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Biomedical subjects

B Busch

Publications and source records attributed to B Busch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Official veterinary supervision of zoos--experiences in Brandenburg].

Based on the law of animal welfare and on the EU-rule about keeping of wild animals in zoological gardens 15 zoological gardens in Brandenburg were inspected by a temporary team consisting of one veterinarian from the state office of feeds and agriculture, the local authorized veterinarian and one director of the zoogardens. Data of every zoological garden at first were recorded by special lists of queries. So it was possible to estimate the keeping conditions and to realize deficiencies and the main problems. During the local inspection these data were controlled and the structure of keeping units as well as the conditions and behaviour of the animals were evaluated. Every unit was evaluated taking into consideration all points of view. If necessary proposals for improvements were made which were to enforce by the local authority. Furthermore the documentation and the economic areas were inspected. The number of kept species and animals was relatively low. Only two zoological gardens were to classify as mean ones. The majority of the fences and aviaries corresponded with the minimal demands of the today rules resp. was larger in the dimension and space. There were very nice keeping units, but also some deficiently in the structure or in the quality of the ground. By some photographs positive and negative examples are demonstrated. The feeding and also the veterinary service were on high level. The team found out that staffs of the zoogardens had a positive position to animal welfare. Step by step they improved the keeping conditions. The central inspection by a multi-professional team was estimated positively and should be repeated in certain intervals. The used lists of queries were suitable. The valid rules and guide lines should be revised in near future.

Animal Welfare↗

Degradation of desferrioxamines by Azospirillum irakense: assignment of metabolites by HPLC/electrospray mass spectrometry.

Based on a recent finding that an Azospirillum isolate ASP-1 possessing high 16S rDNA similarity to Azospirillum irakense was able to degrade desferrioxamine type siderophores (Winkelmann et al. BioMetals 9, 78-83, 1996), various members of the genus Azospirillum were analyzed for their ability to degrade desferrioxamines. While the desferrioxamine-degrading activity was absent or scarcely detectable in strains of A. lipoferum, A. brasilense, A. amazonense, degradation activity seemed to be confined to the species A. irakense (KBC-1, KA3). Also the identity of strain ASP-1 as A. irakense could be confirmed by species-specific oligonucleotide hybridization, Inter-LINE PCR fingerprinting and carbon source utilization pattern (BIOLOG) analysis. Products of desferrioxamine B degradation were analyzed by analytical HPLC and HPLC/electrospray mass spectrometry. Using whole cells and purified enzyme it was shown that the trihydroxamate desferrioxamine B (561 amu) is split at the N-terminal amide bond yielding a monohydroxamate (MH1, 219 amu) and a dihydroxamate (DH1, 361 amu) metabolite. A second monohydroxamate (MH2, 319 amu) resulted from DH1 after splitting the acetylhydroxamate bond. Minor amounts of a further dihydroxamate (DH2, 419 amu) originated from splitting the second amide bond in desferrioxamine B. In addition to desferrioxamine B, several other linear and cyclic desferrioxamines and derivatives were degraded, whereas desferricoprogen and desferri-ferrichrome were not degraded, indicating high substrate specificity of the desferrioxamine hydrolase in A. irakense species. A simple microtiter plate assay was developed which can be used to phenotypically discriminate and identify species of A. irakense from other Azospirillum species by their characteristic feature of desferrioxamine degradation.

Azospirillum↗

Health effects of sulfur-related environmental air pollution. I. Executive summary.

The motivation of simulating real-world environmental exposure in a number of long-term studies with dogs was to address the question of whether or not perpetual inhalation of air pollutants can initiate diseases in healthy lungs and can thus contribute to the increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases in industrialized countries. The major conclusion of this article is that this question has to be answered in the negative for the simultaneous inhalation of the major constituents of combustion-related air pollution, particle-associated sulfur(IV), and particle-associated hydrogen ions. Over 13 mo, 8 healthy beagle dogs were exposed in 2 whole-body chambers daily for 16.5 h to 1 microm neutral sulfite [sulfur(IV)] particles at a mass concentration of 1.5 mg m-3 and for 6 h to 1.1 microm acidic sulfate particles carrying 15 micromol m-3 hydrogen ions into the canine lungs. This longitudinal study was characterized by repeated observations of individual respiratory response patterns. To establish baseline data the dogs were repeatedly examined preexposure while the chambers were ventilated over 16 mo with clean air. Each individual served thus as its own control. Another eight dogs served as additional controls. They were housed in 2 chambers ventilated with clean air over the entire study period of 29 mo. To assess response patterns, respiratory lung function tests were performed pre- and postexposure, segmental lung lavages were repeatedly performed to obtain epithelial lining fluid from the lungs for analysis of cell content, cell function, and biochemical indicators of lung injury, and radiolabeled test particles were used to study pathways of intrapulmonary particle elimination. At the end of the study, the lungs of all animals were morphologically and morphometrically examined. Functional and structural responses were finally compared to those observed previously as a result of a sole exposure of canine lungs to neutral sulfite particles over 10 mo (Heyder et al., 1992). Interactions between responses induced by neutral sulfite and acidic sulfate particles occurred, but antagonism rather than synergism was observed. The responses induced by sulfur(IV) were less pronounced, not detectable, or even reversed when hydrogen ions were also delivered to the lungs. On the other hand, responses not induced by the sole exposure to sulfur(IV) were observed: The activity of alkaline phosphatase was elevated and type II pneumocytes proliferated. It can, however, be concluded that long-term exposure of healthy lungs to particle-associated neutral sulfur(IV) and hydrogen ions at concentration close to ambient levels causes subtle respiratory responses but does not initiate pathological processes in the lungs. In other words, the perpetual inhalation of sulfur(IV) and hydrogen ions from the atmospheric environment presents no health risk to the healthy lungs. It is thus also very unlikely that respiratory diseases can be initiated by the inhalation of these pollutants.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

[Preventative tail amputation in fattening bulls].

In 5 cattle fattening farms with 900 to 3000 bulls tail docking was practised prophylactically in consequence of losses due to tail necrosis. Following detailed consultations in the farms temporary exceptional permission of the ban of amputation according to article 6 of the German Animal Welfare Law was given to 4 of the 5 farms, associated with real instructions to improve the housing conditions. By that means communication between farmer and veterinary authority was intensified and the contrariety between legislation and practice was pointed out clearly. The farmers were concerned with consequences of the ban of tail docking intensively. A process of understanding began, resulting in renunciation of prophylactic tail docking in 4 of the 5 farms.

Amputation, Surgical↗

Early clinical trial of MDL 73.147 EF: a new 5-HT3-receptors antagonist for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUND: Like MDL 72.222, one of the first selective 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptors antagonist discovered, MDL 73.147 EF has been shown to possess antiemetic properties in the ferret model. We conducted a phase I study with MDL 73.147 EF in 31 patients, treated with emetogenic drugs over one to five days (cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dacarbazine). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 5 groups of at least 5 patients received rising unit doses of MDL 73.147 EF (10 to 50 mg) intravenously before chemotherapy, with two more doses per day if needed. Nausea was assessed by a patient-completed visual analogue scale and episodes of vomiting recorded by an independent observer. RESULTS: 51.6% of the patients were complete responders on day one and 40% on days two to five. One patient was given other rescue antiemetic therapy. Adverse events included constipation (25.8%), mildly elevated blood pressure (12.9%) and other minor events. No extrapyramidal effects have been reported. There was no suggestion of dose-dependent efficacy at the dose levels studied in this limited set of patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that MDL 73.147 EF is a well tolerated and possibly effective antiemetic.

Adolescent↗

Deficiency of antithrombin III in children with hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

In nine patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, the plasma activity and plasma concentrations of antithrombin III were determined on admission to the hospital and during the clinical course of the disease. Hemodialysis was necessary in six of the patients. In seven children the plasma AT III activity was moderately to markedly below the lower limit of normal at 75%, and did not rise after plasmapheresis with fresh frozen plasma. Replacement therapy with AT III concentrate was started in these patients. During the first 2 days an average dose of AT III concentrate of 2.1 U/kg in 24 h was necessary to raise plasma AT III activity by 1%. No side effects were observed. An already pre-existing procoagulant status and the administration of heparin may lead to AT III deficiency in hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Antithrombin III Deficiency↗

The pediatric early elementary examination: studies of a neurodevelopmental examination for 7- to 9-year-old children.

The Pediatric Early Elementary Examination (PEEX) is a neurodevelopmental assessment designed to evaluate children with learning problems between the ages of 7 and 9. The current study of this procedure focused on a sample of youngsters from two middle-class communities and a group of children referred for learning problems to the School Function Program, a specialty clinic at The Children's Hospital in Boston. During prior pilot testing, diagnostic criteria had been established for specific areas of development assessed on the Pediatric Early Elementary Examination. Findings were expressed as "areas of concern" or developmental weaknesses suggesting the need for further monitoring or referral. It was found that nearly half of the children in the community had at least one such finding. These areas of concern were spread fairly evenly over the seven developmental areas of concern correlated with results of the revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and the California Achievement Test in the community. Youngsters referred to the School Function Program with learning problems also were more likely to have multiple areas of developmental concern. Results suggest that the Pediatric Early Elementary Examination shows promise as a reliable and valid system of observation for use by health care professionals.

Achievement↗

The dimension of inattention among children with school problems.

Within a population of children referred for school-related problems, youngsters with significant attention deficits were compared with children having other types of learning problems. Using data from parent and teacher questionnaires as well as results of multidisciplinary team assessments, each patient was assigned either to a group with significant attention deficits or to one with learning problems, but fewer, if any, problems with attention. Disagreement between observation sources was demonstrated. Children qualifying for the significant attention deficit group were characterized by a greater likelihood of having behavioral problems during the toddler and preschool years. They also had a higher prevalence of minor neurologic signs and difficulty on tests of language development. Their current behavioral and adjustment problems seemed to be more severe and widespread than those of the youngsters with whom they were compared. No major intergroup differences were observed with regard to age at referral, socioeconomic status, family history of learning and behavior problems, perinatal health risks, or psychosocial difficulties. There was considerable historic and symptomatic overlap between the two groups, suggesting that the clinical picture characteristic of significant attention deficits is relatively nonspecific and is either a primary or secondary finding in a large proportion of a heterogeneous population of children experiencing difficulties in school.

Adolescent↗