[Screening for symptoms of depression during postpartum and the long term follow up: temporal stability and associated factors].

Aims: To describe the frequency of depressive symptoms compatible with a postpartum depression diagnosis, the associated factors and the temporal stability.

Methods: During 2006-2007 398 hospitalized puerperal women who attended CEMIC were interviewed 5 days after childbirth using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors with a positive screening.

Prenatal screening for chromosome abnormalities in a region with no access to termination of pregnancy.

Objective: To analyze the different variables that affect couples' decision-making about prenatal screening of chromosome abnormalities in a population with limited access to prenatal diagnosis and no legal termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Methods: From February through August 2004, 79 couples who requested for prenatal screening at centers from Argentina and Uruguay participated in a study. A cross-sectional survey was administered to assess attitudes toward prenatal screening, the decision-making process, and knowledge and attitudes toward TOP.

Awareness and attitude toward prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with no access to legal termination of pregnancy.

Objective: To analyze variables affecting couples' decision making about prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis in patients with no access to legal termination of pregnancy (TOP).

Methods: Patients undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis were anonymously surveyed after counseling and before the procedure. The questionnaire enquired about sociodemographic features, medical history, knowledge of and attitudes toward genetic testing and TOP.

Formation of D-Phe-Pro-Val-cyclo-Orn by gramicidin S synthetase in the absence of L-leucine.

The preparation of both enzymes of gramicidin S synthetase was efficiently improved by introduction of the fast protein liquid chromatography technique. High-resolution anion-exchange chromatography on Pharmacia Mono Q HR 5/5 was used as the final purification step. D-Phe-Pro-Val-cyclo-Orn was obtained as a product of the multienzyme by omission of L-leucine from the complete bioassay mixture.

Gramicidin S synthetase. Temperature dependence and thermodynamic parameters of substrate amino acid activation reactions.

In the biosynthesis of the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic gramicidin S, the constituent amino acids are activated by a two-step mechanism involving aminoacyl adenylate and thio ester formation which are both reversible processes. The dissociation constants (KD) for the gramicidin S synthetase-substrate amino acid-thio ester complexes are 100-1000-fold lower compared to the KM data of the preceding aminoacyl adenylate reactions. The affinity for these substrates is appreciably higher at the thio template sites than at the aminoacyl adenylate reaction centers.