The corpus-fundus of the urinary bladder of man and cat was studied in vifro with respect to type of beta-adrenergic receptors. In both species betaadrenergic stimulation produced marked relaxation but species differences were apparent. In the cat bladder only beta,-receptors were found. In the human bladder the beta-receptors had neither beta,-nor beta.2-characteristics. It is suggested that the beta-adrenergic receptors in the corpus-fundus of the human bladder are of a third type.

Two rating scales, which were originally developed for measurements of objective and subjective signs of opiate withdrawal, were used to evaluate potential estimates (correlates) of methadone effects in relation to plasma methadone concentrations. Patients participating in our regular methadone maintenance treatment project were studied during 24 h after the intake of the daily methadone dose. Methadone concentrations in plasma were compared to the subjective (estimated by the patients) and objective (estimated by the investigator) signs of the drug effects before, and 2.5, 5, 9 and 24 h after intake of methadone. Some new items possibly related to rising methadone concentrations were added to the subjective scale. Results indicated that, for subjective ratings, the majority of the items investigated corresponded well with the plasma methadone concentrations. The most significant associations were found for the following items: low psychomotor speed, alertness, running nose, yawning and anxiety. For objective ratings, only the items rhinorrhea, piloerection and signs of anxiety were significantly associated with the methadone concentrations. These rating scales may, together with plasma methadone determinations, be of considerable value when making dose adjustments for methadone maintenance patients. Further work is, however, needed to establish concentration-effect relationships.

The distribution of cloxacillin and flucloxacillin in whole blood from seven newborn infants and their mothers was determined in vitro by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees C. Seven healthy, non-pregnant women of reproductive age served as controls. The distribution of the penicillins to erythrocytes was the same in the infants as in the adults. It was significantly lower in the presence of plasma albumin than when plasma was replaced by isotonic phosphate buffer. The plasma protein binding of cloxacillin and flucloxacillin in 22 infants was significantly lower than in the controls, but was slightly higher than in the mothers. A significant correlation between binding of cloxacillin and flucloxacillin in the same individual suggested that the two drugs were bound to similar sites. During the first postnatal week binding in infant plasma decreased. This change was correlated with an increase in the bilirubin levels. In the mothers, the binding increased during the first week after delivery. On the basis of the distribution data, maternal to fetal plasma and whole blood concentration ratios at equilibrium were calculated. These ratios were lower for flucloxacillin (medians 0.770 and 0.821, respectively) than for cloxacillin 0.996 and 1.094). Accordingly, at equilibrium somewhat higher levels of flucloxacillin should appear on the fetal than on the maternal side, whereas the concentrations of cloxacillin would be expected to be approximately the same.

Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum L.) is used in aromatherapy as a holistic treatment for apathy, hysteria, uterine disorders and childbirth, muscle relaxation and coughs. Its stimulant nature, on inhalation, has been shown both in animals and man. Jasmine has a spasmolytic activity on guinea-pig ileum and rat uterus in vitro. The mechanism of action of the spasmolytic activity, studied in vitro using a guinea-pig ileum smooth muscle preparation, was postsynaptic and not atropine-like. The spasmolytic effect of jasmine absolute was most likely to be mediated through cAMP, and not through cGMP. The mode of action in vitro resembled that of geranium, lavender and peppermint oils. The contradictory effect in vitro and in vivo is probably due to the solely physiological effects of jasmine absolute in vitro (producing a relaxation) compared with that in vivo, where it has a strong psychological input, producing a stimulant effect in man and enhanced movement in animals.

An analytical procedure for the simultaneous determination of pethidine and its N-Demethylated metabolite, norpethidine, in plasma is described. Pethidine and norpethidine are separated by partition chromatography, converted to the trichloroethyl carbamate with trichloroethyl chloroformate and determined by electron capture gas chromatography. The smallest amounts of pethidine and norpethidine determined by the method were 10 and 2 ng, respectively, in 0.1 ml plasma. The relative standard deviation in the determination of 50 ng of pethidine and 40 ng of norpethidine in 0.1 ml plasma wwere 5.8% (n = 8) and 6.3% (n = 10), respectively. The method was used to determine plasma levels of pethidine and norpethidine in three patients who received subcutaneous doses of pethidine 50-75 mg for postoperative pain. The peak levels of pethidine were found to be in the range 200-400 ng/ml, with a plasma half-life of the order of 4 hours. The levels of norpethidine were low.