Effects of Temperature and Mobile Phase Condition on Chiral Recognition of Poly(l-phenylalanine) Chiral Stationary Phase

Characteristics of the chiral stationary phase with poly(l-phenylalanine) peptide selector, which was in α-helical state, was reported. Since environmental factors affect peptide conformation, the changes in enantioselectivity were examined depending on column temperature and mobile phase conditions (ionic strength, pH, mobile phase composition). Column temperature and pH drastically affected the enantioselectivity. Based on these changes, the relation between chiral recognition and secondary structure of the peptide selector was discussed. The column stability during sequential analysis under different separation conditions was also evaluated

Documenting the Recovery of Vascular Services in European Centres Following the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Peak: Results from a Multicentre Collaborative Study

Objective: To document the recovery of vascular services in Europe following the first COVID-19 pandemic peak. Methods: An online structured vascular service survey with repeated data entry between 23 March and 9 August 2020 was carried out. Unit level data were collected using repeated questionnaires addressing modifications to vascular services during the first peak (March – May 2020, “period 1”), and then again between May and June (“period 2”) and June and July 2020 (“period 3”). The duration of each period was similar. From 2 June, as reductions in cases began to be reported, centres were first asked if they were in a region still affected by rising cases, or if they had passed the peak of the first wave. These centres were asked additional questions about adaptations made to their standard pathways to permit elective surgery to resume. Results: The impact of the pandemic continued to be felt well after countries’ first peak was thought to have passed in 2020. Aneurysm screening had not returned to normal in 21.7% of centres. Carotid surgery was still offered on a case by case basis in 33.8% of centres, and only 52.9% of centres had returned to their normal aneurysm threshold for surgery. Half of centres (49.4%) believed their management of lower limb ischaemia continued to be negatively affected by the pandemic. Reduced operating theatre capacity continued in 45.5% of centres. Twenty per cent of responding centres documented a backlog of at least 20 aortic repairs. At least one negative swab and 14 days of isolation were the most common strategies used for permitting safe elective surgery to recommence. Conclusion: Centres reported a broad return of services approaching pre-pandemic “normal” by July 2020. Many introduced protocols to manage peri-operative COVID-19 risk. Backlogs in cases were reported for all major vascular surgeries

Ultraviolet resonance Raman study of side chain electrostatic control of poly-l-lysine conformation

We used 204 nm excitation UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy to examine the role of side chain electrostatic interactions in determining the conformation of poly-l-lysine (PLL). We examined the pH and ionic strength dependence of the UVRR. The pH dependence of PLL UVRR spectra between pH 7.1 and 11.7 cannot be described by a two-state model but requires at least one additional state. The AmIII3 region fitting with pH 7.1 and 11.7 basis spectra reveals a small pH-induced decrease in the relative fraction of the 2.51-helix conformation compared to the PPII conformation. We performed a 2D general correlation analysis on the PLL pH dependence UVRR spectra. The asynchronous spectrum shows enhanced spectral resolution. The 2D asynchronous spectrum reveals multiple components in the Cα-H b band and the AmII band whose origins are unclear. The cross peaks in the 2D asynchronous spectrum between the AmIII band and the other bands reveals that increasing pH induces three new structures: π-helix, α-helix, and some turn structure. We find that 2.5 M NaCl does not change the equilibrium between the PPII and 2.51-helix conformations by screening side chain electrostatic repulsion. The result indicates that NaCl does not penetrate the region between the side chain and the peptide backbone. We also compared PLL conformations induced by high pH to that induced by 0.8 M ClO4-. Both conditions induce α-helix-like conformations. ClO 4- (0.8 M) induces 6% more α-helix-like conformations than at pH 12.4. Higher pH gives rise to longer α-helices and less turn structures. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Global impact of the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave on vascular services

This online structured survey has demonstrated the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular services. The majority of centres have documented marked reductions in operating and services provided to vascular patients. In the months during recovery from the resource restrictions imposed during the pandemic peaks, there will be a significant vascular disease burden awaiting surgeons. One of the most affected specialtie

UV resonance raman investigation of electronic transitions in α-helical and polyproline II-like conformations

UV resonance Raman (UVRR) excitation profiles and Raman depolarization ratios were measured for a 21-residue predominantly alanine peptide, AAAAA(AAARA)3A (AP), excited between 194 and 218 nm. Excitation within the π→π* electronic transitions of the amide group results in UVRR spectra dominated by amide vibrations. The Raman cross sections and excitation profiles provide information about the nature of the electronic transitions of the α-helix and polyproline II (PPII)-like peptide conformations. AP is known to be predominantly a-helical at low temperatures and to take on a PPII helix-like conformation at high temperatures. The PPII-like and a-helix conformations show distinctly different Raman excitation profiles. The PPII-like conformation cross sections are approximately twice those of the a-helix. This is due to hypochromism that results from excitonic interactions between the NV1 transition of one amide group with higher energy electronic transitions of other amide groups, which decreases the α-helical NV1 (π→π*) oscillator strengths. Excitation profiles of the α-helix and PPII-like conformations indicate that the highest signal-to-noise Raman spectra of a-helix and PPII-like conformations are obtained at excitation wavelengths of 194 and 198 nm, respectively. We also see evidence of at least two electronic transitions underlying the Raman excitation profiles of both the a-helical and the PPII-like conformations. In addition to the well-known ∼190 nm π→π* transitions, the Raman excitation profiles and Raman depolarization ratio measurements show features between 205-207 nm, which in the a-helix likely results from the parallel excitonic component. The PPII-like helix appears to also undergo excitonic splitting of its π→π* transition which leads to a 207 nm feature. © 2008 American Chemical Society