What
computer requirements are needed to run PK Solutions?
In general, PK Solutions
will run on any computer that has Microsoft Excel™ installed. This
includes Windows, Macintosh, and Linux based operating systems.
For Windows
systems, PK Solutions will work in all versions of Excel from ver. 5
to ver. 2010 and 2012, in Windows 95 thru Windows XP/Vista/7/8.
For Macintosh systems, PK Solutions will work in Mac Excel versions 2000, 2004 and 2011. Mac Office/Excel 2008 does not support VBA macros, as used in PK Solutions. However, Mac Office/Excel 2004 or (Mac Excel 2004 alone) can be installed to run side-by-side with an installed version of Mac Office/Excel 2008 on the same computer. This dual version configuration gives you access to Mac Office/Excel files containing VBA macros (including PK Solutions) not supported in Mac Office 2008.
How
does PK Solutions run in Microsoft Excel?
PK Solutions is an Excel template file (.xlt extension).
Each time you click on the template file, a new workbook (.xls extension)
opens with the default contents of the original template file. You can
name and save this new workbook to any location you choose. The original
template file cannot be altered or corrupted.
Where
should I save the PK Solutions template file on my computer?
You can copy the PK Solutions template file to any
location on your computer that you like. It does not need to be in the
so-called "Templates" folder for Excel. Place it anywhere and
then simply click or double-click on it to start a new instance of PK
Solutions.
Can
I use the software on more than one computer?
If you purchased a Single User License, you can use
the software on your work and personal computer, if you are the sole user.
I
purchased a Single User License for myself. Can my assistant use the software?
No. It is a violation of the Single User License agreement
to allow anyone else to use or obtain a copy of your PK Solutions software.
If other people in your group or department need or would like to use
PK Solutions, your organization must upgrade your license to a Three User
or a Limited Site / Network license. See the Order Information page for
purchase details.
We
want to expand our user license. Will we get a refund for the initial
purchase?
Yes. When you upgrade your user license to include
more users, the cost of your initial purchase is fully rebated if your
upgrade occurs within six months of your initial purchase. For example,
if you expand from a Single User to a Three User license, the full cost
of the initial license will be deducted when you purchase the Three User
license. This rebate applies for any upgrade in user licenses.
How
can I compare the results of PK Solutions with other software?
The demo version of PK Solutions (available from the
download page) illustrates the completed results after performing an analysis
on a tri-exponential plasma curve after oral dose taken from the literature.
The input data, literature results, and literature citation (Gibaldi and
Perrier) is found as Item 2 (Oral 3) on the Test Data worksheet. The results
of performing this analysis (including graphs and all pharmacokinetic
parameters) are displayed on the worksheets exactly as obtained. You can
use this data set to compare the results obtained by PK Solutions with
other software.
What
is Summit's privacy policy?
Your information is secure. We will never release your
e-mail or postal address (or any personal information) to any other company
or agency.
How
should I cite the use of PK Solutions in publications?
The citation will typically be referenced in the Experimental
section. State the full name of the software and version, our location
and web site. For example, "Pharmacokinetic results were obtained
using PK Solutions 2.0 (Summit Research Services, Montrose, CO 81401;
www.SummitPK.com)." Including the web site address is particularly
important to enable the reader to find the software.
I
get a macro warning warning message when opening a workbook? What should
I do?
Depending on your security level setting in Excel,
you may see a macro warning dialog box when you open a workbook that contains
macros. Macros contain the code that operates PK Solutions and other Summit
Research software. Our software is guaranteed virus free and safe, but
macros from unknown sources may contain viruses that can corrupt workbooks
or Excel itself. For Summit software, choose Enable Macros and proceed
to open the workbook. We recommend that you depend on an anti-virus application
as your primary safeguard against viruses in any form, rather than on
the limited Excel macro warning. If you have anti-virus software installed,
then you can change your security setting to disable macro warning messages.
To do so, choose Tools > Macro > Security to open the Security box. Select
Low on the Security Level tab.
I
get a format warning message when I open PK Solutions with Excel XP.
PK Solutions is now shipped in two editions. One runs
in Excel 95 through 2000, the other in Excel XP and above. These are identical
and both editions are included with your program software. If you have
the earlier edition of PK Solutions and run it in Excel XP, you will get
the following error message when the workbook opens: "Excel encountered
an error and had to remove some formatting to avoid corrupting the notebook.
Please re-check your formatting carefully." You can safely click
OK and use PK Solutions, but this will become annoying. There are two
ways to update your edition of PK Solutions to avoid the error dialog.
One, contact us with your registration number and we will send you the
PK Solutions edition for use with Excel XP and above. Alternately, you
can convert your current edition of PK Solutions to the XP and above edition.
To do this, follow these steps: (1) Click the PK Solutions template to
start a new workbook in Excel XP or above. (2) Click through the error
messages to dismiss them. Do not alter the workbook. Remain on the opening
page and select Save As from the File menu. (3) In the 'Save as type',
select Template (*.xlt). (4) Enter the file name as "PKSOLNXP.xlt", and
navigate to where you want to save the file and click Save. This procedure
simply converts your PK Solutions from the earlier edition template to
the XP and above template.
What
support can I get to help me use PK Solutions?
We are pleased to answer any questions you may have
about the operation of PK Solutions and interpreting your results. You
can send us your data set and we will run it and return to you our best
analysis. This often gives you just the boost you need to continue with
unusual issues. We encourage you to purchase the optional One Year Free
Upgrades and Support Plan if you anticipate needing more than occasional
support or consultation.
Viewing
the default new PK Solutions workbook contents.
PK Solutions is provided as an Excel template file.
A new copy of the program opens each time you click on the template. The
default new workbook shows the completed analysis of a data set obtained
by running the second data set (ORAL 3) found on the Test Data sheet.
PK Solutions uses VBA code in combination with dynamically linked formulas
to calculate and display results. This allows for instant updating of
all relevant data throughout the workbook. The default display of a completed
analysis serves as a placeholder for the results that are generated in
your run.
Select "Oral" as
the Dose Route for subcutaneous or other extravascular routes.
In PK Solutions, "oral" is simply a shortcut
for "extravascular." Thus, for sc, ip, intra-nasal or any other
non-intravenous route of administration, select "Oral" for the
Dose Route option. What this actually does is change the sign of the final
extracted exponential term to reflect the positive slope of the absorption
phase. In sum,the "Intravenous" option means parenteral administration
in general and the "Oral" option means extravascular administration
in general. Thus, PK Solution can handle iv, oral, intra-muscular, ip,
subcutaneous, dermal, post-infusion decline, controlled release, or most
any other administration route.
How
to use units other than those listed on the Data Setup sheet.
If you want to use units other than those available
in the drop-down list, type the new unit in the cell directly below any
drop-down box (on the line with the red indicator). The new unit will
then appear on the drop-down list for you to select. For more about the
Data Setup sheet components, see the PK Solutions User Guide, page 10.
Obtaining
pharmacokinetic results with endogenous substances.
If you need to determine the pharmacokinetics of an
endogenous substance already present in your sample, first determine the
baseline or basal concentration of the material and then subtract this
concentration for all your sample collection time points. Use these "corrected" concentration
values as the New Data input on the Data Setup sheet.
Explanation
of the default curve stripping modules on the Data Analysis sheet.
When you complete the Data Setup sheet, clicking the
New Data Set button will take you to the Data Analysis sheet. This sheet
contains graphs of your data and three modules for extracting the exponential
terms that make up the concentration curve. The default configuration
for the curve stripping modules is to show a linear regression line drawn
through the last two time points. Proceed by selecting T1 and T2 for the
first module (Elimination) and click Plot. Repeat this in the remaining
modules until no residual data remains. Finally, make the appropriate
selection and then click on the Exponential Terms button. The program
will acknowledge your selection and immediately update all results and
graphs on the remaining worksheets.
Determining
infusion and post-infusion non-compartmental parameters.
You can determine the AUC for any portion of a plasma
curve following infusion. To do this, enter your infusion data on the
Data Setup sheet, and select "oral" as the dose mode. Then,
on the Data Analysis page, use the first curve stripping module to obtain
the elimination rate and half-life. Select "1 Term: E" and click
the Define Terms button. PK Solutions will compute and display all non-compartmental
parameters based on curve area measurements (e.g., AUC, AUMC, MRT, etc.).
Determining
post-infusion pharmacokinetics.
PK Solutions can graph and tabulate all the pharmacokinetic
parameters associated with the post-infusion decay curve following IV
infusion. To do this, note the time when infusion was stopped. Subtract
this time value from all subsequent collection time points. On the Data
Setup sheet, enter zero for the initial time and concentration. Then enter
the remaining post-infusion concentrations and their corrected time values.
Select the IV dose route option and proceed to run the Data Analysis as
an intravenous dose.
Exporting
PK Solutions graphs and results as GIF, JPEG files or other file types.
You can save any graph, range of cells or even a
whole spreadsheet from PK Solutions in a variety of file types.
This can be very useful when you want to include results
in a presentation or report, or send them to a someone else. One option is to download a copy of
the free "Exporter" Excel add-in described on our Free Tools sheet. Within Microsoft Office applications such as Word and PowerPoint, simply select the range of cells or graph of interest from PK Solutions and copy and paste it into the desired program.
