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Michał Andrzej Okruszko,1 Maciej Szabłowski,1 Mateusz Zarzecki,1 Magdalena Michnowska-Kobylińska,1 Łukasz Lisowski,1 Magda Łapińska,2 Zofia Stachurska,2 Anna Szpakowicz,3 Karol Adam Kamiński,2 Joanna Konopińska1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, 15-089, Poland; 2Department of Population Medicine and Lifestyle Diseases Prevention, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland; 3Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, PolandCorrespondence: Joanna Konopińska, Medical University of Białystok, Kilinskiego 1 STR, Białystok, 15-089, Poland, TelFax + 48857468372, Fax + 48857468372, Email joannakonopinska@o2.plIntroduction: Glaucoma is the most common optic neuropathy and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, which affects 3.54% of the population aged 40– 80 years. Despite numerous published studies, some aspects of glaucoma pathogenesis, serum biomarkers, and their potential link with other diseases remain unclear. Recent articles have proposed that autoimmune, oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.Methods: We investigated the serum expression of 92 inflammatory and neurotrophic factors in glaucoma patients. The study group consisted of 26 glaucoma patients and 192 healthy subjects based on digital fundography.Results: Patients with glaucoma had significantly lower serum expression of IL-2Rβ, TWEAK, CX3CL1, CD6, CD5, LAP TGF-beta1, LIF-R, TRAIL, NT-3, and CCL23 and significantly higher expression of IL-22Rα 1.Conclusion: Our results indicate that patients with glaucoma tend to have lower levels of neuroprotective proteins and higher levels of neuroinflammatory proteins, similar to those observed in psychiatric, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, indicating a potential link between these conditions and glaucoma pathogenesis.Keywords: glaucoma, inflammation, neurodegeneration, proteomics, Olink

The complete NMR signal assignment of title compounds were carried out by extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (1H, 13C, COSY, HSQC and HMBC). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is gaining popularity in the field of paediatric densitometry, however, very little is known about the precision errors of this method in diseased children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the precision errors of bone density, mass, dimensions, strength, mechanostat parameters and soft tissue at the forearm in diseased children., Methods: Stratec XCT 2000L apparatus was used. The measurement sites were 4% and 66% of the forearm length. The study group consisted of 60 patients (31 girls) aged 5,7-18,0 yrs., Results: We observed week relationships between precision errors and body size with r from -0,37 to 0,28. Relative precision errors (CV% RMS ) were from 0,85% for radius 66% cortical bone density to 3,82% for fat cross-sectional area to muscle cross-sectional area ratio. Least significant change (LSC) was from 2,73% to 10,59%, respectively., Conclusion: Presented study reveal pQCT method at the forearm in diseased children as relatively precise technique. The results may help with planning and interpretation of pQCT studies in diseased children., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration is the primary cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries, whereas the global prevalence of osteoporosis-a major public health problem-is 19.7%. Both diseases may coincide in populations aged >50 years, leading to serious health deterioration and decreased quality of life., Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between age-related macular degeneration and osteopenia, defined as decreased bone mineral density, in the Polish population., Methods: Participants were derived from the population-based Bialystok PLUS Study. Randomized individuals were stratified into two groups, those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD-1 group) or without age-related macular degeneration (AMD-0 group). Using a cutoff value of -1.0 to identify low bone mass, participants with femoral bone mineral density T-scores above -1.0 were assigned to the normal reference, and those with T-scores below -1.0 were assigned to the osteopenia category. Among 436 Caucasian participants aged 50-80 years (252 women, 184 men), the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration was 9.9% in women and 12.0% in men. Decreased bone mineral density based on T-scores was observed in 36.9% of women and in 18.9% of men. Significant differences in femoral bone mineral density between the AMD-0 and AMD-1 groups were detected only in men (mean difference [95% confidence interval] = 0.11 (0.02; 0.13); p = 0.012 for femoral bone mineral density, and 0.73 [0.015; 0.94]; p = 0.011 for the femoral T-score). No associations were observed between bone mineral density and age-related macular degeneration in women., Conclusion: Decreased femoral bone mineral density may be associated with a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration in men, but a causal link remains unclear., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Budnik et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Classical homocystinuria (HCU) is an inborn defect of methionine metabolism caused by a deficiency of the enzyme cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). The main symptoms of classical homocystinuria are lens subluxation, bone lesions, vascular disease and developmental delay/intellectual disability. The treatment method for HCU is a methionine-poor diet supplemented with amino acid preparations. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of dietary factors, metabolic compensation and selected skeletal parameters in patients with HCU., Methods: Bone mineral density measurements (DXA) were performed in pediatric patients with HCU, and blood levels of selected amino acids, minerals and vitamins, as well as dietary nutritional value, were analyzed., Results: A total of 11 patients with HCU whose median age was 9.3 years were enrolled in the study. The median DXA total body less head of HCU patients was -0.4 z-score, and the lumbar spine was -1.4 z-score. Despite supplementation, calcium intake was below the age norm. Average vitamin D3 intake was in line with recommendations, but 36% of patients had reduced blood levels. Bone mineral density depended on blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, homocysteine and methionine, as well as on BMI, age and intake of natural protein (R 2 = 98.5%, p = 0.015; R 2 = 86.7%, p = 0.0049) and protein from an amino acid preparation (r = 0.69, p = 0.026)., Conclusion: The results of the study indicate the need for regular densitometry in patients with HCU and also the use of additional calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. It is also necessary to perform a comprehensive analysis of the diet and metabolic controls.

Folic acid (folacin, B9) is a vitamin that performs many very important functions in the human body, and its inadequate level - deficiency as well as excess, may contribute to an increased risk of developing many disease processes. The aim of this study was to analyze the available scientific literature on folic acid and its impact on human health. A systematic review of the studies, published until November 2022, was made on the basis of searching bibliographic databases such as: PubMed, Elsevier and Google Scholar. The following keywords and combinations were used: folic acid, folate, folic acid supplementation, folate deficiency. Folic acid, thanks to its high biological activity, has a direct and indirect effect on the metabolism of the human body cells. It plays a very important role, among others in the prevention of neural tube defects and megaloblastic anemia, the proper functioning of the nervous system, as well as reducing the risk of developing certain cancers. Currently, the important role of folic acid in maintaining the proper functioning of the immune system is also emphasized, which is of particular importance both in the prevention and in the situation of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. The effects of deficiency and excess of vitamin B9 may turn out to be dangerous to health and even life. There is a need for nutritional and health education of the society regarding the importance of folic acid for human health, due to the presence of large deficiencies in the population, which is particularly important for some social groups, such as, for example, women of procreation age, pregnant or breastfeeding, people with a nutrient malabsorption, and people who smoke or abuse alcohol., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest, (National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

The problem of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has now become a major public health challenge worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of age and gender on body composition components and anthropometric indices of children and adolescents aged 6-15 years; in addition, the study aimed to assess body composition indices in relation to BMI (Body Mass Index) levels. The study was conducted at the end of 2019 and in the first quarter of 2020 among 181 pupils attending primary schools. Waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, and body height were measured. The collected data were used to calculate and then to analyse BMI, WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio), and WHtR (Waist to Height Ratio) indices. Body composition was determined with the use of the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The analyses' statistics were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24 and Excel. The statistical methods used included Chi 2 tests of independence, one-factor analysis of variance, and two-factor analysis of variance taking into account the level of α = 0.05. Based on the results, there were no statistically significant differences in the gender and age distributions of the BMI groups. However, the analysis of interaction effects confirmed that there were statistically significant differences according to pubertal age and gender in body fat, muscle mass, hydration, and WHR. Body composition in boys and girls before the age of 12 is similar while, after the age of 12, there are differences between boys and girls in terms of body composition so there is a need to deepen the assessment of body mass, especially in adolescents at the age of puberty, by body composition analysis using the BIA method.

In recent years, research has provided increasing evidence for the importance of inflammatory etiology in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis. This study assessed the profile of inflammatory cytokines in the serum of patients with AMD and coexisting glucose disturbances (GD). This prospective population-based cohort study addressed the determinants and occurrence of cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric, and endocrine diseases in residents of Bialystok, Poland. To make the group homogenous in terms of inflammatory markers, we analyzed only subjects with glucose disturbances (GD: diabetes or prediabetes). Four hundred fifty-six patients aged 50-80 were included. In the group of patients without macular degenerative changes, those with GD accounted for 71.7%, while among those with AMD, GD accounted for 89.45%. Increased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines were observed in both AMD and GD groups. C1qTNF1 concentration was statistically significantly higher in the group of patients with AMD, with comparable levels of concentrations of other proinflammatory cytokines. C1qTNF1 may act as a key mediator in the integration of lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses in macrophages. Moreover, C1qTNF1 levels are increased after exposure to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), which plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation and is also a major component of the drusen observed in AMD. C1qTNF1 may, therefore, prove to be a link between the accumulation of oxLDL and the induction of local inflammation in the development of AMD with concomitant GD.

Background: The type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic systemic autoimmune-mediated disease characterised by the insulin deficiency and hyperglycaemia. Its deleterious effect on bones concerns not only bone mass, density, and fracture risk but also may involve the linear growth of long bones. Studies on the lower leg in children with T1DM by pQCT have generated conflicting results, and most of the studies published so far focused only on a selected features of the bone. An additional information about growth, modelling, and remodelling processes can be gathered by the bone turnover marker measurement. The objective of the study was to evaluate bone mineral density, mass, and geometry using peripheral quantitative computed tomography as well as bone turnover markers in the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods . Bone mineral density, mass, and geometry on the lower leg using peripheral quantitative computed tomography and serum osteocalcin (OC) and carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTx) were measured in 35 adolescents with T1DM (15 girls) aged 12.3-17.9 yrs. The results were compared to age- and sex-adjusted reference values for healthy controls., Results: Both sexes reveal lower than zero Z -scores for lower leg 66% total cortical bone cross-sectional area to muscle cross-sectional area ratio (-0.97 ± 1.02, p = 0.002517 and -0.98 ± 1.40, p = 0.007050, respectively) while tibia 4% trabecular bone density Z -score was lowered in boys (-0.67 ± 1.20, p = 0.02259). In boys in Tanner stage 5 bone mass and dimensions were diminished in comparison to Tanner stages 3 and 4, while in girls, such a phenomenon was not observed. Similarly, bone formation and resorption were decreased in boys but not in girls. Consistently, bone turnover markers correlated positively with bone size, dimensions, and strength in boys only., Conclusions: T1DM patients revealed a decreased ratio of cortical bone area/muscle area, reflecting disturbed adaptation of the cortical shaft to the muscle force. When analyzing bone mass and dimensions, boys in Tanner stage 5 diverged from "less-mature" individuals, which may suggest that bone development in these individuals was impaired, affecting all three: mass, size, and strength. Noted in boys, suppressed bone metabolism may result in impairment of bone strength because of inadequate repair of microdamage and accumulation of microfractures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Maciej Jaworski et al.)

Background: Background. SARS-CoV-2 virus is one of the largest RNA viruses, included in the coronavirus group, showing tropism to airway epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 causes an acute respiratory infectious disease, Covid-19. According to WHO reports, mortality due to Covid-19 is higher in the elderly and in those burdened with comorbidities such as diabetes, obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, cancer, hypertension, hepatitis B, obesity or chronic kidney disease., Objective: The aim of the study was to review the current literature on the influence and importance of vitamin D levels on the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection., Material and Method: A systematic review of studies published from January 1, 2009 to June 31, 2021 has been performed. For this purpose, bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Scopus were searched. The following keywords and combinations were used: Covid-19, vitamin D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, vitamin D supplementation, SARS-CoV-2., Results: It has been shown that vitamin D plays an important role in the mechanisms of the innate immunity in the course of the acute respiratory infections. The overlapping factors of the severity of COVID-19 disease, vitamin D deficiency, and the prevalence of obesity, age scare, ethnicity, has led some researchers to hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation may be promising as a preventive or therapeutic measure for COVID-19., Conclusions: A very important factor that has an immunomodulatory character is vitamin D, the adequate supplementation of which can be a preventive or therapeutic measure in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in elderly people, with obesity and other chronic diseases., (© Copyright by the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies malnutrition as the biggest threat to public health worldwide, and this condition is observed in 20-60% of hospitalized patients. Malnutrition is a state of the body in which due to insufficient supply or incorrect absorption of essential nutrients, the body composition changes and the body's functions are impaired. Malnutrition is associated not only with reduced body mass index but also with obesity., Summary: Obesity is defined as a paradoxical state of malnutrition, which despite excessive energy consumption is associated with a shortage of individual microelements. Deficiency or lack of homeostasis of essential micronutrients can significantly affect daily performance, intellectual and emotional state, but also the physical state of the body. Food deficiency can also contribute to further weight gain or the development of other metabolic diseases. Micronutrient deficiency may include not only incorrect dietary choices and insufficient access to nutrient-rich foods but also changes in the absorption, distribution or excretion of nutrients, and altered micronutrient metabolism resulting from systemic inflammation caused by obesity. An effective therapy method recommended for people with morbid obesity is bariatric surgery aimed at both weight loss and improving quality of life. Unfortunately, the effects of these treatments are often medium- and long-term complications associated with micronutrient deficiency as a result of reduced consumption or absorption. Therefore, the use of bariatric surgery in patients with extreme obesity can affect the metabolism of microelements and increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Key Messages: Studies by many authors indicate a higher incidence of food deficiency among people with excessive body weight, than in people with normal body weight of the same age and same sex. Monitoring the concentration of minerals and vitamins in blood serum is a good practice in the treatment of obesity. The proper nutritional status of the body affects not only the state of health but also the effectiveness of therapy. The aim of the review was to present the issue of malnutrition in the context of obesity., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objectives: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography is utilised in increasing numbers of paediatric studies, however, very little is known about the reference limits for pQCT tibia measurements. The purpose of this study was to establish country-specific reference data for bone densities, cross-sectional sizes, strength and regional muscle distribution measured by pQCT in children and adolescents., Methods: Stratec XCT 2000L apparatus was used. The measurement sites were 4%, 14%, 38% and 66% of the tibia length. The study group consisted of 222 participants (103 girls) aged 4,3-19,4 yrs. ANCOVA was used to assess the main determinants of pQCT outcomes. The LMS method was used to fit the percentile curves for each outcomes., Results: Weight and age were the main determinants for most of the pQCT outcomes. Smoothed percentile curves were developed by age and by height for both sexes., Conclusion: In this study we present reference data for bone densities, cross-sectional size and strength as well as for regional muscle distribution measured by pQCT at certain sites of the lower leg to allow simple calculation of reliable Z scores., Competing Interests: Children’s Memorial Health Institute received specific-user subvention from Ministry of Science and Higher Education for research activity; Children’s Memorial Health Institute’s statutory research task No: 220/12. Ac-quiring of Stratec XCT 2000L apparatus was co financed by ERDF, project POIG.02.01.00-14-059/09.

Understanding the factors that coexist with healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors is prevalent and important for public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between food involvement, eating restrictions, and dietary patterns in a representative sample of Polish adults. The study was conducted among a group of 1007 adults. Questions with the answers yes or no were used to obtain the data regarding eating restrictions. Data relating to food involvement were obtained with the Food Involvement Scale (FIS). Questions from the Beliefs and Eating Habits questionnaire were used to measure the frequency of consumption of different food groups. Five dietary patterns (DPs) were derived using principal component analysis (PCA), i.e., 'Fruit and vegetables', 'Wholemeal food', 'Fast foods and sweets', 'Fruit and vegetable juices' and "Meat and meat products'. In each of the DPs, three groups of participants were identified based on tertile distribution with the upper tertile denoting the most frequent consumption. Nearly two-thirds of the study sample declared some restrictions in food consumption. The probability of implementing restrictions in consumption of foods high in sugar, fat and high-fat foods increased in the upper tertile of 'Fruit and vegetables' and 'Wholemeal' DPs. Moreover, the probability of implementing restrictions in consumption of meat and high-starch products increased in 'Wholemeal' DP. The probability of using eating restrictions decreased in the upper tertile of 'Fast foods and sweets' and Meat and meat products' DPs. In conclusion, individuals characterized by high food involvement were more inclined to use eating restrictions than individuals with lower food involvement. Their DPs were also healthier compared to those of individuals manifesting low food involvement. Therefore, promoting personal commitment to learning about and experiencing food may be an effective way of inducing a change of eating habits, and therefore a healthier diet.

Background: Body posture may be disordered by vestibular dysfunction, neurological disorders, problems with the distribution of muscle tone, brain injuries, and other dysfunctions. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) can lead to many disorders, particularly of the musculoskeletal system. During treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), an increase in muscle mass and an improvement in bone structure can be observed in children suffering from hypopituitarism from GHD., Methods: The study involved 33 children suffering from hypopituitarism with GHD (9 girls and 24 boys), aged 10-14 years old. Measurements of the magnitude of their anterior-posterior spinal curvatures were made using an inclinometer. The children were examined at the medianus of the sacrum bone, the Th12-L1 intervertebral area, and the C7-Th1 intervertebral area. In order to characterize the anterior-posterior curvature of the spine, the results were compared with the general norms reported by Saunders. Statistical calculations were carried out using the statistical package Statistica 10 PL., Results: Lumbar lordosis angles were higher in the patients currently receiving growth hormone (GH) treatment than in those who had yet to receive it. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the length of growth hormone treatment and the alpha angle. There are also statistically significant correlations between age at the beginning of growth hormone therapy and the angle of lordosis. Statistically significant correlations were also seen between age at the beginning of growth hormone therapy and the alpha angle., Conclusions: Although there may be changes in posture at the beginning of rhGH treatment, the sooner growth hormone therapy begins, the better the body posture. The longer the growth hormone treatment, the better the posture, as expressed by the alpha angle in the sagittal plane.

The high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of cinnarizine in human plasma is described. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction followed by reversed phase high-performance chromatographic analysis with fluorometric detection. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, and stability. No endogenous compounds were found to interfere. The absolute extraction recovery of cinnarizine and clocinizine (internal standard) from plasma samples were 97% and 89%, respectively. The linearity was assessed in the range 1-100 ng/mL. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 10%, and the accuracy of the assay expressed by bias was in the range 0.14-2.37%. The method was proved to be suitable for human pharmacokinetic studies following single oral dose.

A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of nabumetone in human plasma is described. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and reversed-phase chromatography with fluorimetric detection (excitation 230 nm, emission 356 nm). The chromatographic conditions and the extraction procedure gave a clean chromatogram for the compound. The limit of quantitation was established as 0.313 ng/ml and the calibration curve was linear up to 20 ng/ml. The within-day and between-day relative standard deviations were less than 10% and the accuracy of the assay was in the range of 99-104%. The suitability of the method is shown for pharmacokinetic studies.

The pharmacokinetics and toxicity of (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide ((2S)-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinae 2-oxide, CAS 146452-37-1, CBM-11) were determined in ten patients with non-small cell lung cancer following an oral dose of 1.38 g/m2 B.S.A. (Body Surface Area). The drug was given as a powder in gelatine capsules to fasting patients. Plasma samples were collected during the first 24 h after administration. All samples, after extraction with chloroform, were assayed by a reverse phase HPLC method using UV detection at 200 nm. Orally administered (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide showed relatively fast absorption kinetics. Peak concentration of 47 micrograms/ml was observed after 1 h. The average half-life was about 5 h. Toxicities associated with oral (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide therapy consisted of symptoms regarding the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. Neurotoxic symptoms were the most common clinically significant side effects and probably dose limiting.

(-)-(S)-Bromofosfamide ((2S)-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane 2-oxide, CAS 146452-37-1, CBM-11) is a new potential anti-cancer drug, currently under investigation. Its pharmacokinetics and bioavailability were studied in female mice following intravenous and oral administration of the dose of 50 mg/kg. The compound was extracted from plasma samples using chloroform and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection at 200 nm. Orally administered (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide was absorbed quickly, attaining a maximum level of 33.9 micrograms/ml at 5 min, and was eliminated with a half-life (t1/2) of about 0.9 h. The average half-life of intravenously administered (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide was about 0.7 h. The total plasma clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vd) were found to be 0.14 l/h and 4.92 l/kg, respectively. The absolute bioavailability of (-)-(S)-bromofosfamide after oral administration was 105%.

A simple and selective analytical method for the determination of buspirone analogue--mesmar in rat plasma is described. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction followed by reversed-phase high-performance chromatographic analysis with UV detection at 245 nm. No endogenous compounds were found to interfere. The absolute extraction recovery from plasma samples was 76%. The linearity was assessed in the range 0.12-2.44 nmol/ml. Stability of mesmar during processing (autosampler) and in plasma was checked. This method proved suitable for pharmacokinetic studies following single oral dose in rats.

A specific and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of domperidone in human plasma is described. Domperidone was isolated by solid-phase extraction using nitrile SPE cartridges. The drug was eluted with a mixture consisting of methanol-triethylamine-acetic acid, separated on a reversed-phase column, and measured by fluorimetric detection after post-column photoderivatization. The absolute extraction recovery from plasma samples was 83%. The limit of quantitation was established as 1 ng/ml. The relative standard deviation of the determination of plasma levels by this method over the standard curve concentration range was less than 10%, expect with the concentration of 1 ng/ml. The suitability of the method is shown for pharmacokinetic studies.

In this open, randomized, two way crossover, bioequivalence study, two 5 mg tablet preparations of glipizide (Glipizyd tabl. 5 mg, Tarchomińskie Zakłady Farmaceutyczne POLFA S.A., and Glibenese tabl. 5 mg, Pfizer), were compared in 24 healthy male volunteers. Pharmacokinetic variables (mean maximum plasma concentration, mean time to reach maximum plasma concentration, and the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve) were not statistically significantly different for the two formulations. It can be concluded that the two tablet preparations of glipizide are likely to be bioequivalent.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of miconazole in human plasma is described. A solid-phase extraction was performed on an octadecyl (C18) cartridge. Miconazole was eluted with methanol, separated on a reversed-phase column and was measured by ultraviolet detection at 230 nm. The absolute extraction recovery from plasma samples was 85%. The limit of detection was established as 5 ng/ml. The coefficient of variation of the determination of plasma levels by this method over the standard curve concentration range was less than 10%, except with the concentration of 10 ng/ml. The plasma levels of miconazole in twelve healthy volunteers given a 250-mg oral dose of two tablet forms were determined by this method.

Pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (DPyr) are crosslinking compounds of bone collagen. Their urinary excretion is considered to be the first sensitive and specific marker of bone resorption in a number of metabolic bone diseases in adults. Application of crosslinks measurements to evaluate bone turnover rate in pediatric patients is so far limited because of lack of reference values. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine urinary excretion of Pyr and DPyr in healthy children aged 3-18 yrs, and to evaluate the possible relationship between the levels of both compounds and body height, weight, BMC, and BMD. Pyr and DPyr levels were determined in first void urine samples obtained from 249 children (124 boys, 125 girls). Urine aliquots were hydrolysed, Pyr and DPyr extracted on CF1 cellulose, and analysed by HPLC with fluorimetric detection. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were measured with Lunar DPX-L apparatus in 205 children (104 boys, 101 girls) from the same population, aged over 5.5 yrs. In prepubertal children, a tendency towards lowering of urinary Pyr and DPyr levels with advancing age was shown. At puberty, urinary excretion of both crosslinks markedly decreased. This phenomenon was observed at various calendar age in girls as compared to boys, reflecting sex-dependent differences. Significant negative correlation (p < 0.0001) between urinary Pyr and DPyr levels and calendar age, body height and weight, BMC and BMD, were also found. The obtained results suggest that references values for Pyr and DPyr excretion in growing children should be related to calendar age, sex, and--in case of adolescents--phase of puberty.

Bioequivalence of Sustonit tablets (2.6 and 6.5 mg) produced at WZF Polfa and Sustac tablets (2.6 and 6.5 mg) made by Krka (Yugoslavia) and WZF Polfa (Poland) was studied by means of the digital plethysmography. All the three drugs with the nitroglycerin content of 2.6 mg were found to be biologically equivalent. On the other hand, Sustonit (WZF Polfa) and Sustac (Krka) tablets with 6.5 mg nitroglycerin proved to possess better bioavailability than Sustac (6.5 mg) tablets produced previously at WZF Polfa.