Syphilis: an old enemy still lurks.

PURPOSE: To review the problem of increasing cases of syphilis as a communicable disease and to review different presentations of syphilis and to discuss treatment guidelines. DATA SOURCES: Extensive review of worldwide scientific literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: Syphilis is an infectious sexually transmitted disease, which may have devastating consequences. Previously declining rates have led to complacency in prevention and diagnosis. Primary prevention includes education regarding safer sexual practices. Secondary prevention includes early identification via screening and treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Syphilis is a contagious disease that has devastating consequences if not diagnosed and treated. Providers should keep ever vigilant in its identification. Specifically, it should be considered when evaluating all symptom-less dermatological lesions.

Enhancing health care to underserved populations: a model for the occupational nurse practitioner.

1. A nurse practitioner managed health unit for a meat packing/rendering company demonstrates a practice model for providing quality, cost effective health care to a specific population. 2. To gain management support for wellness and health promotion programs, unit cost effectiveness was demonstrated. 3. This model demonstrates success in the use of the nurse practitioner to provide care to a population that traditionally does not seek preventive or early health care.

Nurse practitioner sutured wounds: a quality assurance review.

This study found a low infection rate (3.1%) in occupationally related lacerations sutured by an on site nurse practitioner in a meat-packing plant where a high infection rate might be expected. This is compared to an overall infection rate of 1% to 30% of all sutured wounds cited in other studies. This review suggests that worksite availability of a nurse practitioner with expertise in suturing and aseptic technique is correlated to a low infection rate. Findings suggest that prophylactic antibiotics do not preclude good wound care, but may still be merited in wounds at high risk of subsequent infection. Infected wounds may cost anywhere from $2,000 to $150,000 per case depending on severity, in addition to other hidden costs. Clearly a decrease in the morbidity of wound care is significant in terms of decreased cost.

Crystallization and characterization of two crystal forms of the B800-850 light-harvesting complex from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050.

Two different crystal forms of the B800-850-antenna complex from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050 have been grown. This complex is an integral membrane protein and is isolated as an oligomeric assembly with a molecular weight of approximately 84 kDa. This assembly contains six alpha/beta apoprotein pairs, 18 molecules of bacteriochlorophyll a and nine molecules of carotenoid. The first crystal form has dimensions unit cell a = b = 75.8 A, c = 97.5 A with the space group P4 and diffracts to a resolution of 12.0 A. The second crystal form is rhombohedral with dimensions unit cell a = 121.1 A, alpha = 60 degrees, space group R32 and diffracts to a resolution of 3.5 A. Native data have been processes in both cases, to an Rmerge value of 9.0 to 11.0%. The X-ray data suggest that the asymmetric unit, in both crystal forms, contains one 84 kDa antenna complex.