Buying time: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial to improve sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that good quality sleep is associated with preserved cognitive function and reduced dementia risk in older adults. Sleep complaints are especially common among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and this may contribute to their increased risk for progression to dementia. Thus, improving their sleep may be important for maintaining their cognitive health. Chronotherapy is a set of intervention strategies that can improve sleep quality through strengthening the entrainment of the biological clock to the solar light-dark cycle, and includes strategies such as (1) bright light therapy (BLT); (2) physical activity (PA); and (3) good sleep hygiene. Of these strategies, BLT is the most potent and is based on providing individualized timing to entrain circadian rhythms. Thus, a personalized chronotherapy intervention of individually timed BLT and individually tailored PA promotion, in conjunction with general sleep hygiene education may promote older adult sleep quality. We therefore aim to carry out a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the efficacy of such a personalized chronotherapy intervention to improve sleep quality among older adults with MCI. METHODS/DESIGN: This was a 24-week RCT of a personalized chronotherapy intervention aimed to primarily improve sleep quality as measured by the MotionWatch8©. Participants in the personalized chronotherapy group (INT) will receive four once-weekly, general sleep hygiene education classes, followed by 20 weeks of (1) individually timed BLT and (2) bi-weekly, individually tailored PA counseling phone calls in conjunction with receiving a consumer-available PA tracker-the Fitbit® Flex™. Ninety-six adults (aged 65-85 years) classified as having MCI (i.e., Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) ≥ 24; Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≤ 26; without dementia or significant functional impairment) will be randomized to either INT or a waitlist control group (CON). DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will help determine if a personalized chronotherapy intervention that includes individually timed BLT and individually tailored PA promotion, along with general sleep hygiene education can promote sleep quality among older adults at increased risk for dementia. Our results will help inform best practices for promoting sleep quality among older adults with MCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02926157 . Registered on 6 October 2016.

Development and evaluation of multiparticulate biphasic system for the treatment of circadian diseases

Multiparticulate systems have biopharmaceutical advantages when compared to the monolithic systems, once they allow different patterns of drug release and can be used in different treatments. The aim of the present work was to develop a biphasic controlled release delivery system, using propranolol hydrochloride (PROP) that can be used for the treatment of circadian diseases. This system was obtained by the combination of cellulosic polymers hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and ethylcellulose (EC) in a 2² factorial experimental design, which allowed the optimization of the development stage. The pellets produced and used in biphasic formulations were evaluated for physical and chemical characteristics and presented acceptable results. The immediate fraction obtained showed the complete release in 30 min while the others kept the release of the drug for 24 h. This study showed that the combination of beads with different releasing characteristics allowed to obtain different release profiles, which can be modulated according to the pathological needs, especially with regard to circadian diseases that suffer alterations throughout the day.

Presión arterial ambulatoria, cronoterapia de la hipertensión y glaucoma / Ambulatory blood pressure, chronotherapy of hypertension and glaucoma

No disponible

Cronoterapia con fármacos antihipertensivos y glaucoma / Chronotherapy with anti-hypertensive drugs and glaucoma

No disponible

Transdermal drug delivery devices for chronotherapy.

Efficient treatment of diseases is expected when the timing of drug delivery is taken into account and adjusted in a proper way. This implies an easy to use, noninteractive and user independent drug delivery system that allows delivery at anytime. This article discusses developments in chronotherapeutic delivery devices that offer a form of drug administration that maximises drug effectiveness.

[Multimag-M magnetotherapy system of the new generation].

The Multimag-M microprocessor chronomagne-totherapy system of the new generation is described. The system provides on-line diagnosis of the pulse parameters and the breathing rate during a biotechnical feedback session. The requirements to the system software, as well as its specific features and design principles, are considered.

[Risk assessment in preparation for production of POLIMAG-01 device].

The procedure used by medical equipment developer for assessing the risks involved in operation and maintenance of medical equipment is described. Methods for risk assessment and management are delineated. An example of the procedure implementation is given.

[Multimag chronomagnetotherapy system life cycle maintenance].

Seven stages of high-technology medical equipment life cycle are described. The Multimag chronomagnetotherapy system is used as an example to trace the implementation of the seven stages of the system life cycle by a collaboration team from Ryazan State Radio Engineering University and Kasimov Instrument-Making Plant.

Chronotherapeutic approach to design a thermoresponsive membrane for transdermal drug delivery.

In this review, the concepts of chronobiology, circadian rhythm, chronopharmacology, homeostasis and chronotherapy are taken into account to approach the optimal drug therapy, in which the timing of drug administration plays an important role. Based on these considerations, our laboratory has developed a thermo-responsive membrane by entrapping a single or binary liquid crystal to achieve an on-off switching drug delivery for transdermal application via the externally repeated cycle of temperature change, which may simulate the dosing time of therapeutic needs for human body.