Dietary germanium biotite supplementation enhances the induction of antibody responses to foot-and-mouth disease virus vaccine in pigs

We evaluated the potential ability of germanium biotite (GB) to stimulate the production of antibodies specific for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). To this aim, we measured the total FMDV-specific antibody responses and IgM production after vaccination against FMD both experimentally and in the field. GB supplementation with FMDV vaccination stimulated the production of anti-FMDV antibodies, and effectively increased IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels. These results suggest that GB may be a novel alternative feed supplement that can serve as a boosting agent and an immunostimulator for increasing the efficacy of FMDV vaccination in pigs.

Antiviral effect of dietary germanium biotite supplementation in pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Germanium biotite (GB) is an aluminosilicate mineral containing 36 ppm germanium. The present study was conducted to better understand the effects of GB on immune responses in a mouse model, and to demonstrate the clearance effects of this mineral against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in experimentally infected pigs as an initial step towards the development of a feed supplement that would promote immune activity and help prevent diseases. In the mouse model, dietary supplementation with GB enhanced concanavalin A (ConA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation and increased the percentage of CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes. In pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV, viral titers in lungs and lymphoid tissues from the GB-fed group were significantly decreased compared to those of the control group 12 days post-infection. Corresponding histopathological analyses demonstrated that GB-fed pigs displayed less severe pathological changes associated with PRRSV infection compared to the control group, indicating that GB promotes PRRSV clearance. These antiviral effects in pigs may be related to the ability of GB to increase CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte production observed in the mice. Hence, this mineral may be an effective feed supplement for increasing immune activity and preventing disease.

Nutritional Status and Hair Mineral Content of Elementary School Children with Behavioral Problems

This study was performed to assess the nutritional status and hair mineral content of children with behavioral problems and compare the values with a gender, age-matched control group. The subjects were recruited from S elementary school children in Seoul, Korea. Students scored higher than 60 points were diagnosed with behavioral problems according to the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist. Nutritional assessment of the two groups (behavior problem group: male n=15, female n=24; 9.6+/-1.6 years, control group: male n=16, female n=18; 9.5+/-1.9 years) was performed using a nutritional survey and by measuring hair mineral contents. In the results, food frequency questionnaire analysis showed that the intakes of anchovy (P<0.05), soybean curb (P<0.01), radish (P<0.05), bean sprouts (P<0.05), spinach (P<0.05), carrot (P<0.05), pumpkin (P<0.05), lettuce (P<0.05), cabbage (P<0.01), apple (P<0.05), and milk (P<0.01) were higher in the control group than the behavior problem group, whereas intakes of ramyeon (P<0.05), cookies (P<0.05), and coke (P<0.01) were higher in the behavior problem group than the control group. Intakes of most nutrients such as plant-derived protein (P<0.05), fiber (P<0.05), plant-derived calcium (P<0.05), phosphorus (P<0.05), plant-derived iron (P<0.05), vitamin B2 (P<0.05), vitamin B6 (P<0.05), vitamin C (P<0.01), vitamin E (P<0.05), and folate (P<0.05) were significantly higher in the control group than the behavior problem group. Hair analysis showed that the levels of arsenic (P<0.05), mercury (P<0.001), uranium (P<0.05), iron (P<0.001), boron (P<0.01), and germanium (P<0.001) were lower, but the levels of phosphate (P<0.05), chromium (P<0.001), sodium (P<0.05), and sulfur (P<0.001) were higher in the behavior problem group than the control group. Conclusively, behavioral problems constitute a complicated condition in which nutritional factors may play major roles. However, it is still under investigation as to whether or not modification of dietary habits or nutritional supplementation can improve children's behavior, since symptoms require a broad understanding of the environmental and genetic interactions.

The effects of Germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against E. coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro / 대한수의학회지

Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, has been used as a feed supplement to reinforce innate immune ability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of germanium biotite on the adsorptive and inhibition of growth abilities against Escherichia (E.) coli and Salmonella spp. in vitro. Two strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli and four strains of two Salmonella serotypes (Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Typhimurium), major bacterial diarrheal pathogens, were used for this experiment. The absorptive ability of germanium biotite against most Salmonella used in present experiment was observed weakly. The germanium biotite, however, showed significant effect of bacterial growth inhibition in most experiment bacteria. These results suggest that the use of the germanium biotite as feed supplement could alleviate diarrhea following inhibition of bacteria growth. It is also presumed that antibiotics usage for farm animals, considered as causes of antibiotic residue in meat and emerging antibiotic resistance, could be reduced through the use of germanium biotite as a feed supplement, in place of antibiotics used for the prevention of diarrhea.

Determinación de germanio en muestras de exudado de Aloe vera (L.) Burm f. (zábila), mediante la espectrometría de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica / Determination of germanium in leaves exudate samples of Aloe vera (L.) Burm f. (zábila), by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Esta investigación trata sobre la determinación de germanio en exudado de hojas de zábila, mediante la técnica ana lítica espectrometría de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica (ETAAS). El exudado de las hojas de zábila es el líquido amarillo y de sabor amargo que emana de las hojas de la planta cortadas en la base. Es también conocido como zumo o látex. Ha sido utilizado en el tratamiento de diversas afecciones tales como: tratamiento de heridas, infecciones bucales, irritaciones de la piel, otras. El germanio es un oligoelemento que ha sido utilizado como inmunoestimulante y en pacientes con neoplasia. La concentración del germanio presente en el exudado de Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. fue de 7.42 ± 2.33 μg/g. La metodología empleada fue validada por estudio de recuperación, ubicándose en un valor promedio de 97.43 ± 2.22%. La desviación estándar relativa fue de 2.88%, lo que es un indicativo de la precisión. El método utilizado para la determinación del elemento en cuestión es exacto, preciso y libre de interferencias.

The objective of this work was to determine the concentration of germanium in Aloe vera (zábila) from leaves exudated, using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry analytical technic (ETAAS). The exudated is a yellow and bitter liquid, used in wounds healing, skin irritations, mouth infections, etc. The germanium is a trace element used as immunestimulant in patients with tumour. A concentration of 7.42 ± 2.33 μg/g was found. The method for the determination of germanium was validated by recovery studies, a value of 97.43 ± 2.22% was obtained for germanium, and the relative standar deviation (RSD%) was 2.88%. The method was exact, precise and free from interferences.

Development of determination of germanium hydride in the air of workplace by atomic fluorescence / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>An atomic fluorescence (AFS) method was developed to determine germanium hydride in the air of workplace.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Germanium hydride in the air of workplace was collected by charcoal tube, and desorbed by nitric acid followed filtration with 0.22 microm cellulose filter, the AFS was used to determine Germanium in the desorbed solution.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The linear was good at the range of 0.85-300 microg/L with the correlation coefficient of 0.9993; the LOD and LOQ were 0.51 microg/L and 0.000 17 mg/m3, respectively. The recovery was ranged from 90% to 106%, the RSD of intra- and inter- precision were 3.3%-5.9% and 3.7%-6.3%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The linear range, sensitivity and precision of the method were all satisfied for the determination of germanium hydride in the air of workplace.</p>

Effects of germanium on cell growth, polysaccharide production and cellular redox status in suspension cultures of protocorm-like bodies of Dendrobium huoshanense / 生物工程学报

To solve the problem of low growth rate and metabolism level in suspension cultures of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium huoshanense. The effects of germanium on PLB proliferation and accumulation of polysaccharides together with nutrient utilization were investigated and the contents of reducing sugars, soluble proteins, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and redox status of the cells of PLB were analyzed. The results indicated that the optimum concentration of germanium dioxide (4.0 mg/L) significantly enhanced the cell growth and accumulation of polysaccharides, greatly improved contents of reducing sugars and soluble proteins, increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) but decreased the activity of peroxidase(POD). The cell dry weight and production of polysaccharides were 32.6 g/L and 3.78 g/L, respectively. The analysis of cellular redox status showed that the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in cells and the activity of glutathione reductase were significantly increased by the addition of germanium dioxide. The suitable concentration of germanium dioxide was beneficial to the cell growth and the accumulation of polysaccharides.

Distribución de germanio en sedimentos y rocas sedimentarias: aplicaciones como indicador de procesos geoquímicos / Distriburtion of germanium in sediments and sedimentary rock: applications as an indicator of geochemical processes

El germanio y el silicio poseen una estructura electrónica externa idéntica, así como características geoquímicas similares. Debido a esto, la mayor cantidad de Ge presente en la corteza terrestre se encuentra disperso en distintos silicatos, en cantidades cercanas a las pocas partes por millón. Comúnmente se presenta como elemento traza, con una concentración promedio de 1ppm en rocas de la corteza terrestre. Sin embargo, las mayores acumulaciones de Ge se presentan asociadas a dos ambientes geológicos no silicatados: a) depósitos de sulfuros enclavados en rocas sedimentarias y b) carbones y materiales leñosos carbonizados. La relación Ge/Si en rocas, aguas y sedimentos es afectada por diversos procesos exógenos. Este último aspecto ha permitido utilizar el fraccionamiento de estos elementos para estudiar el balance de masa de los océanos y como indicador geoquímico de variación en los procesos de meteorización. Por otro lado, su inclusión preferencial sobre materiales carbonosos ha permitido proponerlo como indicador de procesos singenéticos y diagenéticos en carbones, así como una potencial fuente de este elemento en la naturaleza. En Venezuela se presentan algunos ambientes potenciales para la acumulación de Ge, particularmente aquellos asociados a las grandes cuencas carboníferas y a los depósitos de sulfuros masivos

Effect of Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, a Dried Yeast Containing Biogermanium, on the Production of Antibodies by B Cells

BACKGROUND: Germanium compounds are increased to use in nutrient foods and medicines in terms of antibiotics to microbes, anticancer, modulation of immune system and neutralizing heavy metal toxins. Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, containing stable organic germanium and bound to the yeast protein was developed by Geranti Pharm. LTD. and the modulation effect in the immune system was examined in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, was fed to female Balb/c mice (each group has 10 mice) for 4 weeks and the yeast powder and steamed red ginseng powder were used as control during the same feeding time points. During 4 weeks there was no symptom to be considered, and after 4 weeks feeding all mice were sacrificed to check the changes of related immune cells and subsidiary responses (i.e. cell counting, FACS, MTT, LDH, PFC assay). RESULTS: In pre-post comparison, B cell population was increased in the group of Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast in a dose dependent manner (100 to 800 mg/kg). However, the population of T cell, dendritic cell and macrophage was not comparably changed in all doses. The ability of cytokine production and proliferation was almost same level as shown in control group. In contrast, PFC assay informed that the compound increase the antibody production ability when fed over 200 mg/kg implying that the increase of PFC number might be due to the increase of B cells. CONCLUSION: Over the entire study, we concluded that the compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast has better potential in immune response in terms of B cell proliferation than that of positive control, red ginseng, and the compound can be one of the future candidates for a new supplementary source improving immune system activity.

Enzyme histochemical study of germanium dioxide-induced mitochondrial myopathy in rats

The purpose of this study were 1) to determine the earliest pathological changes of germanium dioxide (GeO2)-induced myopathy; 2) to determine the pathomechanism of GeO2-induced myopathy; and 3) to determine the minimal dose of GeO2 to induce myopathy in rats. One hundred and twenty five male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, each weighing about 150 gm, were divided into seven groups according to daily doses of GeO2. Within each group, histopathological studies were done at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks of GeO2 administration. Characteristic mitochondrial myopathy was induced in the groups treated daily with 10 mg/kg of GeO2 or more. In conclusion, the results were as follows: 1) The earliest pathological change on electron microscope was the abnormalities of mitochondrial shape, size and increased number of mitochondria; 2) The earliest pathological change on light microscope was the presence of ragged red fibers which showed enhanced subsarcolemmal succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase reactivity; 3) GeO2 seemed to affect the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism of muscle fibers; 4) GeO2 could induce mitochondrial myopathy with 10 mg/kg of GeO2 for 4 weeks or less duration in rats.

Sesquióxido de germânio e agregaçäo plaquetária / Germanium sesquioxide and platelet aggregation

O sesquióxido de germânio, substância imunomoduladora e varredora de radicais livres, foi testado em 23 indivíduos normais por via sublingual, em doses de 75 mg. A inibição da agregação plaquetária foi evidente demonstrando a possibilidade futura de ser testada esta substância como antiagregante plaquetária.