In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Whole and Half Tablets of Sustained-Release Adinazolam Mesylate

The mechanism of release from sustained-release adinazolam mesylate tablets was assessed by the Higuchi equation and by analysis of drug release profiles through 60% released using the Peppas equation. Computed values of the diffusional exponent, n, ranged from 0.59 to 0.66. Values of n in this range are consistent with a mixed mechanism of release, with diffusion of drug through the hydrated polymer matrix and relaxation of this matrix being the principal processes controlling release. The rate of in vitro drug release was increased for half tablets relative to whole tablets and is attributed to an increase in the surface to volume ratio of half tablets of about 16%. This increase in surface-to-volume ratio of half tablets was reflected by an increase in the constant, k, from the Peppas equation of 20–23% and by an increase in the slope of Higuchi plots of 12–18% for four lots of tablets. In vivo/in vitro relationships from two bioavailability studies were thoroughly evaluated. Using either a linear or a quadratic relationship, an in vivo/in vitro correlation exists for sustained-release adinazolam mesylate tablets.     

Time for sport and health to be formally linked in a positive way

Preventing sports injury has rarely been cited as an appropriate action to respond to the obesity epidemic, and in fact a recent letter has suggested that those playing sport are as responsible for their predicament as those who are obese. This opinion piece argues that it is time for better prevention and management of sports injury to be seen as part of the complex solution to preventing obesity, rather than being a self-inflicted problem that governments should continue to ignore.     

A randomized multicenter study to determine the efficacy of activity restriction for preterm labor management in patients testing negative for fetal fibronectin.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of activity restriction (AR) on the incidence of preterm birth in women treated for preterm labor testing negative for fetal fibronectin (fFN). STUDY DESIGN: Women who were diagnosed with preterm labor and tocolyzed with magnesium sulfate were concurrently screened with fFN for the purpose of subsequent management. Included were consenting patients with negative fFN, gestational age 23 0/7-33 6/7 weeks, cervical dilation < or =3 cm, and minimal vaginal bleeding. Patients were randomized to AR or no AR. Primary study outcome was incidence of preterm delivery and interval from randomization to delivery. RESULTS: A total of 73 women with negative fFN were randomized (36 with AR, 37 without AR). The overall preterm birth rate was 40%, with 44.4% of patients with AR and 35.1% of patients without AR delivering preterm, p=0.478. CONCLUSION: Maternal AR did not impact pregnancy outcome. The incidence of preterm birth in symptomatic women testing fFN negative was higher than previously reported.     

Correlating digit span performance and event-related potentials to assess working memory.

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a computerized and modified version of the Digit Span Backwards (DB) task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III). The modified DB version (ERP-DB task) was divided into two sections of 2, 4, 6 and 8 digits in length (Group 1) and 3, 5 and 7 digits in length (Group 2). Each trial had a study phase and a test phase. For the study phase, a series of digits was presented sequentially and aurally to 20 participants (10 for each group). For the test phase, a second series of digits was also presented sequentially and aurally that either corresponded to the reverse order of the digits in the study phase (correct condition) or had one digit in the sequence replaced by an incorrect digit (incorrect condition). The traditional DB task of the WAIS-III was also administered for comparison purposes. A prolonged positive slow wave (PSW) peaking between 450 and 750 ms was elicited to incorrect condition trials. For each participant, a derived measure was calculated from the ERP differentiation between correct and incorrect conditions. The derived measure was defined as the mean of the t-values obtained from the correct and incorrect waveform comparison, within the temporal interval that encompassed this component. The strongest statistical correlations between the derived measure and the traditional DB test scores were found at the Pz site (Group 1: r=0.79; Group 2: r=0.59). This statistical approach shows that it is possible to adequately relate an individual's performance on a traditional measure of working memory and ERP patterns. Overall, we believe that this kind of ERP approach holds promise as a technique for assessing quantitatively non-communicative patients.