The Emergent Literacy Skills of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A high percentage of school-age students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reading comprehension difficulties leading to academic disadvantage. These difficulties may be related to differences in children's emergent literacy development in the preschool years. In this study, we examined the relationship between emergent literacy skills, broader cognitive and language ability, autism severity, and home literacy environment factors in 57 preschoolers with ASD. The children showed strengths in code-related emergent literacy skills such as alphabet knowledge, but significant difficulties with meaning-related emergent literacy skills. There was a significant relationship between meaning-related skills, autism severity, general oral language skills, and nonverbal cognition. Identification of these meaning-related precursors will guide the targets for early intervention to help ensure reading success for students with ASD.

Low-dose stimulatory effects of ethanol during adolescence in rat lines selectively bred for high alcohol intake.

BACKGROUND: The low-dose stimulatory effect of ethanol (EtOH) in rats has been hypothesized to reflect its hedonic effects and to be associated with a genetic predisposition toward high alcohol preference. To test the hypothesis that phenotypes associated with high alcohol preference in adulthood are also present in adolescent rats at the time of onset of alcohol drinking, the current study examined the effects of EtOH on locomotor activity (LMA) during adolescence in lines of rats selectively bred for divergent alcohol intakes. METHODS: Subjects were adolescent (31-40 days of age) rats from the alcohol-preferring (P) and -nonpreferring (NP) lines and from the high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) and low-alcohol-drinking (LAD) replicate lines. On day 1, all subjects (n = 8-10/line/gender/dose) received intraperitoneal saline injections and were placed in the activity monitor for 30 min. On day 2, subjects received intraperitoneal saline or 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, or 1.5 g EtOH/kg. RESULTS: The LMA of male and female P rats was increased with low doses (0.25-0.75 g/kg) and decreased at the highest dose (1.5 g/kg) of EtOH. Similar effects were observed with low doses of EtOH on the LMA of HAD-1 and HAD-2 rats. None of the EtOH doses stimulated LMA in the NP, LAD-1, or LAD-2 rats, although all of the low-alcohol-intake lines of rats showed decreased LMA at the highest dose of EtOH. Only the P rats among the high-alcohol-consuming lines of rats showed decreased LMA at the highest dose of EtOH. CONCLUSION: Selective breeding for high alcohol consumption seems to be associated with increased sensitivity to the low-dose stimulating effects of EtOH and reduced sensitivity to the high-dose motor-impairing effects of ethanol. The expression of these phenotypes emerges during adolescence by the age of onset of alcohol-drinking behavior.

Stability of Lisinopril Syrup (2 mg/mL) Extemporaneously Compounded from Tablets.

The stability of lisinopril syrup (2 mg/mL) extemporaneously compounded from tablets was investigated. Zestril tablets (Lot CSC201, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, Del) were crushed, dissolved in water, filtered, and diluted with syrup NF to a final nominal concentration of 2 mg/mL. The solution was then equally divided among amber-colored prescription bottles and was stored at 5 deg C and 23 deg C. During the 30-day study period, samples were extracted by means of a water:methanol mix, and the concentration of lisinopril was determined by a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography assay procedure. Stability was also determined by pH measurements annd visual inspection for color or clarity change. Over the 30-day study period, the percentage of the inital lisinopril concentration remained between 99.42% +/- 0.19% and 95.68% +/- 1.5% for the 5 deg C samples and 98.83% +/- 0.46% and 96.48% +/- 0.62% for the 23 deg C samples.

Y-site stability of fosphenytoin and sodium phenobarbital.

Fosphenytoin and sodium phenobarbital in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were analyzed in a simulated Y-site admixture. Each drug was analyzed for stability by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) from three simulated Y-site samples over an eight-hour period. The HPLC assay results indicate that both fosphenytoin and sodium phenobarbital are stable together at a Y site over an eight-hour period. In addition, there was no change in sample clarity or pH over the same period. The results indicate that, when medically necessary, fosphenytoin and sodium phenobarbital in 0.9% sodium chloride injection can be administered via the same intravenous line.

Fosphenytoin y-site stability studies with Lorazepam and midazolam hydrochloride.

The treatment of status epilepticus may require in certain situations the concurrent administration of lorazepam or midazolam with fosphenytoin. Simulated Y-site fosphenytoin/lorazepam and fosphenytoin/midazolam hydrochloride admixtures, respectively, in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were analyzed using a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Each drug was analyzed for stability by HPLC from three simulated Y-site samples over an eight-hour period. The HPLC assay results indicate that both fosphenytoin and lorazepam are stable together at a Y site over an eight-hour period. In addition, there was neither a change in sample clarity nor a change in pH over the same period. The results indicate that, when medically necessary, fosphenytoin and lorazepam in 0.9% sodium chloride injection can be administered via the same intravenous (IV) line. Midazolam free base was precipitated upon admixture of midazolam hydrochloride and fosphenytoin solutions. Therefore, midazolam hydrochloride and fosphenytoin should not be given via the same IV line.

Stability of Dobutamine Hydrochloride 4mg/mL in 5% Dextrose Injection at 5 and 23 deg C.

The stability of dobutamine hydrochloride 4 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection has been studied using a stability-indicating, high-performance liquid chromatography assay method. The admixture injections were stable for 30 days at 5 and 23 deg C. Concentrations ranged between 98.5% and 102.6% for the room-temperature samples, and 99.6% and 101.8% for the refrigerated samples, of the initial mean concentrations. The standard curves demonstrated linearity (r2>.999). Variations within and between days were less than 3%. None of the samples appeared to form a visible precipitate or changed in color or clarity and the pH of the samples remained between 3.5 and 3.7.

The stability of lisinopril as an extemporaneous syrup.

The stability of lisinopril as an extemporaneous syrup compounded from powder was studied. The lisinopril syrup (2mg/mL) was prepared by incorporating lisinopril powder dissolved in water into simple syrup. Samples of the syrup were stored in amber-colored plastic bottles at 5 and 23 deg C. At various times during the 30-day study period, the concentration of lisinopril waas determined by a stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography assay procedure. Samples were also visually inspeceted for color and clarity. Over the 30-day study period, the percentage of the initial concentration remained between 97.46% and 100.54% for the 23 deg C samples and 98.15% and 100.74% for the 5 deg C samples.