Accessible conformations of melanin-concentrating hormone: a molecular dynamics approach.

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to search for the accessible conformations of the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH). The studies have been performed on native MCH and two of its peptide fragments, a cyclic MCH(5-14) fragment and a linear MCH(5-14) fragment. An analysis of the molecular dynamics trajectories of the three peptides indicates that two regions of the peptide have characteristic conformational properties that may be important for the biological activity.

Melanin-concentrating hormone: a structural and conformational study based on synthesis, biological activity, high-field NMR, and molecular modeling techniques.

A series of Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) fragments have been synthesized and their biological activities compared with the parent peptide. The substructural units, 5-14 linear and 5-14 cyclic, have been used as models for MCH-- H-Asp1-Thr-Met-Arg-Cys-Met-Val-Gly-Arg HO-Val17-Glu-Trp-Cys-Pro-Arg-Tyr-Val in 1H-nmr conformational studies. Conformational features predicted by molecular dynamics analyses find support in the nmr experiments.

Convergence of temporal and spectral information into acoustic images of complex sonar targets perceived by the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus.

1. FM echolocating bats (Eptesicus fuscus) were trained to discriminate between a two-component complex target and a one-component simple target simulated by electronically-returned echoes in a series of experiments that explore the composition of the image of the two-component target. In Experiment I, echoes for each target were presented sequentially, and the bats had to compare a stored image of one target with that of the other.

Isoprenoid quinones of Campylobacter cryaerophila, C. cinaedi, C. fennelliae, C. hyointestinalis, C. pylori, and "C. upsaliensis".

The isoprenoid quinone contents of Campylobacter cryaerophila, C. cinaedi, C. fennelliae, C.

Reevaluation of the cellular fatty acid composition of Legionella micdadei Bari 2/158.

The cellular fatty acid composition of Legionella micdadei Bari 2/158 was reevaluated because of its purported differences from other L. micdadei strains and its similarity to L. bozemanii.

Pasteurella caballi, a new species from equine clinical specimens.

The name Pasteurella caballi is proposed for a group of organisms represented by 29 strains isolated from respiratory and other infections in horses. P. caballi strains are gram-negative, oxidase-positive, nonmotile, fermentative rods with the key characteristics of the genus Pasteurella.

Identification of monounsaturated fatty acids of Aerococcus viridans with dimethyl disulfide derivatives and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Location of the double-bond position of monounsaturated fatty acids of Aerococcus viridans was accomplished by combined gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry analysis of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) derivatives. The monoenoic fatty acids from whole bacterial cells were converted to methyl esters and then to DMDS adducts and analyzed by capillary GC-mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of DMDS adducts gave an easily recognizable molecular ion (M+) and two major diagnostic ions attributable to fragmentation between the two CH3S groups located at the original site of unsaturation.

Patients' socioeconomic background: influence on selection of inpatient or domiciliary hospice terminal-care programmes.

Data on 243 patients who were admitted to the Melbourne City mission inpatient and home-care programmes were collected prospectively over a 12-month period from September 1, 1985 and were analysed. The variables that were assessed included age, sex, marital status, country of birth, occupation, address, pension status, diagnosis, previous treatment and subsequent survival. It was found that the patients who were selected into the two programmes differed significantly.

Optical radiation hazards of laser welding processes. Part II: CO2 laser.

There has been an extensive growth within the last five years in the use of high-powered lasers in various metalworking processes. The two types of lasers used most frequently for laser welding/cutting processes are the Neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) and the carbon dioxide (CO2) systems. When such lasers are operated in an open beam configuration, they are designated as a Class IV laser system.

Compound allergy to a skin marker for patch testing: a chromatographic analysis.

We present details of a patient who was demonstrated to have contact allergy to a solution used to mark sites of application of patch tests, during investigation of allergy to gold and nickel. Negative results were obtained when patch testing was performed using the individual constituents of the marker solution (gentian violet, dihydroxyacetone and acetone). Chromatographic analysis of various combinations of these chemicals did not identify a chemical derivative which might have caused this reaction.

Location of double bonds in monounsaturated fatty acids of Campylobacter cryaerophila with dimethyl disulfide derivatives and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Location of the double-bond position of monounsaturated fatty acids in Campylobacter cryaerophila was accomplished with combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) derivatives. The monoenoic fatty acids from whole bacterial cells were converted to methyl esters and then to DMDS adducts and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of DMDS adducts gave an easily recognizable molecular ion (M+) and two major diagnostic ions attributable to fragmentation between the two CH3S groups located at the original site of unsaturation.

Francisella philomiragia comb. nov. (formerly Yersinia philomiragia) and Francisella tularensis biogroup novicida (formerly Francisella novicida) associated with human disease.

Over a 12-year period, 16 human strains of a gram-negative, catalase-positive, halophilic, aerobic, nonmotile, small coccoid bacterium were received for identification. On the bases of biochemical characteristics and cellular fatty acid profiles, 14 of these strains were similar to the "Philomiragia" bacterium (Yersinia philomiragia, species incertae sedis). Additional characteristics were growth on Thayer-Martin agar but no growth or sparse, delayed growth on MacConkey agar; oxidase positive; acid production, often weak and delayed, from D-glucose, sucrose, and maltose; urease negative; no reduction of nitrates; and H2S produced but often delayed in triple sugar iron agar.

The pneuPAC ventilator with new patient valve and air compressors.

The pneuPAC Model 2-R pneumatic logic ventilator with a new air entrainment valve that offers the option of an FIO2 of 1.0 or 0.45 is described.

Antigenic stimulation during ultraviolet therapy in man does not result in immunological tolerance.

People receiving therapy with either 8-methoxypsoralen plus long wavelength ultraviolet radiation (PUVA) or medium wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVB) have been studied to see whether their unresponsiveness to the contact sensitizer dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) is a form of immunological tolerance. It was confirmed that both PUVA and UVB therapy impair sensitization by DNCB:4/13 PUVA-treated and 9/29 UVB-treated psoriatic subjects became sensitized by a dose of DNCB which sensitizes 100% of untreated patients. Subjects unsuccessfully sensitized during PUVA therapy could subsequently be sensitized perfectly normally.

Characterization of CDC group DF-3 by cellular fatty acid analysis.

Fourteen strains of Centers for Disease Control group DF-3 bacteria were examined for cellular fatty acid composition to evaluate their chemical relatedness to known bacterial species and groups. The fatty acids were liberated from whole cells by base hydrolysis, methylated, and analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. All group DF-3 strains possessed a distinct fatty acid profile which was characterized by large amounts (24%) of 12-methyltetradecanoate (a-C15:0), moderate amounts of saturated iso-branched-chain acids (i-C14:0 and i-C15:0), and small to moderate amounts of both branched- and straight-chain hydroxy acids (3-OH C15:0, i-3-OH C16:0, 3-OH C16:0, and i-3-OH C17:0).

Cellular fatty acid compositions and isoprenoid quinone contents of 23 Legionella species.

The cellular fatty acid compositions and ubiquinone contents of 182 Legionella strains representing 23 species were determined by capillary gas-liquid chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Except for the type strain of Legionella erythra (ATCC 35303T), all Legionella species contained large (40 to 90%) amounts of branched-chain fatty acids and only trace to small (less than 0.5 to 5%) amounts of ester-linked hydroxy acids.

Hazard zones and eye protection requirements for a frosted surgical probe used with an Nd:YAG laser.

Detailed radiometric analyses are reported on selected frosted-style laser surgical probes that are in use in laser surgical procedures. These measurements were performed in order to determine their nominal hazard zone (NHZ) and the requirement for protective eyewear. All measurements were conducted under worst-case conditions using a 30-W Nd:YAG laser.

Evaluation of a smoke evacuator used for laser surgery.

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a smoke evacuation system used in laser surgery. A 30 W medical CO2 continuous wave (CW) laser was used to make cuts in a pork chop to simulate smoke production during laser surgery. A commercially available smoke evacuation system was used to control the smoke from the simulated surgery.

Generating alternatives in nursing: turning curriculum into a living process.

The transfer of nursing education into higher education institutions is challenging nurses to re-think educational structures and processes. Traditionally, nursing education has used objective curriculum models which tend to reinforce bureaucratic rather than professional values. Critics suggest that these models, by their failure to incorporate social, political and cultural realities, contribute to theory-practice dichotomies.

Legionella pneumophila serogroup Lansing 3 isolated from a patient with fatal pneumonia, and descriptions of L. pneumophila subsp. pneumophila subsp. nov., L. pneumophila subsp. fraseri subsp. nov., and L. pneumophila subsp. pascullei subsp. nov.

Previous DNA relatedness and enzyme electrophoretic mobility studies indicated heterogeneity among strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1, 4, 5, and Lansing 3 (a new, as yet unnumbered serogroup). In this study 60 L. pneumophila strains were studied by DNA hybridization (hydroxyapatite method) to assess their genomic relatedness.

Genetic counselling in hypomelanosis of Ito: case report and review.

A 27-year-old male with hypomelanosis of Ito (HI) is reported. One of his two children had a postaxial ray defect of one leg but neither had cutaneous features of HI. Somatic mosaicism for a gene defect lethal to ectodermal derivatives offers the best explanation for HI in males, with consequent negligible recurrence risk.