait avoir des génotypes ABCB1 et UGT2B7 défavorables à la biodisponibilité des opiacés / This work is submitted for a PhD thesis in the field of red cell haematology. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disorder under polygenic and environmental control. The aim of this work was to integrate genotyping results from patients' DNA into the determination of the disease severity scores. Through a large population of SCD patients, we have discovered an atypical case of βA / βS heterozygosity namely, a mosaicism deletion of the beta-globin gene. This represents a new SCD complex situation for molecular diagnosis. Further investigations have led to set up a new genotyping method by using HRM and/or FRET for the determination of two SCD modifiers (beta-globin haplotypes and G6PD deficiency). By using a paediatric severity score of the disease proposed by Van den Tweel, our results show that there is a possible age-dependent effect of the alpha-globin gene in the severity of SCD. Finally, we studied the allelic frequencies of the main opiate-related polymorphisms: a pharmacological resistance (OPRM1 and COMT genes) seemed unlikely but a quite important proportion of patients could have both an ABCB1 and a UGT2B7 genotype unfavorable for opiates bioavailability

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No description available.

Dans le milieu clinique des soins intensifs, l’induction du coma médicamenteux (i.e. iatrogénique) par les sédatifs et les analgésiques est souvent associée à une augmentation significative du délirium. De plus, l’utilisation de sédatifs et d’analgésiques comme le fentanyl et le midazolam sans interruption et sans ajustement aux besoins du patient augmentent la durée de séjour, les coûts et la mortalité. Le but de cette étude était d’explorer les facteurs de variabilité pouvant influencer la survenue du coma iatrogénique et du délirium tel que : les facteurs génétiques/sociodémographiques et la co-administration de médicaments substrats ou inhibiteurs de CYP3A4/3A5 ou de la glycoproteine P. L’étude prospective à visée observationnelle a été effectuée à l’unité de soins intensifs de l’hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont avec 53 patients perfusés avec fentanyl ou midazolam. La faisabilité du modèle pharmacocinétique du fentanyl a été mise en évidence à partir des échantillons sanguins des patients et était compatible avec les données cliniques. Cette étude montre donc que contrairement au profil génomique de CYP3A5 (p value = 0,521) et MDR1 (p value = 0,828), les effets des interactions médicamenteuses entre les inhibiteurs CYP3A4/CYP3A5 et fentanyl/midazolam représentent un facteur de risque pour le coma iatrogénique (p value = 0,014). Ces effets peuvent être facilement identifiés et sont prévisibles; résultats qui seront utiles aux praticiens – intensivistes dans le choix d’une thérapie pharmacologique appropriée pour prévenir les complications morbides comme le coma iatrogénique et le délirium. / When sedatives such as midazolam or opiate analgesics such as fentanyl administered to critically ill patients and medication-induced coma occurs, increased delirium is observed. In addition, there is an increase in the length of stay in ICU, in costs and mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors of variability affecting the incidence of iatrogenic coma and delirium: genetics/socio demographics factors, co-administration of substrates/inhibitors of CYP3A4/3A5 or P-gp. We performed a prospective cohort observational study of 53 hospitalized patients treated with fentanyl or/and midazolam in the intensive care unit of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital The feasibility of pharmacokinetics modeling using blood samples from critically ill patients was demonstrated and was compatible with clinical data. This study suggests that contrary to genomic variants in the CYP3A5 (p value = 0,521) and MDR1 (p value = 0,828) genes, the effect of drugs and drugs interactions between inhibitors of CYP3A4/3A5 and fentanyl/ midazolam constitutes the main risk factor for iatrogenic coma (p value - 0,014). These effects are easily identifiable and predictable, and are very important for intensive care workers to make the appropriate choice of medication in order to prevent morbid complications such as iatrogenic coma and delirium.

Les patients admis aux soins intensifs (SI) souffrent de comorbidités qui affectent leur pronostic. Deux problèmes sont potentiellement associés aux sédatifs et compliquent le séjour de 35 à 50% des malades : le délirium, un état confusionnel aigu; et le coma ‘iatrogénique’, une altération de la conscience induite pharmacologiquement. L’importance de l’association entre clinique et médicaments a un intérêt pour prévenir ces syndromes cliniques morbides. Nous voulions étudier le délirium et le coma iatrogénique, les doses administrées de midazolam et de fentanyl, leurs niveaux plasmatiques, les variantes génétiques de métabolisme et de transport et les facteurs inflammatoires et ce, chez 100 patients admis aux soins intensifs. Nos données soulignent l’importance des interactions médicamenteuses dans l’incidence du coma iatrogénique, et réfutent l’association entre les benzodiazépines et le délirium. Ces résultats clarifient la pathophysiologie du délirium, corroborent le manque d’association délirium-benzodiazépines avec un marqueur biologique, c.-à-d. les niveaux sériques, et ouvrent le débat quant aux agents les plus utiles pour traiter l’anxiété et le délirium. Finalement, plusieurs caractéristiques pharmacocinétiques des benzodiazépines administrées aux soins intensifs publiées récemment complètent les données de notre étude quant à la sédation en soins critiques. Un chapitre sur l’importance de la pharmacogénomique en soins intensifs et un débat publié quant au pro et con de l'utilisation des benzodiazépines aux SI, sont soumis en complément de l’étude clinique décrite ci-haut effectuée dans le cadre de cette maîtrise. / Critically ill patients suffer from co-morbid conditions that impact on their prognosis. Two problems complicate Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay in 35-50% of patients and are potentially associated with sedatives: delirium, an acute confusional state, and 'iatrogenic' coma, when consciousness is altered pharmacologically. Establishing the association between these clinical syndromes and administering sedatives is key in planning effective prevention of these morbid complications. We studied iatrogenic delirium and coma in 100 ICU patients given midazolam and/or fentanyl, and tallied drug doses, measured plasma levels, genetic variations in metabolism and transport and inflammatory factors. Our data highlight the role drug-drug interactions play in iatrogenic coma, and refute the association between benzodiazepines and delirium. These results clarify the pathophysiology of delirium, corroborate the lack of delirium-benzodiazepine association with a benzodiazepine biological marker, i.e. serum levels, and open the debate as to which agents are useful for treating anxiety and delirium. Recent publications addressing benzodiazepine pharmacokinetics in critical care complement our data in the field of critical care sedation. A chapter on the importance of pharmacogenomics in intensive care, and a published pro-con debate as to benzodiazepine use in critical care are submitted in addition to the clinical study mentioned above as part of this master’s thesis.

The thesis is devoted to the issue of addiction services with a focus on substitution treatment. Theoretical part focuses on presenting of susbstitution treatment, its history and description of the substitution substances and their effects on the human body. Describes the abuse of substitution treatment by problem drug users and tries to map out the various addiction treatment services with a focus on substitution treatment in Prague. The research section defines the attitude of society towards the establishment and functioning of Prague substitution centers. The thesis concludes with an overview of addiction services and substitution programs in the capital city of Prague. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)