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Gastroretentive bilayer tablets were designed to prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration and to achieve immediate release of lansoprazole and controlled release floating layer of clarithromycin to treat gastric ulcers. Instant release layer has a combination of super disintegrating agents. A combination of effervescent mechanism is used. HPMC K5 was used as swelling polymer and citric acid, sodium bicarbonate as gas generating agent to reduce the floating lag time. Bilayer floating tablets were prepared with varying proportions of instant layer and sustained release floating approaches. The prepared formulations were evaluated for various tablet and floating parameters. Tablet properties were found to be within the limits according to procedures prescribed in USP. They had a floating lag time around 3-7 seconds and floating time more than 24 hours. The cumulative % drug release in simulated gastric fluids after 10 hours was 70% - 95%. The mechanism of drug release was analyzed by fitting the release data into various kinetic models. It was found that all the formulations best fit the Higuchi's model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, oral controlled-release dosage forms have been developed due to their therapeutic advantages, such as ease of administration, patient compliance, and flexibility in formulation. However, this approach has faced physiological difficulties, such as the inability to contain and position the controlled drug delivery system within the desired region of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) due to variable gastric emptying and motility. Venlafaxine is an antidepressant and a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Its active metabolite, desvenlafaxine, works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are key neurotransmitters in mood regulation. Gastroretentive dosage forms can stay in the gastric region for several hours and significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs. Natural materials have been extensively used in drug delivery because they are readily available, cost-effective, eco-friendly, capable of many chemical modifications, potentially degradable, and compatible due to their natural origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on components of working memory (WM) in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and determine the responsiveness of WM measures to MPH. Methods: Participants were a clinical sample of 50 children and adolescents with ADHD, aged 6 to 16 years old, who participated in an acute randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with single challenges of three MPH doses. Four components of WM were investigated, which varied in processing demands (storage versus manipulation of information) and modality (auditory-verbal; visual-spatial), each of which was indexed by a minimum of two separate measures. Results: MPH improved the ability to store visual-spatial information irrespective of instrument used, but had no effects on the storage of auditory-verbal information. By contrast, MPH enhanced the ability to manipulate both auditory-verbal and visual-spatial information, although effects were instrument specific in both cases. Conclusions: MPH effects on WM are selective: they vary as a function of WM component and measurement.

Reading comprehension is a very complex task that requires different cognitive processes and reading abilities over the life span. There are fewer studies of reading comprehension relative to investigations of word reading abilities. Reading comprehension difficulties, however, have been identified in two common and frequently overlapping childhood disorders: reading disability (RD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The nature of reading comprehension difficulties in these groups remains unclear. The performance of four groups of adolescents (RD, ADHD, comorbid ADHD and RD, and normal controls) was compared on reading comprehension tasks as well as on reading rate and accuracy tasks. Adolescents with RD showed difficulties across most reading tasks, although their comprehension scores were average. Adolescents with ADHD exhibited adequate single word reading abilities. Subtle difficulties were observed, however, on measures of text reading rate and accuracy as well as on silent reading comprehension, but scores remained in the average range. The comorbid group demonstrated similar difficulties to the RD group on word reading accuracy and on reading rate but experienced problems on only silent reading comprehension. Implications for reading interventions are outlined, as well as the clinical relevance for diagnosis. (Contains 2 tables.)

Background: Conventional antifungals are becoming resistant against dermatophytosis due to development of recalcitrant tinea. These patients may get benefit from newer topical antifungals or combination therapy. Topical antifungal therapy is the mainstay in the treatment of dermatophytosis. Aims/Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of topical amorolfine in tinea infection in real-world settings. Materials and Methods: This was a real-world retrospective study; data was collected from 106 centers across India on the usage of amorolfine in the management of tinea infections. The treatment response was evaluated at the end of 2 and 4 week. It was determined by the reduction in severity of the classic symptoms of disease viz. pruritus, burning sensation, erythema, and scaling and crusting at Week 2 and Week 4 of treatment. The severity of symptoms was classified and quantified as mild (1), moderate (2), and severe (3). Safety was determined based on the occurrence of any adverse events during the treatment. Results: An improvement in symptoms score was observed for all the classic symptoms of infection viz. pruritus, burning sensation, erythema, and scaling and crusting at Week 2 and Week 4 compared to baseline. Mean total symptom score (TSS) was reduced to 0.88 ± 1.19 from 7.18 ± 2.84 at week 4 (P < 0.05). Only 10 (0.73%) patients out of 1358 showed mild and non-treatment-related adverse events. Conclusion: Amorolfine alone or in combination therapy with oral antifungals in real world clinical setting represents an improved treatment strategy for patients with tinea infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The objective of the current study was to examine performance and correlates of performance on a decision-making card task involving risky choices (Iowa Gambling Task) in adolescents with ADHD and comparison controls. Forty-four participants with ADHD and 34 controls were administered measures of estimated intellectual ability, working memory, and the card task. Also, behavioural ratings were obtained from parents and teachers. Results Adolescents with ADHD scored lower on the measures of intellectual ability, working memory, and made less advantageous selections on the card task compared to controls. Performance on measures of intellectual ability and working memory were unrelated to card task performance in both the ADHD and control samples. Parent ratings of hyperactivity/impulsivity were significantly associated with card task performance in the adolescents with ADHD, but not in controls. Conclusion These findings demonstrate impaired decision-making in adolescents with ADHD, and the separability of motivational and executive function processes, supporting current dual pathway models of ADHD.