Different sequence environments of amino acid residues involved and not involved in long-range interactions in proteins

No method has yet been available to decode information, hidden in the protein primary structure, on long-range interactions of amino acids. Even a limited amount of information on long-range interactions could help in conformational energy calculations of protein structures and could lead to a better understanding of how the primary structure of proteins determines their conformation. The sequence environments of amino-acid residues were compared from the viewpoint of their participation in long-range interactions. By using the simplest definition, residues were considered as partners in a long-range interaction if they were at least 20 residues apart in the sequence and their C_α, distance was less than 7 Å. In spite of this rather crude definition, an analysis of 88 unrelated proteins has shown that the sequence environments (10 residues on each side) of those amino acids which are involved in long-range interactions and of those which are not are significantly different according to the criteria of mathematical statistics. Moreover, in many cases the differences are so pronounced that the involvement of a given amino acid in long-range interactions can be predicted from its sequence environment.     

Cranial neuronavigation-a step forward or a step aside in modern neurosurgery

Neuronavigation is a result of the introduction and integration of high technologies into modern neurosurgery. The method is becoming increasingly available, and more than ever, its ＂fashionable＂, ungrounded application （literally, in each neurosurgieal procedure） requires objective evaluation of its real usefulness. The aim of the present survey was to analyze the use of neuronavigafion in the general fields of modem cranial neurosurgery. The reliability of the classical method of brain lesion localization was compared to neuronavigated localization. We studied the neuronavigation assisted interventions in tumor surgery, skull-base surgery, biopsies, neuroendoseopy,functional neurosurgery, vascular neurosurgery and surgical procedures in the proximity of functionally important cortical zones. We showed the modem tendencies in neuronavigation and outlined the social and economic aspects of neuronavigation-assisted neurosurgery.     

Salazopyrin in the treatment of scleroderma

Following reports of successful treatment of various forms of scleroderma with salazopyrin, 13 selected patients were treated, 8 with acrosclerosis, one with sclerodermatomyositis and four with generalized morphoea. No effect was observed except in two cases of generalized morphoea which were in the acute stage of spreading to involve most of body surface. These two were more or less cured. This observation seems to warrant further trials with salazopyrin in this rare but serious form of scleroderma.     

The effect of major depression on participation in preventive health care activities

Background  

The objective of this study was to determine whether major depressive episodes (MDE) contribute to a lower rate of participation in three prevention activities: blood pressure checks, mammograms and Pap tests.