Ebook: Foundations of Pharmacokinetics

This book has its origin in my experience as a teacher of pharmacokinetics in many universities in four different continents. It was not my intention to write a popular book; what distinguishes this one from many others on the same subject is its large use of algebra and calculus. For this I make no apologies; in fact a serious study of pharmacokinetics without the help of mathematics is, in my opinion, impossible. The exact definition of many pharmacokinetic quantities, even the most common, and the correct use of many equations, even the most simple, requires the constant use of mathematical language. On the other hand I have made a considerable effort to use only elementary algebra and elementary calculus, as commonly taught in most introductory university courses. For the few exceptions, when less common mathematical concepts were needed, I have supplied the necessary explanations in four appendices. The first three chapters are a general introduction to the scientific method. Chapters 4 to 12 show different specific methods to deal with pharmacokinetic pr- lems. There is considerable overlap among those chapters; this is intentional and its p- pose is to convince the reader that every problem can be solved in more than one way, including ways that were not mentioned in this book and that intelligent readers can find for their own pleasure. Chapters 13 to 17 show how different parameters of importance in pharmacokinetics can be exactly defined and measured.

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This book is divided into two parts; in the first part the principles and the methods of pharmacokinetics are described in detail, while in the second the main pharmacokinetic parameters are described, giving for each of them the definition, the principal properties, and the methods of determination. An appendix contains the important mathematical instruments used in the main part of the book, namely the operational calculus and the convolution integral.

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This book is divided into two parts; in the first part the principles and the methods of pharmacokinetics are described in detail, while in the second the main pharmacokinetic parameters are described, giving for each of them the definition, the principal properties, and the methods of determination. An appendix contains the important mathematical instruments used in the main part of the book, namely the operational calculus and the convolution integral.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvi
Introduction....Pages 1-3
Models....Pages 5-15
Physical Quantities....Pages 17-26
The Birth of Compartments....Pages 27-35
Linear Differential Equations....Pages 37-50
Stochastic Compartments....Pages 51-59
Directed Graphs....Pages 61-68
Linear Graphs....Pages 69-82
Moments....Pages 83-93
Integral Equations....Pages 95-111
Matrix Equations....Pages 113-125
Non-Linear Models....Pages 127-134
Clearance....Pages 135-141
Turnover....Pages 143-147
Volume and Dilution Factor....Pages 149-159
Time Parameters....Pages 161-170
Bioavailability and Bioequivalence....Pages 171-177
Conclusion....Pages 179-180
Back Matter....Pages 181-228

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This book is divided into two parts; in the first part the principles and the methods of pharmacokinetics are described in detail, while in the second the main pharmacokinetic parameters are described, giving for each of them the definition, the principal properties, and the methods of determination. An appendix contains the important mathematical instruments used in the main part of the book, namely the operational calculus and the convolution integral.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xvi
Introduction....Pages 1-3
Models....Pages 5-15
Physical Quantities....Pages 17-26
The Birth of Compartments....Pages 27-35
Linear Differential Equations....Pages 37-50
Stochastic Compartments....Pages 51-59
Directed Graphs....Pages 61-68
Linear Graphs....Pages 69-82
Moments....Pages 83-93
Integral Equations....Pages 95-111
Matrix Equations....Pages 113-125
Non-Linear Models....Pages 127-134
Clearance....Pages 135-141
Turnover....Pages 143-147
Volume and Dilution Factor....Pages 149-159
Time Parameters....Pages 161-170
Bioavailability and Bioequivalence....Pages 171-177
Conclusion....Pages 179-180
Back Matter....Pages 181-228
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