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This study explores the ability of children with and without dyslexia to provide meaningful verbal self-reports of the strategies they used in a spelling recognition task. Sixty-six children aged 6 years 3 months-9 years 9 months were tested on a range of standardised measures and on an experimental spelling recognition task based on the work of Critten, Pine, and Steffler [Critten, S., Pine, K., & Steffler, D. (2007). "Spelling development in young children: A case of representational redescription?" "Journal of Educational Psychology", 99, 207-220]. Children identified with dyslexia (n = 22, mean age 8 years 10 months) were compared to two typically developing groups of children: the first matched by age (n = 22, 8 years 11 months), the second by spelling ability (n = 22, 7 years 5 months). In the recognition task, children were asked to identify the correct spelling of the target word from three phonologically and/or orthographically plausible alternatives and to verbally self-report the strategy they used when approaching the task. Their strategies were identified with reference to Rittle-Johnson and Siegler [Rittle-Johnson, B., & Siegler, R. (1999). "Learning to spell: Variability, choice, and change in children's strategy use." "Child Development", 70, 332-348]. All of the children in the study were able to provide meaningful self-reports. Results suggest that children with dyslexia are less likely to use the same range of strategies as typically developing children and more likely to use a sounding out (i.e. phonetic strategy) when approaching the task of spelling identification. We conclude that an assessment protocol for spelling that incorporates verbal self-report seems a promising way forward in providing in-depth qualitative information for targeted support. Further, the data suggest that it may be useful to explicitly teach a range of strategies to children with dyslexia when supporting them with their spelling.

An in vitro functional study was conducted to determine if the variations in the human carboxyesterase 1 (CES1) activity led to a quantifiable difference in the pharmacodynamic effects of psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPH). The results from study revealed that specific CES1 gene variants could lead to clinically significant alterations in pharmacokinetics and drug response of carboxylesterase 1 substrates.

This Phase I trial evaluated the interaction between modafinil steady-state and cocaine. Twelve non-treatment seeking, cocaine dependent volunteers received four sets of randomized blinded infusions of saline, 20 mg IV cocaine, and 40mg IV cocaine. Modafinil was given open label at 0mg, 400mg, or 800 mg. Modafinil combined with IV cocaine did not result in any significant hemodynamic interactions. Modafinil significantly dampened scores on Visual Analog Scale measures as compared to baseline cocaine conditions. No significant alterations in labs occurred. Further outpatient trials of modafinil appear to be warranted. Keywords: Cocaine, interactions, modafinil, treatment, INTRODUCTION No Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmacological therapy for cocaine dependence exists. Work with traditional stimulants as agonist replacement therapies for cocaine dependence has been encouraging (1-3). Modafinil [...]

Abstract Various symptoms of mental illness occur commonly during pregnancy. It is estimated that serious mental disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, panic and other anxiety disorders, occur with [...]

Olanzapine (OLZ) is a second-generation antipsychotic agent available in 2 solid oral dosage forms, a standard oral tablet (SOT) and an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT). This study assessed the absorption [...]

The herb St. John's wort may affect the metabolism of many drugs, according to a detailed study of 12 people. Researchers measured the activity of two enzymes that metabolize drugs while the volunteers took St. John's wort. The herb affected an enzyme called cytochrome P450 3A4, causing it to metabolize alprazolam much faster than normal. This is important because St. John's wort and alprazolam are both used to treat depression. Doctors may have to use a bigger dose of alprazolam in patients who also take St. John's wort.

The health effects of dietary polyphenols might be explained by both intact compounds and their metabolites formed either in the tissues or in the colon by the microflora. The quantitative importance and biological activities of the microbial metabolites have seldom been examined in vivo. We measured the microbial metabolites formed in four groups of rats (n = 8) fed for 8 d a diet supplemented with 0.12 g/100 g catechin, 0.25 or 0.50 g/100 g red wine powder containing proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids, flavanols, anthocyanins and flavonols or an unsupplemented diet. Fourteen aromatic acid metabolites were assayed in urine collected for 24 h by an HPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS)-MS method. The three main metabolites formed from the catechin diet were 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and 3-hydroxyhippuric acid. Their total urinary excretion accounted for 4.7 g/100 g of the catechin ingested and that of intact catechins for 45.3 g/100 g. For wine polyphenols, the same microbial metabolites as observed for the catechin diet were identified in urine along with hippuric, p-coumaric, vanillic, 4-hydroxybenzoic and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acids. All together, these aromatic acids accounted for 9.2 g/100 g of the total wine polyphenols ingested and intact catechins for only 1.2 g/100 g. The higher excretion of aromatic acids by rats fed wine polyphenols is likely due to their poor absorption in the proximal part of the gut. Some of the microbial metabolites still bear a reducing phenolic group and should also prevent oxidative stress in inner tissues. More attention should be given in the future to these microbial metabolites and their biological properties to help explain the health effects of polyphenols that are not easily absorbed through the gut barrier. KEY WORDS: * polyphenols * catechin * wine * gut microflora * microbial metabolites * rats