Role of gabapentin enacarbil XR in restless legs syndrome

Gabapentin enacarbil XR is a new extended-release formulation which attempts to overcome the reduced efficacy of shorter-acting gabapentin, with sustained delivery over a 24-hour period. It is a gabapentin prodrug which is efficiently and rapidly converted to gabapentin during active transport throughout the length of the intestine via high-capacity monocarboxylate type 1 nutrient transporters unlike its predecessor, which is absorbed via low-capacity transporters largely confined to the upper intestinal region. Its lack of saturable absorption allows for dose-proportional absorption and hence increased bioavailability. Several clinical trials addressing its efficacy in moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS) demonstrate improvements in the International RLS Rating Scale after a 2-week to 3-month period. Open-label studies of 52 weeks’ duration showed maintenance of symptom reduction with once-daily administration of the extended-release formulation. The most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse effects were somnolence and dizziness. Although the incidence of emergent adverse effects is high, it is comparable with that of gabapentin. No studies thus far have documented augmentation as an issue, unlike that observed with most dopaminergic agents. In addition, both dopamine precursors and agonists have not been shown to increase slow wave sleep or improve overall sleep architecture consistently despite improvement in the periodic leg movement index, in contrast with gabapentin enacarbil. Presently, gabapentin enacarbil has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration or Medsafe for use in RLS. The cost of this medication may also be a potential barrier for many patients. Future comparative efficacy studies with gabapentin, first-line dopaminergic agents, rotigotine, being the other once daily RLS medication, and pregabalin, the structural analog of gabapentin, will be necessary

Olfactory Cleft Inflammation Present in Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis & Intranasal Steroids

The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of mometasone furoate on olfactory loss in seasonal allergic rhinitis and to study its effect on inflammation in the olfactory region

Cycling for a mission

IT WAS a new experience for athlete K. Ganthimathi and karate exponent M. Yokanathini during the Cycle to Class programme, organised by Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication (FMLC), at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Serdang recently

Settings for open innovation arena: three dimensions to consider (conditions, process and resources)

The purpose behind this dissertation is to examine the settings for Open Innovation arena. More particularly the dissertation looks at how a firm can make conditions for taking advantage of outside performers' knowledge at the crossing point of the firm boundary and the outside world, in a composed path by making a physical place that encourages collaboration and permits the firm to use remotely accessible information in a compelling way. Such physical spots mean open Innovation arenas and until now no much studies by researcher and scholars have been carried until now. The dissertation incorporates open innovation literature that examines the current standings on factors that are considered to impact a firm’s capacity to embrace and practice open innovation. It contains literature review and results of a survey conducted among 25 researchers from INESC TEC, the host Institution of the author. The main results show that INESC TEC promotes innovations and brings together a wide range of conditions that encourage open innovation. The three dimensions considered in this study are near the 75th percentile, which is a good indicator. The best dimension in INESC TEC seems to be Conditions (77,14%), followed by Resources (71,04%). Processes appears at the end (69,82%). From a more focused perspective, everything indicates that: • the organization must improve in its innovation strategy as a plan of action with quantitative purposes and targets on long and medium term; • the organisation must improve its training policy for its staff towards innovation, should have adequate structures for managing knowledge and should also develop the information and communication systems to enable the innovation process; • the organisation must improve in developing its systematic processes for interdepartmental co-operation.Esta Dissertação tem como objetivo geral estudar algumas das configurações das Arenas de Inovação Aberta. Em particular, esta Dissertação analisa como é que uma empresa pode criar condições para aproveitar o conhecimento dos atores externos no ponto de interseção entre o limite da empresa e o mundo exterior, através da criação de um lugar físico que incentive a colaboração e permita que a empresa use informação remotamente acessível de forma convincente. Estes pontos físicos, denominados por Arenas de Inovação Abertas têm, até ao momento, sido pouco estudados pelos estudiosos e investigadores. A Dissertação é composta por uma revisão bibliográfica sobre inovação aberta, examinando os fatores que atualmente são considerados como impactantes na capacidade de uma empresa a abraçar e praticar. Contém revisão de literatura e apresenta resultados de um estudo feito a 25 investigadores do INESC TEC, Instituição de acolhimento do autor. Os principais resultados mostram que o INESC TEC promove a inovação e junta um conjunto alargado de condições que incentivam a inovação aberta. As três dimensões consideradas na análise estão próximas do percentil 75, o que é um bom indicador. A melhor dimensão no INESC TEC parece ser as Condições (77,14%), seguida dos Recursos (71,04%). Os Processes aprecem no final (69,82%). Numa perspetiva mais focada, tudo parece indicar que: • a organização deve melhorar na sua estratégia de inovação através de um plano de ação com fins quantitativos e alvos de médio e longo prazo; • a organização deve melhorar a sua política de formação em inovação ao staff, deve ter estruturas adequadas para gerir o conhecimento e deve, também, desenvolver os sistemas de informação e comunicação para permitir o processo de inovação; • a organização deve melhorar o desenvolvimento de seus processos sistemáticos de cooperação interdepartamental

Resilience to heat in public space: a case study of Adelaide, South Australia

During summer heatwaves, heat load exacerbates in urban heat islands (especially in hot climates) and threatens public life in cities. This paper examines the links between urban microclimates, outdoor thermal discomfort and public life through an exploratory case study. Heat resilience is highlighted as the ability of the space to support its normal activities when experiencing out-of-comfort temperatures. It also reports on the correlations between heat sensitive outdoor activities and urban greenery in three disparate case studies in Adelaide. Results indicate that necessary and optional activities start to decline after the apparent temperature reaches the threshold of 28 °C–32 °C, while activities in public spaces with more urban greenery show higher resilience to heat stress. Research findings propose heat resilience as a quality indicator in public space and support the application of urban greenery to make urban settings more resilient to heat stress.Ehsan Sharifi, Alpana Sivam and John Bolan

Occupational Stress: The Role of Psychological Resilience in the Ecological Transactional Model

The present study adopts an ecological approach to examining occupational stress, which incorporates both a trait and a transactional perspective to offer a more comprehensive conceptualization of the antecedents and outcomes of stress with psychological stress as a moderator. Data collected from 182 job incumbents supported the hypothesized relationships among primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, psychological resilience, and maladaptive outcomes. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that primary appraisal affected secondary appraisal, and secondary appraisal, in turn, contributed to maladaptive outcomes. In addition, the relationship between primary appraisal and maladaptive outcomes was partially mediated by secondary appraisal. Consistent with our hypothesis that resilience plays an adaptive role in the stress process, the results indicated that resilience had a direct influence on secondary appraisal. Resilience also affected maladaptive outcomes of stress but this relationship was partially mediated by secondary appraisal

Landsat surface temperature data analysis for urban heat resilience: case study of Adelaide

Meeting: CUPUM 2017: 15th International Conference on Computers in Urban Planning and Urban Management (11-14 July 2017 Adelaide, Australia )Smarter urban futures require resilient built environment in the context of climate change. This chapter demonstrates the application of satellite-based surface cover and temperature data to support planning for urban heat resilience. Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 data is used to analyse the correlation of urban surface covers to the urban heat island effect in Adelaide. Methods for data source selection, surface cover classification, surface temperature calculation and analysis are detailed in this chapter. Results indicate that tree canopy and surface water covers had the least surface temperature variations in mesoscale. The average minimum surface temperature of tree canopy cover was 2.79 °C lower than asphalt and 4.74 °C lower than paved areas. Freely available satellite urban surface temperature data can assist urban planning authorities in planning heat resilient urban spaces for smarter urban futures in the context of climate change.Ehsan Sharifi, Alpana Sivam, Sadasivam Karuppannan and John W Bolan

Frenceay finds her strength

DEDICATION and determination have played a big part in Sabahan Frenceay Titus' sports career