Structure-activity relationships for the lipid-mobilising action of locust adipokinetic hormone. Synthesis and activity of a series of hormone analogues.

A series of compounds structurally related to adipokinetic hormone, the decapeptide neurohormone less than Glu-Leu-Asn-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp-Gly-Thr-NH2, have been prepared by synthesis and by enzymic cleavages of synthetic hormone. Their relative agonist activities in mobilising lipids over a fixed time interval (1 h) in locusts were assessed. The similar time courses for lipid release shown by two of the peptide analogues and adipokinetic hormone suggest that the analogues and the hormone are transported to the receptors on the fat body cells, and are also degraded, at similar rates.

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of Reiter Treponeme Axial filaments as a diagnostic test for syphilis.

Purified axial filaments from the cultivable Reiter treponeme, previously shown to share an antigenic component with pathogenic Treponemia pallidum, were evaluated as antigen in a diagnostic test for syphilis. Antibody to the filaments was revealed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Conditions that produced optimal results in the test were established.

Prognostic value of the stress response following stroke.

The systemic metabolic response following intracranial vascular damage was measured in 65 consecutively seen patients (56 with cerebral infarction and nine with subarachnoid hemorrhage). Significantly (P less than .01) greater mortality and eventual disability occurred in patients excreting more than 200 microgram of urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine daily early in their acute illness.

Isolation and purification of Treponema pallidum from syphilitic lesions in rabbits.

Treponema pallidum were extracted from testicular syphilomas of corticosteroid-treated rabbits and purified by differential centrifugation. The steroid therapy allowed a longer holding time for infected rabbits, which produced greater treponeme yields, averaging 1.58 x 10(10) treponemes per rabbit.

Isolation and antigenic characteristics of axial filaments from the Reiter Treponeme.

Axial filaments were isolated and purified from Reiter treponemes after detergent solubilization of the cells" outer envelope. The axial filaments were separated from the spirochetal cells by shearing, purified by density gradient centrifugation, and fragmented by ultrasonication. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of dissociated filaments revealed two major protein bands.