A new Coenzyme Q10 tablet-grade formulation (all-Q) is bioequivalent to Q-Gel and both have better bioavailability properties than Q-SorB.

Commercial Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubiquinone) formulations are often of poor intestinal absorption. We investigated the bioavailability of DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. (Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) CoQ10 10% TG/P (all-Q), a new tablet-grade formulation, with CoQ10 Q-Gel Softsules based on the Bio-Solv technology (Tishcon Corp., Salisbury, MD; marketed by Epic4Health, Smithtown, NY) and Q-SorB (Nature's Bounty, Bohemia, NY). Twelve healthy male subjects participated in a randomized, three-period crossover bioequivalence study. Plasma CoQ10 was determined from pre-dose until +36 hours. To compare bioavailability, corrected maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve from 0 to +14 hours [AUC(0-14 h)] were assessed and tested for bioequivalence. The bioequivalence ranges of 0.8-1.25 hour x microg/mL for AUC(0-14 h) and 0.75-1.33 microg/mL for Cmax were applied. In summary, the kinetic profiles of all CoQ10 preparations revealed a one-peak plasma concentration-time course. Highest Cmax values were seen after Q-Gel application, whereas time to Cmax was nearly identical across all treatments. The AUC(0-14 h) values were highest for Q-Gel, narrowly followed by all-Q. The tests for bioequivalence showed a bioequivalence between Q-Gel and all-Q, and both preparations were found to have better bioavailability properties than Q-SorB. Although all-Q and Q-Gel have equivalent bioavailability properties, all-Q can be directly used in tablets, while this is not the case for Q-Gel or other similar forms.

Dynamic changes of the spinal canal in patients with cervical spondylosis at flexion and extension using magnetic resonance imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors determine the dynamic changes of the spinal canal during flexion and extension in patients with cervical spondylosis. METHODS: Forty-six patients were studied inside a whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) scanner with between 50 degrees of flexion and 30 degrees of extension, using a positioning device. At neutral position (0 degree) and maximum flexion and extension sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences were acquired. RESULTS: A significant (P < or = 0.05) increase of spinal stenosis was found at extension (48%, 22 of 46 patients) when compared with flexion (24%, 11 of 46). Cervical cord compression was diagnosed at flexion in 5 patients (11%) and at extension in 9 patients (20%). Concerning the number of patients with cervical cord compression at flexion and extension, significant differences (P < or = 0.05) were found in patients with degenerative changes at four segments compared with patients with one segment involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging identified a significant percentage of increased spinal stenosis at flexion and, especially, at extension, which was not observed at neutral position (0 degree). Flexion and extension MR imaging demonstrates additional information using a noninvasive technique concerning the dynamic factors in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Trends in a national sample of sexually abusive youths.

OBJECTIVE: To describe sociodemographic factors pertinent to sexually abusive youths, to define common characteristics of the offending behaviors and victims, and to identify issues relevant to treatment recommendations. METHOD: The Uniform Data Collection system (UDCS), developed by the National Adolescent Perpetrator Network, provided data from 90 contributors in 30 states on more than 1,600 juveniles referred to them for specialized evaluation and/or treatment following a sexual offense. The UDCS comprises four separate structured questionnaires that collect both factual information and clinical impressions. RESULTS: Physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and loss of a parental figure were common in these youths' histories. Twenty-two percent of the youths, who had been victims of sexual abuse, reported that the perpetrator of their own sexual abuse was female. The youths committed a wide range of sexual offenses, with twice as many of the referring offenses involving female victims than male victims. CONCLUSION: The discovery of sexually abusive youths across both urban and rural areas supports the need for comprehensive service delivery and a continuum of treatment services to be available in all communities.

Classification system based on kinematic MR imaging in cervical spondylitic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional myelographic studies are often used to evaluate the dynamic changes of the cervical spinal canal during flexion and extension. The purposes of this study were to use kinematic MR imaging to assess the dynamic changes of the cervical spine in patients at different stages of degenerative disease and to describe a classification system based on static and dynamic factors in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylitic myelopathy. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with different stages (I-IV) of degenerative disease of the cervical spine were examined with MR imaging. In the neutral position (0 degrees) and at maximum flexion and extension, spinal stenosis was classified for each segment according to the following grading system: 0 = normal, 1 = partial obliteration of the anterior or posterior subarachnoid space, 2 = complete obliteration of the anterior or posterior subarachnoid space, and 3 = cervical cord compression or displacement. RESULTS: At flexion and extension, the prevalence of spinal stenosis and cervical cord impingement increased as the stage of degenerative disease progressed. With regard to a pincer effect (anterior and posterior cord impingement) and cord encroachment at multiple segments, statistically significant differences were observed at stages III and IV as compared with stages I and II. Significant increase in cord impingement was seen in 22 (27%) of 81 patients at extension, as compared with four (5%) of 81 patients at flexion. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the stage of degenerative disease and grade of spinal stenosis at the neutral position (0 degrees), cervical spinal motion may contribute to the development of cervical spondylitic myelopathy.

[Comparison of T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and ultrafast HASTE sequence in the diagnosis of cervical myelopathies and spinal stenoses and static and kinematic MRT of the spine]. / Vergleich von T2-gewichteter Turbo-Spin-Echo- und ultraschneller HASTE-Sequenz in der Diagnostik von zervikalen Myelopathien und Spinalstenosen mit der statischen und kinematischen MRT der Halswirbelsäule.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare HASTE-sequence with T2-weighted TSE-sequence in the detection of cervical myelopathy and cervical spinal stenosis in kinematic MRI. METHODS: 24 patients with degenerative disease of the cervical spine were studied. Images were evaluated according to the following criteria: artifacts, delineation of the vertebra, disks and degenerative changes, grade of spinal stenosis (grade 0-3) and evaluation of the cervical spinal cord. RESULTS: Due to image blurring and artifacts, evaluation and delineation of the cervical spine was possible in all cases in the T2-weighted TSE-sequence, but only in 23 of 24 patients using HASTE-sequence. Differentiation between osteophytes and disks was obtained in most cases (23/24) in the T2-weighted TSE-sequence but none in the HASTE-sequence. Cervical myelopathy was observed in 4 patients in T2-weighted TSE images but only in two cases using HASTE-sequence. Compared to T2-weighted TSE-sequence spinal canal stenosis was underestimated using HASTE-sequence. CONCLUSION: T2-TSE-sequence is superior to HASTE-sequence in the delineation of anatomical structures of the cervical spine, the grading of cervical spinal stenosis and the evaluation of cervical myelopathy.

Prison mental health services: results of a national survey of standards, resources, administrative structure, and litigation.

The formation of adequate mental health systems within prisons has accelerated as a result of successful class action lawsuits. Our recent national survey questioned all state correctional departments about the existence of standards in each system, compliance with such standards, prevalence of class action lawsuits involving the issue of providing adequate mental health services for inmates, issues related to consent decrees, available mental health resources within the correctional system, and the administrative structure of the mental health system. Our purpose was to identify those factors correlated with certified class action lawsuits involving issues related to mental health services. Twenty-one states were involved in such litigation. Only the presence of psychiatric hospitals operated by the department of corrections correlated with the presence of certified class action lawsuits involving mental health services. Prison systems larger than 15,000 inmates were at higher risk for such litigation. Smaller systems having psychiatric hospitals run by the state mental health agency appeared to be at less risk for such litigation.

On the local anaesthetic action of propolis and some of its constituents.

An ethanolic propolis extract and some constituents isolated from propolis were tested on the cornea of the rabbit and of the mouse for local anaesthetic activity. Total anaesthesia was obtained with the total extract as well as with the compounds 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone (pinocembrin), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (pinostrobin) and with a mixture of caffeic acid esters. Each of these compounds was nearly thrice as potent as the total extract. Propoxypiperocaine which was tested for the purpose of comparison was still efficient in an almost 10-fold lower concentration. When applied subcutaneously, pinocembrin and the mixture of caffeic acid esters produced nearly the same anaesthesia as lidocaine.

[The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical assessment of acetylaminonitropropoxybenzene (Falimint). 6. Quantitative composition of metabolites]. / Zur pharmazeutischen und biopharmazeutischen Begutachtung von Acetylaminonitropropoxybenzolum (Falimint). 6. Mitteilung: Quantitative Zusammensetzung der Metaboliten.

Substances appearing in the metabolism of Falimint were analyzed quantitatively. The composition of metabolites is remarkable constant in various persons and dosages. The concentration of metabolites in urine accumulates after 2 h. Within 6 h the bulk of metabolites is eliminated.

[On the antimicrobial activity of propolis and propolis constituents (author's transl)]. / Zur antimikrobiellen Wirksamkeit von Propolis und Propolisinhaltsstoffen.

After a survey of the literature on the antimicrobial activity of the bee product propolis, the authors discuss their own findings as compared to the chemotherapeutical agents streptomycin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, nystatin, griseofulvin and sulphamerazine. According to the results obtained by testing 25 isolated constituents on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the antimicrobial properties of this mixture of natural substances are mainly attributable to the flavonoids pinocembrin, galangin, pinobanksin, pinobanksin-3-acetate as well as to the p-coumaric acid benzyl ester and a caffeic acid ester mixture. None of the isolated substances was as potent as the antibiotics tested for the purpose of comparison. The relatively good antimycetic activity of the 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone pinocembrin seems noteworthy. Finally, possible mechanisms of the antimicrobial action of the flavonoids are discussed.

[Antimicrobial activity of selected quinoxalines (author's transl)]. / Antimikrobielle Wirksamkeit ausgewählter Chinoxaline.

After a survey of the literature on biological effects of quinoxalines experimental results of 2,3- and 2,3,6-substituted quinoxalines against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporon gypseum were demonstrated. The most active compound was 2-chlor-3-methyl-6-nitroquinoxaline. Its MIC values against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans were determined with 54 and 223 micromol/l.

[Identification of an antimicrobially active constituent isolated from propolis (author's transl)]. / Identifizierung eines aus Propolis isolierten, antimikrobiell wirksamen Inhaltsstoffes.

On isolating and identifying antimicrobially active propolis constituents, the authors detected a substance that must be regarded as a mixture of caffeic acid esters. The caffeic acid moiety was unequivocally identified by various chemical and spectroscopic methods. The results obtained from the gas chromatographic study of the alcohol fraction after hydrolysis of the isolated compound identify benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol and cinnamic alcohol as ester components. Furthermore, the mass spectroscopic findings are indicative of the presence of a caffeic acid pentenyl ester in the mixture. Attempts to separate this ester mixture by recrystallization and thin-layer chromatography failed.

[Pharmacokinetic studies of the propolis constituent pinocembrin in the rat (author's transl)]. / Pharmakokinetische Untersuchungen des Propolisinhaltsstoffes Pinocembrin an der Ratte.

The present investigation into the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the propolis constituent pinocembrin which produces a relatively good antimicrobial effect in vitro, points to possible causes of its therapeutical failure when mice infected with Candida albicans were used as a model. The biological half-life periods for the phases of invasion and elimination were 26 and 268 min, respectively. The biological availability was 25%. Almost 15% of pinocembrin are excreted unchanged in faeces and urine. Even in case of oral application of doses of up to 500 mg/kg, the serum pinocembrin concentrations did not equal the MIC (minimal inhibitor concentration) values required in vitro. A considerable first-pass effect and accelerated processes of elimination are discussed as possible causes. It appears from the present findings that pinocembrin may be utilizable only for the external treatment of stomatomycoses.

An introduction to correctional psychiatry: Part III.

This article, which is the last of three parts, provides an overview of relevant national guidelines/standards for providing mental health services within a correctional setting and describes essential characteristics of mental health systems designed to meet constitutional standards. Part III addresses issues pertinent to treatment programs for inmates with serious mental illnesses; confidentiality; involuntary treatment; quality assurance; management information systems; and research.

An introduction to correctional psychiatry: Part II.

This article, which is the second of three parts, provides an overview of relevant guidelines/standards for providing mental health services within a correctional setting and describes essential characteristics of mental health systems designed to meet constitutional standards. Part II focuses on organizational issues within correctional mental health systems, staffing issues, and psychiatric screening/evaluation processes.

An introduction to correctional psychiatry: Part I.

This article, to be published in three parts, provides an overview of relevant national guidelines/standards for providing mental health services within a correctional setting and describes essential characteristics of a mental health system designed to meet constitutional standards. Part I will provide a brief summary of pertinent epidemiological studies and an introduction to the most widely used national standards/guidelines. Part II will focus on organizational issues within correctional mental health systems, staffing issues, and psychiatric screening/ evaluation processes. Part III will address issues pertinent to treatment programs for inmates with serious mental illnesses, confidentiality, involuntary treatment, and management information systems.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections et al. v. Ronald R. Yeskey: prisons and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

This article reviews a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that addresses the issue of whether Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits a public entity from discriminating against a person with a disability due to that individual's disability, applies to inmates in state prisons. Potential ramifications of this important decision are briefly addressed.

5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors induce potent anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects in human tumour cells independently of suppression of 5-lipoxygenase activity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Certain 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors exhibit anti-carcinogenic activities against 5-LO overexpressing tumour types and cultured tumour cells. It has been proposed therefore that 5-LO products significantly contribute to tumour cell proliferation. To date, the relationship between the inhibitory mechanisms of 5-LO inhibitors, which vary widely, and tumour cell viability has not been evaluated. This study addresses the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic potency of a number of 5-LO inhibitors with different inhibitory mechanisms in 5-LO-positive and 5-LO-negative tumour cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cell viability was measured by the WST-1 assay; cell proliferation was assessed using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. Cell death was analysed by annexin V staining, Western blot analysis of PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) cleavage and a cytotoxicity assay. 5-LO product formation was quantified by a 5-LO activity assay. KEY RESULTS: The common 5-LO inhibitors AA-861, Rev-5901 and MK-886 induced cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects in 5-LO-positive Capan-2 pancreatic cancer cells; BWA4C and CJ-13,610 only caused anti-proliferative effects, while zileuton failed to impair cell viability. Moreover, the concentrations of the 5-LO inhibitors required to induce anti-proliferation and cytotoxicity highly exceeded those for suppression of 5-LO. Supplementation with mitogenic 5-LO products failed to protect Capan-2 cells from the effects of 5-LO inhibitors. Finally, the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative 5-LO inhibitors also potently reduced the viability of 5-LO-deficient tumour cell lines (HeLa, Panc-1 and U937). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Certain 5-LO inhibitors cause cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects independently of suppression of 5-LO activity. Thus, the role of 5-LO overexpression in tumour cell viability remains unclear and requires further elucidation.