Abstract: Substance P aerosols are effective in replenishing immune systems compromised by environmental toxicants. They are also useful for prophylaxis against and treatment of infections and neoplasms. They are useful for accelerating maturation of immune systems or maintaining immune function, as well. Chronic exposure to hydrocarbons is particularly damaging to the immune system, and thus this occupational hazard can be counteracted by treatment with substance P aerosols.

Abstract: New bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic, thermostable peptides which are isolated from hemolymph of immune honeybees and which are distinct from lysozymes, attacins, cecropins, diptericins and magainins. The peptides feature at least the 10 C-terminal amino acids of the following peptide:H.sub.2 N-Gly-Asn-Asn-Arg-Pro-X-Tyr-Ile-Pro-Gln-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro-His-Pro-Arg-Z-OHin whichX is a valyl or isoleucyl residue andZ is a leucyl or isoleucyl residue.

Abstract: Pentapeptides having the formula H-Asp-Ser-C-Pro-Arg-OH, where Asp, Ser, Pro and Arg may have L- or D-configuration, and C denotes Asp or Asn in L or D configuration, are synthesized by reacting in an aqueous medium Y.sub.2 -Pro-OH, wherein Y.sub.2 is a protective group, with Arg-Ro, wherein Ro is OH or is as defined below for R.sub.1 below, to form Y.sub.2 -Pro-Arg-Ro, which is deprotected, if necessary under conversion to Pro-Arg-R.sub.1, wherein R.sub.1 is an enzymatically cleavable .alpha.- carboxy substituting group selected form esters, amides, anilides, hydrazides or L-amino acid esters, and thereafter reacting Y.sub.3 -C(Z.sub.3)-OH with Pro-Arg-R.sub.1 to form Y.sub.3 -C(Z.sub.3)-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1 which is deprotected to C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1, and then reacting Y.sub.4 -Ser-OH with C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1 to form Y.sub.4 -Ser-C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1, which is deprotected to Ser-C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1, and reacting Y.sub.5 -Asp(Z.sub.5)-OH with Ser-C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.1 to form Y.sub.5 -Asp(Z.sub.5)-Ser-C-Pro-Arg-R.sub.

Abstract: A method of providing contraception for and regulation of the menstrual cycle of a gonadal female mammal by a) administering thereto about once a week throughout her menstrual cycle an amount of a GnRH-antagonist effective to block folliculogenesis and thereby achieve a contraceptive state but less than the amount thereof required to block hormonogenesis; and b) inducing menses by administering during the last half of that cycle an amount of a progestin effective to produce a secretory endometrium and then terminating the progestin administration.