Healthcare issues of detainees in police custody in London, UK.

Little is known about the general healthcare needs of detainees in police custody. The aims of this study were to: determine the level of general health issues, diseases and/or pathology for detainees in police custody, and to determine how well those general health issues, diseases and/or pathology are being managed. This was done by a detailed analysis of healthcare issues of a cohort of detainees and reviewing intended and prescribed medication needs with current medication availability. In August 2007, a prospective detailed, anonymised, structured questionnaire survey was undertaken of 201 detainees in police custody in London, UK. Of these 83.6% consented to participate in the study. 85.1% of subjects were male; mean age was 33.9 years; 70.8% had English as a first language; 13.7% were of no fixed abode; 70.2% were registered with a general practitioner (primary care physician); 25% were already in contact with other healthcare teams; 7.1% had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983; 16.7% had previously intentionally self-injured; 33.9% were dependent on heroin, 33.9% on crack cocaine; 25% on alcohol, 16.6% on benzodiazepines and 63.1% on cigarettes. 56% of subjects had active medical conditions; of those with active medical conditions 74% were prescribed medication for those medical conditions; only 3/70 had their medication available. 28/70 were not taking medication regularly, and many were not taking it at all. Three subjects who had deep vein thromboses were not taking their prescribed anticoagulants and six subjects with severe mental health issues were not taking their anti-psychotic medication. Mental health issues and depression predominated, but there was a very large range of mixed diseases and pathology. Asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, hepatitis, and hypertension were all represented. The study has achieved its aims and has also shown that--in part because of the chaotic lifestyle of many detainees--appropriate care was not being rendered, thereby, putting both detainee, and potentially others coming into contact with them, at risk.

Pseudosclerodermatous triad of perniosis, pulp atrophy and 'parrot-beaked' clawing of the nails--a newly recognized syndrome of chronic crack cocaine use.

The number of people dependent on crack-cocaine in the UK has increased substantially in recent years. Some crack-cocaine users develop coarsening changes in the appearance of their hands after prolonged use of the drug. These changes have most often been recognized in females and include: (i) Perniosis with cold, numb hands, sometimes with perniotic hyperkeratosis over the knuckles.(ii) Finger pulp atrophy of the distal part of the pulps of some digits, especially the thumbs and index fingers.(iii) Claw-like curvature of the nails. As the distal pulp is lost, it can no longer splint the nail straight and so the nail curves, claw-like, and reminiscent of a parrot's beak as it clings to the new contour. As the pulp atrophy progresses, the nail eventually also becomes smaller.This triad may be due to ischemia consequent upon peripheral vasoconstriction induced by crack-cocaine. Early changes may resolve with abstinence. In the patients described the syndrome does not appear to be to related to intravenous drug usage. It may occur without concomitant use of heroin, whether smoked or via the intravenous route. The syndrome does not occur in all crack-cocaine users. It is hypothesized that those with a vasoreactive circulation (i.e., those with vasomotor instability/perniosis) are more susceptible to this reaction pattern. The syndrome consisting of the triad of perniosis, pulp atrophy and parrot-beaked clawing of the nails should alert the clinician to the possibility of prolonged crack-cocaine misuse.

Cortamidine oxide, a novel disulfide metabolite from the New Zealand basidiomycete (mushroom) Cortinarius species.

Three disulfide metabolites were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete (mushroom) Cortinarius sp., collected in the Catlins, New Zealand. The structures of these compounds were determined as the unsymmetrical disulfide cortamidine oxide (1), 2,2'-dithiobis(pyridine N-oxide) (2), and the symmetrical disulfide 3. Both 1 and 2 showed significant antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. 2,2'-Dithiobis(pyridine N-oxide) (2) and the symmetrical disulfide 3 are assumed to be artifacts of the isolation procedure.

Isolation and characterization of Myrianthus holstii lectin, a potent HIV-1 inhibitory protein from the plant Myrianthus holstii(1).

Aqueous extracts from the African plant Myrianthus holstii potently inhibited the infection of the T-lymphoblastoid cell line, CEM-SS, by human immunodeficiency virus-1(RF) (HIV-1(RF)). The active constituent, M. holstii lectin (MHL), was purified by LH-20 column chromatography and reversed phase HPLC. MHL, a 9284-Da cysteine-rich protein, was characterized by amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing, ESIMS, and matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Pure MHL had anti-HIV activity, with an EC(50) value of 150 nM. Delaying the addition of MHL for up to 8 h after initial exposure of CEM-SS cells to virus did not result in loss of the antiviral activity; however, if addition of the compound was delayed for 16 h or more, there was a marked decrease in the antiviral activity. MHL bound to a virus-free, soluble form of the viral envelope protein gp120 but did not inhibit the subsequent binding to a cell-free, soluble form of the cellular receptor CD4.

Mycalamides C and D, cytotoxic compounds from the marine sponge Stylinos n. species.

The new cytotoxic compounds, mycalamides C (3) and D (4), have been isolated from the marine sponge Stylinos n. sp., along with the known theopederin E (1) and mycalamide A (2).

The discovery and development of marine compounds with pharmaceutical potential.

An assessment of the current status of marine anticancer compounds is presented along with a case study on the aquaculture of Lissodendoryx n. sp. 1, a sponge that produces the antimitotic agents halichondrin B and isohomohalichondrin B. The use of polymer therapeutics to enhance the properties of marine natural products is considered.

Theonellapeptolide IIIe, a new cyclic peptolide from the New Zealand deep water sponge, Lamellomorpha strongylata.

The structure, stereochemistry, and conformation of theonellapeptolide IIIe (1), a new 36-membered ring cyclic peptolide from the New Zealand deep-water sponge Lamellomorpha strongylata, is described. The sequence of the cytotoxic peptolide was determined through a combination of NMR and MS-MS techniques and confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis, which, with chiral HPLC, established the absolute stereochemistry.

A chemical screening strategy for the dereplication and prioritization of HIV-inhibitory aqueous natural products extracts.

A relatively high percentage (ca. 15%) of aqueous extracts from terrestrial plants, cyanobacteria, and marine invertebrates and algae has exhibited activity in the National Cancer Institute's primary AIDS-antiviral screen. By removal of anionic polysaccharides in a first stage of dereplication, we have eliminated from further consideration a considerable number of these extracts. However, a still substantial proportion of the active extracts remained, from which we wished to select and prioritize a small percentage for our detailed bioassay-directed fractionation studies. Therefore, a chemical screening protocol, utilizing various solid-phase extraction cartridges, has been developed for a second-stage dereplication and to assist in prioritization of these extracts for our further investigations.

New cytotoxic beta-carboline alkaloids from the marine bryozoan, Cribricellina cribraria.

Bioactivity-directed separations led to the isolation of the new alkaloid, 1-vinyl-8-hydroxy-beta-carboline [1], as the major cytotoxic component of the marine bryozoan Cribricellina cribraria. Another new beta-carboline alkaloid 2 with the novel sulfone structure was isolated, together with a number of known beta-carboline compounds. Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial effects are reported for these compounds and for other synthesized beta-carbolines.

A cytotoxic and antifungal 1,4-naphthoquinone and related compounds from a New Zealand brown algae, Landsburgia quercifolia.

The bioactivity-directed isolation of deoxylapachol [I] from a New Zealand brown alga, Landsburgia quercifolia, is described. Compound I was active against P-388 leukemia cells (IC50 0.6 microgm/ml) and was also antifungal. 1,4-Dimethoxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-naphthalene [3] was the major low polarity component of extracts of this seaweed, which also contained 2,3-dihydro-2,2-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthalenedione [6] and 2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2,3-epoxy- 1,4-naphthalenedione 4,4-dimethoxy ketal [7]. Compound 7 was converted to the 2,3-epoxide of I, which had biological activities similar to those of I.

4-Hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone: an anti-Pseudomonas and cytotoxic component from Passiflora tetrandra.

4-Hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone is responsible for the anti-bacterial activity of an extract of leaves from Passiflora tetrandra with minimum inhibitory doses (MID) of ca. 10 micrograms/disk against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 4-Hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone is also cytotoxic to P388 murine leukemia cells (IC50 of less than 1 microgram/ml).