Search

In this work, we introduce the use of MOFs immobilized on cotton fabrics as a sorbent phase for the fabric phase sorptive extraction and passive sampling of non-polar organic compounds from water samples. A water-stable, Zr 4+ -based MOF (UiO-66(Zr)-NH 2 ) was irreversibly immobilized on polydopamine decorated cotton through a step-wise synthetic procedure that maximized the amount of MOF immobilized on the fabric surface. In this manner it was possible to combine the permeability and the large contact surface area of the host cotton substrate with the high specific surface area and sorption capacity of the MOF. The MOF@cotton composite was used as a new sorbent phase for the fabric phase sorptive extraction of UV filters, as model organic compounds, not only under static (i.e. stirring assisted) but also in dynamic, flow-through extraction mode (i.e. as a solid phase extraction sorbent phase), producing satisfactory analytical results in terms of linearity of calibration curves (10-250 µg L -1 ), precision (<11%), detection limits <10 µg L -1 (using a single wavelength UV detector) and recoveries (86 - 119%) from various natural water samples. As a passive sampling sorbent phase, the MOF@cotton composite could linearly accumulate UV filters over time period of 35 days with sampling rates from 0.026 to 0.352 L d -1 , which are comparable to other passive sampling sorbent phases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: Abnormal eye gaze is a hallmark characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and numerous studies have identified abnormal attention patterns in ASD. The primary aim of the present study was to create an objective, eye tracking-based autism risk index., Method: In initial and replication studies, children were recruited after referral for comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation of ASD and subsequently grouped by clinical consensus diagnosis (ASD n = 25/15, non-ASD n = 20/19 for initial/replication samples). Remote eye tracking was blinded to diagnosis and included multiple stimuli. Dwell times were recorded to each a priori-defined region of interest (ROI) and averaged across ROIs to create an autism risk index. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses examined classification accuracy. Correlations with clinical measures evaluated whether the autism risk index was associated with autism symptom severity independent of language ability., Results: In both samples, the autism risk index had high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.91 and 0.85, 95% CIs = 0.81-0.98 and 0.71-0.96), was strongly associated with Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2) severity scores (r = 0.58 and 0.59, p < .001), and not significantly correlated with language ability (r ≤| -0.28|, p > .095)., Conclusion: The autism risk index may be a useful quantitative and objective measure of risk for autism in at-risk settings. Future research in larger samples is needed to cross-validate these findings. If validated and scaled for clinical use, this measure could inform clinical judgment regarding ASD diagnosis and track symptom improvements., (Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three new antimony(III) halide complexes (SbX(3), X=Cl, Br and I) with the heterocyclic thione ω-thiocaprolactam (1-azacycloheptane-2-thione, (Hthcl)) of formulae {[SbCl(2)(μ(2)-Cl)(Hthcl)(2)](n)} (1), {[(SbBr(2)(μ(2)-Br)(Hthcl)(2))(2)]} (2) and {[(SbI(2)(μ(2)-I)(Hthcl)(2))(2)]} (3) were synthesized from the reaction of antimony(III) halides with ω-thiocaprolactam in 1:2 stoichiometry. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, (1)H, (13)C NMR spectroscopy and Thermal Gravimetry-Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA). Crystal structures of the ligand ω-thiocaprolactam and its complexes 1-3 were determined with single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1-3 and ω-thiocaprolactam were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) tumor cell lines. Antimony complexes 1-3 exhibit strong antiproliferative activity against both cell lines tested. The higher such activity was found for 3 with IC(50) values of 0.12±0.04 μM (LMS) and 0.76±0.16 μM (MCF-7) which are 60 and 10 times respectively, stronger than that of cisplatin. The influence of these complexes 1-3 and ω-thiocaprolactam upon the catalytic peroxidation of linoleic acid to hyperoxolinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX) was kinetically and theoretically studied. The results were shown negligible inhibitory activity of 1-3 against LOX., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often have varying needs for coverage of their symptoms throughout the day. The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy, duration of action, and safety of methylphenidate transdermal system worn for variable times by children (ages 6-12) diagnosed with ADHD., Method: Methylphenidate dose was optimized over 5 weeks using 10-, 15-, 20-, or 30-mg patches worn for 9 hours. The efficacy of 4- and 6-hour wear times was then assessed in an Analog Classroom setting during a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-way crossover phase. The main efficacy measures were the Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham Rating Scale deportment scale and the Permanent Product Measure of Performance math test., Results: All of the efficacy measures indicated that 4- and 6-hour wear times improved ADHD symptoms and that medication effects on the Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham Rating Scale deportment scale and Permanent Product Measure of Performance math test decreased between 2 and 4 hours after patch removal. The majority of adverse events were transient and mild to moderate in severity., Conclusions: These findings suggest that the duration of medication effect is related to the wear time of the patch and may be tailored to accommodate the schedules of patients.

Objective: To examine the short-term efficacy of methylphenidate in the treatment of youths with bipolar disorder (BD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)., Method: A 4-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in youths ages 5 to 17 years was conducted. Subjects met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder and ADHD, were currently receiving a stable dose of at least one thymoleptic, and while euthymic continued to have clinically significant symptoms of ADHD. Patients received 1 week each of placebo, methylphenidate 5 mg twice daily, methylphenidate 10 mg twice daily, and methylphenidate 15 mg twice daily using a crossover design. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive one of six possible dosing orders. At study's end, and before the blind being broken, a "best dose week" for each subject was determined. The primary outcome measure was the total score on the parent-completed ADHD Rating Scale-IV., Results: Sixteen patients, with a mean age of 10.43 (SD 3.14) years completed the trial. Lower scores during best dose treatment compared to the week of placebo treatment were found on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (p < .05), suggesting a therapeutic benefit. A large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.90) was found for methylphenidate. Treatment was generally well tolerated., Conclusions: Euthymic youths with bipolar disorder and ADHD may benefit from short-term concomitant treatment with methylphenidate.

Objective: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, dose-ranging study of a methylphenidate (MPH) transdermal system (MTS). Medication (placebo, 0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 mg/h) was crossed with application time (6 a.m., 7 a.m.) to evaluate MTS efficacy and influence of exposure time on morning effects., Method: The study took place in a summer treatment program (STP) at three sites, with 36 children aged 7-12 years with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Each treatment was administered for 1 day in random order, for a total of 8 days. Behavioral and academic measures were taken as well as patch wear characteristics and side effects., Results: Evaluable participant data were analyzed in a series of dose x application time multivariate analyses of variance. All MTS conditions were significantly different from placebo across measures. Time of application had no significant effect on daily behavior, and effects of application time on morning behavior were inconclusive. Consistent with previous results in this setting, the highest dose produced limited incremental benefit compared with the mid-range dose. The wear characteristics of the MTS were acceptable, and the formulation was well tolerated., Conclusions: The MTS produced significant effects that were similar to those previously reported with comparable MPH doses. There does not appear to be a substantial effect of application time on total daily functioning in this setting; further controlled time-course studies will be necessary to evaluate the question of morning onset fully.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of psychostimulant medication in a naturalistic sample of preschoolers. Benefits and side effects for methylphenidate and mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) were examined., Method: Twenty-eight preschoolers (ages 4.0 - 5.9) participated in the present investigation. They were obtained consecutively from a large sample of suburban children assessed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. After having received various dosing levels of a stimulant in a placebo-controlled crossover design, best dose was assigned based on the lowest Abbreviated Symptoms Questionnaire T score received in a given week. All analyses compared best dose ratings to placebo ratings., Results: Preschoolers' behavioral ratings by parents and teachers were improved as a function of stimulant medication. More than 82% of the medicated sample improved their behavioral rating by at least 1 SD as demonstrated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, with more than 50% of medicated preschoolers improving by more than 2 SD. Side effects were infrequent at best dose of medication., Conclusions: Clinically significant changes in behavioral ratings of preschoolers were noted in response to stimulant medication. Both stimulants were well tolerated. ROC curves were useful for clearly depicting on a case-by-case basis how much improvement was derived from psychopharmacological treatment.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between age and short-term clinical response to psychostimulant treatment in youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to examine whether weight-corrected doses of optimized psychostimulant therapy varied as a function of patient age., Method: One hundred seventy-seven patients were treated with either methylphenidate (MPH) or Adderall (ADL). Sixty-six youths received ADL and 111 patients were treated with MPH. All youths were evaluated at baseline and after receiving a week of treatment at each blinded, randomized dose level (placebo, 5, 10, or 15 mg). A "best dose" for each patient was assigned before the medication blind was broken. Behavioral ratings by both teachers and parents were examined for dose and medication effects., Results: The medications had similar efficacy in children and teenagers. Older youths, however, benefited from a smaller weight-adjusted dose of medication than did the younger children. Similar efficacy was observed between the medications., Conclusions: These data suggest that psychostimulants are equally effective in treating children and adolescents with ADHD. Adolescents with ADHD may not necessarily require more medication than younger children to achieve a similar therapeutic response.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the cardiovascular effects of Adderall (ADL) in a clinic-based group of youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ranging in age from 4 to 17 years., Method: One hundred thirty-seven patients were treated with either methylphenidate (MPH) or ADL. Youths prescribed MPH were given medication twice daily, and youths treated with ADL received medication once daily. Patients were evaluated under five conditions: baseline, placebo, 5 mg/dose, 10 mg/dose, or 15 mg/dose. Resting pulse, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure were examined after 1 week at each treatment condition. Changes from baseline on these parameters were examined., Results: The short-term cardiovascular effects of both ADL and MPH were modest. No patients experienced any clinically significant change in these cardiovascular measures during the course of this brief trial., Conclusion: Since the short-term cardiovascular effects of ADL appear minimal, specific cardiovascular monitoring during short-term ADL treatment at doses of 15 mg/day or less does not appear to be indicated. In addition, under similar conditions, using similar methods, both medication treatments led to changes in blood pressure and pulse that were clinically insignificant.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a single dose of Adderall (q.d.) with that of 2 daily doses of methylphenidate (b.i.d.; MPH) as a treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in youths ranging in age from 5 to 17 years. Forty-two youths treated with MPH were compared with 42 youths treated with Adderall. Subjects were matched for age, sex, and DSM-IV diagnostic subtype., Method: Youths were assigned to the Adderall or MPH condition by their prescribing physician. All youths were evaluated under 5 conditions, including baseline, placebo, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg. The best dose was assigned prior to breaking the medication blind and was assigned by the consensus of the psychologist and psychiatrist. Subjective ratings by both teachers and parents were examined for dosage level effects and medication type effects., Results: Best dose was always superior to baseline and placebo conditions. No differences between MPH and Adderall were observed on either teacher or parent ratings of behavior., Conclusions: Both MPH and Adderall have been shown to be effective treatments for children with ADHD. Both medications appear to improve teachers' and parents' ratings of behavior. Single-dose treatments of Adderall appear to be as effective as 2 daily doses of MPH and therefore increase the possibility of managing treatment without involving the school in medication administration. In addition, youths who have previously been unsuccessfully treated with MPH because of adverse side effects or poor response may be successfully treated with Adderall.