[POEMS syndrome as a rare cause of bilateral optic disc edema]. / POEMS-Syndrom als seltene Ursache eines bilateralen Papillenödems.

The POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, skin changes) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome based on a clonal plasma cell disorder. Optic disc edema (ODE) is a frequent ocular sign in POEMS syndrome. The cause of the ODE has not yet been entirely clarified. This article reports the case of a 62-year-old male suffering from POEMS syndrome with a bilateral ODE.

[The flight of dipterans from cat feces and its possible hygienic significance]. / Uber den Dipterenbeflug von Katzenkot und dessen mögliche hygienische Bedeutung.

Cat faeces can contain pathogens of zoonoses (viroses, bacterioses and protozooses) and stages of parasites (e.g. helminths) which can be spread potentially by Diptera. In reference to this: Remarks on the cat faeces. Spots of defecation of cats in different biotopes of the open land and in buildings. Conditions for the visit of Diptera to cat faeces. List of the 187 species of Diptera of 27 families discovered on cat faeces. Relation of the number of species being vectors found on faeces of cats to the entire number of species found on faeces produced by different carnivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous animals. 84.8% of the dipteran species ascertained on food and folder were also found on the faeces of cats, a remarkable hygienic result, perhaps caused by the composition of the dipteran fauna in the vicinity of traps. Remarks on the species of Diptera on faeces of cats which are vectors of diseases. Cat keeping and hygiene in buildings. Unhygienic and mass keeping of cats (e.g. breedings, laboratory keeping, animal-homes, zoos) may be a potential starting point for the attack of food and fodder by Diptera contaminated but also localities for the transmission of such diseases.

[Diptera infestation of the carcasses of Arion rufus (Gastropoda) and its possible hygienic significance]. / Dipterenbefall bei Kadavern von Arion rufus (Gastropoda) und dessen mögliche hygienische Bedeutung.

Salmonellas of different serotypes and eggs of the helminths Ascaris lumbricoides L. and Trichuris trichiura L. were discovered in excrements, on the body surface and also on dead bodies on the gastropod Arion rufus L., which is partly coprophagous. Dipterans visiting such substrate may become--probably at most indirectly--vectors of these parasites and may be injurious to the health of men and domestic animals. By traps with carcasses of Arion as baits 178 species of Dipterans of 29 families were caught, among them species known as vectors and nearly all families in which species of vector function are stated. Investigation of foodstuffs and fodder revealed the occurrence of 144 of the 178 species of Dipterans stated on carcasses of Arion, mostly visitors on foodstuffs. Many of them may have vector function due to their chains of infestation. Informations are given on the spectrum of infection with salmonellae-serotypes and species of helminths stated on Arion and on the importance of Dipterans in the destruction of small carcasses. The results suggest the necessity of complementary investigations on the occurrence of further parasites on carcasses of gastropods.

[Diptera in the mammalian section of the zoological gardens with reference to the medical aspects of infection]. / Uber dipteren im Säugetier-Bereich zoologischer Gärten unter Berücksichtigung infektionsmedizinischer Gesichtspunkte.

Research in buildings and enclosures of zoological gardens where mammals are accomodated have yielded 159 species of Diptera belonging to 18 families. Among the Diptera species found were all those represented in farming stable buildings as well as species that may be vectors of zoo animal diseases. The Diptera are of potential hygienic significance, which is dealt with in detail. The number of species represented in an area and the density of species depend on the conditions of their development within the zoological gardens and on the quantity of Diptera coming from the surrounding area. The biotopes in which indigenous zoo Diptera develop are described in detail. The occurrence of the species and their density in the stable buildings of the mammals depend on the position and arrangement of the stables and enclosures, on the hygienic conditions and also on the food. The density of Diptera and the possible health risks for the zoo animals can be reduced by creating hygienic conditions and by observing the control measures mentioned in the paper.

Formation of cyclic adenosine-3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CW 15?

Levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) have been determined in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strain CW 15. In the early exponential growth no cAMP was detected, however, in the middle of the exponential growth phase 2.4 pmol cAMP/mg protein were found and the cAMP level increased to 18.8 pmol/mg protein in the stationary phase. An enzyme fraction has been isolated from Chlamydomonas, which produced cAMP in vitro using adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) as a substrate. This protein fraction was isolated by ammoniumsulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Sephadex-G-100 gel filtration. A solvent system was developed for thin layer chromatography to separate cAMP from APS, adenosine-5'-phosphoramidat (APN), 5'-AMP and adenosine. The product was identified as cAMP by cochromatography, coelectrophoresis, treatment with phosphodiesterase, chromatography on Biorad-columns and by the protein-binding assay. The so far purified protein fraction produced 151 pmol cAMP/mg protein and hour in vitro, using APS as a substrate.

[Dipteran fauna of zoological preparation and veterinary postmortem rooms]. / Dipterenfauna zoologischer Präparatorien und veterinärmedizinischer Sektionsräume.

Zoological preparation rooms (P) and post-mortem rooms (S) constitute an environment for the spread of infection in areas of human habitation. In the absence of fly screens on the windows they are often invaded by Diptera which after landing on the frequently infested animal material leave again and become potential transmitters of disease in adjoining human living quarters. A large number of the 241 species of Diptera from 37 families identified in the P/S are regarded as potential transmitters. But suitability as transmitter is also potentially possible for an appreciable part of the remaining species. Field investigations over 20 years with various bait traps, e. g. fresh and decaying meat, excrements, human and animal food, have shown that many of these species observe sequences of substrate visitations similar to those Diptera identified in the literature as transmitters of disease. Should this assumption be confirmed the number of Diptera species which have to be considered as agents for the spread of disease would be enlarged within the environment of contamination P/S.--The results obtained in P/S constitutes an addition to the material so far worked out for the dipterology of human habitation. This should serve as background for further selective, microbiological and medical research on the role of Diptera as transmitters of disease.