Restoration of impaired cardiac function of patients with diverse muscular dystrophies by therapy with coenzyme Q10

The present invention relates to the use of Coenzyme Q in the treatment of slow muscle degeneration, commonly known to those of skill in the art so a dystrophy or atrophy, and the accompanying cardiac complications typically identified in such patients. Administration of Coenzyme Q, and particularly the analog Coenzyme Q.sub.10 (CoQ.sub.10) to humans increases the pumping of blood by the heart, and thereby increases tissue oxygeneration throughout the body. The net physiological effect halts the progression of muscle deterioration and improves cardiac function. An overall improvement in the quality of life for these human subjects is also observed, said patients reportedly experiencing less fatigue. A method for treating human patients with progressive muscular dystrophies or the neurogenic atrophies with Coenzyme Q.sub.10 (CoQ.sub.10) specifically disclosed. The method is similarly effective for the treatment of any form of muscle degeneration or cardiac muscular dysfunction independently.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Formulations of coenzyme Q.sub.10 for intravenous use

The present invention comprises a stable and non-toxic coenzyme Q.sub.10 formulation suitable for intravenous administration to an animal to produce clinically effective blood levels of coenzyme Q.sub.10. Clinically effective blood levels of coenzyme Q.sub.10 are generally agreed to be between about 2 ug/ml and about 4 ug/ml. The formulation consists essentially of a clinically accepted fatty emulsion having an oil phase and coenzyme Q.sub.10 dissolved in the oil phase. The formulation preferably contains coenzyme Q.sub.10 at a level between about 7.5 ug/ml and about 30 ug/ml. The clinically accepted fatty emulsion comprises at least one vegetable oil, preferably corn oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, olive oil or soybean oil.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Lipoidal biopterin compounds

" The present invention provides lipoidal biopterin and tetrahydrobiopterin compounds of the general structure: ##STR1## wherein --R is absent when ring B has two double bonds, PA0 --R is hydrogen when the two double bonds in ring B are absent, and PA0 --R' and R"" are selected from saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic hydrocarbons of 1 to 31 carbon units. The compounds provided by this invention are oil soluble and can readily be formulated as an oil based pharmaceutical useful for the treatment of phenylketonuria, Parkinsonism, depression, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease and related biopterin deficiency diseases. "Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Peptide antagonists of substance P

Undecapeptides retaining the amino acids in positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 of substance P (Arg.sup.1 -Pro.sup.2 -Lys.sup.3 -Pro.sup.4 -Gln.sup.5 -Gln.sup.6 -Phe.sup.7 -Phe.sup.8 -Gly.sup.9 -Leu.sup.10 -Met.sup.11 -NH.sub.2), but having substitutions in positions 1, 7, 9 and 11 of substance P have been discovered to have high antagonistic activity to block substance P in biological systems. Exemplifying these potent antagonists is D-Arg.sup.1,D-Trp.sup.7,D-Trp.sup.9 -Leu.sup.11 -Substance P, which is an effective inhibitor and has high potency. These antagonists of substance P are useful to elucidate some biological mechanisms of substance P, and to treat inflammatory responses in the eye for medical practice in ophthalmology, and to be novel analgesic agents for medical applications.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Antagonists of LHRH

LHRH analogs and congeners with high water solubility have been synthesized. These new analogs had 0%-100% antiovulatory activity at a 0.5 .mu.g dosage and 0%-80% at 0.25 .mu.g. The ED.sub.50 for histamine release was 30.5 .mu.g/ml->300 .mu.g/ml.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Effective hormonal peptides: D-3-QA1 6-LHRH

Two sets of hormonal peptides are synthesized which are super agonists of the lutenizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). Chronic administration results in the inhibition of LHRH which is responsible for stimulating cell growth in the testes. One peptide has the D(dextro)-form of a mono-heterocyclic amino acid in position six (D-3-pyridyl-alanine) while the other peptide has a bi-heterocyclic amino acid in that same position (.beta.-(3-quinolyl)-D-.alpha.-alanine. Both peptides are less metabolically reactive than those in the prior art and yet both peptides are significantly more potent than LHRH itself.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Effective hormonal peptides: D-3-Pal.sup.6 -LHRH

Two sets of hormonal peptides are synthesized which are super agonists of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). Chronic administration results in the inhibition of LHRH which is responsible for stimulating cell growth in the testes. One peptide has the D(dextro)-form of a monoheterocyclic amino acid in position six (D-3-pyridyl-alanine) while the other peptide has a bi-heterocyclic amino acid in that same position (.beta.-(3-quinolyl)-D-.alpha.-alanine. Both peptides are less metabolically reactive than those in the prior art and yet both peptides are significantly more potent than LHRH itself.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste