Notes

NICEdrug.ch, a new workflows for realistic medication design as well as systems-level investigation of drug metabolic process.
Methotrexate (MTX) is used as an anchor drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although more than a half of the patients with RA require additional treatments. We designed a prospective study involving two medical centers in Japan to examine the association between the expression of MTX-related genes including a drug transporter ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) gene and the clinical response to MTX in MTX-naive patients with RA.

The primary endpoint of this study was good response based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria by Disease Activity Score using 28-joint count (DAS28). We evaluated the association between the baseline expression of six genes involved in the intracellular pharmacokinetics of MTX, including ABCG2, as well as their temporal changes, and the clinical response at week 12 from the initiation of MTX.

Based on the clinical response at 12 weeks after the initiation of MTX, 24 patients were classified into good responders (
 = 9) and non-good responders (
 = 15; 10 moderate responders and 5 non-responders) groups. A univariate logistic regression analysis of the baseline gene expression levels to predict the EULAR good response at week 12 showed a significant association with
expression alone. Furthermore, the rate of baseline expression of
mRNA above the cut-off value determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve was higher in good responders than in non-good responders (
 = .012). ICEC0942 Moreover,
expression decreased in almost all good responders, but not in non-good responders, after MTX treatment for 12 weeks (median -76% vs. +41% from baseline, respectively;
 = .011). The
expression level did not correlate with DAS28 at baseline or week 12.

Our study revealed that good response to MTX is associated with a decrease in the expression of
in patients with RA.
Our study revealed that good response to MTX is associated with a decrease in the expression of ABCG2 in patients with RA.
Risperidone is a potent psychotropic agent has been approved for symptomatic treatment of irritability in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. However, its bitter taste and dose adjustment of liquid dosage forms are a main hurdle for patient acceptance.

Thus, this recent study investigate the formulation of taste masked risperidone orally disintegration minitablets (ODMT) as a way of enhancing patient acceptance.

Taste masked risperidone hydrogenated castor oil or Cetyl alcohol based granules were prepared using a simple melt granulation technique in different drug to lipid ratios; drug release, bitterness score of the prepared granular formulations were evaluated. DSC was also performed to detect the possible drug lipid interaction. The selected lipid-based granules were further compressed into ODMT formulations. Bitterness score was assessed by gustatory sensation test and results were compared to marketed liquid formulations of risperidone.

All the prepared ODMT formulations showed high content uniformity, with minimum dose fluctuation compared to marketed oral liquid preparations.

In conclusion, risperidone lipid-based granules could be formulated in different ratios by simple techniques and commonly used excipients into taste masked risperidone ODMT with accurate and flexible doses suitable for pediatric use with high taste preference and acceptability.
In conclusion, risperidone lipid-based granules could be formulated in different ratios by simple techniques and commonly used excipients into taste masked risperidone ODMT with accurate and flexible doses suitable for pediatric use with high taste preference and acceptability.
We examined asthma control in children hospitalized for status asthmaticus 7-10 days after discharge with or without an additional prescription for systemic corticosteroids.

This was a prospective observational study of patients aged 5-17 years with a documented history of asthma or β-agonist responsive wheezing admitted to the hospital for an acute asthma exacerbation. We compared patients who had any systemic corticosteroid prescribed at discharge with those who were not prescribed systemic corticosteroids at discharge. The primary outcomes were asthma control after discharge, as defined by the Asthma Control Test (ACT), and missed school days, which we modeled with multivariable linear and Poisson regression, respectively.

A total of 56 patients were included in the study, 29 (52%) received dexamethasone inpatient and then were discharged without additional prescribed systemic corticosteroids. Those without a corticosteroid prescription at discharge were less likely to have received noninvasive ventiagement.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at publisher's website.Microfluidization is a unique high-pressure homogenization technique combining various forces such as high-velocity impact, high-frequency vibration, instantaneous pressure drop, intense shear rate, and hydrodynamic cavitation. Even though it is mainly used on emulsion-based systems and known for its effects on particle size and surface area, it also significantly alters physicochemical and functional properties of macromolecules including hydration properties, solubility, viscosity, cation-exchange capacity, rheological properties, and bioavailability. Besides, the transformation of structure and conformation due to the combined effects of microfluidization modifies the material characteristics that can be a base for new innovative food formulations. Therefore, microfluidization is being commonly used in the food industry for various purposes including the formation of micro- and nano-sized emulsions, encapsulation of easily degradable bioactive compounds, and improvement in functional properties of proteins, polysaccharides, and dietary fibers. Although the extent of modification through microfluidization depends on processing conditions (e.g., pressure, number of passes, solvent), the nature of the material to be processed also changes the outcomes significantly. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of microfluidization on each food component. Overall, this review paper provides an overview of microfluidization treatment, summarizes the applications on macromolecules with specific examples, and presents the existing problems.
Website: https://www.selleckchem.com/products/icec0942-hydrochloride.html