Temporal trends of PCDD, PCDF and PCB levels in muscle meat of herring from different fishing grounds of the Baltic Sea and actual data of different fish species from the Western Baltic Sea.

To study the time trend of PCDD, PCDF and dl-PCB levels in the muscle of herring from the Western Baltic Sea, samples were collected in 2006 at the same fishing locations as in 1999. The results demonstrated no obvious change in contamination levels based on content in fat during the last 7 years. The site-dependent increase in WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ concentrations already found in 1999 in fishing grounds between the Skagerrak and the east of Bornholm could be confirmed by this study. In addition, an overview is given in this study on the actual WHO-TEQ concentrations in cod, eel, herring, sprat and some salmon landed at various fishing ports along the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania/Germany. All herring samples were found to be below the maximum levels and the concentrations in cod were below 1 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1) wet weight (ww). The contaminant levels of 28 pooled eel samples varied considerably between 1.35 and 16.75 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1) ww. The results are discussed in relation to the fat content and to the weight of the eels.

Toxicity testing of highly volatile chemicals with green algae : A new assay.

A gas-tight system for toxicity testing of highly volatile chemicals with the green algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii was developed. The procedure permits maintenance of constant and defined concentrations of the tested compounds in the vessels. To ensure sufficient CO2-supply, new bipartite test vessels were used. These vessels allowed spatial separation of a HCO3-/CO 3 (2-) buffer used for CO2 supply and the alga culture to avoid growth inhibition due to ionic strength. Several volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons have been tested. Their EC10 values were several orders of magnitude lower than those obtained with open test systems.

Influence of high caloric parenteral nutrition on catabolism and cellular immune competence in carcinoma patients.

Urea production rate and cellular immune reactivity measured by skin stamp test were used to determine the extent of protein catabolism in 30 surgical patients with histologically diagnosed gastrointestinal carcinoma. All patients received high-caloric total parenteral nutrition (TPN) preoperatively. In those patients with an urea production rate of less than 15 g/day (according to definition of non-catabolic state) TPN was discontinued and the operation performed immediately, whereas the remaining 13 patients with an urea production rate exceeding 15 g/day (according to definition a catabolic state) were given TPN a total of 10 days prior to operation. Nine of the 13 patients could be converted from a catabolic to a non-catabolic state. Only one of these patients died, whereas of the remaining 4 patients who - according to the definition - remained in a catabolic state, two died. The course of nutrition positively influenced the serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. The skin stamp test was positive in only three of the 13 patients. Obviously, a positive skin test reaction occurred only in those patients who could be returned to a non-catabolic state during the course of TPN. By means of preoperative TPN catabolic patients can be converted into a non-catabolic state which is associated with a reduction in morbidity and mortality. Moreover, high caloric parenteral nutrition rich in amino acids seem to improve the prognosis for patients with negative skin test reactivity.

[Pregnancy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (author's transl)]. / Schwangerschaftsverlauf bei Colitis ulcerosa und Morbus Crohn

Between 1967 and 1973 15 women with ulcerative colitis had 20 pregnancies. 14 ended with normal deliveries, 4 with spontaneous abortions, and 2 with therapeutic abortions. Fertility was normal. Malformations in the children were not observed. In the case of conception during remission or a latent phase of the disease in general a normal pregnancy is to be expected (12 out of 14). On the other hand conception during an active phase can lead to an unpredictable threat to the life of mother and child. Therapeutic abortion should be seriously considered when ulcerative colitis and pregnancy begin simultaneously. In the same period of time in 15 comparable patients with Crohn's disease (12 with ileo-colitis and 3 with terminal ileitis) who were not taking ovulation inhibitors 4 pregnancies were observed. Fertility is not significantly reduced in terminal ileitis whereas in ileo-colitis it is highly significantly reduced (bilateral tubal irritation). As in ulcerative colitis a normal pregnancy can be expected after conception in an inactive phase (2 out of 4).