Cefaclor is a second generation cephalosporin antibiotic that shows a potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, when it is orally administered. Due to its patent expiration, a number of generic drugs have been marketed, but not yet elucidated to ensure therapeutic equivalence. In this study, cefaclor capsules manufactured by Chong Kun Dang were bioequivallently assessed by comparing with $Ceclor^{TM}$ introduced originally by Daewoong Lilly. A total of 16 healthy male volunteers were evaluated in a randomized crossover manner with a 2-week washout period. Concentrations of cefaclor in plasma were measured upto 6 hours following a single oral administration of two capsules (500 mg of cefaclor) by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Although the plasma concentration at 6 hours was not detected, the computed half-life of cefaclor was approximately 0.5 hours. The area under the concentration-vs-time curve from 0 to 4 hours $(AUC_{0-4h})$ was calculated by the trapezoidal summation method. The differences in mean values of $AUC_{0-4h}$, peak plasma concentration $(C_{max})$, and time to peak concentration $(T_{max})$ between the two products were $4.63\%,\;1.84\%,\;and\3.28\%$, respectively. The least significant differences at $\alpha4= 0.05 for $AUC_{0-4h},\;C_{max},\;and\;T_{max}\;were\;6,53\%,\;4.05\%,\;and\;6.47\%$, respectively. In conclusion, the test drug was bioequivalent with the reference drug.

The gastrointestinal disorders (GI disorders) is one of the most common diseases in Korea. The community pharmacists are often faced with the complaints of symptoms due to the GI disorders. However the drugs used to treat the GI disorders are frequently abused by the patients themselves because these drugs are easily available and have high placebo effects. Therefore, we have reviewed the digestive diseases statistics of 1996 to find out the frequencies of the GI disorders in the outpatients of Samsung Medical Center. Using these statistic data, we figured out the frequently diagnosed GI disorders and analysed commonly used prescriptions from February 1st to 28th of 1997. In addition, we also evaluated the commonly used drugs in these prescriptions. About twenty thousands of patients visited the hopital because of their GI symptoms in 1996. It was found that dyspepsia, viral hepatitis, and gastric and duodenal ulcer disease are frequently diagnosed in these patients. In a point of view on other GI disorders, gastritis and duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation and diarrhea were commonly detected. And a number of drugs were prescribed to treat the GI disorders, which included the prokinetics, Histamine-2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitor, antacids, tranquillizers, antidepressants, antispasmodics, laxatives and so on. Interestingly, there were many prescriptions composing of the antibiotic regimens to eradicate H. pylori which has been proven to cause peptic ulcers.

Cardiac and antihypertensive effects of BMS-180448, a cardiac-selective ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, and its newly synthesized derivatives KR-31281, KR-31282 and KR-31299 were evaluated in isolated perfused rat hearts (25 min global ischemia/30 min reperfusion) and conscious rats. Three new compounds $(10\;{\mu}M)$ induced positive inotropism as evidenced by increased LVDP (left ventricular developed pressure) and RPP (Rate-Pressure Product) in nonischemic rat heart. HR-31299 increased CF (coronary flow) and HR (heart rate) but the other two had no effects. KR-31282, KR-31281 and HR-31299 had a tendency to increase reperfusion LVDP and RPP compared with vehicle, while the latter two significantly reduced reperfusion EDP with a tendency to inclose TTC (time to contracture). All three KR-compounds had very weak effects on MBP and HR in conscious rats. These results indicate that KR-31281 and HR-31299 may have some cardioprotective effects, although weaker than BMS-180448, and their mode of action different from that of BMS-180448, despite the similarity in major structural moeity.

Helicobacter pylori(HP) has been implicated as the cause of acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric carcinoma. To date the most successful treatment in eradicating HP is known to be the combination of two or more antibiotics with an anti-ulcer drug. In this study, in vitro antimicrobial activity against two was assessed, when proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), omeprazole and lansoprazole, were added to antibiotics at different concentrations. The assays in the absence of PPIs gave minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) value of 0.63 mg/l for amoxicillin, 4 mg/l for tetracycline, 0.08 mg/l for clarithromycin and 0.16 mg/l for azithromycin. At the concentrations of 125 mg/l, 25 mg/1 and 0.5 mg/l of omeprazole, and the concentrations of 31.25 mg/l, 6.25 mg/l and 1 mg/l of lansoprazole, the MICs of clarithromycin and azithromycin were reduced by $50\%$. Also, lansoprazole at the highest concentration 31.25 mg/l reduced the MIC of amoxicillin by $50\%$, and omeprazole at the highest concentration of 125 mg/l reduced the MIC of tetracycline by $50\%$. In conclusion, the in vitro combination of PPIs and antibiotics led to improvement in the MIC of antibiotics against HP associated gastric disease.

The effect of the light on the stability of 5-fluorouracil admixture was investigated. Four sets of 5-fluorouracil admixture were prepared using 50 mg/ml injection in $5\%$ dextrose solution in PVC bags and glass bottles: (1) 5-fluorouracil 1 mg/ml concentration in glass bottles, (2) 5-fluorouracil 1 mg/ml in PVC bags, (3) 5-fluorouracil 10 mg/ml in glass bottles, and (4) 5-fluorouracil 10 mg/ml in PVC bags. In each set, one group was protected from the light (control group) and the other group was exposed to the fluorescent light (study group). All admixtures were stored at room temperature for 72 hours. Also, 5-fluorouracil injections (50 mg/ml) were prepared in plastic syringes. Half of the samples of 50 mg/ml concentration were protected from the light (control group) and the other half were exposed to the fluorescent light (study group). These were stored at room temperature for 48 hours. After visual inspection, the pHs of each admixture were determined. The 5-fluorouracil concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, with 5-bromouracil as an internal standard. Over the study period, no visual changes were observed. The pHs of 5-fluorouracil admixtures were in the range of $8.2\~8.5$. The peak area ratios (5-FU/5-BrU) of 5-fluorouracil admixtures protected from the light were compared with those of the admixtures exposed to the light. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups during the study period (p>0.05). In conclusion, 5-fluorouracil admixtures in $5\%$ dextrose solution exposed to the light were stable for 72 hours.