Preparation of deuterium-labeled biotransformation products of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.

Methods for the preparation of deuterium-labeled analogs to six prominent biotransformation products of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene were developed. These are useful as reference standards for stable isotope dilution techniques and for solid state (2)H NMR spectroscopic studies. Although syntheses for most of the target compounds in protiated form had been reported in the past, most of those were found to be poorly suited for the preparation of the deuterated materials.

Substance misuse over the first 18 months of specialized intervention for first episode psychosis.

Aim: Examine substance misuse over the first 18 months of first-episode psychosis treatment.

Method: Clinicians rated alcohol and drug (mostly cannabis) misuse for 243 individuals followed prospectively. Assessments were completed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 18 months.

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with first-episode psychosis and concurrent substance misuse.

Aims: To determine the incidence of concurrent substance misuse among individuals entering first-episode psychosis treatment, and examine whether patients with concurrent substance misuse differ on variables relevant to service planning.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n=376) were assessed using standardized instruments.

Results: Twenty-two per cent met abuse or dependence criteria for a single substance, and 8% met criteria for two substances.

Enantioselective synthesis of imperanene via enzymatic asymmetrization of an intermediary 1,3-diol.

[reaction: see text] Using a chemoenzymatic synthetic strategy, (S)-imperanene and its (R)-enantiomer has been synthesized from vanillin in nine steps. The key step in the synthesis involves the use of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PS-30) to induce asymmetrization of the intermediary prochiral 1,3-diol in >97% ee.

A waitlist control-group study of cognitive, mood, and quality of life outcome after posteroventral pallidotomy in Parkinson disease.

Object: The aim of this study was to examine neuropsychological outcome from unilateral posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) in Parkinson disease while controlling for confounding factors such as test practice and disease progression.

Methods: Participants underwent baseline and 2-month follow-up assessments of cognition, quality of life, mood, and motor functioning. The surgery group (22 patients) underwent PVP (15 left, seven right) after baseline assessment.