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The mechanism of magainin 2a (mgn2a)-induced permeabilization of phospholipid vesicles was investigated. Kinetic studies indicate that mgn2a-induced release of 6-carboxyfluorescein from phosphatidylserine liposomes occurs in two stages: an initial rapid phase followed by a slow phase. Further analysis indicate that the fast release in the presence of an equilibrating peptide is due to transient destabilization of the vesicles upon initial interaction. A unifying mechanism for magainin's lytic action is proposed.

The U.S. Army recently mandated that soldiers undergo glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing before deployment to malarious regions. We retrospectively characterize the presence and degree of G6PD deficiency in U.S. military personnel by sex, self-reported ethnicity, and World Health Organization deficiency classification through test results obtained October 1, 2004 through January 17, 2005. Data were available for 63,302 (54,874 males and 8,428 females) subjects; 2.5% of males and 1.6% of females were deficient, with most having only moderate enzyme deficiency. African American males (12.2%) and females (4.1%), along with Asian males (4.3%), had the highest rates of G6PD deficiency. Most males were found to have class III variants while most females were class IV variants. The most severely deficient were Asian males (class II). These results suggest that universal screening for G6PD deficiency is clinically warranted, and particularly essential for those male service members who self-report ethnicity as African American, Asian, or Hispanic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common hereditary enzyme defect that affects over 400 million people worldwide. Deficiency in G6PD can cause hemolytic anemia, which can be fatal if it is not treated properly. Mass qualitative G6PD-deficiency screening methods have been available for some time; however, in this study we developed the first high-throughput quantitative method for measuring G6PD activity. A patient's blood can be analyzed directly from the original collection tubes on a Hitachi P modular serum work area (SWA), which dramatically reduces the analysis time and the cost of the assay. The results presented here may enable the development of other improved, automated assays of whole-blood samples., (2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The U.S. Army recently mandated that soldiers undergo glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing before deployment to malarious regions. We retrospectively characterize the presence and degree of G6PD deficiency in U.S. military personnel by sex, self-reported ethnicity, and World Health Organization deficiency classification through test results obtained October 1, 2004 through January 17, 2005. Data were available for 63,302 (54,874 males and 8,428 females) subjects; 2.5% of males and 1.6% of females were deficient, with most having only moderate enzyme deficiency. African American males (12.2%) and females (4.1%), along with Asian males (4.3%), had the highest rates of G6PD deficiency. Most males were found to have class III variants while most females were class IV variants. The most severely deficient were Asian males (class II). These results suggest that universal screening for G6PD deficiency is clinically warranted, and particularly essential for those male service members who self-report ethnicity as African American, Asian, or Hispanic.