Therapeutic Impacts of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Risperidone on Children with Autism: A Clinical Trial.

Introduction: In this research, we investigated any possible effect of receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) or risperidone on the core symptoms of autism in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial in Minia and Assiut University hospitals in Egypt with three parallel groups. One hundred and eighty children with autism, aged 5-8 years were divided into three equal groups (n=60). Group 1 (G1) received 40 sessions of HBOT within two months, group 2 (G2) received risperidone (dose: 0.25 mg per day in children weighing less than 20 kg and 0.5 mg per day in cases weighing more) for six months, and group 3 (G3) as the control group, received a placebo for six months. The assessment was done using childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) at the beginning of the study (baseline) and after one year. Results: The mean total CARS and ATEC scores significantly decreased (improved) by varying degrees in the three groups after a year of follow-up compared to the baseline scores, but the best results were found in G1, G2, and G3, respectively. Conclusion: Using HBOT or risperidone is effective in treating the core symptoms of autism in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but using HBOT gives better results than risperidone therapy. Highlights: Non-pharmacologic therapy can be used for the treatment of the core symptoms of autism.Both hyperbaric oxygen therapy and risperidone reduce the core symptoms of autism.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy gives better effects than risperidone in reducing the core symptoms of autism. Plain Language Summary: Since the long-term use of drug therapy in children with autism leads to the occurrence of side effects in addition to the difficulty in complying with the drugs for long-term use, efforts have begun to use non-traditional alternative treatments, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The current study assessed the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and risperidone on the core symptoms of autism. The results revealed that both hyperbaric oxygen therapy and risperidone reduced the core symptoms of autism, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy gave better therapeutic results than risperidone.

A novel topical combination of minoxidil and spironolactone for androgenetic alopecia: Clinical, histopathological, and physicochemical study.

Topical minoxidil 5% are effective in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Spironolactone acts as an androgen antagonist by competitively blocking androgen receptors. Studying the effect of topical minoxidil 5% gel and spironolactone gel 1% in management of AGA. The study includes 60 patients diagnosed as AGA; (group I): treated with topical minoxidil gel 5%, (group II): with topical spironolactone gel 1% and group (III) treated with combined minoxidil 5% and spironolactone 1% gel. All patients were followed up monthly throughout the treatment period. Scalp biopsy was taken before and after 12 months. In group I, the clinical response was in 90% of patients with variable degrees in improvement, in group II, the clinical response was in 80% of patients, meanwhile, in group III the clinical response was in all patients (100%). Histopathological examination of skin biopsy after treatment revealed significant increase in anagen hair on the other hand, both telogen and vellus hair was significantly decreased meanwhile, the T/V ratio was significantly increased. The results of this work revealed that topical minoxidil gel 5% and topical spironolactone gel 1% were effective in treatment of AGA, while the combination of two agents was better in treatment.

In vitro evaluation and in vivo performance of lyophilized gliclazide.

Enhancement of the dissolution rate of the poorly water-soluble hypoglycemic agent, gliclazide, by the aid of lyophilization was investigated. Mannitol, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-k-30) were employed in different weight ratios (43%, 56% and 64% w/w, respectively) as water-soluble excipients in the formulation. Lyophilized systems were found to exhibit extremely higher in vitro dissolution rate compared to the unprocessed drug powder. Solid state characterization of the lyophilized systems using X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry techniques revealed that dissolution enhancement was attributable to transformation of gliclazide from the crystalline to an amorphous state in the solid dispersion formed during the lyophilization process. The gastrointestinal absorption and hypoglycemic effect of the lyophilized gliclazide/SLS system were investigated following oral administration to Albino rabbits. Cmax and area under the plasma concentration-time curve of gliclazide (AUC0-12) after administration of the lyophilized formulations were significantly higher than those obtained after administration of the unprocessed gliclazide.