On substance abuse in Kuwait (1992-1997). Evidence from toxicological screening of patients.

Purpose: To assess preference for different psychoactive substances and time trends in Kuwait.

Methods: Analysis of urine and blood samples of specimens sent by attending physicians to the only public health reference laboratory for toxicological screening in the country.

Results: A total of 28,548 tests were performed on 3781 samples.

Separation of structurally related flavonoids by GC/MS technique and determination of their polarographic parameters and potential carcinogenicity.

The present study deals with the investigation of the naturally occurring derivatives of the benzo[b]pyran-4-one - flavonoids - chrysin, tectochrysin and galangin, and with the effect of minor changes in their chemical structure on their separation using GC/MS. In the relation to their close chemical structure, their basic polarographic parameters were also investigated. Their potential carcinogenicity index tg alpha was determined by DC polarography experiments in the presence of alpha-lipoic acid.

An evaluation of the acute in vivo toxicity of benzylidenechroman-4-ones, 1-thiobenzylidenechroman-4-ones and benzylidenetetralones.

A series of new compounds were evaluated for acute in vivo toxicity. Their synthesis and antifungal activity have previously been described by us. The naturally occurring class of compounds to which they belong - the benzylidenechroman-4-ones - have been identified as a potential source of new antifungal agents.

Cell-constituent polyamines in Candida species and new biotyping of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis strains.

Intracellular amines from three Candida species were extracted and chemically derivatized by a modification of the Seiler procedure. The results of qualitative determinations of 13 amines in 20 strains each of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis are presented. This report is the first to describe the detection of amines other than the classical spermine, spermidine, putrescine and cadaverine in yeasts and fungi.