An increase in substance misuse rather than other mental disorders has led to increased forensic treatment rates in the Czech Republic.

It is suggested that limited access to appropriate care forces psychiatric patients towards forensic treatment or to the prison system. According to our data, the number of prisoners, the number of hospitalized psychiatric patients (from 1987 to 2007), the number of court ordered forensic treatments in the Czech Republic (from 1991 to 2007), and the rate of people in psychiatric and sex offender forensic treatment has remained constant. However, an increase (162%) in number of treatments imposed for abusing illicit drugs did occur during this period. This increase contributed to the correlation between both the number of sentences given for protective treatment and the number of all sentenced persons (Pearson cor. 0.647, p < 0,001) and the number of prisoners (Pearson cor. 0.798, p < 0,001). The analysis of all admissions to a forensic facility from a catchment area of 1,260,318 inhabitants shows no increase in number of admission between 2002 and 2007. The same data prove that the number of patients ordered to psychiatric and sexology treatment remained steady and did not reflect changes in the number of prisoners or number of hospitalized patients. This could be explained by a high number of psychiatric hospitalizations protecting the patients from deteriorating to criminal behaviour.

Assessing the antioxidative properties and chemical composition of Linaria vulgaris infusion.

The ability of Linaria vulgaris (Scrophulariaceae) infusion to act as a scavenger of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, reactive oxygen species (superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorous acid (HOCl)) and nitric oxide was investigated. The obtained data indicate that the infusion has a good scavenging activity against superoxide radical and is a very potent nitric oxide and DPPH scavenger. In hydroxyl radical assay a pro-oxidant capacity was noticed, especially for concentrations higher than 31.25 microg mL(-1). No effect was found against HOCl. A phytochemical study of this extract was also performed. The HPLC/UV analysis allowed the identification and quantification of eight organic acids (oxalic, aconitic, citric, ketoglutaric, ascorbic, malic, shikimic and fumaric acids). The phenolic composition of the lyophilised infusion was also determined by HPLC/DAD and four compounds were quantified, but, despite its high content, only linarin was managed to be identified.

[Natural polymers in the formulation of hydrophilic matrix tablets]. / Prírodní polymery pro formulaci hydrofilních matricových tablet.

Semisynthetic and synthetic polymers have found their use in the technology of hydrophilic matrix systems with controlled release of the active ingredient, in particular in oral administration. In the recent period, there is increased interest also in natural polymeric substances, whose advantage consists in safety, easy availability, and a relatively low price. They thus represent an interesting possibility to extend the selection of novel constitutive auxiliary substances. The present review paper surveys the most important natural polymers: alginans, carageens, Arabic gum, pectins, galactomanans, ispaghul, and xantan gum as potential carriers for oral hydrophilic systems with controlled release of active ingredients and describes its origin, properties, and possible uses in pharmacy.

[Explant culture of Trifolium pratense L]. / Explantátová kultura Trifolium pratense L.

The red cloverl seems to be a prospective source of flavonoids and isoflavonoids with phytoestrogenic activity. Young seedlings of four different varieties of Trifolium pratense L. were employed to derive callus and suspension cultures. The optimal medium for cultivation is Gamborg's cultivating medium with an addition of 2 mg x l(-1) of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid and 2 mg x l(-1) of 6-benzylaminopurine. On the basis of growth and production characteristics, subcultivating intervals of 29 to 43 days in callus culture and 16 to 23 days in suspension culture were determined. TLC and HPLC revealed that the explant culture of Trifolium pratense L. contains the isoflavonoid formononetin.

[Natural substances with antioxidant activity]. / Vybrané prírodní látky s antioxidacní aktivitou.

The review summarizes information about natural substances of phenolic nature (flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins), in which antioxidant effects and ability to quench free radicals have been demonstrated. A number of substances seem to be perspective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and liver diseases.

[Herbal drugs in Kampo preparations]. / Rostlinné drogy v Kampo prípravcích.

Medicaments of the Kampo medicine are composed from vegetable drugs. This article describes drugs unknown in European medicine and used in Kampo preparations--Radix bupleuri, Tuber pinelliae, Hoelen, Radix scutellariae, Cortex magnoliae, Fructus zizyphi, Herba perillae, Radix paeoniae, Rhizoma atractylodis, Rhizoma alismatis, Radix alismae, Rhizoma cnidii, Radix angelicae, Rhizoma coptidis, Fructus gardeniae, Cortex phellodendri, Polyporus, Radix ginseng.