Cocultivation of phytopathogenic Fusarium and Alternaria strains affects fungal growth and mycotoxin production.

AIMS: A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of cocultivation of toxigenic Fusarium (F.) and Alternaria (A.) fungi with respect to growth and mycotoxin production. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fusarium culmorum Fc13, Fusarium graminearum Fg23 and two Alternaria tenuissima isolates (At18 and At220) were simultaneously or consecutively co-incubated on wheat kernels in an in vitro test system. Fungal biomass was quantified by determining ergosterol content. Three Fusarium toxins (DON, NIV and ZON) and three Alternaria toxins (AOH, AME and ALT) were analysed by a newly developed HPLC/MS/MS method. In simultaneous cocultures, the fungal biomass was enhanced up to 460% compared with individual cultures; Alternaria toxins were considerably depressed down to <5%. Combining At18 and At220 with Fg23 inhibited the toxin production of both fungal partners. In contrast, Fc13 increased its DON and ZON production in competitive interaction with both A. strains. CONCLUSIONS: The interfungal competitive effects aid the understanding of the processes of competition of both fungi in natural environments and the involvement of mycotoxins as antifungal factors. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Cocultivation significantly affects fungal growth and mycotoxin production of phytopathogenic Alternaria and Fusarium strains. The impact of mycotoxins on the interfungal competition is highlighted.

Effects of ensiling cereal grains (barley, wheat, triticale and rye) on total and pre-caecal digestibility of proximate nutrients and amino acids in pigs.

Inclemency of weather frequently causes critical water contents in cereal grains above 15%. Ensiling in pre-mature condition may be an alternative to other techniques of preservation. Aim of this study was to compare apparent total tract digestibility (D(t) ; barley, wheat, triticale, rye) of proximate nutrients and pre-caecal digestibility (D(pc); barley, wheat) of amino acids (AA), respectively, from cereal grains in ensiled and almost dry condition. Moistly harvested cereal grains (67-73% dry matter) were milled through a 4-mm sieve and ensiled with lactic acid bacteria (LAB, 3 × 10(5) colony forming units/g Lactobacillus plantarum DSMZ 8862 and 8866). To investigate D(t), two trials were conducted with six Mini-Lewe pigs and four German Landrace pigs, respectively. D(pc) of AA was determined using four German Landrace pigs with ileo-rectal anastomosis. D(t) of proximate nutrients did not differ between cereal grains and their silages, except for ether extract, which was more digestible in ensiled than dry wheat, triticale and rye (p < 0.05). Lysine content was lower in ensiled than dry barley and wheat. In barley, ensiling was accompanied by reduced D(pc) of lysine and histidine (p < 0.05). In wheat, ensiling increased D(pc) of lysine, methionine, threonine and leucin (p < 0.05). Ensiling of pre-mature cereal grains with LAB can serve as a reasonable storage alternative. However, as limited data are yet available, further research is required to understand completely the impact of ensiling on nutritional value as indicated, for example, by the lysine content and the D(pc) of certain AA.

Effect of a single oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum DSMZ 8862/8866 before and at the time point of weaning on intestinal microbial communities in piglets.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a single administration of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (DSMZ 8862 and 8866) either before or at the time point of weaning can influence the intestinal microbiota of piglets. A total of 176 piglets were allocated into five groups: control (LP0), administration of 5 x 10(9) or 5x10(10) cfu at day 25 of life (LP1, LP2) and administration of 5 x 10(9) or 5 x 10(10) cfu at day 28 of life (LP3, LP4). Piglets were weaned on day 28 of life. On day 25 (LP1, LP2), 28 (LP0, LP3, LP4), 33 (all groups) and 39 (all groups) of life, 10-13 animals of each group were killed and genomic DNA was extracted from small and large intestinal contents. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis demonstrated that administration of L. plantarum had a significant effect in GIT microbial communities as revealed by the Simpson's index of diversity and cluster analysis based on the Dice similarity index; this effect was more pronounced in groups LP3 and LP4. A treatment dependent presence of Clostridium glycolicum-like, Lactobacillus sobrius-like, Eubacterium rectale-like and Roseburia faecalis-like phylotypes was observed. The results show that the administration of L. plantarum at the point of weaning can influence gastrointestinal microbiota in weaning piglets which may have positive results on gastrointestinal health.

[Fusaria and their mycotoxins in hay and grass silage from grassland with different intensities of management]. / Nachweis von Fusarien und deren Mykotoxinen in Futterkonservaten aus Grünlandbeständen mit differenzierter Bewirtschaftungsintensität.

Conservation forage (17 hay and 18 grass silage samples) from 15 farms with different intensities of grassland management in the Federal State of Brandenburg were examined for contamination with fusaria and their mycotoxins. The numbers of culturable filamentous fungi in hay were determined by plate counting andFusarium isolates were classified taxonomically. The mycotoxins Zearalenone (ZEA) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) were extracted from hay as well as silage by different procedures and detected chromatographically (HPLC). The numbers of filamentous fungi in the hay samples were 10(2) and 10(6) CFU/g FM independently of intensive or extensive management. Only fourFusarium species were identified.Fusarium culmorum, a potential toxin producing species, was most frequently detected (52% of all isolates). ZEA was found in two hay and four silage samples (6-66 µg/kg), DON in three hay and seven silage samples (63-1290 µg/kg). There were no differences between forage samples of extensive and intensive cultivated grassland of the year 2003 regarding numbers of fusaria and the content of their mycotoxins.

Calcifying solitary bone cyst: morphological aspects and differential diagnosis of sclerotic bone tumours.

Fourteen solitary bone cysts (SBC) with large areas of calcification (7 in the femur, 4 in the humerus, and 1 each in the pelvis, the tibia and the scapula) and 402 SBC from the Hamburg Bone Tumour Registry were reviewed in a retrospective study. The analysis was done with emphasis on the clinical, radiological and histological appearances. SBC are well known lesions, but calcifying SBC (CSBC) or extensive extragnathic cement-like bone productions are rare. The clinical and radiological differential diagnosis includes fibrous dysplasia, chondroma, low-grade chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma. Bits of this cement-like matrix are detectable within the wall of approximately 70% (278 of 402) of SBC from the registry. CSBC are changed SBC. The intraoperative confirmation of the diagnosis on a frozen section by the bone pathologist leads to curettage which is currently the most common therapy in this benign lesion.

[Advances in the early diagnosis of congenital hip dysplasia by real-time sonography]. / Fortschritte in der Frühdiagnostik der kongenitalen Hüftdysplasie durch real-time-Sonographie.

Twenty-four infants and children aged five days to three years had their hips examined by ultrasound, and in 17 the findings were compared with the radiographic appearances. Real-time sonography, because of its flexibility, is a suitable screening method for the early diagnosis of hip dysplasia. It has the typical characteristics of a screening method: so far there have been no false negative findings. False positive results are rare, but cannot be completely excluded. The patients examined so far were mostly abnormal, and a final assessment of false positive findings will have to await larger clinical material, including normals.

The rise of blood sugar as parameter for the degree of severity of hemorrhagic shock in the rabbit.

Besides the known cardiovascular effects of hemorrhagic shock, the following regular metabolic consequences can be demonstrated in rabbits: The rise in blood sugar in hemorrhagic shock increases with the amount of blood withdrawn per unit time. The rise in blood sugar is independent of the state of consciousness or Nembutal anesthesia. The characteristic rise in blood sugar lasts longer than the partial exsanguination phase. The rise in blood sugar is attributed to an increased glycogenolysis due to a reflex triggering of catecholamine secretion via the baroreceptors in hemorrhagic shock. More attention to metabolic consequences of hemorrhagic shock may possibly give rise to consequences for diagnosis and therapy of shock.

[Free bodies in the knee joint. Etiology, clinical course and therapeutic plan]. / Freie Gelenkkörper im Kniegelenk. Atiologie, Klinik und therapeutisches Konzept.

Free bodies are supposed to induce degenerative joint disease. The etiological mechanism, as far as known, of the most important and frequent diseases with corpora libera osteochondrosis dissecans, osteochondral and chondral fracture, chondromatosis and osteoarthrosis are discussed. The diagnostic and therapeutic methods are described. The need for surgical therapy is obvious in cases with chronical synovial irritation. The opportunity to reimplant a loose body into the joint surface should be taken. The technique and the results of sticking the fragments to reconstruct the joint surface are demonstrated.

Pyroelectric PVF(2) infrared detector arrays.

Linear arrays of thin membrane (0.5-0.8-microm) pyroelectric PVF(2) detectors have been constructed. The size of each element was 0.1 x 3 mm. The arrays were built with twenty-four channels of hybrid self-scanning electronics and packaged in vacuum containers, D* of 1.5 x 10(9) cm/Hz/W at 10 Hz and thermal cross talk of <15% at 50 Hz were obtained.

[Etiology of femur head necrosis and coxarthrosis (demonstrated by 166 surgical cases at the Eppendorf University Orthopedic Clinic)]. / Atiologie der Hüftkopfnekrose und Koxarthrose (aufgezeigt an 166 operierten Fällen der Orthopädischen Universitätsklinik Eppendorf).

Surgical therapy had become necessary in 166 patients who had been referred to hospital with the diagnosis of necrosis of the femoral head or osteoarthrosis of hip. In these patients, the osteoarthroses of hip and necroses of the femoral head were observed separately. The secondary osteoarthroses based on a necrosis of the femoral head were classified among the latter group. We also differentiated between the following age groups: 0-20 years, 20-50 years, 50-70 years and over 70 years; the form of therapy also served as a means of distinction.

Thermoelectric needle probe for temperature measurements in biological materials.

In certain biological and medical applications it is important to measure and follow temperature changes inside a body or tissue. Any probe inserted into a tissue causes damage to tissue and distortion to the initial temperature distribution. To minimize this interference, a fine probe is needed. Thus, thin film technology is advantageous and was utilized by us to produce sensitive probes for these applications. The resulting probe is a small thermocouple at the tip of a thin needle (acupuncture stainless steel needle, approximately 0.26 mm in diameter and length in the range 5-10 cm was used). The junction was produced at the needle's tip by coating the needle with thin layers of insulating and thermoelectric materials. The first layer is an insulating one and is composed of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polymide produced by plasma polymerization and dip-coating respectively. This layer covers all the needle except the tip. The second layer is a vacuum deposited thermoelectric thin layer of Bi-5% Sb alloy coating also the tip. The third layer is for insulation and protection and is composed of PAN and polyimide. In this arrangement the junction is at the needle's tip, the needle is one conductor, the thermoelectric layer is the other and they are isolated by the plastic layer. The probe is handy and mechanically sturdy. The sensitivity is typically 77 microV/degrees C at room temperature and is constant to within 2% up to 90 degrees C. The response is fast (less than 1 sec) the noise is small, (less than 0.05 degrees C) and because of the small dimension, damage to tissue and disturbance to the measured temperature field are minimal.

[Delayed complications after dislocations and fractures in the pelvic region (author's transl)]. / Spätkomplikationen nach Luxationen und Frakturen im Beckenbereich.

In the case of surgically dressed necroses of the hip condyle and coxarthroses a condition was found after fracture of the pelvis or after dislocation of the hip joint in 7.2% of the cases. In 13.2% of the cases a trauma was found anamnestically. It was subdivided into fractures of the acetabulum, fractures of the pelvic girdle, dislocations, and fractures of the pelvic brim on the basis of the system of Judet and Engler as well as Feldkamp. Fractures of the pelvic brim through muscular traction, traction of the ligament, and direct trauma were discussed. The most frequent delayed consequences arising after dislocations of the hip joint and fractures of the acetabulum are: necroses of the head of the femur, coxarthroses, pseudarthroses, and myositis ossificans. The pathogenesis of the delayed injuries resulted from: capsular and vascular lesions, damage to cartilage with fractures in the spongiosa region, incongruence of the surface of the joint, insufficiency of the static structure of the pelvic ring, deposit of calcium salt outside the bone. In some cases the progress of the necrosis could be arrested by means of osteotomy and spongiosa filling. The rate of necrosis increases in proportion to the period between the time of occurrence of the accident and reposition (limit of 6 h). Even though about half the pelvic girdle fractures show good results with conservative treatment, in the case of fractures of the acetabulum a reconstruction as far as possible continuous and without stages is to be aimed at. In many cases the development of a myositis ossificans cannot be prevented.

Some properties and applications of thin self-supporting polymer membranes.

Membranes as thin as 500 A were produced from many plastic materials and transferred to frames with dimensions of several centimeters. The self-supporting membranes were obtained using simple-dip-coating techniques. In some cases additional plasma polymerized layers were applied. These membranes can withstand several procedures of photolithography and chemical processing. The mechanical properties of the membranes are similar to that of the bulk material. Some typical applications are described. These applications include the use of the membranes as substrates for thermoelectric detectors and also as beamsplitters and windows for cells employed in CO(2) laser spectroscopy.

[Interpretation of autoradiographs and images of biological objects with the electronically operating image analyzer "Densitron II'". 2. Evaluation of the specific and total radioactivity of single cells (author's transl)]. / Auswertung von Autoradiogrammen und von Bildern biologischer Objekte mit dem elektronischen Bildauswertegerät "Densitron II'".2. Bestimmung der spezifischen und Gesamtradioaktivität einzelner Zellen1

Using the TV image analyzer Densitron, transparencies and areas can be measured by the grey value discrimination method equidensitometry. The time, necessary for one measurement, is approximately 1 min, the standard deviations do not exceed 2%. 2. Also microscopical objects such as single cells can be analyzed by this method. We measured photo-blackings and areas in autoradiographs of goldfish brain-sections after injection of 3H-phenylalanine. As a parallel, blacking and area calibration curves were obtainable and allowed a conversion of the relative values into absolute ones. 3. Using this conversion method, neurons of different brain regions were in the range from 104 to 1476 mum2 in area and from 4.17 to 14.43 muCi-cm-3 in specific radioactivity. After 10 repeated measurements of one and the same cell, the standard deviations of the absolute values were 6 and 4.5%, respectively, on an average. 4. On the basis of these and additional values (thickness of section, number of sections per cell), calculations of the total radioactivity of a cell section or the whole cell can be made.