TMFoldWeb: a web server for predicting transmembrane protein fold class.

Background: Here we present TMFoldWeb, the web server implementation of TMFoldRec, a transmembrane protein fold recognition algorithm. TMFoldRec uses statistical potentials and utilizes topology filtering and a gapless threading algorithm. It ranks template structures and selects the most likely candidates and estimates the reliability of the obtained lowest energy model.

TMFoldRec: a statistical potential-based transmembrane protein fold recognition tool.

Background: Transmembrane proteins (TMPs) are the key components of signal transduction, cell-cell adhesion and energy and material transport into and out from the cells. For the deep understanding of these processes, structure determination of transmembrane proteins is indispensable. However, due to technical difficulties, only a few transmembrane protein structures have been determined experimentally.

PDBTM: Protein Data Bank of transmembrane proteins after 8 years.

The PDBTM database (available at http://pdbtm.enzim.hu), the first comprehensive and up-to-date transmembrane protein selection of the Protein Data Bank, was launched in 2004.

CMWeb: an interactive on-line tool for analysing residue-residue contacts and contact prediction methods.

A contact map is a 2D derivative of the 3D structure of proteins, containing various residue-residue (RR) contacts within the structure. Contact maps can be used for the reconstruction of structure with high accuracy and can be predicted from the amino acid sequence. Therefore understanding the various properties of contact maps is an important step in protein structure prediction.

Optical resolution methods.

Despite the large number of elaborate enantioselective syntheses for the preparation of a single enantiomer to achieve industrial and scientific goals, the separation and purification of enantiomers (components of racemic compounds) is also necessary. Hence, we present the most often used thought-provoking modern methods based on momentous recognitions (e.g.

Alcohol-O,O'-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid complexes.

Structures of chiral and achiral alcohol-O,O'-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid (DBTA) complexes were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (seven new crystal structures were determined). The complexes contain DBTA and chiral alcohol in 1:1, DBTA and achiral alcohol in 1:2 host-guest stoichiometry. The hydrogen bonding structures of chiral alcohol-DBTA and achiral alcohol-DBTA complexes are different, but within a subclass they are isostructural ones.

Budesonide and formoterol in a single inhaler improves asthma control compared with increasing the dose of corticosteroid in adults with mild-to-moderate asthma.

Background: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of low-dose budesonide/formoterol, 80 micro g/4.5 micro g, bid in a single inhaler (Symbicort Turbuhaler; AstraZeneca; Lund, Sweden) compared with an increased dose of budesonide, 200 micro g bid, in adult patients with mild-to-moderate asthma not fully controlled on low doses of inhaled corticosteroid alone.

Methods: All patients received budesonide, 100 micro g bid, during a 2-week run-in period.

Solvent-free optical resolution of N-methylamphetamine by distillation after partial diastereoisomeric salt formation.

Solvent-free optical resolution of N-methylamphetamine was developed by distillation after partial diastereoisomeric salt formation. From the 18 chiral acids tested by this method, five provide by this method resolution: O,O'-dibenzoyltartaric acid, O,O'-di-p-toluoyltartaric acid, 6-methoxy-alpha-methyl-2-naphthaleneacetic acid (Naproxen), the cis-permetrinic acid, and the 2-phenoxypropionic acid. Among them the O,O'-dibenzoyltartaric acid in water-free form provided the more effective resolution.

Investigation of the physicochemical basis of enantiomeric enrichment: The example of alpha-phenylethylamine with achiral dicarboxylic acids.

We investigated the enantiomeric enrichment of enantiomeric mixtures of alpha-phenylethylamine by achiral dicarboxylic acids. As achiral agents oxalic, malonic, fumaric, and phthalic acids were used. The results of the enantiomeric enrichment via partial salt formation followed by distillation were compared with enantiomer separation via crystallization of the neutral salt.

More evidence for the insurability of managed behavioral health care.

Debate continues about the cost and use of mental health services under managed care, as legislators consider various "parity" bills. This descriptive research replicates, broadens, and expands previously published case studies of single employers' data on cost and treatment prevalence in a large, diverse, national sample whose varied point-of-service benefits were provided by thirty employers representing multiple industries. Of those covered, 59,005 received treatment over the seven years studied.

Restrictions on smoking: changes in knowledge, attitudes and predicted behaviour in metropolitan Toronto from 1983 to 1988.

To describe recent changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour with regard to restrictions on smoking, we compared the findings of population-based surveys conducted in Metropolitan Toronto in 1983 and 1988. In both surveys identical questions and similar data collection procedures were used. There were no changes in knowledge scores regarding the health effects of active smoking or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), nor in smoking behaviour.

[Lung diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in East Germany and Hungary].

Despite the decrease of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis also between 1982 and 1986 an increase in nontuberculous mycobacteriosis can be seen especially in the GDR and also in Hungary. In 1986 the ratio of recognized lung diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria to all newly diagnosed bacillary cases was 4.1% in the GDR and 2.

[Liver and kidney damage in rifampicin and ethambutol treatment].

Case report on a 40 years old patient with pulmonary tuberculosis, in whom a treatment with Rifampicin plus Ethambutol has caused a transient hepatic and renal failure. By histology a chronic aggressive hepatitis and a destruction of renal tubular epithelium could be found. The etiologic role of Rifampicin is believed to be probable.

[Alcohol-induced hypoglycemia (author's transl)].

Alcohol-induced hypoglycemia was found in 4 cases. In 3 patients blood glucose was estimated during the attack and was reduced to 17--23 mg/100 ml. The values of immunoreactive insulin were within the normal range.